Buried between the glitz and glamour of upscale malls lies the spectacularly rich history and culture of Delhi. Delhi is home to some of the nation’s best collection of galleries and museums. These museums boast dazzling treasures and reflect India’s rich cultural heritage. If you are a history enthusiast, then Delhi is just the right city for you. The museums of Delhi are a must-visit for those who are interested in the history of our incredible country and how it has evolved over the ages.
Delhi is home to some interesting museums if you want to explore the hidden treasures of India. Here, we have for you, a list of the quiet wonders of the city and the past. Some of the best museums in Delhi are:
National Museum houses everything from relics of the Harappa Civilization to the Silk Route artifacts, war memorabilia, and a fantastic collection of miniature paintings. The museum also has over 2,00,000 works of art, both Indian and foreign, from the last 5,000 years. The museum is like an entire world in itself! Established in 1949, the museum has around 200,000 works of art, both of Indian and foreign origin covering over 5,000 years. It is one of the largest museums in India.
It takes you back to various eras in time and is the perfect place to explore and appreciate the layered history of India. They have an audio guide too which you can rent to get a better understanding of history. Just carry your photo ID and you’d be good to go. The National Museum is adjacent to the Archeological Survey of India, just in case you are interested to know who digs out these thousand-year-old items.
Dedicated to the Indian Air Force, as the name suggests, this museum is split into viewing galleries. The indoor gallery features historic photographs, memorabilia, uniforms, and vintage personal weapons of the Indian Air Force. This indoor exhibit leads to a hangar displaying wall aircraft and other inventory. If you want to see larger planes, radar equipment, and captured enemy vehicles, you should make your way outside. The museum also houses large transport aircraft, that are only displayed on the annual Air Force Day.
We all loved dolls growing up, but our doll collection is nothing like this museum! Established in the year 1965, the Shankar International Dolls Museum is like a dreamland for all doll-lovers. It is also known as ‘A Mini United Nations’ and houses the largest collection of costume dolls in the world with nearly 6,500 dolls from 85 countries. The majority of these dolls have been gifted by the ambassadors or dignitaries of different countries. This museum set up by K Shankar Pillai, a political cartoonist, is divided into two parts. One part consists of the dolls collected from western countries such as the United Kingdom, United States of America, Australia, New Zealand, Commonwealth of Independent States, and the other section consists of dolls collected from other Asian countries, the Middle East, Africa, and India. The highlight of this museum is the 150 types of Indian costume dolls created at the workshop of the museum.
The National Gallery of Modern Art is a premier art gallery under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. It houses a collection of more than 17000 works by more than 200 artists including Raja Ravi Verma, Thomas Daniell, Abanindranath Tagore, Rabindranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose, Amrita Shergill, as well as some foreign artists. The NGMA is one perfect place for all the lovers of art, especially people and students who understand and appreciate various art forms and their evolution.
Set inside the Naubat Khana in the Red Fort, the Archaeological Museum and Indian War Memorial Museum is run by the Department of Archaeology. It was built to honor the soldiers who’d been part of WWI, and it is a war memorial cum museum that houses dioramas and weaponry including guns, swords, and khurkis. The last two galleries of this museum are quite impressive as they show the use of modern technology in war, which includes telephones, radios, and periscopes. The Archaeological Museum also exhibits objects from the Mughal Period.
Established in 1992, the National Science Center is a science museum in Delhi and is a part of the National Council of Science Museums, an autonomous body under India’s Ministry of Culture. It is one of the largest in Asia and is popularly known amongst its visitors as “A Dream Castle for One and All”. The center experiences an annual footfall of more than half a million people, Nobel Laureates, eminent scientists and technocrats, astronauts, museum professionals, and many more luminaries from various fields. It is a haven for science buffs, promotes scientific awareness and temper and has galleries that promote innovation and learning.
Set up to promote astronomy education especially for children, Nehru Planetarium houses a vast galaxy of planetary knowledge. If you have always wanted to experience and understand the secrets of space, just reach out to Nehru Planetarium Delhi, and you will get a close glimpse of the sun, moon, stars and the planets. Nehru Planetarium Delhi is one of the five planetariums named after India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. The five Nehru Planetariums are located in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and Allahabad.
Gandhi Smriti, as the name suggests, celebrates the life and legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of our nation. Previously known as Birla House or Birla Bhawan, Gandhi Smriti is the location where Mahatma Gandhi spent the last 144 days of his life before he was assassinated on 30 January 1948. The museum is housed inside a 12-bedroom house built-in 1928. Sardar Patel and Mahatma Gandhi were frequent guests of the Birlas. They sold this house to the government and when the House was opened to the public, it was renamed Gandhi Smriti. The museum in the building houses several articles associated with Gandhi’s life and death.
Delhi is a city full of surprises. It lies dotted with many museums and historical places in Delhi to exhibiting the vast history of Delhi in particular and India in general.
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