List of Museums in India: Complete GK Notes

Museums in India offer a glimpse into the country’s rich history, culture, and art. From ancient artifacts to modern exhibits, these museums play a key role in preserving India’s heritage. For students preparing for competitive exams, a good understanding of famous museums and their significance is essential for General Knowledge (GK). This guide provides a List of Museums in India, highlighting key museums that are often included in competitive exams.

What is a Museum?

• A museum is a place where valuable objects, artworks, and historical items are stored and displayed for people to see and learn from.

• Museums can focus on different subjects, such as art, history, science, or culture.

• They help us understand the past and explore new ideas by showcasing things like paintings, fossils, tools, and even animals.

• People visit museums to learn, enjoy, and discover more about the world around them.

List of Important Museums in India

SL. No.	Museum Name	Location
1	National Museum	New Delhi
2	Indian Museum	Kolkata, West Bengal
3	Government Museum	Chennai, Tamil Nadu
4	Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya	Mumbai, Maharashtra
5	Shivalik Fossil Park Museum	Sirmour, Himachal Pradesh
6	Shankar’s International Dolls Museum	Delhi
7	The Salar Jung Museum	Hyderabad, Telangana
8	The Kite Museum	Paldi, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
9	Calico Museum of Textiles	Ahmedabad, Gujarat
10	The Metro Museum	Delhi
11	Sulabh International Museum of Toilets	Delhi
12	India’s first Maritime Museum	Lothal, Gujarat
13	India’s first living Culinary Arts Museum	WGSHA, India
14	Malgudi Museum	Arasalu, Karnataka
15	India’s first museum on Ganga: Ganga Avlokan	Chandi Ghat, Haridwar, Uttarakhand
16	National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC)	Mumbai, Maharashtra
17	Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Museum	Kolkata, West Bengal
18	Titanwala Museum	Rajasthan
19	Virtual Experiential Museum	Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
20	Albert Hall Museum	Jaipur, Rajasthan
21	RBI Monetary Museum	Mumbai, Maharashtra
22	KB Malviya National Oil Museum	Guwahati, Assam
23	HAL Aerospace Museum	Bangaluru, Karnataka
24	Bombay Natural History Society	Mumbai, Maharashtra
25	National Rail Museum	Delhi
26	Jehangir Art Gallery	Mumbai, Maharashtra
27	Birla Industrial and Technological Museum	Kolkata, West Bengal
28	Victoria Memorial Hall	Kolkata, West Bengal
29	National Police Museum	Delhi
30	Virasat-e-Khalsa Museum	Punjab
31	The Azaadi Ke Diwane Museum	Red Fort Complex, Delhi
32	Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum	Bangaluru, Karanataka
33	India’s one and only Naval Aviation Museum	Goa
34	Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, Teen Murti Bhawan	Delhi
35	National Gallery of Modern Art	New Delhi
36	National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum	New Delhi
37	Napier Museum	Thiruvananthapuram
38	Dakshinachitra Museum	Chennai, Tamil Nadu
39	Mani Bhavan	Mumbai, Maharashtra
40	Partition Museum	Amritsar, Punjab
41	Anthropological Museum	Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
42	The Rashtriya Dalit Prerna Sthal and Green Garden	Noida, Uttar Pradesh
43	Dogra Art Museum	Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir
44	Antarang – Sex Health Information Art Gallery	Mumbai, Maharashtra

Key Highlights of Important Museums Across India

The National Museum

• The National Museum in New Delhi, also called the National Museum of India, is one of the largest museums in the country.

• Established in 1949, it showcases items from the pre-historic era to modern artworks.

• The museum operates under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and is located on Janpath.

• The plan to set up the National Museum in Delhi was created by the Maurice Gwyer Committee in May 1946.

• An Exhibition of Indian Art was held in London during the winter of 1947-48, showcasing items from different museums in India.

• This exhibition was organized by the Royal Academy, London, with support from the governments of India and Britain.

• Before the items were sent back to their original museums, the same collection was displayed in Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi, in 1949.

• The success of this exhibition led to the decision to establish the National Museum.

• The museum’s current building was designed by architect Ganesh Bikaji Deolalikar, and its foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on May 12, 1955.

• The National Museum was officially opened on December 18, 1960, by Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who was the Vice-President of India at the time.

• Google created a digital version of the National Museum through a project called “Life in Miniature.”

Indian Museum

• The Indian Museum, earlier known as the Imperial Museum of Calcutta, is a major museum located in Central Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

• It is the ninth oldest museum in the world and the oldest and largest museum in Asia in terms of collection size.

• Founded in 1814 by the Asiatic Society of Bengal, it is credited with starting the museum movement in India.

• Nathaniel Wallich, a Danish botanist, was the museum’s first curator.

• The museum houses six sections and 35 galleries featuring cultural and scientific artifacts, including Indian art, archaeology, anthropology, geology, zoology, and economic botany.

• Its collection includes rare antiques, Mughal paintings, mummies, fossils, skeletons, armor, and ornaments of international importance.

• It operates as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India and is included as an institute of national importance in the Constitution of India.

• The museum is a symbol of India’s transition from the medieval era to modernity, marking the beginning of socio-cultural and scientific advancements in the country.

• The current director of the Indian Museum is Shri Arijit Dutta Choudhury, who also holds additional positions as Director General of NCSM and National Library.

Government Museum, Chennai

• The Government Museum, Chennai, also called the Madras Museum, is situated in Egmore, one of the busiest areas in Chennai, India.

• Established in 1851, it is the second oldest museum in India after the Indian Museum in Kolkata.

• The museum is renowned for its archaeological and numismatic collections, including one of the largest collections of Roman antiquities outside Europe.

• It is home to the richest collection of bronze idols in Asia, with around 500 pieces dating back to 1000 BCE.

• The Museum Theatre, located within the complex, is a prominent architectural highlight.

• The premises also include the National Art Gallery, built in the Indo-Saracenic style, which features rare European and Asian paintings by renowned artists like Raja Ravi Varma.

• The museum is part of the Pantheon Complex, which also houses the Connemara Public Library and the National Art Gallery, located on Pantheon Road, named after this complex.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya

• Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), formerly known as the Prince of Wales Museum of Western India, is a museum in Mumbai, India, dedicated to documenting the history of India from prehistoric to modern times.

• The museum was founded during the British rule of India in the early 20th century by prominent citizens of Bombay (now Mumbai), with support from the government, to commemorate the visit of the Prince of Wales (later George V).

• It is located in South Mumbai, near the famous Gateway of India.

• The museum’s building is designed in the Indo-Saracenic style with elements of Mughal, Maratha, and Jain architecture.

• The building is surrounded by a garden of palm trees and formal flower beds.

• CSMVS houses around 50,000 exhibits categorized into Art, Archaeology, and Natural History.

• The museum contains artefacts from the Indus Valley Civilization and other ancient relics from India, including the times of the Guptas, Mauryas, Chalukyas, and Rashtrakutas.

• On 14th August 1905, prominent citizens of Bombay gathered at the Town Hall and decided to build a museum to commemorate the visit of the Prince of Wales.

• The foundation stone was laid by the Prince of Wales on 11th November 1905, and the building was completed in 1914.

• The museum opened to the public on 10th January 1922, after being used temporarily by the military as a hospital and for Children’s Welfare Exhibitions.

• In 1998, the museum was renamed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya in honor of the founder of the Maratha Kingdom, Shivaji Maharaj.

Shivalik Fossil Park Museum

• Shivalik Fossil Park, also known as Suketi Fossil Park, is a National Geo-heritage Monument located in the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh, India.

• The park features a collection of prehistoric vertebrate fossils and skeletons recovered from the upper and middle Siwaliks geological formations, consisting of sandstones and clay at Suketi.

• The Siwalik ranges are part of the outer Himalayas.

• Visitors can view fossil finds displayed in the park and an open-air exhibition of six life-sized fiberglass models of extinct mammals, representing the environment of the Shivalik Hills during the Plio-Pleistocene era (around 2.5 million years ago).

• The park includes a museum that curates and exhibits the fossils discovered at the site.

• Shivalik Fossil Park is recognized as Asia’s biggest fossil park.

• The exhibits in the park aim to generate scientific interest among the public and facilitate international research by visiting scholars from around the world.

Shankar’s International Dolls Museum

• The International Dolls Museum is located in Delhi, India, and showcases a large collection of dolls.

• It was set up by K. Shankar Pillai, a renowned political cartoonist.

• The museum is housed in the Children’s Book Trust building on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, with access through a separate entrance and a winding staircase leading up to the foyer.

• It occupies a floor area of 5,184.5 sq ft (481.66 m²) on the first floor.

• K. Shankar Pillai was honored with the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award, in 1976.

The Salar Jung Museum

• The Salar Jung Museum is an art museum located at Dar-ul-Shifa, on the southern bank of the Musi River in Hyderabad, Telangana, India.

• It is one of the three National Museums of India.

• Originally a private art collection of the Salar Jung family, it was donated to the nation after the death of Salar Jung III.

• The museum was inaugurated on 16 December 1951.

• The Indian Parliament has declared the museum an Institution of National Importance.

• The museum has a vast collection of sculptures, paintings, carvings, textiles, manuscripts, ceramics, metallic artefacts, carpets, clocks, and furniture from various regions, including Japan, China, Burma, Nepal, India, Persia, Egypt, Europe, and North America.

The Kite Museum

• Gujarat is famous for its kite festival and the traditional art of kite-making.

• The Kite Museum is located inside the iconic Sankar Kendra building, designed by the French architect Le Corbusier.

• The museum houses around 125 rare and uniquely designed kites, which highlight the history of kite-making in Gujarat.

• The collection was donated by Mr. Bhanubhai Shah, a kite enthusiast who began collecting kites at the age of 21.

• As his collection grew, it was converted into a museum in 1986.

Calico Museum Of Textiles

• The Calico Museum of Textiles is home to one of the most important collections of textiles in India, including ancient textiles, carpets, tents, costumes, Kalamkari prints, tie and dye, pichwais, and sarees.

• The museum also houses an impressive collection of bronzes, Jain art objects, and Indian miniature paintings, all acquired from the Sarabhai Foundation.

The Metro Museum

• The Delhi Metro Museum showcases the genesis, history, and journey of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

• The museum features a collection of display panels, historical photographs, and exhibits that trace the development of the Delhi Metro, which took 32 years to become operational, starting from the initial design phase.

Sulabh International Museum of Toilets

• The Toilet Museum houses a rare collection of facts, pictures, and objects detailing the historic evolution of toilets from 2500 BC to the present.

• It provides a chronological account of developments related to technology, toilet-related social customs, etiquettes, sanitary conditions, and legislative efforts over time.

• The museum is owned by Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak.

India’s first maritime museum

• A National Maritime Heritage Museum is being set up at Lothal, Gujarat.

• The museum will be an independent research center for archaeology related to boat building, maritime history, and materials traded.

• It will display salvaged materials from shipwreck sites in the Indian Ocean.

• Lothal is a Harappan site on the Saurashtra coast, known for its archaeological significance.

• The museum focuses on underwater archaeology and the reconstruction of maritime history.

• Technical assistance for the museum comes from the Portuguese Maritime Heritage Museum.

India’s first living culinary arts museum

• Celebrity chef Vikas Khanna is the Founder and curator of India’s first living culinary arts museum at WGSHA (Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration).

• WGSHA is part of Manipal Academy of Higher Education, located in Manipal, Udupi, Karnataka.

• It was Vikas Khanna’s idea that led to the establishment of this culinary museum.

• He donated thousands of kitchen tools and equipment, worth millions of dollars, to the museum to preserve India’s rich culinary traditions and to educate future generations about the art of cooking.

Malgudi Museum

• Visit Arasalu Railway Station in Shivamogga district to experience the essence of R. K. Narayan’s fictional world from Malgudi Days.

• Malgudi Days is a popular tele-serial directed by Shankar Nag for Doordarshan, which beautifully brought Narayan’s stories to life.

Ganga Avlokan

• India’s first museum on Ganga.

• Ganga Avlokan Museum showcases Ganga’s landscapes, biodiversity, and cultural vibrancy.

• It highlights the conservation issues surrounding the Ganga river and the initiatives by the Ministry of Jal Shakti to rejuvenate it.

• The museum is located in Haridwar, a pilgrimage city and the site for the Kumbh Mela (2021).

• The museum’s bilingual narrative will cater to both local people and international tourists, spreading awareness on Ganga’s preservation efforts.

National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC)

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC) at the Films Division premises in Mumbai.

• The museum is located in two buildings: the New Museum Building and the historic Gulshan Mahal, a 19th-century palace.

• The museum showcases the evolution of Indian cinema through visuals, graphics, artifacts, interactive exhibits, and multimedia displays.

• Posters at the museum trace the journey of Indian cinema over the last century.

• The museum displays scenes from landmark films like Raja Harishchandra and Kaliya Mardan, along with replicas of old cameras and rare photographs.

• The verandah of Gulshan Mahal presents the history of Hindi and regional cinema with various posters, booklets, and lobby cards.

• The museum’s refurbishment was done by NBCC (India) Limited, with guidance from the Museum Advisory Committee led by Shyam Benegal, and an innovation committee led by Prasoon Joshi.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Museum

• The world’s first museum dedicated to the life and teachings of 16th-century saint and social reformer Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is located in Kolkata, West Bengal.

• The Bodo Museum in Kokrajhar, Assam, showcases the culture and traditions of the Bodo community.

• The Titanwala Museum in Rajasthan displays the wooden hand block printing tradition of the Namdev followers from the Chippa community of Bagru, which is known for its block printing techniques.

Virtual Experiential Museum

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Virtual Experiential Museum (VEM) at Man Mahal, near Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, on February 19, 2019.

• The museum is a centrally protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India and is located on the banks of the Ganges.

• National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, established the museum.

• The museum uses modern virtual reality technology to showcase cultural aspects of Varanasi, including both tangible and intangible heritage.

• Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) assisted with the design, curation, and scriptwriting for the documentaries in the museum.

• Visitors can experience Varanasi’s holy ghats, classical music, sari weaving, Ram Leela, 3D views of monuments, narrow lanes, and a betel shop through advanced technologies like curved TV screens, touch screens, and projectors.

• The museum also tells the story of the descent of the holy Ganga to Earth.

• Man Mahal, built by Raja Man Singh in 1600 AD, was later equipped with an observatory by Sawai Jai Singh II in 1734 for astronomical studies.

Albert Hall Museum

• The Albert Hall Museum is the oldest museum in Rajasthan, located in the Ram Niwas Garden of Jaipur.

• The museum is housed within the Albert Hall complex, which was founded by Prince of Wales, Albert Edward in 1876.

• The building was completed in 1887 by architect Samuel Swinton Jacob.

• The museum’s collection is spread across the ground and first floors and is divided into 15 categories:
  • Metal art
  • Pottery
  • Jewelry
  • Garments & textiles
  • Arms & armor
  • Miniature paintings
  • Musical instruments
  • Clay art
  • Sculptures
  • Marble art
  • Furniture & wooden art
  • Carpet
  • International art
  • Ivory
  • Coins

RBI Monetary Museum

• The museum showcases the evolution of currency, from barter to coins, paper money, and e-money.

• It captures the journey of the monetary system in the Indian subcontinent.

• The coinage section features coins dating back to the 6th century B.C.

• This unique museum was set up by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the country’s most important financial institution.

• The museum was inaugurated by the former President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

KB Malviya National Oil Museum

• KB Malviya National Oil Museum is India’s first oil museum, named after KB Malviya, the father of India’s hydrocarbon industry.

• Assam was the first state where oil was discovered and produced in India.

• India’s first insect museum with state-of-the-art amenities was unveiled at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University campus in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

HAL Aerospace Museum

• The museum was inaugurated in 2001 at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) premises.

• It was created to educate the public about HAL’s journey as one of Asia’s largest aeronautical companies.

• The museum highlights historical, scientific, and academic contributions made by HAL.

Bombay Natural History Society

• The Bombay Natural History Society houses taxidermically preserved specimens of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects.

• These specimens are stored in trays, jars, and boxes and are displayed only for research, observation, and educational purposes.

• Taxidermy is the art of preserving an animal’s body by mounting or stuffing it for study or display.

National Rail Museum

• The National Rail Museum is located in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, showcasing the history of rail transport in India.

• It was inaugurated on 1 February 1977 and spans an area of 4.4 hectares (11 acres).

• The museum features an octagonal indoor gallery with six display sections and a large open area resembling a railway yard.

• It houses the Patiala State Mono Rail Tramway (PSMT), started in 1907, with the only working steam mono-rail locomotive and coach.

• The museum exhibits the “Fairy Queen”, the oldest working steam locomotive, listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.

• Another highlight is the “John Morris Fire Engine,” a working vehicle with solid rubber tires over 100 years old.

Jehangir Art Gallery

• Sir Cowasji Jehangir (1879-1962) was the founder of Jehangir Art Gallery and a well-known figure of his time.

• He was an industrialist, banker, political leader, and a supporter of the arts.

• The Jehangir Art Gallery showcases exhibitions by artists, including painters, sculptors, photographers, craftsmen, and weavers.

Birla Industrial and Technological Museum

• The Birla Industrial & Technological Museum (BITM) is a science museum in Kolkata, West Bengal.

• It is part of the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.

• Initially, it was managed by the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR).

• BITM is known as the first science museum in India, inspiring the concept of science museums across the country.

Victoria Memorial Hall

• The Victoria Memorial Hall in Kolkata showcases an impressive collection of colonial-era paintings.

• The museum houses 28,394 artifacts in its nine galleries, covering 350 years of South Asian history.

• Some treasures include Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb’s handwritten Quran, a Persian translation of Nala and Damayanti’s tale, and Dara Shikoh’s translation of the Upanishads.

• It also has a manuscript copy of the Ain-i-Akbari, a famous Mughal document.

• The collection features Kalighat paintings, Iranian art of the Qajar school, and Tipu Sultan’s war diary.

• Historic items include cannons and cannonballs from the Battle of Plassey, Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s sword, and Tantiya Tope’s overcoat.

National Police Museum

• The National Police Memorial honors police personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty.

• It is located in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, and covers 6.12 acres.

• The memorial includes a 30-foot tall black granite sculpture and a ‘Wall of Valour’ with the names of 34,844 fallen police personnel.

• It commemorates police personnel who died while fighting terrorism, militancy, and maintaining law and order.

• The memorial also has India’s first police museum, showcasing 2000 years of policing history, starting from Kautilya’s era in 310 BCE.

• The walkway shows the evolution of the police force, from medieval times to modern India.

• The memorial represents the Indian Police Services (IPS) and features sections for state police services.

• It uses technology and multimedia in both English and Hindi.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the renovated memorial on 21 October 2018, marking Police Commemoration Day.

• The original memorial was planned in 1984 and a foundation stone was laid by L. K. Advani during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure.

• A 150-foot steel structure built earlier was dismantled in 2008 due to environmental concerns.

Virasat-e-Khalsa museum

• Virasat-e-Khalsa is a museum dedicated to Sikhism.

• It is located in the holy town of Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, India.

• The museum celebrates 500 years of Sikh history and the 300th anniversary of the birth of Khalsa.

• It is inspired by the scriptures of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru.

• The museum attracts both tourists and pilgrims.

• It promotes local handicrafts and helps nurture a sense of heritage among the people.

• The architecture blends religious significance with modern urban design challenges.

The Azaadi Ke Diwane Museum

• The museum is dedicated to unsung heroes who sacrificed their lives for India’s freedom.

• It is part of the Kranti Mandir series, aiming to inspire younger generations and inform them about the cost of freedom.

• The museum was built by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

• It showcases the freedom struggle from 1857 to 1947.

• Kranti Mandir, or the Temple of Revolution, is a complex of museums inside the Red Fort, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2019.
  • Subash Chandra Bose Museum
  • Yaad-e-Jallian Museum
  • Museum on 1857 – India’s First War of Independence
  • Drishyakala Museum on Indian Art

Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum

• The Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum (VITM) is located in Bangalore, India.

• It was built to honor Sir M. Visvesvaraya, a famous engineer and leader.

• The museum is part of the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.

• The building covers an area of 4,000 m² and is located in Cubbon Park.

• It was inaugurated on July 14, 1962, by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister.

• The idea for the museum came from the All India Manufacturers Organization and the Mysore State Board.

• The foundation stone was laid on September 15, 1958, by Shri B. D. Jatti, the Chief Minister of Mysore at that time.

• The museum displays industrial products, scientific models, and engines to showcase technology and science.

• The first exhibition, titled ‘Electricity’, was opened to the public on July 27, 1965.

Nehru Memorial Museum and Library

• The Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library Society was previously called the Nehru Museum and Library Society.

• It is located in Teen Murti House, New Delhi, India.

• The museum aims to preserve the history of India’s independence movement.

• It was founded in 1964 after the death of Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister.

• The museum is an autonomous institution under the Indian Ministry of Culture.

• The Nehru Memorial Library is the world’s leading resource center for information on Jawaharlal Nehru.

• It holds Mahatma Gandhi’s writings and private papers of other important leaders like Swami Sahajanand Saraswati, C. Rajagopalachari, and Sarojini Naidu.

• In 2010, the library started a digitization project, scanning thousands of pages and photographs.

• The museum publishes works like Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru and Man of Destiny by Ruskin Bond.

• The Nehru Memorial Fellowship supports scholars and historians in India.

• The library has an extensive collection on labour issues, including PhD theses, books, and journals.

• On 26 April 2016, a dagger gifted to Nehru by Saudi Arabia was stolen from the museum.

National Gallery of Modern Art

• The National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) was designed by Sir Arthur Bloomfield as a residence for the Maharaja of Jaipur.

• The building, with its butterfly shape and central dome, was completed in 1936.

• In 1954, the building was converted into the National Gallery of Modern Art.

• The NGMA’s collection includes over 17,000 artworks, showcasing the development of Indian modern art.

National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum

• The National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum (NHHM), also known as the National Crafts Museum, is located in New Delhi.

• It is one of the largest crafts museums in India and is operated by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.

• The museum is situated at the corner of Pragati Maidan, facing the Purana Quila complex.

• In 2015, the Government of India announced the establishment of a Hastkala (handicrafts) Academy within the museum, converting some galleries into classrooms.

• During initial renovations, a room of murals by Madhubani artist Ganga Devi was accidentally destroyed, leading to widespread criticism.

Napier Museum

• The Napier Museum is an art and natural history museum located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

• The museum is located on the grounds of the Thiruvananthapuram Zoo, established in 1857.

• The museum complex also includes the Sree Chitra Art Gallery, established in 1935.

• The Napier Museum, zoo, and art gallery are managed by the Department of Museums and Zoos, which is part of the Department of Cultural Affairs of Kerala.

Dakshinachitra Museum

• DakshinaChitra is a living history museum located in Tamil Nadu, dedicated to South Indian heritage and culture.

• The museum opened on December 14, 1996, and was founded by the Madras Craft Foundation (MCF), established in 1984.

• Deborah Thiagarajan, an Indian art historian of American origin, manages the museum.

• DakshinaChitra is designed as a heritage village with exhibits showcasing the architecture, art, folk performing arts, and crafts of South India.

• It includes a research unit, crafts bazaar, playground, space for religious functions, stone workshop, and souvenir kiosks.

• Craftspersons permanently work at the museum, demonstrating their skills and explaining how their items are made.

Mani Bhavan

• Mani Bhavan is a museum and historical building dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, located on Laburnum Road in the Gamdevi area of Mumbai.

• It served as the focal point of Gandhi’s political activities in Mumbai from 1917 to 1934.

• Mani Bhavan was Gandhi’s headquarters in Mumbai for 17 years.

• The mansion was owned by Revashankar Jagjeevan Jhaveri, Gandhi’s friend, and host in Mumbai.

• From here, Gandhi launched major movements like Non-Cooperation, Satyagraha, Swadeshi, Khadi, and the Khilafat Movement.

• Gandhi’s association with the charkha (spinning wheel) began in 1917 while staying at Mani Bhavan.

• The building is also linked to Gandhi’s participation in the Home Rule Movement and his protest against the inhumane treatment of cattle, leading him to abstain from drinking cow’s milk.

• In 1955, the building was acquired by the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi to preserve it as a memorial to Gandhi.

State-wise list of Museums

India has many amazing museums that share its rich history, culture, art, and science. Here is a state-wise list of museums in India with their locations and the year they were started. This guide makes it easy to learn about India’s treasures and is perfect for students, travelers, and anyone curious about the country’s heritage.

Andhra Pradesh

Name	City/Town	Year Established
Bapu Museum	Vijayawada	1887
Chandavaram Buddhist site	Chandavaram, Prakasam district	1980
Bhagwan Mahavir Government Museum	Kadapa	1982
Telugu Samskruthika Niketanam	Visakhapatnam	2015
Victory at Sea War Memorial	Visakhapatnam	1971
Kursura Submarine Museum	Visakhapatnam	2002
TU 142 Aircraft Museum	Visakhapatnam	2017
Visakha Museum	Visakhapatnam	1991

Arunachal Pradesh

Name	City/Town	Year Established
Jawaharlal Nehru Museum	Itanagar	1980

Assam

Name	City/Town	Year Established
Shankardev Kalakshetra	Guwahati	2024
Assam State Museum	Guwahati	1940
Mayong Central Museum and Emporium	Mayong	2002

Bihar

Name	City/Town	Year Established
Bhartiya Nritya Kala Mandir	Patna	1963
Bihar Museum	Patna	2015
Jalan Museum	Patna	1919
Patna Museum	Patna	1917
Chandradhari Museum	Darbhanga	1957
Rajendra Smriti Sangrahalaya	Patna	1963
Shrikrishna Science Centre	Patna	1978
Gandhi Sangrahalaya	Patna	1967

Chandigarh

Name	City/Town	Year Established
Government Museum and Art Gallery	Chandigarh	1968

Goa

Name	City/Town	Year Established
Goa Chitra Museum	Benaulim	2010
Big Foot Museum	Loutolim	—
Ashvek Vintage World	Nuvem	2004
Archaeological Museum and Portrait Gallery	Old Goa
Museum of Christian Art	Old Goa	—
Goa Science Centre	Panaji	—
Goa State Museum	Panaji	1977
Museum of Goa	Pilerne	2015
Naval Aviation Museum (India)	Vasco da Gama	1998

Gujarat

Name	City/Town	Year Established
Calico Museum of Textiles	Ahmedabad	1949
Conflictorium	Ahmedabad	2013
Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya	Ahmedabad	–
Gujarat Science City	Ahmedabad	–
Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum	Ahmedabad	1984
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Memorial	Ahmedabad	1980
Sanskar Kendra	Ahmedabad	1954
Swaminarayan Museum	Ahmedabad	2011
Baroda Museum & Picture Gallery	Vadodara	1894
Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum	Vadodara	–
Kirti Mandir	Porbandar	–
Watson Museum	Rajkot	1888
Kaba Gandhi No Delo	Rajkot	–
Kutch Museum	Bhuj	1877
Aina Mahal	Bhuj	–
Prag Mahal	Bhuj	–
Smritivan Earthquake Memorial and Museum	Bhuj	2022
Saraswati Mandir	Surat	–
Science Centre, Surat	Surat	–
Shristhal Sangrahalay	Siddhpur	2017

Haryana

Name	City/Town	Year Established
Jahaj Kothi Zonal Museum	Hisar
Rewari Railway Heritage Museum	Rewari	2002
Dharohar Museum	Kurukshetra	—
Heritage Transport Museum	Taoru	2013
Rakhigarhi Indus Valley Civilisation Museum	Rakhigarhi	—

Himachal Pradesh

Name	City/Town	Year Established
Shivalik Fossil Park	Sirmaur	—
Library of Tibetan Works and Archives	Dharamsala	—

Jammu & Kashmir

Name	City/Town	Year Established
Dogra Art Museum	Jammu	1954
SPS Museum	Srinagar	1898

Jharkhand

Name	City/Town	Year Established
Ranchi Science Centre	Ranchi
State Museum Hotwar	Ranchi

Karnataka

Name	City/Town	Year Established
Archaeological Museum, Vijayapura	Bijapur	1892
Government Museum, Bengaluru	Bengaluru	1864
National Gallery of Modern Art, Bangalore	Bengaluru	2009
Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum	Bengaluru	1962
Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath	Bengaluru	1960
HAL Aerospace Museum	Bengaluru
Venkatappa Art Gallery	Bengaluru
Museum of Art & Photography (MAP)	Bengaluru	2015
Aloyseum	Mangalore	1913
Srimanthi Bhai Memorial Government Museum	Mangalore	1960
Manjusha Museum	Dharmasthala	1989
Regional Museum of Natural History	Mysuru	1995
Railway Museum, Mysore	Mysuru
Folklore Museum	Mysuru

Kerala

Name	City/Town	Year Established
Archaeological Museum, Thrissur	Thrissur
Mural Art Museum	Thrissur
Vallathol Museum	Thrissur
Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda Museum	Thrissur
Indo-Portuguese Museum	Kochi	1910
Kerala Soil Museum	Thiruvananthapuram
Arakkal Museum	Ayikkara
Teak Museum	Nilambur
8 Point Art Cafe	Kollam
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Police Museum	Kollam
Pazhassi Raja Archaeological Museum	Kozhikode	1976
Krishnapuram Palace	Kayamkulam
Indian Business Museum	Kozhikode
Museum of Kerala History	Kochi
Napier Museum	Thiruvananthapuram	1857
Keralam – Museum of History and Heritage	Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala Science and Technology Museum	Thiruvananthapuram
Wayanad Heritage Museum	Ambalavayal
Hill Palace	Thrippunithura
Revi Karunakaran Memorial Museum,	Alappuzha

Ladakh

Name	City/Town	Year Established
Munshi Aziz Bhat Museum of Central Asian and Kargil Trade Artefacts	Kargil	2004

Madhya Pradesh

Name	City/Town	Year Established
Indore Museum	Indore	1929
Bharat Bhavan	Bhopal	1982
Museum of Mankind(Manav Sangrahalaya)	Bhopal	1977
State Museum, Bhopal	Bhopal	1903
Tribal Museum Bhopal	Bhopal	2013
Regional Museum of Natural History, Bhopal	Bhopal	1997
Regional Science Centre, Bhopal	Bhopal	1995
Maharaja Chhatrasal Museum	Dhubela
Gujari Mahal Archaeological Museum	Gwalior
Sanchi Archaeological Museum	Sanchi	1919
Vidisha Museum	Vidisha

Maharashtra

Name	City/Town	Year Established
Bhau Daji Lad Museum	Mumbai	1872
National Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai	Mumbai	1996
Mani Bhavan	Mumbai
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya	Mumbai	1922
Nehru Science Centre	Mumbai
Cowasji Jehangir Hall	Mumbai	1996
INS Vikrant	Mumbai	1943
Nagpur Central Museum	Nagpur	1863
Ballard Bunder Gatehouse	Mumbai	1920
Piramal Museum of Art	Mumbai	2016
Joshi’s Museum of Miniature Railway	Pune
Mahatma Phule Museum	Pune
Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum	Pune
Antarang – Sex Health Information Art Gallery	Mumbai
Cavalry Tank Museum, Ahmednagar	Ahmednagar
Indian Institute for Research in Numismatic Studies	Nashik
Siddhagiri Gramjivan Museum (Kaneri Math)	Kolhapur
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum of Indian History	Pune
Raman Science Centre	Nagpur
Shree Chhatrapati Shahu Museum	Kolhapur
Sarmaya Arts Foundation	Mumbai	2015
Pragati Aerospace Museum	Ozar	2001

Manipur

Name	City/Town	Year Established
Archaeological Museum, Kangla	Imphal	2017
Hijagang	Imphal	2013
Imphal Peace Museum	Imphal	2019
Indian National Army War Museum (INA War Museum)	Moirang	1985
Kangla Memento Museum	Imphal	2018
Kangla Museum	Imphal
Loktak Folklore Museum	Thanga	2016
Manipur State Museum	Imphal	1969
Sekta Archaeological Living Museum	Sekta	1991

Mizoram

Name	City/Town	Year Established
Mizoram State Museum	Aizawl

Nagaland

Name	City/Town	Year Established
Nagaland State Museum	Kohima	1970

Delhi

Name	City/Town	Year Established
National Museum	Delhi	1949
Sanskriti Kendra Museum	Delhi
National Science Centre	Delhi
National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum	Delhi
Kiran Nadar Museum of Art	National Capital Territory of Delhi	2010
Eternal Gandhi Multimedia Museum	Delhi
Indian Air Force Museum, Palam	Delhi
Madame Tussauds Delhi	Delhi
National Museum of Natural History	Delhi
National Rail Museum	Delhi	1977
National Gallery of Modern Art	Delhi	1954
Teen Murti Bhavan	Delhi	1930
Gandhi Smriti	Delhi
Nehru Memorial Museum & Library	Delhi
Parliament Museum	Delhi
National Gandhi Museum	Delhi
Sulabh International Museum of Toilets	Delhi
Shankar’s International Dolls Museum	Delhi
Red Fort Archaeological Museum	Delhi
Kiran Nadar Museum of Art	Delhi	2010

Odisha

Name	City/Town	Year Established
Odisha State Museum	Bhubaneshwar	1932
Tribal Research Institute Museum	Bhubaneshwar
Regional Museum of Natural History, Bhubaneswar	Bhubaneshwar

Puducherry

Name	City/Town	Year Established
Pondicherry Museum	Puducherry

Punjab

Name	City/Town	Year Established
Virasat-e-Khalsa	Anandpur Sahib	2011
National Institute of Sports	Patiala
Sanghol Museum	Sanghol
Partition Museum	Amritsar	2017
Sikh Ajaibghar	Balongi
Gobindgarh Fort	Amritsar

Rajasthan

Name	City/Town	Year Established
Jawahar Kala Kendra	Jaipur
Albert Hall Museum	Jaipur	1887
City Palace, Jaipur	Jaipur
City Palace, Udaipur	Udaipur
Umaid Bhawan Palace	Jodhpur
Jaisalmer War Museum	Jaisalmer
Vintage and Classic Car Museum	Udaipur	2000
Rajiv Gandhi Regional Museum of Natural History	Sawai Madhopur	2007
Sardar Government Museum	Jodhpur	1936

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Sikkim

Name	City/Town	Year Established
Namgyal Institute of Tibetology	Gangtok

Tamil Nadu

Name	City/Town	Year Established
Chennai Railway Museum	Chennai	2002
Government Museum, Chennai	Chennai	1851
Vivekanandar Illam	Chennai
Gandhi Memorial Museum	Madurai
Gass Forest Museum	Coimbatore
Saraswathi Mahal Library	Thanjavur
Government Museum	Cuddalore
Government Museum, Karur	Karur
Government Museum, Pudukkottai	Pudukkottai
Government Museum, Tiruchirappalli	Tiruchirappalli
Railway Heritage Centre	Tiruchirappalli
Mahakavi Bharathi Memorial Library	Erode

Telangana

Name	City/Town	Year Established
Alampur Museum	Alampur
Birla Science Museum	Hyderabad
City Museum	Hyderabad
District Archaeological Museum, Nizamabad	Nizamabad	2001
Jagdish and Kamla Mittal Museum of Indian Art	Hyderabad	1976
Nizam Museum	Hyderabad	2000
Khazana Building Museum	Hyderabad
Salar Jung Museum	Hyderabad	1951
Telangana State Archaeology Museum	Hyderabad	1930
Warangal Museum	Warangal

Tripura

Name	City/Town	Year Established
Tripura State Museum	Agartala	1970

Uttar Pradesh

Name	City/Town	Year Established
State Museum, Lucknow	Lucknow	1863
Allahabad Museum	Allahabad	1931
Kanpur Sangrahalaya	Kanpur	1999
Government Museum, Mathura	Mathura	1874
Musa Dakri Museum	Aligarh
Sarnath Museum	Sarnath	1910
Rashtriya Dalit Prerna Sthal and Green Garden	Noida
Ibn Sina Academy of Medieval Medicine and Sciences	Aligarh
Swaraj Bhavan (old Anand Bhavan)	Allahabad

West Bengal

Name	City/Town	Year Established
Indian Museum	Kolkata	1814
Victoria Memorial	Kolkata	1921
Asutosh Museum of Indian Art	Kolkata
State Archaeological Gallery	Kolkata	1962
Sabarna Sangrahashala	Kolkata
Kolkata Museum of Modern Art	Kolkata
Gurusaday Museum	Kolkata	1961
Marble Palace	Kolkata
Metcalfe Hall	Kolkata
Kolkata Town Hall	Kolkata
Fort William	Kolkata
Jorasanko Thakur Bari	Kolkata
Academy of Fine Arts	Kolkata
Kolkata Rail Museum	Kolkata
Currency Building	Kolkata
Mother’s Wax Museum	Kolkata
Asutosh Museum of Indian Art	Kolkata
Fanattic Sports Museum	Kolkata
Malda Museum	Malda
Rabindra Museum	Mungpoo
Hazarduari Palace Museum	Murshidabad

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