National Museum Delhi Visitors Guide
Travel Sightseeing Leisure / Museum Contributor :
Abhay Santhosh 64 5
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Abhay Santhosh 64 5
National Museum, Janpath Road, Rajpath Area, Central Secretariat, New Delhi, Delhi, India
Event requires registration or tickets.
Schedule and Timing:
The National Museum timings are from 10 am to 6 pm on all days of the week except Mondays and National Holidays.
Free guided tours: Tuesday to Friday at 10.30 am and 2.30 pm. Saturday and Sunday 10.30 am, 11.30 am, 2.30 pm and 3.00 pm.
Description:The National Museum at New Delhi is India's largest and probably the most diverse in terms of variety and range of collections.
Post independence, on the independence day of 1949 the museum was first established at the Rashtrapati Bhavan with the artefacts earlier exhibited at the Burlington House in London.
The collection continued to grow with the help of sustained efforts of the Govt of India.
In 1960, the current infrastructure was established for housing this elaborate collection of artefacts dating up to five thousand years.
Major galleries at the National Museum
Harappan Civilization
The Harappan civilization gallery was set up by the Archaeological Survey of India and the National Museum. It has a large collection of artefacts from different sites of Harappan civilization. Pottery, seals, tablets, weights and measures, jewellery, terracotta figurines and toys.
It also has copper tools like axes, chisels and knives. The pre-historic (stone age) collection and copper hoards artefacts are also displayed. About 3800 items are on display at this gallery.
Archaeological Gallery
Sculptures numbering around 850, mostly in stone, bronze and terracotta dating from 3rd century BC to 19th century AD are displayed. They are representative of all major regions, periods and schools of art like the Maurya, Gandhara, Kushana, Ikshvaku, Gupta, early medieval and bronze age.
Buddhist Art
On display in the Buddhist art gallery are the relics of Buddha unearthed from Kapilavastu-Piprahwa in Uttar Pradesh. Outstanding specimens of Buddhist art illustrated through more than 80 exhibits in stone, bronze, terracotta, stucco, wood and painted scrolls.
The collections represent Buddhist arts in Nepal, Tibet, Central Asia, Myanmar, Java and Cambodia.
Indian Miniature Paintings
A selection of the vast collection of about 17,000 odd paintings is on display. They represent the major styles such as Mughal, Deccani, Central Indian, Rajasthani, Pahari and many other sub-styles from the period AD 1000 to AD 1900.
It has paintings on palm leaf, cloth, wood, leather, illustrated manuscripts, covers on wood, hardboard and thangkas.
The prominent theme of these miniature paintings are the epics, Gita Govinda, Ragamala, Panchatantra and also portraits of the kings and rulers of the medieval period.
Jewellery Gallery
The National Museum has an extensive collection of Jewellery, about 250 of them displayed here. From the necklaces of the Mohanjodaro and Harappa to the fabulous jewels adorned with the images of Gods and Goddesses and those magnificent pieces of jewellery from the collection of the Mughal emperors and Maharajas. Pieces of jewellery made of shell, ivory, bone, gold and silver with gemstones and semi-precious stones.
Central Asian
Among the non-Indian collection, the Central Asian art collection is a significant one as it is a validation of the rich blend of histories and culture along the silk routes. I have some of the most outstanding wall paintings, painted silk banners, sculptures in wood, stucco and terracotta, coins, porcelain and pottery objects, leather, grass and fibre, precious items of gold and silver, religious and secular documents.
Facilities at the national Museum
- Audio guides
- Walk around highlight objects of NM with multilingual audio-guides.
- National Museum Shop on the ground and first floor.
- Coffee shop and snack bar.
- The museum is disabled friendly. Ask for a wheelchair at the reception. Disabled friendly toilets on all floors.
How to reach National Museum Delhi
Bus route: National Museum bus stop 505, 521, 522, 526, 531, 580 and 615.
Nirman Bhavan Bus Stop: 47, 156, 181, 346, 408, 410, 430, 435, 440, 443, 456, 459, 470, 481
National Museum Delhi Nearest Metro Station: Udyog Bhavan and Central Secretariat.
Parking: National Museum has no parking within its premises. Cars can be parked in the nearby Archaeological Survey of India parking. (2 minutes walking distance).
Tickets / Registration:Entry Fee at National Musum: Indian citizens: Rs 20 per person. Foreign nationals: Rs 650 per person. Students: Free up to 12th Standard (need Identity Card) Audio Guide: Rs 150 (optional for Indian) National Museum contact number for general enquiries: 011-23019272
Event id: 1716764246
Published on October 17th, 2018, 12:13 pm
Ver.1 Dated February 22nd, 2019, 4:57 am
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