The National Museum in Delhi is one of the largest museums in India. The Museum lo on the corner of the Maulana Azad and Janpath Road. National Museum Delhi houses the Institute of Conservation, History of Arts, and Museology.
The Museum is an unparalleled blend of the wondrous present as well as the glorious past. It covers all the departments, including Western Art collections, Jewellery, Archeology, Manuscripts, Epigraphy, Decorative Arts, and Central Asian Antiquities.
The National Museum New Delhi has in its possession over 200, 000 works of both Indian as well as foreign art origin. There has been a different and unique beginning of this Museum.
History of National Museum
The manufacture blueprint for National Museum was done by Maurice Gwyer Committee in 1946. There was a set up of an exhibition for the corporation of Britain and India by the Royal Academy which showed galleries of Burlington House in London during 1947-1948.
Then the same exhibition took place in Delhi in President House in 1949. This exhibition in India had success. With this event, the origin of the National Museum of India took place.
When this exhibition turned to be successful, then the Indian Government decided to build National Museum New Delhi with various feature displays. All the State Governments, private donors, and the authorities of this Museum participated in it.
And they all responded very calmly to these all. And thus right after two years of India Independence, on 15 August 1949, there was an opening for National Museum New Delhi.
Things to See in the National Museum Delhi
In this National Museum of India, you may find different and unique arts-related to different periods India has and its ruler. From the past years, India is under the rule of Rajas and Maharajas, and thus they have a unique History with it.
This National Museum states the time and things related to each rule over India, especially Delhi and many nearby areas. It is built in a special octagonal shape which the sections and phrases. The very first phase inaugurated in 1960. It even includes an Archaeological Survey of India building which is today in Dharodhar Bhawan.
The National Museum Delhi has three main floors along with the galleries. The first floor in the museum has the status of the university which is now present as a new campus in Noida. Also, there is The National Museum Institute on the first floor that has university status and will shift to Noida in the coming future. Here are various sections presented in The National Museum Delhi.
In the National Museum, you can enjoy many departments, including
- Archaeology
- Pre-history Archaeology
- Manuscripts
- Paintings
- Decorative arts
- Jewelry
- Anubhav
- Public Relations
- Conservation
- Publication
- Display
- Education
- Anthropology
- Pre-Columbian Art
- Decorative Arts
- Arms & Armour
- Numismatics & Epigraphy
Harappan Gallery
This area relates to the artifacts of Indus Valley Civilization that have antique pieces of Harappan Civilization. There are more than 3500 objects presented in the Museum associated with this civilization. The trendy purpose that refers to Indus Civilization is The Dancing Girl. It is made up of Bronze metal and has a close relation to the Harappan period.
In this section, there is a display for many seals which includes elephants, bulls, tigers, unicorns, unknown symbols, and crocodiles. One seal also depicts Pasupati with a vibrancy for human civilization.
Maurya, Shunga and Satvahana Arts Gallery
The National Museum Gallery consists of the most ancient things, including that from the 4th century BCE to 1st century BCE. This period has objects from Shungas, Mauryas, and Satvahanas. These all have a mirror finish on it showing those all things that have a close relation to Buddha’s Life.
However, in this section, there is no sculpture depiction for depicting Buddha in his physical form. There are special symbols related to Buddha including Dharmachakra, empty Throne, Bodhi tree, footprints, and much more.
Kushana Gallery
The Kushan Gallery in the National Museum shows the things related to the Kushan Period. At that time, the primary schools for art were Mathura School of Art and Gandhara School of Art. These include Standing Buddha made from Grey Schist Stone and have relation to the 2nd century.
This shows the physical forms of Buddha. Also, it depicted Jainism, Buddhism, and Brahmanism along with the Buddhist themes. Many other forms even included the Kuber who is the Hindu god, the Chattramukhi Shivilinga, Jain Votive plaques, and also the Bodhisattva.
Gupta Gallery
Gupta Gallery constitutes various artifacts of the Gupta Dynasty. Gupta Dynasty has a significant period in Indian History for its art and culture. Under the rule of Gupta’s, Indian sculptures acquired a standard form of skill in the present and the upcoming centuries.
It has lead to many developments in the case of iconography. During this period, Kushan Sculptures has even shown the perfection to the period with the transparent features. Also, the sculptures in the Gupta Gallery have even shown many scenes for Mahabharata and Ramayana.
Miniature Paintings Gallery
The most prominent and prestigious collection in the National Museum is Miniature paintings, on the paper, cloth, wood, and ivory. There are more than 17,000 areas in the miniature painting showing arts of nine hundred years back in The National Museum Delhi. It has significant pictures related to the styles of Mewar, Malwa, Bundelkhand, Mughal, and much more.
- Mughal Miniature Paintings
These miniature paintings highlight the Mughal rule in India. At that time, emperor Shahjahan and Jahangir were the main leads for the art topic. The painters in their forts go with the theme that relates portraitures to the lands, processions, and darbar scenes. It also consists of Islamic idiom styles and local traditions. - Central Miniature Paintings
For central India, paintings mainly consist of Bundelkhand and Malwa. - Rajasthan Miniature paintings
These paintings consist of Bundi, Mewar, Kishangarh, Kota, Jodhpur, Jaipur, and Bikaner. It also consists of themes related to Hindu mythology, compact composition, hunting paintings, and much more. - Pahari Miniature Paintings
Pahari Paintings including the description of Kangra, Guler, Chamba, and Basohli. Kangra has been the center of attraction out of all these stations.
Buddhist Artefacts Gallery
This section in the National Museum consists of the first Sacred Relics of Buddha. This section got inspiration from Sidharth Nagar in the UP that has several ornaments, fragments of bones, and the precious stones.
In the collection for Buddhist Artefacts, there are:
- Standing Buddha with dark grey schist stone
- The stupa, Pale Green Limestone, and Nagarjunkonda adoration
- Scenes related to the lifestyle of Buddha
- Elephants carrying away Buddha
- Sacred Relics from Piprahwa, Kapilavastu
Evolution of Indian Scripts & Coins Gallery
In this section, you will find many amazing stories regarding the changes in Scripts and Coins observed in India over time. It consists of Bronze Gallery. Manuscripts Gallery, Coins Gallery, and Central Asian Gallery.
Bronze Gallery
It shows the work of bronze in Indian History for art and sculpture. It has presented in the best and unique way. Also, the objects have the perfect and eye-catching layout on it.
Manuscripts Gallery
In the National Museum of Delhi, there are more than 14,000 manuscripts and other texts. These manuscripts are written in various languages with the scripts related to unique topics. These manuscripts are printed on paper, birch, cloth, leaf, and metals.
Coins Gallery
The National Museum Delhi consists of more than 1,30,000 coins collection of India that are reserved and rarely found these days with changing time. These coins are from the sixth century BC and to date. 6th century was the time when coins appeared for the first time. These are quite exciting to watch the currency of Indian history.
Tanjore and Mysore Paintings Gallery
In this section of the gallery in the National Museum, there is a description of the two primary schools in South – Tanjore, and Mysore. They have shown the paintings of Hindu Gods, including Rama, Krishna, Shaivism, and Vishnu.
Also, there is a description of many forms of Parvati, Shiva, Ganesha, and Kartikeya. It displays the past time of Tamil Nadu with the precious and semi-precious stones along with silver foil, mirrors, precious beads, stones, and powdered metals.
Tribal Lifestyle of North East India Gallery
This section of the gallery consists of the stories of total eight states of North–East India. There is a clear description of Culture, Handcrafts, Arts, and the tradition followed in the North-East states. It consists of traditional artwork related to apparels, dresses, ornaments, headgears, basketry, paintings, carvings on wood, and many articles on personal adornments.
Arms and Armour Gallery
Arms Gallery has the Stone Age description to the Modern Age. It consists of many projectiles, weapons, ritual weapons, sacrificial, and smashing weapons. Also, it has armor for men, ornaments, war accessories, and firearms. It also consists of a collection of Mughal times along with Sikh, Rajput, and Maratha arms in the best way as presented.
Audio Tour in National Museum
When you visit The National Museum Delhi, you can even have an audio guide to approaching what you have been watching currently. The Audio Tour Guide to this Museum is of 75 minutes which has covered various languages to guide people from different areas. It is available in Japanese, French, English, Hindi, and German.
How to Reach National Museum, Delhi
If you want to visit The National Museum New Delhi, then the Museum is also ready with prior arrangements for you. You can book arrangements by sending an email before 48 hours of visit. The best way to visit is through the nearest metro station to The National Museum.
How to Reach By Bus
Bus Stops to reach the National Museum in Delhi are 505, 522, 521, 532, 615, and 580. You can easily take your route through these stops.
How to Reach By Metro
The nearest metro station to The National Museum Delhi is Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhawan. You can take a route to Museum starting from this station. One other The National Museum Delhi nearest metro station is Udyog Bhawan.
Timing
The National Museum Delhi Timings for every day is from 10 am to 6 pm. Also, the Museum remains off for Monday every week. This day is a Gazetted holiday, and you can contact the Museum to have more details.
Ticket info
The National Museum ticket price is different for Indians and Foreigners. The ticket cost for Indian adults is INR 20, and that for foreigners is INR 650, which includes an audio guide for them. However, students who are still studying under 12th can enter for free of cost with their ID cards.
Conclusion
There are a few points that you need to know before entering the National Museum. You cannot click videos and photographs in the Museum and the things. However, if you want to take pictures, then you can use a handheld camera with permission. There is no extra fee for a camera in this. There is a total of three floors to explore in the Museum.
Places to Visit near National Museum
- India Gate
- Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial New Delhi
- Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts
- Nehru Memorial Museum & Library
- National Gallery of Modern Art
- Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum
- National Police Memorial
- National Rail Museum
- Agrasen ki Baoli
- Sri Bangla Sahib Gurudwara
- National Science Centre, Delhi
- Purana Qila Museum
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