A nation’s past is measured in museums, or so the saying goes. Museums are a tangible gateway to the past and paint a beautiful, if not exactly accurate, picture of a bygone era. However, there are different types of museums, and not all houses have historical relics. Only archaeological museums do that. Besides those, there are museums for art, science, crafts and textiles, coins, technological and industrial history, etc. Delhi, India’s capital, has a veritable stream of various museums, so we bring 5 prime museums of Delhi.
National Museum, Delhi
It’s practically impossible to list Delhi’s museums and not have its most revered pride and joy – the National Museum at Rajpath. As an ode to the past, the museum houses around 2 lakhs, which means you can find interesting artefacts from the Indus Valley period and end with mementoes from the British Raj era.
On its exhibits, they display an array of weapons, manuscripts, textiles, and other nick-nacks from various eras. The museum’s coin collection is another thing you must pay attention to if you wish to see how currency differed from one era to the next. Thus, if you’re a major archaeology and history buff, visit Delhi’s National Museum.
Purana Qila Archaeological Museum, Delhi
A little obvious home for the capital city’s Archaeological museum is within the Purana Qila (Old Fort). The ASI went through numerous digging sessions within the Fort and unearthed a cache of treasures. As such, it became one of the most popular museums in Delhi and features many archaeological artefacts.
In chronological order, from ancient India to modern India, the artefacts are divided into various eras, like the Mauryan Age of the ancient period, to the Sultanate era, then the Mughals, and finally, way into the Colonial period. It also houses maps, textiles, important manuscripts and scrolls among the artefacts on display, giving visitors a taste of the nation’s glorious past.
National Gallery of Modern Art, Delhi
India was a land of cultures, a beautiful haven that saw the emergence and mitigation of several dynasties and their art with them. The National Gallery of Modern Art is a museum representing that diversity and presenting a tapestry of exquisite artwork. Housed within its walls, visitors can spy on artworks from modern artists as late as post-colonial times—prominent artists like Ranbindra Nath Tagore, Raja Ravi Verma, and some British painters.
The museum is located within a place of historical significance, i.e., Jaipur House, which once was a royal residence. Thus, if you want to explore an afternoon with some magnificent and regal modern artworks, head to this art museum near the India Gate.
National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum, Delhi
In the traditional days, handicrafts and handlooms were the backbone of the Indian economy up until the British’s exploitative rule. National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum in Delhi aims to preserve that part of our heritage and carry on the practice of crafting and weaving. The museum gives an illusion of an actual village from some bygone era, and visitors can walk through it appreciating the intricate craftsmanship of Indian craftsmen and weavers.
You can find handloom pieces from all over the country, from Kashmir to Karnataka, from Bengal to Rajasthan; the museum houses textiles, fabrics, and other such mementoes from different historical eras and places. There are even paintings and crafts in this museum that you’ve never encountered before so, if you want to enjoy the authenticity of Indian crafts, handlooms, and paintings, head to this museum.
National Science Center, Delhi
One of the largest museums in the city, the National Science Center is an ice-globe miniature of humanity’s quest for modernity and evolutionary development. Located on Bhairon Road, this museum opened its gates to the public in 1992 and has ever since been a beacon of scientific, historical knowledge. The museum boasts a varied collection of knowledge in the form of a planetarium, library, etc. They host occasional science fairs and offer internships and educational tours to willing pupils.
So, if you want to learn how humanity evolved throughout the ages and how the world works in atoms, make sure to pay the National Science Center an earnest visit.
It is always fun to explore museums. They provide such a wealth of knowledge for us to learn about our beloved past and also epitomize the perpetuity of the passage of time. From Indus Valley to post-colonial, from rails to aircraft, from handlooms to coins, from archaeology to biology, museums can be a treasure trove for learning information. There are around 30 museums within Delhi, and while some are more famous than others, the five museums mentioned above are the crowning jewels of the capital city.
They tell us about the richness of our past, the varied nature, and how far we’ve come over the centuries. Other museums of New Delhi include the Indian War Memorial, Nehru Museum and Planetarium, Tibet House Museum, Rail Museum, Gandhi Smriti Museum, etc.