Museums are places of interest not only to historians, archeologists and students but also to visitors and tourists to the city. Delhi is the capital of India and has a lot of places of tourist interest and Delhi boasts of many museums where tourists throng.

Some of the larger museums in Delhi that attract a huge number of visitors because of the unique and interesting artifacts on display are the National Museum with its magnificent collection of historical relics and other objects that are up to 5000 years old, the National Archives has a big collection of manuscripts and historical documents that tell the history of India, the Rail Museum showcases the development of Indian Railways over a period of more than 150 years and similar other places.

There are smaller museums that are specific to a particular subject like the Doll Museum or the Crafts Museum or the museum of Natural History and even museums of philately (stamp collection) and well known personalities such as Pandit Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, Lal Bahadur Shastri etc.

Famous Museums in Delhi

Shankar’s International Dolls Museum

The well known artist, political cartoonist and social commentator Mr. K Shakar Pillai was the founder of this unique museum, Shankar’s International Museum. This museum has the largest collect of costume dolls in the world. Costume dolls are dolls that are dressed in the traditional dress of the country or region. They could also represent a certain sect or religion, occupation or historical era of the country. Just by looking at the dolls one can get a fair idea of the people, tradition and culture of the country from where the doll belongs. 

You can buy Indian costume dolls at the museum shop to give as gifts or mementos. These are crafted at  the museum workshop  for sale  to collectors of dolls and other doll museums across the world, as well as to exchange them with dolls received as gifts from abroad.

The idea of this museum came to Mr. Shankar after he received a doll as a gift from the Ambassador of Hungary. This doll was to be the prize at the International Children’s Art Competition that Shankar held every year.

Address: Shankar's International Dolls Museum
Nehru House,
Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg,
New Delhi

National Museum of Natural History

National Museum of Natural History on Barakhamba Road, New Delhi displays the natural wealth of our country viz. flora, fauna and minerals and its evolution till date. A visit to this museum is educative and informative for students and creates awareness and knowledge among the general public visitors. 

As a logical progression to this, there are many Regional Natural History Museums in other parts of India.

Address: National Museum of Natural History, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi
Open: 10 am - 5 pm

Monday Closed

India is a great country of many distinct ethnicities, cultures and history. Naturally there are different distinct arts and crafts that have developed in different geographical regions of the country. The Crafts Museum showcases these different arts and crafts in a Crafts Museum Complex at Pragati Maidan New Delhi.

The complex recreates the rural life with mud huts and terracotta houses. The exhibits are objects made using age-old Indian traditions in carving, painting, weaving, etching and sculpture, pottery, printing etc. 

Address: Crafts Museum
Bhairon Road, Pragati Maidan
New Delhi
Open: 9.30 am - 5 pm. Monday closed

There are two Archaeological Museums in Delhi; one in the Red Fort and the other in the Old Fort or Purana Qila. The museum in the Red Fort is located in the Mumtaz Mahal and displays objects related to the Mughal period.

The Archaeological Museum in the Purana Qila exhibits objects and artefacts that were found during excavations in the precincts of the fort.

There are objects that are dated back as far as 1000 BC. There are also objects that have been recovered from different parts of Delhi.

Address: Archaeological Museum, Red Fort, New Delhi
Open: 10 am - 5 pm. Closed on Fridays. Entry is free.

The National Rail Museum located in Chanakyapuri has more than 100 exhibits including static and working models of trains and other items related to the history of Indian Railways.

It showcases the long and illustrious history of the evolution of Indian Railways and proudly displays the heritage of one of the biggest Railway networks in the world. The museum covers an area of 10 acres where  real-life models of trains and engines, signaling systems, antique carriages furnished for Royalty, photographs and literature that show the development of Railways for over 150 years, are displayed.

Address: National Rail Museum
Chanakya Puri,
New Delhi
Open: October to March 9.30 am - 5 pm
April to September - 9.30 am to 7 pm
Entry Fee: adult Rs.3, children Rs.2

The National Museum at Janpath New Delhi has an admirable collection of art objects of Historical, Cultural and Artistic significance collected and curated  for display  and to preserve and protect them for our future generations.

A visit to the museum can give a fair knowledge about history, culture and artistic heritage of different time periods in different parts of India.

The National Museum with its paintings, objects of art, manuscripts, coins etc. truly represents India and her glorious heritage.

Address: National Museum, Janpath, New Delhi
Open: 10 am-5pm.