10 Museums in India You Must Visit

Past has always been given immense importance especially in our country which boasts of a rich cultural heritage. Museums serve as both a place for education as well as entertainment. Along with being important tourist attractions, museums also attract many scholars. Whatever your purpose be for visiting a museum, here is a list of 10 most awe-inspiring museums in India:

Choose by interest: National Museum and CSMVS suit a broad art-and-history visit; Calico specialises in textiles; the Rail Museum and Dolls Museum can work well for families. BNHS is an appointment-based research collection. Hours and fees below were checked for this refresh; gallery closures and special charges can still change.

1) National Museum, Delhi

National Museum on Janpath, New Delhi, grew from the 1949 exhibition and moved into its present building in 1960. One of India’s major museums, it traces art and material culture across many periods. Look for Harappan objects, sculpture, paintings, decorative arts and coins. Collections and galleries rotate or close for work, so choose a few priorities rather than expecting every familiar object to be on display.

Visit planning: 10 am–6 pm Tuesday–Friday; 10 am–8 pm Saturday–Sunday. Closed Mondays and gazetted holidays. Indian adult ₹20; foreign visitor ₹500; students through Class 12 free with ID. National Museum visitor information.

2) Indian Museum, Kolkata

Indian Museum in Kolkata was established in 1814 and is India’s oldest major museum. Its collections span archaeology, art, anthropology, geology, zoology and botany. Egyptian antiquities, Buddhist sculpture, coins and natural-history specimens make it rewarding for a broad range of interests. Check the official notice board for current gallery closures; the Long Archaeology Gallery has a closure notice effective 6 July 2026.

Visit planning: Tuesday–Sunday, 10 am–6 pm; Mondays and listed holidays closed. Published entry: adult ₹75, under 18 ₹20, foreign visitor ₹500. Check the current notice board and confirm your intended galleries directly before travelling. Indian Museum visitor information and notices.

3) Government Museum, Chennai

The Government Museum, also known as the Madras Museum, is in Egmore, Chennai. Established in 1851, it is one of the country’s oldest museums. Archaeology, bronzes, numismatics and natural history offer plenty to explore, while the museum theatre is an attraction in its own right. Give special attention to the sculpture and bronze collections, and check which buildings and galleries are accessible during your visit.

Visit planning: The official Chennai booking page lists Indian adult ₹50, child ₹25 and school student ₹20; foreign adult ₹250. Fridays and specified national/festival holidays are closed. Check the museum’s current opening and last-entry time before departure. Government Museum official visitor and booking page.

4) Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), Mumbai

Prince of Wales Museum in Mumbai is also known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya. It was established on 10th January, 1922 to mark the tour of Prince of Wales. The building itself is awe-inspiring with elements from Indo Saracenic, Mughal, Maratha and Jain architecture. It has a total collection of about 50,000 art works. These art works are sorted into three sections, namely – Natural History, Art and Archaeology. The section of Art consists of works contributed by eminent personalities like Purshottam Mavji, Dorab Tata and Ratan Tata. There are several ivory artefacts from the Gupta period too. The collection of coins present in the Archaeology Section is also praise worthy. In spite of all these grand collections being present, the main attraction of the museum is the special forestry section which has samples of timbers for display.

Visit planning: 10:15 am–6 pm daily; ticket counter closes 5:45 pm. Closed 26 January, 1 May, 15 August and 2 October. Basic entry: Indian adult above 15 ₹200; child 5–15 ₹40; foreign adult ₹700. Audio-guide categories and camera passes differ. CSMVS visitor information.

5) Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad

Located beside the Musi River, Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad brings together a wide-ranging collection associated with Salar Jung III and his family. Indian, European, Middle Eastern and Far Eastern works include paintings, sculpture, textiles, manuscripts, arms and decorative arts. Highlights described by the museum and district visitor information include Veiled Rebecca, the double sculpture of Mephistopheles and Margaretta, jade objects and historic daggers. Choose a few galleries to explore rather than trying to see everything in a rush.

Visit planning: The museum’s current homepage lists 10 am–6 pm, with Friday as the weekly holiday. Check the official ticket page for the live category price and photography charges; special closures may apply. Salar Jung Museum official site.

6) National Rail Museum, New Delhi

 

Located in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, the National Rail Museum opened in 1977. It presents India’s railway history through locomotives, royal saloons, carriages, models and interactive displays. The outdoor railway-yard setting is a large part of the visit. Rides and simulators add interest for families, but their availability and tickets should be checked separately; an individual locomotive may not always be on display or operating.

Visit planning: Check current entry and ride prices through the official National Rail Museum booking site. Museum admission, toy-train rides and simulators can have separate tickets or slots; do not assume that a general ticket includes every ride. Confirm opening days and last entry for your date. National Rail Museum official booking site.

7) Calico Museum, Ahmedabad

The Calico Museum of Textiles in Ahmedabad is known for historic Indian textiles, regional embroidery, religious hangings and woven and dyed fabrics. The Sarabhai Foundation’s wider galleries also include bronzes, Jain objects and miniature paintings. This is a guided, pre-booked visit, so choose the tour that matches the galleries you want to see rather than arriving for a casual walk-in.

Visit planning: Free entry with pre-registration, subject to available places. The Haveli tour is 10:30 am–12:30 pm and the Chauk tour 2:30–4:30 pm, Tuesday–Sunday; closed Mondays and public holidays. Book the appropriate tour and read age, arrival and bag restrictions. Calico Museum tour booking.

8) Shankar’s International Dolls Museum, Delhi

Source: homecabs.com/Visit/International-Dolls-Museum

Shankar’s International Dolls Museum was founded in 1965 by cartoonist K. Shankar Pillai. A Hungarian doll inspired his collection; Indira Gandhi later suggested a permanent museum when travelling exhibitions were damaging the dolls. The Children’s Book Trust now describes more than 7,000 exhibits from about 85 countries. Costume dolls and the Indian workshop’s regional designs make it an engaging way to look at clothing and cultural traditions.

Visit planning: 10 am–6 pm; ticket counter closes 5:30 pm. Mondays and specified national/festival holidays are closed. Confirm current admission charges with the Children’s Book Trust; admission prices can change. Children’s Book Trust museum information.

9) BNHS – India National Heritage Collection, Mumbai

Source: panoramio.com/photo/89316131

The Bombay Natural History Society, founded in Mumbai in 1883, is a research and conservation organisation with an important scientific collection of birds, mammals, reptiles, insects and other specimens. This is not an ordinary walk-in museum. Ask BNHS directly about permitted educational visits, appointments and any current access restrictions before including the collection in your sightseeing plan. Do not assume that every specimen is publicly displayed.

10) Napier Museum, Thiruvananthapuram

Located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Napier Museum was established in 1855. It has been named after the Governor of Madras, Lord Napier (1866-1872). The building was designed by the renowned architect Robert Chisholm. It has a remarkable collection of ivory carvings, a temple chariot, ancient jewellery, idols, historic and archaeological artefacts. Works of Raja Ravi Verma and Nicholas Roerich are contained in a gallery named Sri Chitra Art Gallery; there are also examples of Tanjore and Mughal art. The campus also has a zoological garden within the wider museum and zoo complex. The museum remains closed on Mondays and Wednesday till afternoon. Full of ancient beauty, it is a must visit if you are in this area.

Visit planning: 10 am–4:45 pm, with Wednesday opening at 1 pm. Closed Mondays and the holidays listed by the museum. Confirm the current ticket price and whether any neighbouring gallery or zoo requires separate admission. Napier Museum visitor information.

There is no better place to visit than a museum if you want to know about the actual history of a place.

This list is nowhere close to an exhaustive list of museums in India, but we have attempted to list only the top museums worthy of your visit based on parameters such as wealth of archeological objects, size, maintenance and location.

How to plan a museum day

Allow a few hours for a large museum and pick two or three collections to explore properly. Check the weekly holiday, last ticket sale, bag and camera rules, accessibility and any gallery closures. A camera pass, audio guide, special exhibition or ride may cost extra. Carry a valid student or other concession ID when relevant.

Combine your visit with nearby sights using our historic places guide. For railway interests, explore India’s heritage railway routes; families can also compare Bangalore outings with children.

Frequently asked questions

Credits and last update

This post was originally published on Trodly Travel Blog.  

Featured image by Ed Schipul

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Last updated: 17 October 2026. Museum visitor information, hours and fee guidance reviewed; official references and planning FAQs added, with original photographs retained.