10 Must Visit Museums In India

OT Staff

Indian Museum, Kolkata, West Bengal

Established in 1814, it is India’s oldest museum. It houses rare antiques, fossils, Mughal paintings, Egyptian mummies, and Buddhist relics across six cultural and scientific sections.

Stone sculpture of Devi Durga at Indian Museum, Kolkata | Wikimedia Commons

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai, Maharashtra

Formerly Prince of Wales Museum, this Indo-Saracenic building displays art, archaeology, and natural history collections, including miniature paintings, weaponry, and artefacts from the Indus Valley civilisation.

Inside the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya | Wikimedia Commons

Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad, Telangana

One of the largest one-man collections in the world, it exhibits Persian carpets, European clocks, Japanese ivory, and the famous marble sculpture, Veiled Rebecca, among over 40,000 artefacts.

The Veiled Rebecca at Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad | BERNARD GAGNON/Wikimedia Commons

Government Museum, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Also known as Madras Museum, it’s famed for South Indian bronzes, Amaravati sculptures, and a vast numismatic collection. Established in 1851, it’s the second oldest museum in India.

Inside of Government Museum, Chennai | Wikimedia Commons

National Museum, New Delhi

Opened in 1949, the museum displays over 2,00,000 items including the Harappan Dancing Girl, Mughal manuscripts, and Buddhist relics from Piprahwa, tracing Indian history across millennia.

An ancient Buddha sculpture at National Museum, New Delhi | Wikimedia Commons

Shankar’s International Dolls Museum, New Delhi

Founded in 1965 by K. Shankar Pillai, it displays over 6,500 dolls from 85 countries, including a large selection of Indian dolls in traditional costumes and regional attire.

Inside the Shankar’s International Dolls Museum | factigiri13/instagram

City Palace Museum, Udaipur, Rajasthan

Housed in the iconic City Palace complex, the museum showcases Mewar royal heritage—armoury, paintings, royal costumes, and artefacts reflecting the opulence of the Rajput rulers.

City Palace, Udaipur | Shutterstock

Goa State Museum, Panaji, Goa

This museum documents Goa’s cultural and religious history with over 8,000 artefacts including Hindu and Christian sculptures, colonial antiques, and manuscripts in Devanagari, Roman, and Persian scripts.

Inside the Goa State Museum | Wikimedia Commons

Sundarbans Interpretation Centre, Sajnekhali, West Bengal

Located within the Sundarbans Reserve, this museum offers ecological insight into mangrove biodiversity, Royal Bengal tigers, crocodiles, and conservation efforts through educational displays and dioramas.

A look at the Sundarbans Interpretation Centre, or Mangroves Interpretation Centre | travelwithgoonj/instagram

Napier Museum, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Built in 1855 in Indo-Saracenic style, it houses Kerala’s rich history—bronzes, wood carvings, and traditional musical instruments—alongside natural history exhibits in a landscaped heritage complex.

A view of the Napier Museum | Wikimedia Commons

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A person at an art gallery (representational image) | Pexels
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