Art has always stood the test of time as the nonpartisan expression of all that humanity is. Be it Picasso&rsquoa Guernica, emblematic of the Spanish Civil War&rsquos horrors, or Banksy lampooning American capitalism in the streets of metropolitan cities around the globe. Art encapsulates the mystery of our lives, the emotions we wrestle with and how we really are, as the dominant species on this planet. As such, the conglomeration of the most outstanding artistic achievements of our times is usually housed in museums all around us if only we take the time to stop and stare. After all, we can predict the future only by knowing our past. On 18 May, as the world celebrates International Museum Day, we bring you some iconic museums in India to consider checking out.
National Museum, Delhi
Located in the heart of the capital and known as India&rsquos national museum, the National Museum in Delhi houses an expansive collection of 200,000 artefacts spanning over 5000 years of Indian civilisation. The Gwyer Committee came up with the idea for such a place in 1946, and the museum that&rsquos now a repository of Indian history came to be established in 1949. Inside, viewers can admire the extensive display of ancient sculptures and paintings and archaeological finds from the Indus Valley Civilisation to the Gupta Empire, the Mughal Era to the British Colonial Empire. Antiques from as far back as the 4th century BC are arranged in categories like Decorative Arts, Numismatics, and Anthropology, among others.
Albert Hall Museum, Jaipur
The oldest museum in Rajasthan and serving as its state museum, Albert Hall Museum was initially envisioned as a concert hall. The Indo-Saracenic architecture of the Victoria and Albert Hall Museum stands replicated here, hence the name. Albert Hall Museum has an extensive collection of artefacts from different regions of the world divided into 16 art galleries. The museum looks particularly beautiful at night as the building glows with yellow lights. You can relax in the gardens with the stunning view of Albert Hall in the backdrop. Surrounded by lush green gardens, the foundation of Albert Hall was laid on 6 February 1876 when Albert Edward visited India. The ancient coins, marble art, pottery, carpets, and especially the Egyptian mummy will interest a lot of History buffs.
The Museum, Mumbai
Formerly known as the Prince of Wales Museum of Western India and originally called Chhatrapati Shivaji Vastu Sangrahalaya, this museum was set up in 1922 to commemorate the Prince Of Wales&rsquo visit to India. The Museum Mumbai stands as a prominent cultural archive at the core of the city of Mumbai and holds remnants of India&rsquos history even before British rule. The Museum Mumbai regularly updates its archive and adds items to its halls. Recent acquisitions include &ldquoDavid with Slingshot Porcelain&rdquo from Capo Di Monte in Italy and a stunning &ldquoPair of Swans in white and transparent glass&rdquo from Italy. Also on offer is a Post Graduate Diploma course in Museology and Conservation.
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