List of Popular Museums in Delhi

Not always can we spend our weekends in malls, just shopping? Sometimes, we feel the need to explore some new and interesting places, that are educative in their own ways. So, what better place than a Museum?

Delhi, being the National Capital, is home to numerous museums. However, in a hectic city life, it is impossible to visit all these museums. So, we bring to you a list of Top 15 must-see museums in Delhi. The list covers a wide variety of museums, from the metro museums to the toilet museum, which makes fun and interesting weekend outings in Delhi.

Metro Museum

It is South Asia’s first modern Metro Museum that has been inaugurated in Delhi. The Museum showcases the origin, history, and trajectory of the 32 years of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), which is India’s largest in the transportation realm, since Independence. The Museum has movies and documentaries which showcase the various difficulties, from underground metro lines to stations even in the busiest of roads, despite all the trials, the achievement lies in successfully bringing the Metro facility to the most crowded city- Delhi, that has touched thousands of lives and continues to do so.

• Address: Patel Chowk Metro station, New Delhi 110001
• Timings– 10 am to 11 pm (closed- Monday)
• Entry fee: Rs 8/- per person
• Visit duration: 30 minutes to 1 hour

National Crafts Museum

National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum (NHHM) or the National Crafts Museum, of the Ministry of Textiles, is one of the largest crafts museums in India. The museum inhabits various galleries like the Tribal and Rural Craft Gallery, Gallery of Courtly Crafts, Textile Gallery, Gallery of Popular Culture etc. It is also home to multiple textiles and handlooms like Bhoota Collection from Karnataka, rare Kashmiri ‘dushalas’, handkerchiefs from Chamba, known for their unique embroidery, rare brocade and Baluchari saris, Kutch embroidery. The museum area also has a village complex.

• Address: Bhairon Marg, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, 110001
• Timings: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM, closed on Monday.
• Visit duration: 1-2 hrs
• Entry fee: Rs.20/- for Indians & Rs.200/- for foreigners.

National Rail Museum

Michael Graham Satow, a rail enthusiast proposed the idea of a Rail Transport Museum (RTM). The museum is spread across 11 acres that have six galleries, both indoors and outdoors. Numerous steam, diesel, and electric engines have been preserved in the museum, which has been put on display.

• Address: Shanti Path, Near Bhutan Embassy, Chanakyapuri, 110021 Delhi
• Timings: Open from 9:30am – 5:00pm from Oct to March and is open till 7 pm from April to September.
• Entry fee: There is an entry fee of Rs 50 for an adult and Rs 10 for a child. Video photography is allowed at a nominal charge of Rs 100.
• Visit duration: 01:30 Hrs

National Police Museum

The Police Museum (1991) aims to showcase the methodology, used by the Indian and International Police against crimes. All of Police’s techniques and strategies are put on display for local people to know and gain knowledge about. This is an interesting museum to explore and gain knowledge about.

• Address: 4/2, Trimurti Marg, Diplomatic Enclave, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, 110021
• Timing: 10.00am – 5:00 pm
• Closed: Saturday & Sunday
• Entry fee: It’s free of charge
• Visit duration: 1-2 hrs

Sulabh International Museum of Toilets

The museum was established in 1992, by the Sulabh International and is dedicated to the global history of sanitation and toilets, aiming to expose its problems and inaccuracies. According to Time magazine, it is one of the weirdest museums that feature among the “10 museums around the world that are anything but mundane”. The Museum has exhibits from about 50 countries, which have been arranged in three sections of the “Ancient, Medieval and Modern”.

The sanitation artifacts have been collected from 3000 BC until that of the 20th century. This unusual museum makes for an unusual trip, which many may not want to visit, but this too will enlighten you about the evolution from ancient times up to modernity. It is a different perspective to ordinary means of learning history.

• Address: Sulabh Bhawan, RZ-83, Palam – Dabri Marg, New Delhi, 110045
• Timings– 10 am to 6 pm (Monday to Saturday)
• Entry fee: No entry fee
• Visit duration: 1 – 2 hrs

Nehru Museum and Planetarium

The Museum was earlier the residence of our first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru and later, it was turned into a museum in his memory. The Nehru Planetarium was set up for the promotion of astronomy education and promotes potential astronomers among the youth of India. The planetarium becomes a student’s hot spot during eclipses and meteor sightings. It is a must-visit for adults as well as children.

• Address: Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Teen Murti Bhawan New Delhi – 110011
• Timings: 9:30 am to 5 pm
• Closed: Mondays
• Visit duration: 1-2 hours
• Entry fee: Rs.50/- for adult, Rs.30/- for child (4-12 yrs) and Rs.20/- for School students.

Sanskriti Museums

Sanskriti Pratishthan or Sanskriti Foundation (1979) is a non-profit culture and arts development organization, which works to preserve and promote five major fields, namely Literature, the Arts, Music, Dance, Theatre, Journalism and Social/Cultural Achievement. Everyday objects made into artworks like spoons, saucers, etc are displayed in the collection called ‘Everyday Art’.

The Terracotta Museum has sculptures, figures, and artworks made by the tribals using terra cotta. The textile heritage of India is preserved in the Textile Museum. A trip to this Museum will want to recreate your living spaces with better artifacts.

• Address: Anandagram, Mehrauli-Gurgaon Rd, Aya Nagar, New Delhi, 110047
• Timings: 10 am to 5 pm
• Closed: Mondays
• Entry fee: Free
• Visit duration: 1-2 hours

Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum

This was the former residence of the late Prime Minister; Mrs. Indira Gandhi has now been converted to a museum. This is located on the Safdarjung Road in Delhi. The entry to this museum is free. Some of the personal belongings like the bloodstained sari Mrs. Gandhi was wearing when she was assassinated in 1984 have been put on display in the museum. There are also newspaper clippings, letters and photos. You will notice that there is an enclosed crystal pathway which is the place where Gandhi walked moments before she was shot down by two of her Sikh bodyguards.

• Address: Safdarjung Rd, Gymkhana Club, New Delhi, 110011
• Timings: 09:30 am – 05:00 pm Tuesday to Sunday (Monday closed)
• Entry fee: Free
• Visit duration: 1-2 hours

National Gallery of Modern Art

This art gallery is located in Jaipur House, near Khan Market. These houses consist of an amazing collection of the great Indian artists which were provided by the local artist at that point in time to the British patrons. The “Company paintings” is one such work which is housed in the art gallery. There are beautiful paintings of Amrita Sher-Gil, and the Nobel Prize–winner Rabindranath Tagore and amazing pieces by FN Souza and MF Husain. Photography is strictly prohibited here.

The gallery has a new wing right next to the former palace of the Maharaja of Jaipur. The gallery can be visited between 10:00am and 5:00pm on Tuesday to Sunday. Indians have to pay an amount of Rs 10 for entry and foreigners have to pay an amount of Rs 150 for entering the gallery.

• Address: Jaipur House, C-Hexagon Road, India Gate 110003 Delhi
• Timings: All days of the week except Mon 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Indian fees: Rs.20
• Entry fee for child: Free
• Foreign tourists fee: Rs. 500
• Visit duration: 1-2 hours

Tibet House Museum

This Tibet House is a small museum which displays all the ceremonial items, including sacred manuscripts, sculptures and old “thangkas”, Tibetan paintings on cloth. There are many artifacts which has been put on display in this museum like the jewelry, costumes, ancient weapons, ritual objects and household Most of these artifacts were actually brought to India by all the Tibetan refugees and were donated to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

The Museum at Tibet House stands by the Buddhist values of welcoming visitors from all over the world and specifically to encourage the Tibetan children and youths to know their roots and culture. There are many exhibitions held in the Tibet House which also cater to the requests for loans from Indian and international museums.

Many of the artifacts were brought to India by Tibetan refugees and donated to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Photography is strictly prohibited. There is a bookshop here which sells Buddhist books, chanting CDs, prayer flags and “katas”, sacred Tibetan scarves.

• Address: 1, Lodhi Rd, Institutional Area, Lodi Colony, New Delhi New Delhi
• Visiting times: From 9.30am – 1pm & 2-5.30pm from Mon-Fri.
• Visit duration: 1-2 hours
• Entry fee: Rs 10/-

National Gandhi Museum

This museum was originally set up in Mumbai, however after Mahatma Gandhi’s death this was later moved to New Delhi.  Some belongings and pictures of Mahatma Gandhi have been very nicely preserved in this museum, some of the items in the collection are a Satyagraha woodcut by Willemia Muller Ogterop, one of Gandhi’s walking sticks, teeth and his ivory toothpick, the shawl and the dhoti which was worn by Gandhi when he was assassinated, one of the bullets that were used to kill Gandhi, have also been preserved in the museum.

The museum was originally set up in a building in Kota House and was later moved to a mansion in 1957, and later was shifted to Raj Ghat and was then inaugurated by the president of India, Dr Rajendra Prasad in 1961. The library has a collection of Gandhi’s work as well as the general studies library, and there are two sections in this library one which showcases Gandhi’s work and the one which is a general studies library. Currently there are over 35,000 books or documents in the museum’s library. The library has an amazing collection of 2,000 journals in both English and Hindi languages depicting the life of Gandhi. The museum is open from 9:30am- 5:30pm, from Tuesday to Sunday.

• Address: M G Road, Rajghat 110002 Delhi
• Entry fee: No entry fee
• Timings: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
• Closed: Monday
• Visit duration: 1-2 hours

Also Read: Places to Visit In Delhi For Kids

National Science Centre, Delhi

National Science Centre—the pioneer of scientific development and research in the country, is a well-known center of tourist attraction. The National Science Centre is an important constituent of the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM). NCSM, Delhi is an autonomous body that is directly under the supervision and control of the Ministry of Culture of the Government of India. This center is dedicated to the cause of showcasing the technological and scientific advancements in India –along with creating and building up a general awareness about the various accomplishments of science.

The educational efforts made by the National Science Centre have largely contributed to the cause of students and is highly instrumental in encouraging innovative ideas and making people understand the facts of science among people. In a nutshell, you must visit the sprawling complex of National Science Centre, which has been a leader in preserving the culture and scientific heritage of India.

• Address: Gate-1, Bhairon Road, Pragati Maidan 110001 Delhi

Gandhi Smriti

This is the same place where the Father of the Nation”, Mahatma Gandhi was shot Dead by Nathu Ram Godse, on the 30th of January 1948. This is frequented by people who would like to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi. The museum situated on the Tees January Marg. There is no entry fee and photography is strictly prohibited. The visiting hours are 10:00am- 1:30pm and 2pm- 5pm. Closed on Tuesday and Sunday and on the 2nd Saturday of every month.

Concrete footsteps have been made to depict Gandhi’s footsteps, which lead to the area where he died, this is marked by a small pavilion which is known as the Martyr’s column. An indoor museum is also located which runs an animated multimedia exhibitions which showcases the “Pillar of Castelessness’, which is lit up each time people join hands.

There is another portion of the museum where there is series of glass-encased minifigures which depict the scenes from Gandhi’s life, also showcasing the historic 1931 meeting with the king at Buckingham Palace. One can even see the room where Gandhiji had spent his final 144 days, this is also open to the general public. You can see Gandhi Ji’s walking stick, spectacles, spinning wheel, chappals (sandals) and other personal items.

• Address: 5 Tees January Marg, Birla House, New Delhi 110011 Delhi
• Entry fee: No entry fee
• Timings: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
• Closed: Monday
• Visit duration: 1-2 hours

Shankar’s International Dolls Museum

This place is known for its collection of costume dolls from across the world. It may well be the ‘cutest’ place in the city. The International Dolls’ Museum is a brainchild of cartoonist K. Shankar Pillai’s and is one of the popular places in central Delhi. Created at the museum workshop, the dolls are handcrafted and appear essentially Indian.

One of the dolls from this huge collection of Indian dolls has also won the first award at the Dolls Biennial held at Poland in 1980. The museum features an amazing range of dolls, collected from all parts of the world including the countries such as United States, Great Britain, Middle East, Australia, Asia, New Zealand, Africa and other Commonwealth countries.

• Address: 4, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Nehru House 110002 New Delhi
• Entry fee:
• For adults: Rs 20/-
• For child: Rs 10/-
• Visit duration: Around 1 hour
• Timings: All days of the week except Mon 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Sangeet Natak Akademi Museum

Sangeet Natak Akademi is a pedestal, in its literal meaning, for all those artists engaged in performing arts and dance or drama of any sort. It contains a theatre which regularly stages complete forms of production performances. The Sangeet Natak Akademi Museum is aimed at preserving, promoting and protecting the theatre and the performing arts at large. Different parts of country hold in itself a rich heritage and a treasure trove of several forms of art. One would often and on wonder what makes this academy different from rest of vernacular centres. The answer is simple. This centre brings different art forms together under one roof and gives one a holistic picture of the arts.

Here artists can approach other artists forming a social platform that not only engages but provide a platform to learn from each other. It provides room to create a blend of sorts which is visible in different productions staged here every now and then. You can reach here to witness an interesting play, a dance drama/musical/orchestra form of the same, a reproduction of the same in a vernacular version, or merely other interpretation of the same play complemented with a fresh eye and a different point of view.

• Address: Rabindra Bhavan, 35, Ferozeshah Road 110 001 Delhi
• Visit duration: 2 to 3 hours
• Timings: 9:30am to 6:00pm (Saturday and Sunday Closed)
• Entry fee: Free

Also Read: 10 Best Backpacker Hostels in Delhi