10 Museums in Mumbai to Put on Your Bucket List

It is common knowledge that India is a country dipped in a rich and varied cultural history. The city is blessed with many historical monuments and exquisite tourist spots that lure the attention of tourists from all over the world. From great architecture to charming interiors, the museums in Mumbai have an unusual attraction that pulls you in. Walking into the realm of its history, you can find your own special reasons to note down these 10 museums in Mumbai to put on your bucket list:

1. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya

The foundation for this age-old museum in Mumbai was laid in 1906 by the Prince of Wales, King George V, hence the name Prince of Wales Museum. This museum was designed by George Wittet. The perfect blend of the Indian and Saracenic architectural styles will take your breath away. Located in South Mumbai, this museum houses striking artefacts from during the Indus Valley Civilization and the exquisite Indian miniature painting collection.

Apart from the Indian artefacts, the museum harbors artefacts from the Mughal Empire and valuable objects from Nepal, Japan, Europe, Tibet, and China.

The visiting hours of the museum from Monday to Sunday from 10:15 AM to 6:00 PM. The entry fee for adults is INR70. For college students, it is INR 35 and for children and students is INR 20.

2. Mani Bhawan

If you wish to revisit the history of Mahatma Gandhi, you can get a first-hand experience of Bapu’s transition from childhood to adulthood by visiting the Mani Bhavan. This museum in Mumbai is a memoir of the Father of the Nation. Located in LaLaguna road in Mumbai, Mani Bhavan is the place where you can see the foundation laid by Mahatma Gandhi for many independent movements such as Satyagraha, Swadeshi, and Non-cooperation. His personal items are on display here and inspire us by shedding some light on the work and life of Bapu.

The visiting hours in the museum are from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM on all days of the week and there are no entry fees.

3. National Gallery of Modern Art

The building that once served as the palace of the Maharaja of Jaipur, serves as the National Gallery of Modern Art museum with a collection of over 17,000 works of art including paintings, sculptures, graphics and photography since 1850. This art gallery was established in 1954 and showcases the work of prominent people such as Rabindranath Tagore, Pablo Picasso, MF Husain, and Tayeb Mehta.

Egyptian artefacts such as mummies, statues, etc. are also put on display in this museum. Along with the art collection, this place accommodates a large library and several halls that host theatre programs on a regular basis.

The museum is open on all days except Monday and National holidays from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The entry into the museum is free for students up to class XII and for everyone else it is INR 20.

4. Railway Museum & CST Heritage Museum

Fascinated by CST train stations? If yes, then you will surely love the heritage gallery showcased in this museum in Mumbai. As it is known, Bombay was the first city in India to get trains. Entering the museum you will be amused by the carved dome with the sunlight dispersing through the colored glasses. You can also see the peacock carvings on the wall of the heritage building.

This museum also offers the chance to view the hustle and bustle of the main station terminal, sit in a glass-walled tea room and check out the colonial-era General Manager’s Wide Wooden Chair and the old brass bell. The old train with the green engine and red coaches can also be witnessed.

This gallery is open on weekdays from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM and there is an entry fee of INR 100 for students and INR 200 for others.

5. Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum

This museum was formerly called the Victoria and Albert Museum. Situated near the Byculla Zoo, it is one of Mumbai’s oldest and most valuable museums. The focus of this place is on the culture of Mumbai and was built in 1872. The courtyard of the museum has several items like the tall lamp-post, stone which once marked the end of Bombay Town and the elegant elephant from the Elephanta Island.

The visiting hours are from Thursday to Tuesday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. the entry fees for adults above 13 years is INR 10. For children below 13, the fee is INR 5. For infants below INR 5, the entry is free.

6. RBI Monetary Museum

If you have a hobby of collecting rare coins, the RBI Monetary Museum is the perfect place for you. India was one of the first countries to issue coins as currency. This museum in South Mumbai is a place for educating people about the history of the usage of money since ancient times.

This well-preserved museum exhibits the Panam Coins that were used all over India in the 11th century, but mainly in South India. They were also called Pottu Kaasu due to their size and are still used in some places during funerals and marriages.

You can visit the museum from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:30 PM to 5:00 PM.

7. Nehru Science Centre

This museum in Worli is usually overlooked by tourists but is one of the places you should definitely visit. It is located next to Haji Ali and boasts of scientific demonstrations and models on sound, energy, transport, and mechanics. Here you can also see the 3-D shows on the topic of human anatomy, science shows, and workshops.

The entry fee for the visitors is INR 50 and for special shows, it is INR 75. The visiting hours are from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM every day.

8. BEST Museum

BEST buses were the first public transport mean for the people of Mumbai. The 1938 version of the Daimler double-decker buses, old bus tickets, and miniature models are showcased in the museum.

The visiting hours are from Wednesday to Sunday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

9. Nehru Centre

The only planetarium in Mumbai is in the Nehru Centre in Worli. The objective of the museum is to educate and inspire the study of astronomy and outer space. The museum organizes Astro-poetry, Astro-quiz and science elocution contests on a regular basis.

It also has an art gallery and culture wing. The museum is also famous for its outstanding horticulture exhibits with a display of various species.

10. Bombay Natural History Society

Also called the Hornbill House in Colaba, Bombay Natural History Society is a museum exhibiting a variety of specimens of flora and fauna. It also houses the specimen of the now-extinct pink-headed duck. The museum is also an NGO working for marine and land conservation programs.

This museum remains closed on Saturday and Sunday and for other days it remains open from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM.

Futher Reading:

Gandhi Museum in Mumbai: Explore the Indian Independence History