What began as an exhibit of Indian art in London in 1947 grew to become this New Delhi museum, now one of the largest in India. The pieces in the permanent collection (which stretches to some 200,000 items) span the globe—don’t miss the section on pre-Colombian art from the region that spans Central and South America—but the museum’s main focus is on representing thousands of years of Indian art and culture. The galleries showcase a wide array of topics, from coins, armor, and textiles to miniature painting, musical instruments, sacred texts, and tribal artifacts. Start at archaeology and work your way through.
Statue of Indian goddess Shiva as Nataraja in dance of creation at National Museum. New Delhi. India
Renaud Visage/age fotostock
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India and Beyond
What began as an exhibit of Indian art in London in 1947 grew to become this New Delhi museum, now one of the largest in India. The pieces in the permanent collection (which stretches to some 200,000 items) span the globe—don’t miss the section on pre-Colombian art from the region that spans Central and South America—but the museum’s main focus is on representing thousands of years of Indian art and culture. The galleries showcase a wide array of topics, from coins, armor, and textiles to miniature painting, musical instruments, sacred texts, and tribal artifacts. Start at archaeology and work your way through.
5,000 Years of History at the National Museum
Showcasing over 5,000 years of weapons, paintings, artifacts, jewelry, photography, and manuscripts, the National Museum is the largest in India. The exhibitions are expansive and span three floors. Volunteers lead daily guided tours at set times, or you can pay a small fee for an audio tour. Be sure to view the Tibetan Manuscripts, Thanjavur Paintings, and Tribal Lifestyles. Note: Closed on Mondays.
