Visiting museums in Gujarat should feature high on your list of things to do when you are traveling to this destination. Gujarat’s history stretches over 4,500 years from the age-old Harappan Civilization to the Mughal period. Museums in Gujarat house the ancient relics of the Indian civilization which offer a peek into the deep-rooted culture of this region.
Here are the 12 most famous museums in Gujarat
1. Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum
One of the most popular historical museums in Gujarat, Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum is housed within the legendary Lakshmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara.
The building constructed originally as a school for the Maharaja’s children, now is a museum exhibiting royal belongings dating back to the 19th century.
The museum houses works collected by Maharaja Sir Sayajirao Gaekwad III during his trips out of India along with a fine collection of paintings of European and Indian artists.
A must-visit for history buffs and art connoisseurs, the museum houses personal mementos and other artistic assortments that belonged to the Royal Gaekwad family.
ENTRY FEE – INR 25/100 FOR NATIONALS/FOREIGN NATIONALS
TIMINGS – MONDAY – SUNDAY 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM.
2. Calico Museum of Textiles
One of the most celebrated institutions of its kind, The Calico Museum of Textiles at Ahmedabad is the premier textile museum in India.
Founded in 1949 by the Sarabhai Foundation, the museum is famous worldwide for its distinguished and comprehensive collection of textiles and artifacts.
Exhibiting a wide array of textiles from court textiles used by the Mughal and provincial rulers of the 15th to 19th centuries, the museum houses one of the finest handmade antiques and modern Indian textiles.
ENTRY FEE – NIL
TIMINGS – 10:30 AM – 1 PM, all days of the week except Wednesday.
3. Auto World Vintage Car Museum
Located around 30 kilometers from Ahmedabad, this museum boasts around 115 vintage cars that are open for the public to drive on a 3.5-kilometer stretch for around 600 rupees.
Representing numerous of the greatest marquees of cars from all over the world and vehicles of all types and ages, the museum has an enviable collection of Bentleys, Maybachs, Jaguars, and Cadillacs.
ENTRY FEE – INR 50
TIMINGS – 9:00 AM – 2;30 PM
4. Baroda Museum and Picture Gallery
Built-in 1894 on the lines of Victoria & Albert and the Science Museums of London, the Baroda Museum and Picture Gallery provide a perfect glimpse into the past of Vadodara and its history.
The museum located within Sayaji Baug houses many artifacts ranging from structures and carved ceramics to architectural pieces and an Egyptian mummy.
A library housing almost 23,000 books and a 22-meter-long long blue whale skeleton are other major attractions at the museum.
ENTRY FEE – INR 5, ENTRY TO CHILDREN UNDER 12 YEARS EXEMPTED
TIMING – 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM, except for public holidays.
5. Kite Museum
The popular Kite Museum that houses some of the rarest kites in the world is a first of its kind in India and second in the world.
The museum houses a brilliant assortment of kites, new, vibrant dynamics, and kites as old as 70 years.
January is the best time to visit as it coincides with the Kite Festival which is celebrated with much fervor across Gujarat on January 14 every year.
TIMINGS – TUESDAY TO SUNDAY 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
6. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Memorial Museum
Set up in 1978, this is a museum and exhibition center dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Memorial at Moti Shahi Mahal, in Shahibaug, Gujarat.
The museum showcases artifacts and the belongings of Patel and also includes two multimedia halls that shed light on various aspects of Sardar’s life and work with interactive and experiential exhibits.
ENTRY FEE – ADULTS INR 20
ENTRY FOR 12-YEAR-OLDS AND ABOVE – INR 10.
Timings – 9.30 AM to 5.30 PM, closed on Mondays
7. Kutch Museum
Located opposite Hamirsar Lake in Bhuj, Kutch Museum established on July 1, 1877, is the oldest museum in Gujarat.
Earlier called Fergusson Museum, the museum was constructed in iconic Italian Gothic style and exhibits a diverse range of displays spread over textiles, weapons, silverware, sculpture, and artifacts.
The museum houses the largest existing collection of the Kshatrapa inscriptions, samples of the now-extinct Kutchi script, and the local currency of Kutch- Kori.
ENTRY FEE – INR 5
TIMINGS –10:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM. CLOSED ON WEDNESDAYS AND OTHER PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.
8. Darbar Hall Museum
Located within the “City Palace” in Uparkot, the Darbar Hall museum displays weapons, armor, palanquins, and chandeliers, from the days of the Nawabs who moved here in the mid-19th century.
Immensely popular for its rare collections, this museum is a must-visit for tourists visiting Junagadh which also houses a royal portrait gallery, including photos of the last nawab with his numerous beloved dogs.
TIMINGS – 10:00 AM – 1.15 PM and 2.45 PM – 6.00 PM. OPEN ALL DAYS EXCEPT WEDNESDAY, 2ND, AND 4TH SATURDAYS OF THE MONTH, EXCEPT PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.
ENTRY FEES – INR 5/INR 50 FOR INDIAN/FOREIGN NATIONALS.
9. Watson Museum
Named after Colonel John Watson, a British political agent in 1880, Watson Museum is a leaf straight out from the history books of Gujarat’s fourth largest city, Rajkot.
A major crowd-puller located in the center of the Jubilee Gardens in Rajkot, it houses extensive memorabilia of Colonial rule and is the second most important museum in Gujarat after Baroda Museum and Picture Gallery.
Possessing nearly 13,295 exhibits across 25 categories including sculpture, coins, Manuscripts, and miniature paintings, it’s the oldest and considered the best museum across Saurashtra.
ENTRY FEE – INR 5 /INR 50 FOR INDIAN/FOREIGN NATIONALS
TIMINGS – 9:00 AM – 12: 45 PM and 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM. OPEN ALL DAYS EXCEPT WEDNESDAY, 2ND AND 4TH SATURDAYS, AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.
10. Gandhi Ashram Museum
Located in Ahmedabad on the banks of River Sabarmati, the Sabarmati Ashram Museum has been a witness to many important historical events, most prominent among them being the Dandi March in 1930.
Gandhi lived for 12 years along with his wife Kasturba in the ashram which today houses a museum displaying a moving and enlightening record of his life and teachings.
A life-size oil painting gallery, quotations, letters, personal relics of Gandhi, and a library consisting of nearly 35,000 books are other added attractions at the museum.
ENTRY FEE – Free
TIMINGS – 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM
11. Aina Mahal Museum
Constructed with marble walls and adorned with gold lace and glass, Aina Mahal is an 18th-century palace in Bhuj located next to Prag Mahal.
Housing several rare paintings and collectibles from around the world, the palace was built during the flamboyant rule of Rao Lakhpatji in 1761.
After the top story of the palace was damaged in the 2001 Gujarat earthquake, the lower floor was restored which today houses the museum.
Beautifully carved doorways and exquisite balconies make the museum a crowd puller, which is easily walkable from most of Bhuj.
TIMINGS – 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM, ALL DAYS EXCEPT THURSDAY
ENTRY FEE – INR 20, PHOTOGRAPHY CHARGE – INR 30
12. Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum of Indology
Established in 1984 the museum is part of the Lalbhai Institute of Indology which was started in 1956 to preserve a repository of art, manuscripts, and archaeological objects of India.
Housing about 76,000 handwritten Jain manuscripts with 500 illustrated versions and 45,000 printed books, the museum has the largest collection of Jain scripts.
The museum also has precious old books written in languages such as Sanskrit, Pali, Old Gujarati, Apabhramsa, and Rajasthani.
TIMINGS – 10:30 AM-5:30 PM ALL DAYS EXCEPT MONDAY AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 10
[ You may also check some Gujarat Tour Packages to plan your trip ]
Related posts:
8 Off-beat Places to visit in Gujarat
Debashree Chakraborty
A travel writer by profession and self-professed addict to literature and travelling. Go through her penned down travel experiences on indianholiday.com
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