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Top 10 Popular Museums in India

Deepa Kartha
A stunning country in the South of Asia, India is most popular for its deep-rooted culture. The multi-dimensional culture and diverse heritage of the country has fascinated people around the world.
The rich history, culture, traditions and heritage of India have been preserved in the popular museums of India in the most beautiful way.
National Museum, Delhi
The National Museum, located in India's capital city, is the largest museum of the country. Opened in 1949, this museum's exhibits cover the different religions, cultures and civilizations of the country.
You would have a great time viewing more than 200,000 artifacts: the collection ranging from pre-historic era to the modern times.
Indian Museum, West Bengal
History buffs would love the Indian Museum in Kolkata, West Bengal. Opened in 1814, the Indian Museum is the oldest and the most renowned museums of the country.
Established under the guidance of Dr. Nathaniel Wallich (a botanist), the exhibits of the museum include anthropology, archaeology, zoology, economics, botany, geology, art, etc.
Government Museum, Chennai
Also known as the Egmore Museum, the Government Museum is the second oldest museum in India.
Covering an area of 16.25 acres, the museum holds some priceless collection, including the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, antique Roman collection, palm leaf manuscripts, etc. There are also exhibits that depict the life and times during Pallava and Chola empires.
The Government Museum is also home to Connemara Public Library and the Museum Theater, where you would get to see Shakespearean plays even today.
National Rail Museum, Delhi
A museum that allures both kids and adults alike, the National Rail Museum in Delhi's Chanakyapuri is a haven for railway enthusiasts.
The museum follows the journey and evolution of the Indian Railways and displays everything from steam engines and locomotives to special carriages and saloons of the Maharajas. Children would enjoy a ride on the toy train at the Rail Museum.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Vastu Museum, Mumbai
Located in the capital city of Maharashtra, Mumbai, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Vastu Museum was earlier known as the Prince of Wales Museum. This museum was built in 1915 in the honour of the visit of King George V.
The exhibits of the museum include an art section, an archaeology section and a natural history section. You would find a collection of artifacts (paintings, artwork, sculptures, etc) from the Indus Valley Civilization, middle ages, Gupta and Chaulakya eras as well.
The architecture of the museum is special as well, as it is an amalgamation of various Indian architectural styles.
Calico Museum of Textiles, Ahmedabad
The Calico Museum of Textiles in Ahmedabad is a paradise of fabrics and ancient artworks. Established in 1949 by the industrialist Gautam Sarabhai and his sister Gita Sarabhai, the Calico Museum has a huge collection of Indian fabrics from all over the country.
Be it the cloth paintings of pre-historic time, the fabrics manufactured during the Mughal Empire, the Kashmiri Pashminas, the Persian carpets or the Ikat handlooms, everything here would enrapture the visitors.
Apart from textiles, the museum is also home to a variety of artifacts like temple hangings, South Indian bronze art, miniature artworks, furniture, etc. There is also a separate section for models and books related to textiles, arts and equipment used by weavers.
Shankar's International Dolls Museum
A one-of-a-kind museum, the Shankar's International Dolls Museum is the largest dolls' museum in India. Situated in Delhi, the collection of the museum includes dolls from 85 countries around the world.
Spread around in 160 glass cases, the museum holds almost 6500 dolls. Divided into two sections, the first section has dolls from UK, New Zealand, USA and Commonwealth of Independent States, while the second section has dolls from the Asian and African continents.
Sulabh International Museum of Toilets, New Delhi
New Delhi's Sulabh International Museum of Toilets is clearly an unusual museum. The purpose of the museum is to raise awareness about the lack of toilets and the unhygienic conditions of public toilets in the country.
The exhibits of the museum include different types of toilets from various eras and countries. The museum focuses on the evolution of toilet building from the ancient times to the modern era.
HAL Aerospace Museum, Karnataka
One of the popular attractions in Bangalore, Karnataka, the HAL Aerospace Museum is a tribute to the Indian aviation industry, both defense and commercial.
Opened in 2001 by the HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited), the museum holds various models of aero engines as well as real engines of aircrafts like Jaguar, Dornier and Kiran.
You get to know about the history of the Indian aviation industry, including the experiments, the possibilities and the achievements. Aviation enthusiasts would love the flight simulators and mock Air Traffic Control Tower at the museum.
Napier Museum, Trivandrum, Kerala
Named after the former Governor of Madras, Lord Napier, the Napier Museum is located in the capital city of Kerala, Trivandrum. The museum is an embodiment of the culture, lifestyle and heritage of ancient Kerala.
The exhibits of the museum include beautiful ivory, wood and bronze artifacts and carvings of Kerala, beautiful collection of textiles, artworks of renowned artists like Raja Ravi Varma, unique Mahabharata and Ramayana exhibits made with Japanese leather dolls, archaeological discoveries, etc.
While collections of the museum are brilliant, the Indo-Saracenic architectural style of the structure is awe-inspiring.