There are many monuments, temples and tourist spots to explore in India. But people often look to do something new. Museums can be a great place to learn and experience that something new. They often get a rap of being boring and nerdy; however, many museums in the country will change your perception.
National Rail Museum
India has the largest rail network in the world. It has been the principal mode of transport for millions of people for more than two centuries. The Nation Rail Museum, Delhi celebrates this extensive and impressive network of our country. The museum is spread over 11 acres and houses the history of 160 years of Rails of India. Besides great displays, the museum also offers fun rides and simulators that can make you feel like a child again. The rail museum is a perfect place for a day out.
Location: Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi
For more information: National Rail Museum
Mayong Black Magic and Witchcraft Museum
Mayong is a small village on banks of the Brahmaputra formed by a community of magicians. These people believe that their magic is used towards the welfare of the people. The museum in Guhawti is known to display the ideas of these early magicians who built the village. The museum contains numerous mythological manuscripts and ancient texts of Black Magic and Ayurveda. Other exhibits showcase stone statues, old coins, artificial jewellery – necklaces made of bones and seashells and metallic rings, etc., that were allegedly used in ceremonies.
Location: Mayong, Assam
Human Brain Museum
Human anatomy is a complex yet fascinating branch of biology. The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience (NIMHN), Bangalore houses an interesting museum in their basement. The brain museum is known to have over 300 specimens of human brains belonging to people who lost their lives either of diseases or accidents. The exhibit shows anomalies and brain injuries. The museum also allows people to hold a real brain at the end of the tour. This is a great place to spend your day.
Location: Wilson Garden, Bengaluru, Karnataka
For more information: Museums of India
Paldi Kite Museum
Gujarat is known for its cultural artefacts around the country. Festivals are celebrated with great enthusiasm; one such example is Uttaran or the Kite Festival. The Paldi Kite Museum, Ahmedabad is an example of this enthusiasm. The brainchild of Mr Bhanu Shah, a kite enthusiast, donated his 50-year-old collection of rare kites to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. The museum houses some of the rarest kites in existence, making it the first of its kind in India and second in the world.
Location: Kocharab, Paldi, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
For more information: Museums of India
Virasat-e-Khalsa
Located in Sri Anandpur Sahib, the museum of Sikh culture and heritage is a beautiful exhibition of Sikh history. The museum building is designed by the famous architect Moshe Safdie. Safdie also drew designs for monuments like the Golden Temple and the Anandgarh Fort. The museum exhibits paintings, sculptures and artefacts depicting the past and the present of Punjab. It is the most visited museum in the country with over a million visitors every year.
Location: Anandpur Sahib, Punjab
For more information: The Heritage Lab
RBI Monetary Museum
Every piece of paper can tell a story, and when it comes to money, those stories can become a lot more interesting. The financial capital of the country houses a museum just to tell these stories. The monetary museum run by the Reserve Bank of India is an astonishing place to learn about the history of financial transactions in the country. They have exhibits dating centuries when transactions were done by cowry shells and beads.
Location: Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra
For more information: Museums of India
Sudha Cars Museum
Founded by the Guinness Record Holder for the largest tricycle K Sudhakar, this unique museum houses all sorts of unconventional and interesting cars. Cars made of items like pencils, cameras and even sharpers can be found in this quirky place. A small plaque on each exhibit tells when it was built, how much time it took to make, and the maximum speed it can reach. No wonder the museum describes itself as “the worlds’ only wacky car museum!”
Location: Bahadurpura West, Hyderabad, Telangana
For more information: Hyderabad Tourism
INS Kurusura Submarine Museum
Located on the shore of Ramakrishna Beach, Visakhapatnam stands tall this fish-shaped beautiful INS Kursura (S20) – India’s 4th submarine that was decommissioned in 2001, after 31 years of service. This is the first submarine in Asia to be transformed into a museum. The tour details the different aspects of a submariner’s life. For instance, visitors can see the torpedoes, the smallest possible bunker beds, toilets, kitchens, dive charts and communication equipment.
Location: Pandurangapuram, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
For more information: Vishakhapatnam Metropolitan Development Authority
