National Museum, New Delhi

The National Museum in New Delhi is India’s foremost institution for preserving and showcasing the nation’s rich and diverse cultural legacy. Established in 1949 following a landmark exhibition of Indian art in London, the museum was formally inaugurated on 15 August 1949. Housing over 200,000 works of art spanning more than 5,000 years of history, the collection covers prehistoric archaeology, ancient sculptures, jewellery, paintings, decorative arts, manuscripts, Central Asian antiquities, and arms and armour. The museum’s galleries offer a chronological journey through India’s civilisational heritage, from the Harappan era to the Mughal period and beyond. It also operates a fully equipped conservation laboratory that restores organic and inorganic art objects, providing training to students and professionals from across India and abroad. A dedicated education wing runs gallery talks, guided tours, special lectures, and film screenings, making the museum accessible to students, researchers, and general visitors alike. The museum also oversees the National Museum Institute of History of Art, Conservation and Museology, a deemed university established in 1983. Located on Janpath, near India Gate, the museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00 and is one of the most visited cultural institutions in the country.