Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum, Pune

The Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum in Pune is one of Maharashtra’s most beloved cultural institutions, dedicated to the memory of Raja, the only son of its founder Dr. Dinkar G. Kelkar (1896–1990). Dr. Kelkar spent over six decades travelling across India to assemble a vast and eclectic collection of objects representing the richness of Indian daily life, decorative arts, and cultural practices. The museum was formally established in 1962 and Dr. Kelkar donated his collection to the Government of Maharashtra, which now manages it. Spread across a three-storey traditional building in the historic Shukrawar Peth area of Pune, the museum houses over 20,000 objects, of which approximately 2,500 are on display due to space constraints. The collection includes sculptures dating back to the 14th century, ivory and gold ornaments, an exceptional collection of musical instruments, period-specific kitchen utensils, textiles, paintings, leather puppets, writing implements, terracotta figurines, woodcarvings, lamps, hookah pipes, toys, armoury, and coins. One of the most celebrated exhibits is the Mastani Mahal, a carefully reconstructed section of the palace of Mastani, the companion of Maratha Peshwa Bajirao I. The museum is open daily from 9:30 to 17:30 and is closed on national holidays. It remains a treasure trove for those seeking to understand the material culture and artistic sensibility of pre-colonial and early colonial India.