There is a different group of tourists and travelers who love exploring museums. After all, museums are the ideal places to see restored goods, antique artifacts, ancient documents and what not. And for a history buff visiting a museum must be one of the most exciting activities. So, if you are in Mumbai then you surely need to explore the Prince of Wales Museum Mumbai or the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya. Moreover, this is by far one of the most significant museums in Mumbai along with being one of the popular tourist locations in Mumbai.
This is one of the locations that tourists from all over the world visit to explore the history of the land. Furthermore the museum exhibits more than 50, 000 artifacts here which is a major attraction in the museum. So if you are ever visiting Mumbai then you must plan a visit to the Prince of Wales Museum. Keep on reading this article and I will mention everything that you probably need to know about this museum. I will mention where is Prince of Wales Museum located, the Prince of Wales Museum entry fee and what you can expect to see there and a lot more. This will be a helpful read for you if you are planning a trip to this location in Mumbai soon.
Prince of Wales Museum Mumbai
Where is Prince of Wales Museum Mumbai?
Prince of Wales Museum is located at 159- 161, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Kala Ghoda, Fort, Mumbai. Maharashtra
Prince of Wales Museum timings: 10:15 am to 6 pm. Ticket counter closes at 5:45 pm. The museum is open on all days except on mandatory holidays like Republic Day on 26th January, Maharashtra Day on 1st May, Independence Day on 15th August and Gandhi Jayanti on 2nd October. These are the closed days.
There is a special show here and it is available in English language. Show timings are 11 am, 1 pm, 2 pm, 3 pm and 5 pm. However there are two Marathi shows here at 12 noon and 4 pm. It is a short film of 17 minutes duration called Mumbai Experience.
Prince of Wales Museum Mumbai ticket price
The Prince of Wales Museum ticket price for
Indian Adult – Rs. 85 for Museum entry and Rs. 35 for Children’s Museum. For entry in both it is Rs. 110 and for museum experience it is Rs. 50
Foreigner Adult – Rs. 650 for both Museum entry + Children’s Museum. And for museum experience it is Rs. 50
Children – Rs. 20 for both Museum entry + Children’s Museum. For museum experience it is Rs. 20
Student- Rs. 20 for both Museum entry + Children’s Museum. For museum experience it is Rs. 20
College Student– Rs. 40 for Museum entry and Rs. 35 for Children’s Museum. For entry in both it is Rs. 70 and for museum experience it is Rs. 50
Indian Senior Citizen– Rs. 60 for Museum entry and Rs. 35 for Children’s Museum. For entry in both it is Rs. 90 and for museum experience is Rs. 50
Defense Personnel – Rs. 60 for Museum entry and Rs. 35 for Children’s Museum. For entry in both it is Rs. 90 and for museum experience it is Rs. 50
India Visitors Group – Rs. 60 for Museum entry and Rs. 35 for Children’s Museum. For entry in both it is Rs. 90 and for museum experience it is Rs. 50.
You need separate photography passes for photography inside.
For Mobile and Tabs it is Rs. 50 and for photography with tripod tabs it is Rs. 5000. However for professional shoots and photography you must take prior permission. Also for photography for camera with a tripod the charge is Rs. 100.
There are audio Guides here and for that you will have to get separate passes from the ticket counter and the information desk. These audio guides are available in a total 7 languages which are Hindi, English, Marathi, French, Germany, Japanese and Spanish. The cost of the pass is Rs. 50.
How to reach Prince of Wales Museum Mumbai
Local trains
The easiest and cheapest way to commute in Mumbai is the local trains in Mumbai and you can reach the museum too. While travelling in the Central or Harbour line in Mumbai you will have to get off at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. From there you can take a cab to reach Prince of Wales Museum Mumbai. Moreover in the Western Line the nearest railway station to reach the museum is Churchgate. The train stations are about 2 km away from the museum.
Buses
You can also avail buses in the city if you wish to travel by a bus. However the frequency of buses are high so that would not be an issue. From the museum you will find many bus stops nearby. From there the museum is at a walking distance.
Private vehicle
You can also take your own vehicle to reach the museum as well. For a private vehicle you will find parking at Kala Ghoda and Hutatma Chowk. You can also take cabs or hire a car to reach the museum.
Overview of Prince of Wales Museum Mumbai
The Prince of Wales Museum Mumbai or the Chhtrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya or CSMVS is one of the most famous as well as comprehensive museums. It is a favourite spot for a lot of visitors who love to devour history and the historical past. Also, this museum has a huge number of exhibits which is almost around 50, 000. And with multiple galleries, various sections, and ancient artifacts it would take some hours for you to explore the museum properly. Few items of this museum date back to the 2nd century AD too. Over the years from the time of its construction the museum had only developed its area more and more. Also it has become a very remarkable and prestigious name in the list of museums as well.
In 2008 the museum went through a grand renovation and a lot of artifacts were added here and new galleries were opened. From artworks of Hindu God Lord Krishna to Indian traditional costumes it has a lot to exhibit. Also this space is not just a museum but also a venue to host various programmes as well. From seminars to exhibitions a lot of programmes take place inside the premises of this museum on a regular basis.
Prince of Wales Museum History
The main idea behind the construction of the Prince of Wales Museum was taken up on 14th of August, in the year 1905. The idea was to welcome the then Prince of Wales George V. In 1905, 11th of November George V laid the foundation stone of the museum. Initially the name of this museum was Prince of Wales Museum of Western India in his honour. The construction was completed in 1914 but it was not opened for public viewing. Famous architect George Wittet had designed this beautiful museum. In the initial years this was a military hospital and also acted as a Children’s Welfare Centre during World War I.
Later on 10th of January in 1922 the museum was finally opened for the general public. Furthermore in 1988 the museum was renamed as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya. After 2008 the museum got a makeover according to the modern needs. At present this museum is in the list of the prestigious Grade I Heritage Building. It had also bagged an award of 2010 UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation. Also Indian Heritage Society has awarded them with the award of Heritage Building Maintenance.
Architecture of Prince of Wales Museum Mumbai
Constructed on a semi circular land the museum is popular as the Crescent Site. The Prince of Wales Museum Mumbai is a beautiful structure that famous Scottish architect George Wittet has designed. However the building has a beautiful mix of Indo Saracenic style of architecture that looks flawless in its appearance. Along with arches, domes, pillars you will notice a mix of Mughal, Maratha, Jain and Western forms of architectural style in the construction. Also the inspiration behind this formation is the famous construction of Gol Gumbaz in Bijapur. Also the topmost portion of the dome is like a replica of the Taj Mahal.
Major attractions in Where is Prince of Wales Museum Mumbai
From both India as well as foreign lands, there are artifacts in the museum. Primarily there are three categories here, Art, Archeology and Natural History. From artifacts belonging to the Indus Valley Civilization to relics from various rules like Gupta, Chalukya, Mauryas, you will find a lot here. Also the museum houses more than 2000 miniature paintings which are rare. Decorative items like artwork made from wood, metal, ivory are also present here. There is a Special Natural History section in the museum as well that has a noteworthy collection of reptiles, amphibians, mammals etc. Also there is another section of arms and armory here. Furthermore this section has weapons, swords, shields etc.
You will also find a European Decorative Art Gallery here. Here you will find many decorative items like showpieces, jewelleries and collectibles. Also you will get an insight about Buddhist influence of the culture of India as well. Here you will also find a Costume Gallery and a Coin Gallery too. The Coin Gallery or the Numismatics Gallery is really interesting to look at to know about various periods in history. Also there is a Sculpture Gallery as well that houses relics from 2nd century AD.
Wrapping Up!
Visiting the Prince of Wales Museum Mumbai can be an enriching experience for sure and you certainly cannot miss out on this experience. The galleries in this museum are vast and elaborate as well as exciting. However if you actually give some time to explore the area you will get to know a lot about history. For history buffs this can be the ideal location to visit. But even for regular tourists this can be one of the most interesting locations that you can visit in Mumbai.
So when are you planning a trip to the Prince of Wales Museum Mumbai? Also do let me know if this article is helpful for you in planning a trip to this museum in Mumbai.
