Description:
Just a stones throw away from the Gateway of India stands this Indo-Saracen style building of 1914, which is now the museum of Mumbai. The foundation stone was laid in 1905 by the visiting Prince of Wales and hence the name, Prince of Wales Museum. It was converted to a military hospital during World War I. Built with the yellow and blue stones quarried from the Bombay region, the dome is modeled after the Gol Gumbaz of Bijapur. It has small bulbous cupolas on towers, Saracen arches with Muslim jalis as fillers, semi-open verandahs and Rajput jharokhas, crowned by a sparkling white dome. It boasts a good collection of ancient Indus Valley artifacts dating back to 2000 BC, plus some priceless Tibetan and Nepali Art. Chief attraction here is the collection of over 2000 miniature paintings from the various art schools of India. Next to the Museum is the Bombay Natural History Society, which has an extensive collection of local flora and fauna.
