Timings: 10.15 am to 6 pm
Closed On: Monday
Description:
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya formerly known as the Prince of Wales Museum is one of the most interesting museums of India located on the Crescent site on the way to the gateway Of India in South Mumbai. It was built to commemorate King George V's first visit to India in 1905 and opened to the public in 1922. Designed by George Wittet in grant Indo-Saracenic style, the museum is set in an ornamental garden and boasts an impressive galleried central hall topped by a huge dome.This museum is divided into three floors with several galleries: art, archaeology, maritime, natural history etc. The ground floor gallery has a sculptures section and the natural history section. The natural history section has a large selection of Indian birds, snakes and stuffed animals ranging from rhinos to monkeys and lions to deer. The ground floor gallery has artifacts from Elephanta Island and Jogeshwari Caves. Other collections include terracotta figurines from the Indus Valley, ivory carvings, Chinese and Japanese art, portrait of Abraham Lincoln, and an excellent collection of Indian miniature paintings etc. In 1990 the museum was awarded Urban Heritage Award of the Bombay Chapter of the Indian Heritage Society.
