The museum in question is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, or CSMVS, formerly known as the Prince of Wales Museum of Western India, which turned a century old on 10th January 2022. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2018, it was also declared the recipient of the prestigious ‘2022 Award of Excellence of the UNESCO Asia Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation’ on 26th of November 2022!

Before Prince Charles of Wales visited Bombay along with the Princess of Wales in November of 1905, a meeting was held at the Town Hall by prominent citizens of Bombay, each an outstanding contributor in their own field, and they resolved to erect a memorial in the form of a public museum to commemorate the visit of the Prince of Wales. When the Prince arrived in November, the Foundation Stone of the Museum was laid by him on the 11^th of November 1905. The cost of the construction was fulfilled by public contribution aided by the then Government of the Bombay Presidency.

A representation of the cultural heritage that would provide the public with an understanding of the tradition was the premise of the construction of the museum. Although the building was completed in 1914, it was made accessible to the public only from 10^th of January 1922. Until then, it served as a military hospital during World War I and the Spanish flu and also as a venue for Children’s Welfare Exhibitions.

The architect of the building, George Wittet, who is known for its Indo-Saracenic style of architecture, was chosen after an open competition in 1909. Indo-Saracenic style is a blend of Hindu and Mughal architecture that presents diverse architectural elements like cusped arches, domes, spires, tracery, minarets, and stained glass. However, the buildings in India that used Indo-Saracenic style of architecture incorporated a touch of British imperial structures like pointed arches, vaulted roofs, pinnacles, pierced open arcades, and open pavilions. The influence of British rule added the influence of the Gothic Revival and Neo-Classical styles to the already existing hybrid of Indian architecture and Islamic architecture.

Similarly, in CSMVS, the Indian architectural style is visible in the pillared hall and the arched pavilion, while the geometric pattern of the dome and intricate latticework shows Islamic influence.

Housing 70,000 artefacts that include an astounding collection of terracottas, sculptures, bronzes, Indian miniature paintings, Indian decorative arts, porcelain and ivories from China and Japan, excavated artefacts from Indus Valley sites, European paintings and decorative arts, and many more items, the museum has specific sections for every kind of antiquity. Additionally, there is a separate section for Numismatics and Natural History.

19 galleries include:

• Indian Sculptures
• Ancient Sculptures
• Buddhist Art
• Jain Art
• Inscription Gallery
• Ajayabghar
• Circular Gallery of Visual Art
• Krishna Art Gallery
• Indian Metal & Decorative Art Gallery
• Himalayan Art Gallery
• Indian Miniature Painting Gallery
• Prints and Drawings Gallery
• Jewellery Gallery
• Money Gallery
• Indian Textiles and Costume Gallery
• Natural History Galleries
• Special Exhibitions Gallery
• Children’s Museum
• Jehangir Nicholson Art Gallery

With a collection of over 30,000 books, periodicals, dictionaries, directories, encyclopaedias, atlases, gazetteers, reports of the Archaeological Survey of India, and reports on Indian Epigraphy, this library museum is one of the oldest reference libraries in the country. The genre of the book collection is vast, including subjects of ancient Indian history and culture, architecture, religion, anthropology, mythology, natural history, museology, conservation, archaeology, art, history and civilisation, geography, numismatics, Sanskrit literature, and many more themes.

In fact, the library also contains a significant collection of 200 rare books that comprises some substantial manuscripts mentioned below

• The Hymns of the Sacred Law of the Atharva Veda by Griffith and Ralph
•  Jataka Volumes 4, 5, 6 by V. Fausbøll (1896)
• Periplus of the Erythrean Sea by W. H. Schoff (1912)
• The Seven Lamps of Architecture by John Ruskin (1891)
• The Ain-I-Akbari, Volumes I & II by Abul Allami
• Bombay Western Volumes I & II by James Douglas (1893)
• Life and Teaching of John Ruskin by Mather J Marshall (1883)
• The Sixth Great Oriental Monarchy by Rawlinson George (1873)
• History of the Early Kings of Persia by David Shea (1832)
• Ancient and Medieval India Volumes I & II by Mrs. Manning (1869)
• India in Greece by E. Pococke (1852)
• Essays On Indian Antiquities by Edwards Thomas (1858)
• Life Of Michel Angelo Volumes I & II by Herman Grimm (1877)
• Artists and Arabs by Henry Blackburn (1878)
• Wonders of Flora by John B. Seely (1824)
• Selected Views in Mysore by Home (1794)

However, not all are allowed within the library premises. Graduate and Postgraduate students, Research Scholars and individuals pursuing serious study are allowed inside its doors.

Of the expansive 10,000 sq. ft dedicated to the Children’s Museum, 1200 sq. ft features the exhibition hall, an activity plaza, a 150-seater amphitheatre, an open terrace deck, a meet-up zone around a 95-year-old Baobab tree, where an artificial excavation trench in the middle of the green patch provides the vibe of an actual excavation site.

Not a usual characteristic of most museums, but one that makes CSMVS all the more relatable to the public is its museum shop. Donning a wide range of items that cover articles like greeting cards, brochures, bags with designs inspired by the art objects, bead necklaces, repousse copper plates, embroidered silk scarves, purses, posters, this is the perfect place to pick up a souvenir on the way out.

Book the tickets here

P.S. – The Museum remains closed on the following public holidays

January 26 – Republic Day

May 1 – Maharashtra Day

August 15 – Independence Day

October 2 – Gandhi Jayanti

• Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu or CSMVS, was once used as a military hospital during World War I. During that time, it was converted into the “Lady Hardinge War Hospital” to treat wounded Indian soldiers. It later served as the Children’s Welfare Centre and even as a hospital during the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918-20!
• Its stunning dome is inspired by the Gol Gumbaz in Bijapur, while its finial is modeled on the Taj Mahal’s.
• In 1906, its first artefact arrived: a plaster cast head of the Buddha, created and donated by Lockwood Kipling, father of author Rudyard Kipling.
• It houses over 70,000 artifacts spanning art, archaeology, and natural history!
• It received the “Award of Excellence” in the 2022 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) in Mumbai is ₹200 for individual Indian adult visitors, ₹40 for children (5–15 years), and ₹700 for foreign adult visitors. Tickets can be purchased directly at the museum or checked via their official portal.

Visiting the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya in Mumbai typically takes 2 to 3 hours. This amount of time lets you walk through the main art, history, and natural history galleries at a normal pace.

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (formerly the Prince of Wales Museum of Western India) was designed by Scottish architect George Wittet.

The biggest museum in Mumbai is the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), formerly known as the Prince of Wales Museum of Western India.

While most major cultural institutions in Mumbai charge a nominal entry fee, prominent free or donation-based art and culture spaces include the Jehangir Art Gallery in Kala Ghoda (free entry to view contemporary art exhibitions) and Mani Bhavan Gandhi Museum in Gamdevi (where Indian nationals can enter via a voluntary donation box)

The Museum remains closed on the following public holidays

January 26 – Republic Day

May 1 – Maharashtra Day

August 15 – Independence Day

October 2 – Gandhi Jayanti

The first and oldest museum in Maharashtra is the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum located in Mumbai. It was established in 1855 as a treasure house of decorative and industrial arts, and later opened to the public in 1872 as the Victoria and Albert Museum before being renamed in 1975.

The earliest known public museum is often attributed to Ennigaldi-Nanna’s museum, established in 530 BCE. The word, which originates from Ancient Greek ‘mouseion’ denoted a place or temple that would keep documents and items of art, philosophy, and research. Staying true to its meaning, over the years the concept of a museum has evolved and now includes a much wider range of artifacts for the public to learn about the history, art, culture, and socio-economic standing of various eras. CSMVS is no different. But what may seem astonishing is the exquisite collection of antiquities it commands that have either been donated or handed over as part of an exchange between museums.