3 cities · 3 museums
The best museums in India are National Museum, New Delhi, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya and Indian Museum. World Museum Guide covers 3 museums in India across 3 cities, with admission prices, opening hours and highlights for each. Check each guide for current prices and free days.
Visitor information last reviewed 30 June 2026. Check the official museum site for current details.
| # | Museum | City | Admission | Time needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Museum, New Delhi | New Delhi | ₹650 for international visitors | 3–4 hours |
| 2 | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya | Mumbai | ₹500 foreign visitors · ₹85 Indian nationals | 2 hours |
| 3 | Indian Museum | Kolkata | ₹500 foreign visitors · ₹50 Indian nationals | 2–3 hours |
New Delhi, India
Art Museum · Best for history enthusiasts & first-timers
The National Museum in New Delhi was established in 1949 and holds over 200,000 works spanning 5,000 years of Indian history — from the Indus Valley Civilisation to contemporary art. It is India's premier museum on Janpath, near India Gate.
₹650 for international visitors · ⏱ 3–4 hours · Closed Mondays
Mumbai, India
Art Museum · Best for art lovers & history enthusiasts
Formerly the Prince of Wales Museum — Mumbai's premier museum in an Indo-Saracenic building near the Gateway of India, with Indian miniature paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts.
₹500 foreign visitors · ₹85 Indian nationals · ⏱ 2 hours
Kolkata, India
History & Archaeology · Best for history enthusiasts & art lovers
Founded in 1814 by the Asiatic Society of Bengal, the Indian Museum in Kolkata is the oldest museum in India and one of the oldest in the world. Its grand colonnaded building on Chowringhee Road has been Kolkata's principal repository of art, archaeology, and natural history for over two centuries.
₹500 foreign visitors · ₹50 Indian nationals · ⏱ 2–3 hours · Closed Mondays
The best museums in India are National Museum, New Delhi, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya and Indian Museum, ranked by visitor numbers and collection strength.
World Museum Guide covers 3 museums in India across 3 cities.
Admission varies by institution. Check each museum guide for current prices, free days and resident discounts.
