National Museum, New Delhi
Quick answer
National Museum, New Delhi in New Delhi, India — 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. Open Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; closed Mondays. Admission: ₹650 for international visitors; ₹20 for Indian visitors. Allow 3–4 hours.
Visitor information last reviewed 30 June 2026. Check the official museum site for current details.
National Museum, New Delhi at a glance: hours, tickets and time needed
| Opening hours | Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Closed | Mondays |
| Admission | ₹650 for international visitors; ₹20 for Indian visitors |
| Booking | Tickets usually available on the day |
| Time needed | 3–4 hours |
| Best time to visit | Weekday mornings at 10 AM opening before tour groups. |
| Getting there | Metro: Yellow Line to Udyog Bhawan or Violet Line to Central Secretariat — 10-minute walk on Janpath |
| Address | Janpath Road, Rajpath Area, New Delhi 110011, India |
| Official website | nationalmuseumindia.gov.in |
Checked 2026-06-30 against the official website. Prices and hours change — confirm before you travel.
What is National Museum, New Delhi known for?
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.
The Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-daro — a 4,500-year-old bronze statuette from the Indus Valley — is the collection's most celebrated object. Buddhist relics, Gandhara sculpture, Mughal miniatures, and temple bronzes fill the galleries.
The museum was founded to preserve artefacts after Partition and draws on archaeological finds from across the subcontinent. The Central Asian Antiquities gallery holds Silk Road material from the Sir Aurel Stein expeditions.
Free guided tours run on selected days. Allow a full morning — the collection is vast and the building spans multiple wings.
Best for: History Enthusiasts · First-timers · Art Lovers
How long do you need at National Museum, New Delhi?
Allow 3–4 hours. A focused route through 4 must-see highlights at National Museum, New Delhi without museum fatigue. Follow the stops in order:
- 1
Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-daro
📍 Harappan gallery, ground floor
A 10.5 cm bronze statuette of a dancing girl — one of the most iconic objects of the Indus Valley Civilisation, discovered at Mohenjo-daro in 1926.
- 2
Buddha Relics from Piprahwa
📍 Buddhist gallery
Relics from the stupa at Piprahwa — among the earliest Buddhist material in the collection, with significance for the history of Buddhism in India.
- 3
Gandhara Buddha Head
📍 Central Asian and Gandhara gallery
Greco-Buddhist sculpture from the Gandhara region — Hellenistic naturalism fused with Buddhist iconography along the Silk Road.
- 4
Mughal Miniature — Jahangir Album
📍 Miniature painting gallery
Court miniatures from the Mughal period — refined portraiture and manuscript illumination from the imperial ateliers.
What are the must-see works at National Museum, New Delhi?
4 highlights that define the collection: Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-daro, Buddha Relics from Piprahwa, Gandhara Buddha Head and more.
Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-daro
Indus Valley · c. 2500 BCE
📍 Harappan gallery, ground floor
A 10.5 cm bronze statuette of a dancing girl — one of the most iconic objects of the Indus Valley Civilisation, discovered at Mohenjo-daro in 1926.
Buddha Relics from Piprahwa
Mauryan period · 5th century BCE
📍 Buddhist gallery
Relics from the stupa at Piprahwa — among the earliest Buddhist material in the collection, with significance for the history of Buddhism in India.
Gandhara Buddha Head
Gandhara · 2nd–3rd century CE
📍 Central Asian and Gandhara gallery
Greco-Buddhist sculpture from the Gandhara region — Hellenistic naturalism fused with Buddhist iconography along the Silk Road.
Mughal Miniature — Jahangir Album
Mughal court · 17th century
📍 Miniature painting gallery
Court miniatures from the Mughal period — refined portraiture and manuscript illumination from the imperial ateliers.
Collections and highlights
- • Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-daro — Indus Valley bronze
- • Buddhist relics and Gandhara sculpture
- • Mughal and Rajput miniature painting
- • Temple bronzes from South India
- • Central Asian Silk Road antiquities
- • Archaeological material from across India
- • Tribal and folk art galleries
Tips for visiting National Museum, New Delhi
- 1.
Best time to visit
Weekday mornings at 10 AM opening before tour groups. Closed Mondays.
- 2.
Crowds & busy periods
Busy with domestic tour groups mid-morning. Harappan and Buddhist galleries most popular.
- 3.
Tickets & booking
Affordable standard admission; foreign visitors pay higher fee — check nationalmuseumindia.gov.in. Audio guide recommended.
- 4.
Food & cafés nearby
Janpath cafés; Connaught Place restaurants 10 minutes away; limited museum café.
- 5.
Accessibility
Partial accessibility — older wings have stairs. Main galleries improved over time.
How do you get to National Museum, New Delhi?
- metro Yellow Line to Udyog Bhawan or Violet Line to Central Secretariat — 10-minute walk on Janpath
- auto-rickshaw From Connaught Place or India Gate — 5–10 minutes on Janpath
- walk 15 minutes from India Gate; Janpath shopping street beside the museum
Address: Janpath Road, Rajpath Area, New Delhi 110011, India
National Museum, New Delhi: frequently asked questions
Where are the Buddhist relics?
The sacred relics of the Buddha from Kapilavastu are displayed in a dedicated gallery on the ground floor.
Is photography allowed?
Still photography is allowed for an additional fee; tripods and flash are not permitted.
How long should I spend at National Museum, New Delhi?
Plan 3–4 hours for the highlights of National Museum, New Delhi. Our 4-stop route — Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-daro, Buddha Relics from Piprahwa, Gandhara Buddha Head and more — is designed to fit that time. Add extra time for temporary exhibitions, the shop and the café.
What is National Museum, New Delhi best known for?
The National Museum opened in 1949 in Rashtrapati Bhavan and moved to its purpose-built Janpath home in 1960. Its three floors are organised by period and medium. Key highlights include Dancing Girl bronze from Mohenjo-daro, Buddhist relics gallery, Mughal and Rajput miniature painting.
How do I get tickets for National Museum, New Delhi?
Admission: ₹650 for international visitors; ₹20 for Indian visitors. Tickets are usually available on the day, but booking online saves queue time in peak season. Official site: https://www.nationalmuseumindia.gov.in/
Where is the Dancing Girl?
In the Harappan (Indus Valley) gallery on the ground floor — a small bronze statuette in a dedicated case. One of the most requested objects in the museum.
How long should I allow?
At least 3 hours for highlights — Harappan, Buddhist, Mughal, and temple bronze galleries. A thorough visit takes a full day.
Can I combine with India Gate?
Yes — India Gate is a 15-minute walk away. Rajpath connects the museum area to the war memorial — easy to combine on a New Delhi sightseeing day.
Is National Museum, New Delhi open on Mondays?
No — National Museum, New Delhi is closed every Monday. It is open Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Plan a different museum for that day, and check the official website for holiday changes.
What are National Museum, New Delhi's opening hours?
National Museum, New Delhi is open Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM, and closed Mondays. Hours can change for holidays and events, so check the official website before you go.
Is National Museum, New Delhi free to visit?
No — standard admission is ₹650 for international visitors; ₹20 for Indian visitors.