Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya: India’s Cultural Legacy

Great Monuments represent the great achievements of the dynasty, Death comes to everyone but giving a memorable sculpture for generations through their great work will shine until the sun grows cold! A once-standing monument now dazzles as a famous museum that tells the story of Indian history is The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya which was once known as the Prince of Wales Museum, located in Mumbai, India. 

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya is located in the heart of South Mumbai, near the Gateway Of India which has beautiful gardens. Formerly the Museum was known as The Prince Of Wales because it was built with the help of a British king known as The Prince of Wales, who later became King George V. 

Back in 1998, the government decided to change the name of the museum to The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya to honour Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who started the Maratha Empire.

If you want to know about the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya architecture, the building is combined with different styles of architecture like the Mughal, Maratha, and Jain empires. There are around 50,000 things available for you to see which have been split into Art, Archaeology, and Natural History. 

Apart from this, you can also find ancient findings that have been used in times like the Indus Valley, Gupta, and Maurya Periods. So don’t miss the captivating jewellery and glass collections, which provide a glimpse into India’s vibrant history.

History Of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya

The history of this iconic museum known as The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya goes back to the early 1900s when some important people in Bombay made a decision to construct a museum to honour the Prince Of Wales, who later became King George V.  The construction of the building started in 1905, and the opening ceremony of the museum took place in 1922. 

Once the construction of the beautiful museum was done it was called the Prince Of Wales Museum of Western India. Later by the decision of the government, the museum was renamed as The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya to honour Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who started the Maratha Empire.

Before the construction of the Museum, the building was used as a hospital and it was a place where shows were organised for children. Now if you have a look at this special old building it has been converted into a beautiful museum with a lovely garden around it.

Architecture Of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya

The iconic museum is really special and it lies in the list of Grade I Heritage Buildings with a beautiful garden around the building. The garden is so cool and fresh that it makes you feel like it has been constructed recently and has been maintained well attracting more and more visitors.

The design of the architecture of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya was made by a smart architect who was known as George Wittet. He was the architect who designed this beautiful museum, and he used very clever techniques to make the museum look unique.

George Wittet designed the museum in such a way that he mixed many styles together where he took the sculptures from Hindu, Saracenic, and Western Architecture. Apart from the architecture, the things you can see inside the museum include sculptures, paintings, and even the ancient findings that were used from the Indus Valley. They’ve also got sections about money and nature.

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Things To See In Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya

The Museum has a lot of amazing places where you can explore everything around there. The collection findings in the Museum lie around 50,000 which has been mainly divided into three main sections that is known The Art Section, The Archaeology Section, and The Natural History Section.

Apart from these three sections in the Things to see in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, there is also a special Forestry Section which holds a lot of different samples of a variety of kinds of wood which has mainly originated from the old Bombay Presidency.

One more section has a variety of collections of different kinds of rocks, minerals, and fossils from the local areas. In addition to these things, there’s a Maritime Heritage Gallery, which has a lot of collections which showcase the things related to sailing. 

In 2008, the Museum added two more new galleries to their collections known as the “Karl and Meherbai Khandalavala Collection” and the other one is “Coins Of India.”

• The Art Section: Various collections can be found in the Art Section of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya. As you can find the collections from Sir Purushottam Mavji, which was acquired in 1915, and the collection of this section has been donated by Sir Ratan Tata and Sir Dorab Tata in the years 1921 and 1933.

The main attraction of this section is the Dancing Krishna Statue from Nepal in the Nepal-Tibet Section, which dates back to the 18th century. The Museum offers different audio tours in six different languages. The miniature collection of this section has a lot of paintings that have been collected from different Indian Schools such as Mughal, Rajasthani, Pahari, and Deccani, ranging from ancient palm leaf manuscripts to 19th-century paintings.

They also have ivory artefacts from the Gupta era, textiles, Mughal jades, and European paintings. Other sections cover arms and armour, Nepali and Tibetan art, and even finely decorated armour worn by Akbar in 1581.

• The Archeological Section: The archaeological collections in the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya have some coins and sculptures from the Poona Museum which is located in Pune and the Bombay branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 

These collections helped the museum create an Archaeological Section with the most valuable sculptures and inscriptions. 

Apart from this, you can also find the ancient things used in The Indus Valley Culture where a separate gallery is organised which is known as Indus Valley Culture Gallery. In this section, you will find things that the people used later in that century such as fishing hooks, weapons, ornaments, and weights. 

In addition to this, the sculpture collections also include some of the beautiful things made from terracotta figures which were found back from the Gupta Period, the artefacts from the Chalukyan Era, and the sculptures from the Rashtrakuta Period. They also have artefacts from the excavation of the Buddhist Stupa of Mirpurkhas.

• The Natural History Section: The other attractive part of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya is the Natural History Section which played an important role to the Museum Trust to create a special area which is all about nature.

In this section of the Museum, they are displaying the setups that look like real habitats where animals live and they have models that look just like flamingos, great hornbills, Indian bison, and tigers to show visitors what these animals are like in the wild.

Hence, do not forget to visit Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, where you can explore art, archaeology, and nature. With its many different things to see and interactive displays, the museum takes you on a fascinating adventure through India’s history and wildlife.

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Best Time To Visit Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya

For each and every place there will be a best time where you can hang out with your friends, family, or loved ones. The Best time to visit Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya may fall from November to February when the weather in that place is quite cooler and more pleasant, as the temperature will range from 18°C to 30°C (64°F to 86°F) which makes you more comfortable for enjoying the museum’s collections. 

In addition to this, these months are also the peak of tourist season in Mumbai, where you can enjoy the lively atmosphere with different cultural events which happen near the Museum.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya Timings

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya Timings depend on weekdays and weekends. If you visit the museum on a weekday instead of weekends or public holidays, you’ll have fewer people around and more time to enjoy your favourite exhibits. The museum is open from 10:15 AM to 6:00 PM, so plan your trip accordingly to have a great time at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya Entry Fee

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya Entry Fee depends on different visitor types and also includes separate charges for audio guides. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya Entry Fee is as follows:

• Indian Adult Visitor (above 15 years of age):

Museum Entry Fees: Rs 150/-  

With Audio Guide: Rs 200/-

• Defence Personnel / Indian Senior Citizens (with Service ID card):

Museum Entry Fees: Rs 100/-

With Audio Guide: Rs 150/-

• College Student (with valid ID card):

Museum Entry Fees: Rs 75/-

With Audio Guide: Rs 125/-

• Group Indian Visitors (15 and more):

Museum Entry Fees: Rs 110/-

With Audio Guide: NA

• Children (5-15 years):

Museum Entry Fees: Rs 35/-

With Audio Guide: NA

• Students (through school up to 10th Std.):

Museum Entry Fees: Rs 35/-

With Audio Guide: NA

• Foreign Adult Visitor (above 15 years of age):

Museum Entry Fees: Rs 700/-

With Audio Guide: Complimentary

• Foreign Child Visitor (up to 15 years of age):

Museum Entry Fees: Rs 700/-

With Audio Guide: Complimentary

• Audio Guide (Domestic Visitors):

Museum Entry Fees: NA

With Audio Guide: Rs 75/-

Restaurants Near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya

There are some great places to eat near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya. Whether you’re craving local flavours or international cuisine, there’s something for everyone! The list of Restaurants near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya is as follows:

• Hitchki
• Chetana
• Bakehouse Cafe
• Restaurant 145
• Punjab Grill Fort
• Cafe Royal
• Copper Chimney
• Khyber
• Asian Town
• 145 Kala Ghoda

Places To Visit Near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya

Get ready to explore the cool places to visit near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya. There’s something awesome for everyone! The list of places is as follows:

• National War Museum Pune
• Girgaum Chowpatty Beach
• Bandra-Worli Sea Link
• Visapur Fort
• Sanjay Gandhi National Park Mumbai
• Korigad Fort
• Tungarli Lake
• Colaba Causeway
• Marine Drive Mumbai
• Global Vipassana Pagoda

Conclusion

Hence, the great monument known as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya is not just a museum, it is a lot more than that. 

The museum represents the richness of India’s Vibrant history and our culture. People can come across the museum and explore a lot of historic things that have been stored in different sections and get educated about the history. 

Tourists who visit the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya are immersed in the world of art, and architecture, and delve into the ancient artefacts where they can discover the wonders of nature all in one place. With dining options and nearby attractions, it offers an exciting adventure for all to savour!

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