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A rich artistic culture present in Maharashtra can be seen in its art museum in Pune which offers a balanced and interesting mix of traditional and modern creativity. These paintings, sculptures, cultural artefacts and many more help conserve and display the rich and varied art history of India. Visiting Pune for its amazing art museums is a journey, far and wide filled with stunning works of art of local art and foreign art as well. Visiting Pune’s museums is a promise to an enriching experience that celebrates both history and innovation.
Top 10 Art Museums In Pune
Here is a list of the top art museums in Pune. Each of these museums contains a different kind of collection of artworks, from sculptures like classical pieces to modern masterpieces.
1. Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum
Photo: Miteshbhodia / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Raja Dinkar Kelkar appreciated artefacts and knick-knacks which ended up with him collecting roughly 20,000 items including furnishings, vessels, and hookahs to the rarest kind of puppet jewellery. This museum was dedicated to his son, who also occupied the Mastani Mahal and the well-known Institute of Musicology and Fine Arts. While walking through the exhibits of the Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum, witness some antique utensils dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries.
Timings: 10 AM – 5:30 PM
Entry Fees: ₹20 for adults, ₹200 for foreign nationals
2. National War Museum
Photo: Ertly / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
The National War Museum, established in 1998, is nestled inside the cantonment area of the Indian Army. It is one of the best museums in Pune and what makes it more interesting is that it is constructed and managed with public funds. The National War Museum is dedicated to the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives in warfare for freedom and gives you shivers down the spine, there is a gloomy story behind every soldier’s struggle and that is the fight.
Timings: 9 AM – 6 PM
Entry Fees: Free
3. Tribal Museum
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To understand the culture of India, knowing about its indigenous tribes is a must. Therefore, when in Pune, do not miss to visit the Tribal Museum. This museum located on Queen’s Road is a wing of the Tribal Research Training Institute. Founded in 1962 and with the artefacts and other things of cultural relevance shown to the public from 1965, this museum is one of the very few that keeps the ‘creative and surreal fancies of the tribal people in the state of Maharashtra. The museum houses a diversified collection of clothes, utensils, bamboo works, masks, household items, arms and ammunition etc.
Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM
Entry Fees: INR 10 for adults, INR 200 for foreign nationals
4. Joshi’s Museum of Miniature
Photo: Dave Gingrich / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
The vision of a mini-train museum was introduced in records and reached the Limca Book of Records in 2004. Established in 1998, the museum features exquisite and unique collections curated by B.K. Joshi. Spread out in a 26*26 foot hall, visitors will be awed by the sheer brilliance behind each pocket-sized engine train, swimming pool, flyover, lamp post etc. All these figures form an elaborate and intricate layout of a model village which is animated with a fully-functioning light and sound system.
Timings: 9:30 AM – 5 PM
Entry Fees: ₹90
5. Maratha History Museum
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Established in 1925 in Satara, the museum is a paradise not only for those who wish to explore the past of the Maratha Empire to the fullest extent but also for those who would want to understand Jamkhandi better. The ruler of Jamkhindi, a princely state in the Maratha Empire in present-day Karnataka, entrusted the entire cultural and historical material to the Maratha Museum in 1958.
Timings: 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Entry Fees: Fees
6. Sunil’s Celebrity Wax Museum
Photo: Karen Roe / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
This Museum is not precisely in Pune but is near as it is located on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. A modest version of the Madame Tussauds, this museum boasts the statue of the superhero of India – Shaktiman. Also, there is a statue of A R Rahman with two Oscars in his hands, a statue of Subhash Chandra Bose and a statue of Anna Hazare. Even a statue of Albert Einstein, a universal genius, Abraham Lincoln and Bruce Lee, are also present in the museum. So if you are going for a road trip from Mumbai to Pune or from Mumbai to Goa on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, this place is worth a stopover.
Timings: 9 AM – 9:30 PM
Entry Fees: INR 200 per person
7. Blades Of Glory Cricket Museum
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It is such a place where every die-hard fan of cricketers, say Sachin Tendulkar or Virat Kohli will feel right at home. This museum has it all, including the pink ball that was used on opening nights of the test series and the heavy bat of Tendulkar. Apart from his collection and a few other relevant items, the museum was inaugurated and opened to the public in 2012, by none other than Sachin Tendulkar himself. So, there is more to explore in the museum as the overall area of the museum is around 4,000 square feet which is quite big hence plan your visit accordingly if you wish to capture every equipment and relics kept inside.
Timings: 10 AM – 7 PM
Entry Fees: ₹100 per person
8. Shivaji Maharaj Museum
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The Shivaji Maharaj Museum is a private museum accessible to everyone, educating people about the real heroes of the past. Designed by Francois Gautier and opened in 2012, the museum presently boasts about nine buildings with each housing a unique and astonishing exhibit worth visiting. Apart from structures that transport you to strikingly different times of the Mughal and Rajput dynasties, the museum also boasts a temple dedicated to Mother India.
Timings: 9 AM – 6 PM
Location: Wadgaon Shinde Road, Pune
9. Gandhi National Memorial Society
Photo: Chatterjee rituparna / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
This museum is housed in part of the prominent Aga Khan Palace, built in memory of Mahatma Gandhi and his wife Kasturba. The Palace structure housed several prominent nationalistic leaders such as Gandhi, Kasturba, and Sarojini Naidu, all of whom were imprisoned after the Quit India Movement. Undeniably, the source of the entire museum’s attraction is the collection of pictures that transports one into a brief narrative of the past to experience the relevant history of the museum.
Timings: 9 AM – 5 PM
Entry Fees: INR 5 for Adults, INR 200 for foreigners
10. Mahatma Phule Vastu Sangrahalaya
Photo: Saarang Rajguru / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
In 1975, the Mahatma Phule Vastu Sangrahalaya was established. Among other things, there are marble sculptures, brassware, stone sculptures, and oil paintings. There is also armoury and craftsmanship together with geologic, forestry, natural history and other items. Besides, the museum also has a rare collection of books which aims at creating awareness about the vast and rich history and culture. In case you wish to participate in film screenings and lectures which are organized from time to time, do call in advance to ascertain their schedule for any exhibitions. This is one of those museums where you cannot help but appreciate and be awed.
Timings: 8 AM – 5 PM
Entry Fees: ₹20 per person
Art museums in Pune are perfect for delving into the history, traditions, and creativity. The exhibits covering historical objects to unique collections make each of the museums focus on heritages respective to India. Museums in Pune are guaranteed to be fun for every person whether for a lover of culture or simply curious about the stories behind the displays. Book a trip with TripXL and embark on a journey filled with the city’s history and creativity.
Cover Photo: Zde / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
