Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya

Overview

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), formerly the Prince of Wales Museum, is Mumbai's premier museum. Housed in a magnificent Indo-Saracenic building with Mughal domes and a central garden, it holds over 50,000 artefacts spanning art, archaeology, and natural history.

Highlights

• Indus Valley Gallery: A remarkable collection of artefacts from Harappan civilization sites, including seals, pottery, and bronze figurines dating to 3000 BCE.
• Indian Miniature Paintings: One of India's finest collections of Mughal, Rajasthani, and Pahari miniature paintings.
• Building: The museum itself, designed by George Wittet (who also designed the Gateway of India), is an architectural masterpiece set in lush gardens.

History

Founded in 1922 to commemorate the visit of the Prince of Wales (later King George V), the museum was renamed in 1998 after the Maratha warrior-king Chhatrapati Shivaji. A major renovation in 2008 modernized galleries while preserving the heritage structure.

Visitor Tips

• Audio Guide: The audio guide (₹100) with narration by Mumbai celebrities is excellent and well worth the small fee.
• Photography: Photography is allowed without flash in most galleries.
• Duration: 2–3 hours.