Museums in Maharashtra
Bombay Natural History Society
This private institution was established in 1883, A unique
centre, its activities are manifold and involve publications
like the Journal of Bombay Natural History Society, regular
newsletters and books on Indian animals, birds and nature.
The exhibits include replicas and specimens of vertebrates
and insects, mammals, birds, reptiles amphibians and fishes,
all from the Indian subcontinent. However, the BNHS is not
open to public and interested visitors should seek prior permission
for admission.
Heras Institute of Indian History & Culture
Displayed at the Heras Institute arc collections of Mesopotamian
antiquities like cylindrical seals and terracotta objects.
The Indian antiquities include prehisto'ric pottery, sculpture
from Gandhara, Mathura and the Gupta schools. There are Hindu,
Jain and Buddhist icons. However the most interesting section
is on Christian ivories from Gba. On view are images of saints,
the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ.
Prince of Wales Museum of Western India
Prince of Wales Museum of Western India, Bombay The Prince
of Wales Museum was established to commemorate the Crown Prince's
visit to Bombay in 1905. The future George V laid the foundation
stone and work began on the building which was designed and
built to represent the ancient and medieval architectural
styles of western India. The basalt stone structure with its
large central dome inspired by the Bijapur domes and beautiful
gardens are set in a crescent shaped piece of land.
Nehru Science Center
Nehru Science Centre exhibits actively involve the visitor
in discovering information through participation in the demonstration
process. A huge sprawling four storeyed building houses the
nine galleries. The hexagonal gallery, Science for Children,
has an assortment of exhibits where children play with soap
bubbles, primary colours, geometrical shapes and forms, tricky,
puzzles, all of which make science learning a tun thing. Sound
and Hearing and Light and Sight are specialised galleries
and explain how sound is produced and heard, what resonance
is, interference, echo, musical notes, the properties of Ught
and colour, use of lenses, complexity of the human eye.
Jehangir Nicholson Museum of Modern Art
This private museum, established in 1976, displays a superb
collection of contemporary Indian art. Almost all the well
known artists have their works exhibited. Also on view is
a collection of photographs.
Bharata Itihasa Samshodhak Mandal
In the quiet residential area of Sadashiv Peth lies the grey
stone building of Bharata Itihasa Samshodhaka Mandala. This
well known national research*centre was established in 1910
to promote the study of Indian history and culture as well
as to collect and preserve valuable source material to help
scholars in their research. Consequently the complex includes
a library, museum, picture gallery, study rooms and a well
equipped laboratory for the preservation of documents and
other antiquities.
Raja Dinker Kelkar Museum
This museum houses the collection of the late Dinkar Kelkar,
a dedicated art lover. The museum concentrates on the arts
of everyday life: pots, lamps, nutcrackers, pen and ink stands,
containers and other such functional objects, each perfectly
crafted and decorated. The wood carvings include carved wooden
doors and windows from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka and Kerala.
The metal objects include locks, ink pots, ritual bowls and
nutcrackers. There are also an assortment of oil lamns in
and copper. Another collection is of the paintings from addition
is the section on women, which depicts their important role
in Indian society.
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