The oldest museum in Mumbai, opened in 1872 as the Victoria and Albert Museum and restored to its gilded Palladian splendour, devoted to the decorative arts and social history of the city.
The Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum opened in 1872 as the Victoria and Albert Museum, Bombay, funded by public subscription from the city's merchant families and named after the physician and antiquarian Bhau Daji Lad, who led the campaign to found it. Set within the grounds of the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan, the botanical garden and zoo known to everyone as Rani Baug, the building is a Palladian revival hall with a colonnaded facade, gilded Corinthian columns, ornate cast-iron railings, Minton tile floors and a double-height central atrium lit from above. A meticulous conservation project completed between 2003 and 2008 stripped away decades of overpainting and restored the interior to its original gold, teal and crimson scheme, winning a UNESCO Asia-Pacific award for cultural heritage conservation. The collection is a portrait of nineteenth-century Bombay: clay models of the city's trades and communities, silver and copperware, lacquer, textiles, maps, photographs and architectural fragments, alongside a celebrated series of dioramas showing the industries and daily life of the pre-industrial city. The stone elephant that gave Elephanta Island its European name stands outside the entrance, moved here after the Portuguese-era statue collapsed on its original site. The museum also runs an ambitious contemporary art programme, with major Indian artists commissioned to respond to the historic collection. A visit takes one to two hours and slots naturally alongside the neighbouring gardens and the Byculla heritage precinct.
| Admission | Adult INR 20 (approx USD 0.21) for Indian nationals; INR 100-200 (approx USD 1.05-2.11) for foreign nationals · Child INR 10 (approx USD 0.11) for children aged 3-12 and students with valid identification |
|---|---|
| Hours | Thu-Tue 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM; closed Wednesdays and selected public holidays |
| Address | 91/A, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Road, Rani Baug, Byculla East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400027, India |
Why it matters
As Mumbai's oldest museum and the city's dedicated civic collection, it preserves the material record of nineteenth-century Bombay and stands as an award-winning example of heritage conservation in India.
Site facts
- Built
- 1872
- Architect
- William Tracey, with interiors restored in the 2003-2008 conservation project
- Style
- Palladian revival with gilded columns and Minton tile floors
Weather through the year in Mumbai
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C.
Location
91/A, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Road, Rani Baug, Byculla East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400027, India
18.9793, 72.8347 View on map
Highlights
- The restored gilded Palladian interior with Minton floors and a lit central atrium
- Clay models and dioramas of nineteenth-century Bombay trades and communities
- The stone elephant from Gharapuri that gave Elephanta Island its name
- Silver, textiles, maps and photographs documenting the city's growth
- A contemporary art programme staged inside the historic galleries
Tips for visiting
- Plan around Wednesdays, when the museum is closed
- Allow one to two hours, and add time for the surrounding Rani Baug gardens
- Look for the stone elephant outside the entrance before going in
- Check the current exhibition schedule, as contemporary commissions change through the year
- Combine the museum with a walk through the Byculla heritage precinct nearby
When to visit
Weekday mornings shortly after opening, when the atrium light is at its best and the galleries are quiet; the museum is a reliable refuge during monsoon downpours.
Accessibility
The ground-floor galleries are reached by a short flight of steps at the main entrance, and the upper gallery is accessible only by staircase; staff can advise on assistance at the ticket desk.
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Frequently asked questions
Why does the museum have two names?
It opened in 1872 as the Victoria and Albert Museum, Bombay, and was renamed after Dr. Bhau Daji Lad, the physician and antiquarian who led the campaign to establish it.
When is the museum closed?
It closes every Wednesday and on selected public holidays, opening otherwise from 10AM to 5:30PM.
What does the collection cover?
The decorative arts, industries and social history of nineteenth-century Bombay, including clay models, dioramas, silverware, textiles, maps and photographs, alongside contemporary art commissions.