Location: New Delhi
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Top 5 Art Museums in New Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi
New Delhi is all at once chaotic and calm, a complicated city where cows often wander the shanty-lined streets. The 17th century Red Fort is a mass of domes and turrets, while Chandni Chowk is an exercise in friendly haggling. Jantar Mantar features larger-than-life sundials and astronomical instruments that are still used to predict the weather. Travelers and locals flock to the India Gate, the national monument of India that honors the soldiers who died in World War I and the Third Afghan War.
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1. Sanskriti Museum of Everyday Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 36 reviews
Textiles, pottery and sculpture are beautifully presented in this under-visited gem.
Reviewed By amyAtlantaGA - Atlanta, United States
I visited this museum with our group of 10 folks. The museum guide that took us around was very knowledgeable. If you're interested in traditional crafts in India this is the place to go. We also had lunch there (scheduled in advance) and it was delicious. This museum was developed to support improving access to traditional Indian crafts.. as well as support for local artists (it has residencies). A mission to be supported by all. It also was green and wonderfully quiet.. a respite from the hubbub of urban India!
2. National Gallery of Modern Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 372 reviews
This quiet museum houses an excellent collection of modern Indian art but is rarely crowded.
Reviewed By tariques2017 - New Delhi, India
National Gallery of Modern Art at the time of its inception (1954) was compared to the 'Venice Biennale" by one of the leading newspaper of the country. It has surely come a long way since then. With its colossal collection of Paintings, Sculpture and Photography by some of the finest and renowned artists of India, NGMA is definitely 'The Mecca' for art lovers. Situated at the central Hexagon near India Gate inside the premise of Jaipur House, this museum is a must visit, I would say. The museum has been set up expertly into four floors, each displaying illustrations by different artists of different period. As you walk on each floor, appreciating the oeuvre by different artists, you get educated as how the Indian paintings got evolved from miniature ones to larger than life size paintings. The museum exhibits myriad genre of Indian paintings ranging from Buddhists, Hindu mythology, Mughal, British era, modern day paintings and abstract painting as well. At the time of my visit to this museum, the bottom most gallery displayed the photography by Nimai Ghosh, who captured in his camera, some of the memorable moments from the life of Satyajit Ray (Oscar Award Winning Bollywood Director). The second floor had collection from pre to post independent era. The third and the fourth floor was gracefully exhibited by modern day and abstract paintings. Sculptures have been placed in a very beautiful manner on second and third floor. The entire museum has been set up beautifully in a much uncluttered style and the lights have been used with absolutely perfect tone and intensity. Adjacent to Main Museum building lies the Jaipur House which is used to showcase the work of different artists from time to time. Presently, the Hall is exhibiting the great work of Upendra Maharathi and the exhibition has been named as "Shashwat". Maharathi was a true Gandhinian and had immense faith Buddha. His 112 feet long work of art depicting the life of Gautama Buddha is also on display. Conclusively I could say that this place is not just for the connoisseur of art but for the amateurs too as it is very educative and very enlightening. Important Info: 1. The museum is opened From Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. 2. Free Parking is available in front of gate no 3 of Museum 3. The entry fee for Indian citizen is INR 20 and that for foreign nationals is INR 500. 4. A guided walk is organised every day at 1130 am, 01:30 pm and 3:30 pm. This guided walk is free of cost. The guide helps in understanding the museum and the art in a much better way. 5. Photography is allowed inside the museum, but one can use only mobile phone cameras and not the professional cameras. Be sure to switch off the flash of your mobile phones while clicking photos. No selfie is allowed inside the museum. 6. Locker facility is available free of cost inside museum. 7. Museum Shop is situated right at the entrance of the museum.
3. Kiran Nadar Museum of Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 19 reviews
Established at the initiative of the avid art collector Kiran Nadar, the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) opened its doors to the public in January 2010, as the first private museum of art exhibiting Modern and contemporary works from India and the sub-continent. Located in the heart of New Delhi, India’s capital city, KNMA as a non-commercial, not-for-profit organization intends to exemplify the dynamic relationship between art and culture through its exhibitions, publications, educational, and public programs. The ever-growing collection of KNMA is largely focused on significant trajectories. Its core collection highlights a magnificent generation of 20th century Indian painters from the post-Independent decades and equally engages the different art practices of the younger contemporaries. In Kiran Nadar’s words, “Though the idea of opening a private art museum occurred with the intention of sharing my art collection with the larger public, I was also acutely aware of the existing dearth of institutional spaces that could bring visibility to modern and contemporary art from India and the subcontinent”. Sponsored by the Shiv Nadar Foundation, KNMA is plugging the lack of art promotion in the public sphere and is working towards encouraging art appreciation. . KNMA aspires to become a place for confluence, through its curatorial initiative and exhibitions, school and college workshops, art appreciation discourses, symposiums and public programs. It is focused on bridging the gap between art and the public and fostering a museum-going culture in India. In order to activate the museum as a site for visual and intellectual dialogue, the museum aims to develop innovative programs that seek active collaborations from artists as well as the public. KNMA is a noteworthy addition to the list of private art museums that are a part of the shift occurring in the art world across the globe with increasing number of collectors bringing out their collections to the public. The 34,000 square feet museum space has housed several critically acclaimed exhibitions that have celebrated Modern and contemporary art in the country and abroad. KNMA upholds the tradition of art patronage and continues to expand that definition through its education initiatives. It also collaborates with schools, colleges, NGOS, trusts This diffusion of knowledge is achieved through regular workshops where adults and children alike get to learn about new art forms and techniques as well as benefit from their interactions with the artists who frequently head these programs. Screenings of films, stimulating curatorial programs, and curated walks form an integral part of the museum’s ever expanding itinerary.
Reviewed By ankitsaint - New Delhi, India
The Museum is well maintained and has an extensive collection, considering it is a private one. The early pictures of pragati maidan, shr ram center and CSIR buildings had an impact on me ...it reflected the progressive mindset of that age and an encouragement of the arts, sciences, literature which truly takes people forward The art collection by MF Hussain, Souza, Raza and others is also quite varied and modern. There are also audio visual pieces in the camera room which I found enthralling. The descriptions of some of the pieces could be better though. Overall, a pleasant and relaxing experience..highly recommended.
4. Crafts Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 272 reviews
History is brought to life at this excellent museum, where artisans demonstrate traditional embroidery, weaving, carving and pottery.
Reviewed By Aikenfans - Aiken, United States
You must visit this museum! Crafts Museum is a terrible name - the place is so much more than that. It gives a wonderful look at the culture, the architecture, the crafts and the artistry for centuries of people from all over India. They have a stage in the center of the property, often with free concerts or dance performances. The museum is a delightful oasis. There is so much to see there. They have a really good, very casual, inexpensive restaurant. (Try to walk in and make a reservation 15 minutes before you are ready to eat.) The museum also has a shop with a lot of very interesting things, including books, for sale. Don't miss this delightful, enlightening place!!!
5. National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 30 reviews
Reviewed By Witoldzio
This place has a variety of folk art representing many regions of India, both in the open air and inside the buildings (some good AC is there too and one can nicely cool down!) The quality of the artworks is simply stunning. One can easily spend an entire day in this place just marveling at the art and learning about various regions. I wanted very much to know where these regions are located, but there were no maps as part of the exhibit (find them on your cell phone, I guess). A very nice cafe with delicious food is attached to this museum. The souvenir store has some very high quality items, but not cheap. The only serious problem was getting out, Uber doesn't recognize the location and asks to walk to the nearest junction, which happened to be under construction!
