Museums in Bangalore
Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka, is known for its rich history and cultural heritage. The city has many famous museums that showcase Bangalore’s culture and heritage from art to science and technology. The best museums in Bangalore include the National Gallery of Modern Art, Karnataka State Museum, Gandhi Bhavan, and Visvesvaraya Museum.
The Karnataka Science and Technology Museum is a great place to learn about Indian history and science. Visvesvaraya Museum of Industry and Technology is a must-visit for anyone interested in technology and engineering. The National Gallery of Modern Art is another great choice for those looking to learn more about Indian art.
Best Museums in Bangalore
There are many museums in Bangalore that are worth visiting. Here is a list of the top 10 best museums in Bangalore.
- The Government Museum
- Gandhi Bhavan
- Kempegowda Museum
- National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) Brain Museum
- HAL Heritage Centre and Aerospace Museum
- Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum
- Philatelic Museum
- Indian Military Museum
- Karnataka Chitrakala Parishat
- Jawahar Lal Nehru Planetarium
1. The Government Museum
Government Museum in Bangalore is one of the oldest museums in India and the second-oldest museum in South India, which was founded in 1865 by the Mysore State. The Halmidi Inscription, the first Kannada Inscription, is kept in the museum. 18 galleries are located on two display floors that make up the museum. The galleries include sections on sculpture, numismatics, natural history, geology, art, and music. The museum is home to hundreds of other objects, including those that are only found there, 70 paintings, 84 sculptures (Hoysala, Gandhara, and Nolamba eras sculptures are found here), and more.
- Location: Kasturba Road, Bangalore
- Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM (Closed on Mondays)
- Entry Fee: INR 20 for adults; INR 10 for children
- Special Attractions: Halmidi Inscription, 18 gallery sections dedicated to sculpture, numismatics, natural sciences, geology, art, and music.
2. Gandhi Bhavan
Gandhi Bhavan, a monument to the life of Mahatma Gandhi, is situated on Kumara Krupa Road and serves as the location for several public discussions of Gandhian principles. The main objective of the Gandhi Bhavan in Bangalore was to spread Gandhian values and philosophies among the residents of the state. It also as a collection of the Mahatma’s rare photos and letters are kept in this location. There are displays of Gandhiji’s wooden shoes and drinking bowls made of clay.
- Location: Kumara Krupa Road, Bangalore
- Timings: 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM (Closed on Sunday and government holidays)
- Entry Fee: Free
- Special Attractions: Collections of rare images and letters from Mahatma Gandhi, as well as wooden shoes and clay drinking bowls.
3. Kempegowda Museum
A government museum called the Kempegowda Museum is situated in Bangalore, India’s state of Karnataka. It was built in 2011 and honours Yelahanka ruler Kempegowda, who is credited with founding Bangalore. The museum is situated on Mayo Hall’s top floor. The museum houses Kempegowda’s statue in addition to images of forts, temples, reservoirs, and inscriptions from his era on posters and in photographs.
- Location: Field Marshal Cariappa Rd, Shanthala Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Bengaluru
- Timings: 10 am – 5 pm (Closed on Saturdays and Sundays)
- Entry Fee: Free
- Special Attractions: Images of forts, temples, reservoirs, and inscriptions, as well as Kempegowda’s statue.
4. National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) Brain Museum
NIMHANS Brain Museum offers a voyage through a special collection of human brain exhibits. Live neuroanatomical demos where you may touch and feel the real human brain. They also have exhibits featuring more than 400 samples of diseased brains gathered over a 40-year period. Smokers’ lungs, pancreas, kidneys, heart, voice box, liver, intestine, electron microscope, and micrographs of nerve cells and organelles are also on display. Brain facts, brain disorders, and brain health advice are provided for public educational purpose.
- Location: Hosur Main Road, Bangalore
- Timings: 2:30 pm – 4 pm (Tuesdays)
10:30 am – 12:30 pm, 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm (Saturdays) - Entry Fee: Free
- Special Attractions: Live neuroanatomical demonstrations, 400 samples of diseased brains, Smokers’ lungs, pancreas, kidneys, heart, and other organs on display.
5. HAL Heritage Centre and Aerospace Museum
The first aerospace museum in India, the HAL Aerospace Museum, is located near Bangalore on the premises of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The Museum, which was founded in 2001 and is a part of the HAL Heritage Centre and Aero Space Museum, highlights the expansion of the Indian aviation sector and HAL over a 60-year period. Various aircrafts and their engine models, helicopters, aviation history is exhibited in the museum.
- Location: Police Station, Near HAL, HAL Old Airport Rd, Marathahalli, Bengaluru
- Timings: 9 AM – 4:30 PM
- Entry Fee: INR 50 for adults
INR 30 for children up to 18 years
Free for children up to 3 years - Special Attractions: The museum displays various aircraft and engine models, helicopters, and aviation history.
6. Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum
In honour of Bharat Ratna Sir M. Visvesvaraya, the National Council of Science Museums, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, founded the Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum in Bangalore. The structure built in Cubbon Park is a home for various industrial products, engines was inaugurated by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru.
- Location: 5216, Kasturba Rd, Near Chinna Swamy Stadium, Ambedkar Veedhi, Bengaluru
- Timings: 9:30 AM – 6 PM
- Entry Fee: INR 75 for general visitors
- Special Attractions: The museum displays about 20,000 items, including machines utilised by Visvesvaraya in his engineering endeavours, as well as a library with over 50,000 books and planetarium.
7. Philatelic Museum
The Philatelic Museum is situated next to Vidhana Soudha on the first floor of the Bangalore General Post Office. It displays a variety of stamps from various eras and countries. The Vidhana Soudha and Raj Bhavan are virtually just across from the GPO, which is conveniently situated and is in close proximity to the High Court.
- Location: Shanthala Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Bengaluru
- Timings: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (Closed on Mondays)
- Entry Fee: Free
- Special Attractions: It exhibits a wide range of stamps from many eras and countries.
8. Indian Military Museum
The National Military Memorial Park (NMM Park) serves as a holy reminder of INDIA’s gratitude to the troops from Karnataka who gave their lives while serving their country. NMM, built in the center of Bangalore next to Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Park, represents the fortitude, bravery, and commitment of the fallen troops. Plaques on the memorial’s walls will bear the names of the more than 22,000 troops who gave their lives while defending the country.
- Location: Raj Bhavan Rd, Vasanth Nagar, Bengaluru
- Timings: 9:00 am – 7:30 pm (Closed on Mondays)
- Entry Fee: Children – Free
Adult – Rs 15/-
9. Karnataka Chitrakala Parishat
A facility for visual arts is called Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath and is situated in Bangalore. The building contains 18 galleries. Permanent collections of paintings, sculptures, and folk art are displayed in 13 of these galleries. Leather puppets and paintings from Mysore are on display in the folk art collection. It is one of the best art museum in bangalore.
- Location: Art Complex, 1, Kumarakrupa Rd, near The Lalit Hotel, Kumara Park East, Seshadripuram
- Timings: 10:00 am – 5:30 pm (Closed on Sundays)
- Entry Fee: Rs 50/-
- Special Attractions: Collections of paintings, sculptures, leather puppets and folk art.
10. Jawahar Lal Nehru Planetarium
The Bangalore Association for Science Education (BASE) is in charge of running the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium (JNP). Jawahar Lal Nehru Planetarium is India’s top organization for non-formal science education and science popularization. The JNP hosts a number of engaging events for the general public and students like monthly stargazing, science club activities, science films, daily Sky-theatre performances, and watching astronomical phenomena, among other things.
- Location: Sri T, Sankey Rd, High Grounds, Bengaluru
- Timings: 10:00 am – 5:30 pm (Closed on Mondays)
- Entry Fee: Adult – Rs 75/-
Children – Rs 50/- (Below the age of 16 years)
School Students Group – Rs 40/- per head - Special Attractions: Science club events, monthly stargazing, science documentaries, sky-theatre performances and observing astronomical phenomena.
FAQs about Museums in Bangalore
The Government Museum in Bangalore is one of India’s oldest museums and the second-oldest in South India.
Gandhi Bhavan, Government Museum, and Kempegowda Museum are some of the famous historical museums in Bangalore.
Some of the best art galleries in Bangalore are the National Gallery of Modern Art, the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishat, and the Government Museum.
The Visvesvaraya Museum is a must-see for everyone interested in the history of science and technology in India. It’s also an excellent place to learn about the life and work of one of India’s most recognised engineers.
The museum displays about 20,000 items, including machines utilised by Visvesvaraya in his engineering endeavours, as well as a library with over 50,000 books. There is also a planetarium at the museum, which is popular with both children and adults.Best Museums in Bangalore: Government Museum, Gandhi Bhavan, Kempegowda Museum, NIMHANS Brain Museum, Aerospace Museum, Visvesvaraya Museum, Philatelic Museum, Indian Military Museum, Karnataka Chitrakala Parishat and Jawahar Lal Nehru Planetarium.