The museum building's foundation stone was laid by the Prince of Wales, later King George V, during his 1905 visit to India.
The central dome of the museum is modelled after the Gol Gumbaz in Bijapur and the Taj Mahal in Agra.
The museum houses a dedicated Children's Museum built as a glass-walled structure within the existing complex.
It contains a collection of rare Tibetan tankas and Nepali bronzes.
The museum's curatorial department regularly holds specialized exhibitions in collaboration with international institutions like the British Museum.
The campus includes a dedicated conservation center equipped to restore textiles, oil paintings, and stone artifacts.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) is Mumbai's premier art and history museum, housed in a grade-I heritage building designed in the Indo-Saracenic architectural style. Originally established as the Prince of Wales Museum of Western India in the early 20th century, it was renamed in 1998 to honor the Maratha emperor. The collection spans over 70,000 artifacts across art, archaeology, and natural history. The museum features a significant collection of Himalayan art, miniature paintings, and ivory carvings. It is managed by a board of trustees and serves as a major cultural research center. The architecture combines elements of Mughal, Maratha, and Jain styles, featuring a prominent central dome. Extensive galleries cover periods from the Indus Valley Civilization to the colonial era. It remains one of India's most highly-regarded repositories of regional historical heritage.
The main entrance foyer, which showcases the museum's intricate Indo-Saracenic interior architecture and grand staircase.
Download the museum's official audio guide app to your mobile device before entering.
Check the 'Current Exhibitions' page on the official website before arrival to see temporary displays.
The on-site museum shop offers high-quality replicas and scholarly publications related to the collection.
Do not attempt to see every single gallery in one visit; the collection is vast, so focus on specific periods or themes.
Open daily except for select national holidays.
Maintain a quiet volume within the galleries; flash photography is generally prohibited inside exhibition halls.
