Chose a relatively quiet Sunday morning to head down to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, a mouthful to be sure, formerly the Prince of Wales Museum. The city changed it’s name from Mombay to Mumbai, and many things with colonial ties has been renamed.

The museum is fantastic though, and offered a respite from the commotion and intensity of the crowds and the heat.  Although there was no AC in most of the galleries.

The approach to the Museum is breathtaking.

With an interesting modern sculpture  by Satish Gupta prominently displayed on the edge of the lawn

Looked at from behind you can see  “The Buddhas Within”

Walking up to the main museum.

The building inside is exquisite, there was an audioguide which I had to replace a few times…

A great collection of galleries in the main wing.

Including art from the Tata family collections.

In the extended wing there are some natural history exhibits that let you get up close with creatures like this Rhino

And this white tiger in fierce mode.

Could anything be more terrifying to face than a King Cobra?

Or more strange how the Indian Cobra lays its eggs in a rat hole or termite mound.

The museum is mostly about beautiful objects that give insight into the history of India, such as this intricate jewelry box carved from ivory.

Part of the impressive collection of snuff boxes, used to keep powdered tobacco (and other things?)

This bell-like structure is actually the detail from a silver and enamel Huqqa pipe from the 18th Century.

Detail from Brahma pink sandstone 7th century sculpture.

This Ganesha is basalt from Maharashtra 11th C

Detail from 10th C bronze Buddha, Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu

Bodhisattva Maitreya detail, Nepal, 13th C

Mandala of Akshobhya, Sino-Tibetan style  19th C.

Plan de Bombay, 1703

Mughal artists diorama

Taj Majal from the river side, painting on ivory, early 20th C

Colors used in miniature paintings and their origins.

Different types of medieval Pagaris (turbans)

Full size recreation of painting of Maharawat Naharsingh and Champavatji in zenana.

detail from Ragini  Jogia Asavari, snake charmer, Hyderbaad  c. 1725

detail from Krishna removing a thorn from Radha’s foot.  Ivory, Gujarat, 19th C