The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) is one of the important arts and cultural museums in Mumbai in the state of Maharashtra.
This museum has been preserving some of India’s most treasured historic relics for over a century which makes it a landmark destination for locals and tourists in Mumbai.
The museum was born after some of the eminent personalities and distinguished citizens of Mumbai decided to build a public museum, first as a memorial, to commemorate the visit of the Prince of Wales (later King George V) in the year 1905
The building was initially used as a military hospital throughout the First World War. It was opened to public view only in 1922 after being inaugurated by Lady Lloyd, the wife of the then Governor of Bombay.
The design of the museum is a combination of Saracenic and Indian architectural forms. It was George Wittet, the famous Scottish architect known for his design of the Gateway of India, who designed the museum.
It is said that he was inspired by the building design of the Gol Gumbaz in Bijapur and the Taj Mahal in Agra.
The museum’s wide range of collection has archaeological artefacts and finds of the rich civilization and cultural values of the Indian subcontinent the Indus Valley Civilization, the Mughal rule and the Marathas among others.
The museum’s different galleries include cultural aspects of Nepal-Tibet, natural history, European history, etc. The arms and armour galley has the private armour of the Mughal ruler Akbar.
CSMVS, in collaboration with institutions like the Jehangir Art Gallery, has immensely contributed to the advancement of the neighbourhood of Kala Ghoda as a place for artistic studies.
It actively hosts many public programs such as seminars, workshops and documentary film screenings for students and general public.
The museum even conducts post-graduate diploma courses in heritage studies and conservation and museology and conservation.
