Mumbai - Bhau Daji Lad Museum

A and I followed up the CSM Museum with another rainy day visit to the Bhau Daji Lad Museum which has been opened to the public only in January 2025. It is the oldest museum in Mumbai, conceived in 1855 as a treasure house for decorative and industrial arts for the Great exhibition of Prince Albert in 1851 (he exhibited the Kohinoor there). 

Bhau Daji Lad Museum

David Sassoon Clock Tower

Cannons

Terracotta Elephant found in the sea (6th century)

Prince Albert, the consort of Queen Victoria had this vision of organising a 'Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations' where he showcased the industrial wares and arts of all British colonies and thereby increase trade for these products. The exhibition was a first of its kind and a huge success and the idea of world fairs and exhibitions caught on.

Prince Albert statue (donated by David Sassoon below0

Queen Victoria

In 1856 (post the Great Exhibition) the Museum Committee was set up under the leadership of John Elphinstone and a museum was opened with the wares from the Exhibition in 1856. In 1862 a new building committee was formed with Dr Bhau Daji Lad (actually Ramachandra Vittal Lad, Physician, Antiquarian, twice Sheriff of Bombay among other things) and Jagannath Shunkersheth to raise money and they finally got the museum up and running by 1872 after raising funds and getting land granted. It was called the Victoria and Albert Museum and was housed in the vicinity of the Byculla Zoo and the Jijamata Udyan.

Buddha (Burma)

Taj Mahal

In 1975 it was renamed after Bhau Daji Lad who was instrumental in getting this project going. The building is a Grade II Heritage structure which was shut down from 2003-2008 for repairs and again due to COVID and only recently in January 2025 has it been reopened after renovation to the public.

Miniature paintings

Return of Rama and Lakshmana

The museum in set in green environs of the Jijamata Udyan, very pleasant. The clock tower of George Sassoon stands tall and stately over the park. The interiors of the museum are quite dramatic and intricate, unlike any I have seen so far. Lots of security and stuff, two floors of artifacts. 

Map of Bombay Fort

Among other things the museum has several archaeological finds, maps, historical photos, silver, copper and metal ware, models, costumes a rare 17th century manuscript of Hatim Tai, the iconic Kala Ghoda statue, a monolithic basalt elephant which has been recovered from the sea originating from Elephanta.

Replica of Meenakshi temple, Madurai

Kasi Vishwanath temple, Varanasi 

Statue of Mumba Devi

Stunning interiors from the first floor

Another view from the top

I found some stunning replicas of the Meenakshi temple, the Kasi Vishwanath temple, a lot of work around the modern architecture of the Indore palaces, precious maps of old Mumbai.

It was another lovely couple of hours spent in a wonderful place, quite and serene and surrounded by great art and craft of 175 year vintage.