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Monday 3 April 2017

Prince of Wales museum,


Now it s known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS)
(Isn't a short and sweet name ? ;)

Loction
It is located between KALA GHODA and REGAL CIRCLE , Mumbai India,

Short History
The foundation stone of the museum was laid in 1905 by the Prince of
Wales during his first visit to city.( who later became KING GEORGE V)
This building was supposed to be a house for the children OR a hospice.
But as it was completed in 1914, during the World War I, therefore used as a hospital for the people who were involved into the war. Again during WW II it was used for same purpose and after that converted into the museum and still serve as a museum. Some also say that it was built as a museum to commemorate the first visit of King George V when he was a price of wales.

Brief intro to Design
It was designed by George Wittet in the Indo Saracenic style with Hindu and Muslim  touch. For eg the DOME  on top bears a striking resemblance of the GOL GUMBUZ at Bijapur which is a Muslim touch and on the blackish walls just below the dome one can see small lotus flowers and all the BRACKETS are the HINDU touch.
There is also a huge garden just outside the Museum. Here, YOU ( the reader) have to make a guess in comment section, that whose touch it is ? Is it a Hindu touch or a Muslim touch?
I will give you the ANSWER only if I get at least 10 guesses ;)

Collections
This is one of the biggest museum in Mumbai having around 50,000 historical artefacts related with sculptures, painting, arts, civilisations, terracottas found from Harappan Sites, trades and rulars.
It also has a great collection of Mughal miniatures, Buddhist, Jain and Hindu sculptures, handicrafts and tools and weapons used in different periods.

A large portion of the Art collection was gifted by Sir Ratan Tata ( current CEO of TATA Industry) including paintings, Oriental arms, a unique collection of jade, China and porcelain, Indian silver and bronzes. Some of the collection related with Mughals miniatures and Maratha relics were gifted by Sir Dorab Tata.
The museum also has paintings related with Rajputs and some rare artefact and paintings by the legal luminary is given by Karl Khandalawala, who was the trustee of the museum of several years.

To know more about the city, important buildings, people,places and stories behind them then don't forget to follow my blog and yea you can also read my another blog known as My Journeys and My Dreams



Prince of Wales museum, Now it s known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya ( CSMVS ) (Isn't a short and sweet ...