Bhau Daji Lad Museum (Byculla) Mumbai

Museum
Bhau Daji Lad Museum (Byculla)

About

Mumbai's oldest museum, originally the Victoria and Albert Museum, showcases a stunning collection of decorative arts, historical maps, rare photographs, and miniature models documenting Mumbai's transformation from seven islands to a megacity.

Basic Information

Timings

10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Closed Wednesdays)

Entry Fee

Rs 100 (adults), Rs 10 (children); Free for under 5

Best Time to Visit

Year-round

Place Type

Museum

How to Reach

Take Central Railway to Byculla station, then 5-minute walk to Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan (Byculla Zoo). The museum is inside the zoo gardens.

By Metro:

The nearest metro station is Mahalaxmi (1.7 km away) on the Line 3.

By Local Train:

The nearest local train station is Byculla (0.2 km away) on the Central Line.

Nearby Metro Stations

Metro stations within 5 km of Bhau Daji Lad Museum (Byculla)

Mahalaxmi
Line 3
1.7 km
2.0 km
2.2 km
3.3 km
Girgaon
Line 3
3.6 km
Kalbadevi
Line 3
3.6 km
4.2 km
Worli
Line 3
4.7 km
Dadar
Line 3
4.9 km

Nearby Local Train Stations

Local train stations within 3 km of Bhau Daji Lad Museum (Byculla)

Central Line
0.2 km
Central Line
1.1 km
Western Line
1.6 km
Western Line
1.8 km
Central Line
Harbour Line
2.0 km
Western Line
2.0 km
Central Line
2.3 km
Harbour Line
2.4 km
Harbour Line
2.4 km
Western Line
2.8 km
Harbour Line
2.9 km

History

Inaugurated in 1872 as the Victoria and Albert Museum, it was renamed after Dr. Bhau Daji Lad in 1975. A painstaking 5-year restoration completed in 2008 won the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award.

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick Information

Opening Hours

10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Closed Wednesdays)

Entry Fee

Rs 100 (adults), Rs 10 (children); Free for under 5

Type

Museum

Best Time to Visit

Year-round

How to Reach

Accessible via local trains to Malad station, short taxi or auto-rickshaw ride

Location on Map
Activities
Sightseeing
Photography
Interesting Facts

The museum's restoration won the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award of Excellence in 2005

Houses exquisite 3D scale models of old Bombay buildings that no longer exist

Contains rare 19th-century photographs documenting Mumbai's colonial-era transformation

Travel Tips

The museum building itself is an exhibit - admire the restored interiors

Don't miss the 3D scale models of old Mumbai in the ground floor galleries

Combine with a visit to Byculla Zoo, located in the same gardens