Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum, Pune - Timings, Entry Fee, History & Artifacts
India | Maharashtra | Pune
#12 of 39 Places to Visit in Pune
Distance (From Pune Railway Station): 4 Kms
Trip Duration (Including Travel): 1 Hour
Place Location: Near Shaniwar Wada
Transportation Options: Bus / Cab / Walk/Trek
Travel Tips: None
At a distance of 4 km from Pune Junction and 1.5 km from Shaniwar Wada Fort, Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum is situated on Bajirao Road, Shukrawar Peth in Pune. It is one of the excellent museums in Maharashtra and also one of the top places to visit in Pune City.
The museum was founded by Dr. Dinkar G. Kelkar in remembrance of his only son, Raja Dinkar in 1962. He started gathering artifacts from 1920 to 1960. Initially, he used to exhibit these collections to friends and family. With the help of state government as well as local bodies, his collection started growing further. And in 1975, he handed his entire collection to the Government of Maharashtra.
Raj Dinkar Kelkar Museum houses various sculptures dating back to the 14th century. The three storey museum contains nearly 20,000 objects like paintings, handicrafts, armour-suits, musical instruments and many other objects of art and artifacts collected from all over the world. The building has been designed in a Rajasthani-style, but the galleries give a clear depiction of the life and culture of the Marathas.
The first floor galleries display brass and ceramic pots and dishes, utensils and wooden kitchen ware, such as decorated noodle makers. A large variety of textiles is presented in the Second Floor Galleries. The embroidered children's clothing is particularly delightful. There is also a remarkable range of brass lamps, figurines, ink pots, ritual spoons and betel nut crackers. The Ground Floor Galleries, which are visited only at the end of the tour, show ivory games, Betel boxes, pen boxes, chess sets, lime containers and carved wooden doors, many dating from Peshwa times.
The museum also houses carved wooden doors and windows from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Kerala and Karnataka. The Mastani Mehal is the main attraction. The other structures inside the complex include Research and Storage facilities and the Institute of Musicology and Fine Arts.
Timings: 9.30 AM to 5.30 PM on all days except on Public Holidays
Entry Fee: Rs. 20 for Indians and Rs. 200 for Foreigners.
