Prince of Wales in Mumbai
Location:Located at the Kala Ghoda stretch, it is one of the easiest landmarks to locate in Bombay.
About the Structure:
Designed by George Wittett in grand Indo Saracenic style, it is located in an ornamental garden and boasts a galleried central hall topped by a huge dome, said to have been inspired by the Golgumbaz in Bijapur, Karnataka. It incorporates a variety of details from different Indian styles; Saracenic arches with Muslim jails as fillers, semi-open verandahs and Rajput jharokhas. It houses a priceless collection of arts, sculptures, a fine collection of miniature paintings and much more. Amid the hustle and bustle of Mumbai, stand some stately buildings which are remnants of the British Raj.
It has been counted among 20 best museums in the world. It houses miniature paintings from the 16th to 18th centuries. The remains of the Harappan civilization and Mohenjodaro are also exhibited here. 30,000 ancient artifacts including Chinese Jade Pieces are housed here.
The Past:
This building was completed in 1914 and transformed to a military hospital during World War I. Lastly it was opened in 1923 by Lady Lloyd, the wife of the then governor of Mumbai, Sir George Lloyd.
Major Attractions in the Galleries:
There is a lot to see in the Museum. The Prince of Wales Museum is well laid out with a natural history section on the main floor, Indian miniature painting gallery, Nepali art and the Indian miniature painting gallery on the second floor; examples of the 19th C Pahari School of painting includes Shiva and Parvati, displays an extensive collection of art objects in glass, jade and porcelain and other decorative art exhibits in ivory, silver and wood from the late 18th and the 19th C.
The plan of the Museum is simple, with a central hall from which the staircase leads to the two upper floors with galleries branching out on the right and left. An excellent collection of Indian miniature paintings occupies much of the second floor. Some excellent examples of the 19th century Pahari School of painting displayed in the museum are Shiva and Parvati (Kangra), Uma worshipping Shiva. One can distinguish Shiva and Parvati where Parvati is offering Shiva a garland of skulls. Krishna with the Cows Herds (Garhwal, 18th century) and the work drawing of the holy Festival shows Krishna and his friends throwing color on Radha and her friends to commemorate the spring festival of Holi. Additional paintings of importance that are put on the display include: Aurangzeb reading the Quran (Pahari, Jammu), the painting of Raja Balwant Deva with his Barber (Jammu, 18th century) as one can almost study the barber's thoughts, the painting of the Lady with an Attendant and a Peacock (Pahari, Kangra, 1775) is remarkably beautiful. There are some typical examples of Deccani School of painting having pale green, mineral-colored backgrounds with figures placed squarely in the foreground. The collection of paintings from Bundi of the 18th century in this gallery deals with the theme of love. This floor also has fine examples of Nepalese and Tibetan arts, including a beautiful 12th century Maitreya, with his head surrounded by a halo, slightly inclined. The Buddhist and Hindu images in metal are gilded and studded with gems. Statuettes of Tara-the Buddhist goddess of compassion, Vajradhara-Lord of the Thunderbolt, and of Lakshmi Narayana are studded with turquoise, ruby and diamond. The tiny Avalokitesvara from Nepal of the 17th century is the most beautiful one.
The gallery on the second floor presents an extensive collection of art objects donated by Sir Ratan Tata and Sir Dorab Tata and it's interesting for those interested in glass, jade and porcelain. The collection includes objects carved in rock crystal, metal ware and lacquered woodwork. There are samples of Indian jewelry and object in silver, enameled jars and hookah stands. Some jade objects and samples of Bidri work are also on display. Fine examples of elaborate ivory work from Japan like the Cock on a Tree with feathers of ivory are also seen. There is also a section devoted to porcelain and glassware-much of it from China. It also contains two galleries of largely European oil paintings, including three murky Constables, a Bonnington and a Gainsborough.
There is a small gallery devoted to Indian prehistory and protohistory, consisting largely of primitive tools and ornaments excavated by Sir John Marshall in Mohenjodaro in 1922. On the first floor, in central balcony of the museum are displayed objects of decorative art in ivory, silver and wood of the late 18th and the 19th centuries.
At the entrance of the gallery to the left, in the first cubicle, is an illustrated manuscript of the Kalpasutra and the Kalikacharyakatha of western India, dated to the end of the 15th century.
The Natural History Section:
The Society houses spectrum of preserved flora and fauna. The Natural History Section has a large collection of Indian birds, a low-tech but educational display on snakes, and stuffed examples of the common suspects ranging from rhinos to monkeys and lions to deer. The highlight is certainly the freakish 20-foot-long fish. All the displays are well labeled.
Some Important Information:
Open from 10:15 am to 6pm daily, except Monday.
Entry Rs.10 for Indians, Rs.450/- for foreign nationals (which includes an audio tour in English, French, Japanese) If Indian's want to use the audio tour, it will cost them Rs.150/- more. Camera permits are Rs.30/- (you can't use a flash within the premises) and video camera permit is Rs.200/-
Entry for school going students is free on Tuesdays. Bags can't be taken inside, but can be left at the cloakroom just inside the main gate.
How to Reach:
It is easily accessible from all the bus terminals, railway stations and airport in Mumbai by all means of vehicles like cab/taxi, bus etc.