Prince Of Wales Museum (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya), Mumbai

I’m sure even most Mumbaikars are not aware that Mumbai is home to a world class museum. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (formerly known as Prince Of Wales Museum) is definitely worth a visit.

Founded in the early 1900s, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya today houses about 50,000 artefacts and has an outstanding collection comprising sculptures, terracotta’s bronzes, excavated artefacts from the Harappan sites, Indian miniature paintings, European paintings, porcelain and ivories from China and Japan, etc. Besides these, the museum has a separate Natural History section.

If you’re not sure where to take your kids on a holiday, this is one destination you should definitely head to. Its natural history section is home to all kinds of animals & birds (although they’re not real, they look real enough, and its a lot better than the zoo).

Wild animals at the museum

For an entry fee of around Rs 100, there’s a lot for kids to see. If you’re with kids, as you enter the building, head straight to the birds & animals section (Natural History Section).

Aquatic / Marine animals at the museum

• Birds Section: Good collection of all kinds of birds
• Animal Section: The animal section has giant sized animals that will surely excite your kids. Animals to lookout for Deers, Black Bucks, bear, Rhinos, bison, monkeys, lion, tiger, squirrels, rabbits, mice, rodents, cheetah, elephants.
• Aquatic Life: Large displays of saw fish, crocodile, sea turtles and varieties of sea turtles & tortoise.

Birds at the museum

Estimated time: At least 1 hour to cover the childrens’ section (Natural History) alone

To Carry: Water bottle, other things will have to be checked in with the security

Review: Must visit

Getting There: 159-161 M.G. Road, Shahid Bhagat Singh Marg, Kala Ghoda, Fort, A little ahead of Jehangir Art Gallery, and before Regal cinema

Timing: Tuesday – Sunday.(Monday Closed) 10.15 a.m. – 5.45 p.m.

Website: csmvs.in

Internship opportunity for history enthusiasts at Mumbai Museum’

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), Mumbai’s primary museum (formerly known as Prince of Wales Museum) is offering internship opportunity to history lovers in Mumbai.

Students can join the summer internship for two months or more depending upon their college schedules.

Internship aspirants should be creative

Bilwa Kulkarni, the education officer at the museum said, “Over all other factors, we look for enthusiasm and creativity in applicants. Each year, we receive anywhere between 25 and 65 applications. Out of them, we select six to eight interns each summer, depending on our departments’ needs”.

Guided tours and other activities are organized

Kulkarni said “internship applications start coming in much before the museum opens to students. Even though we start advertising for the openings before summer, we start receiving applications by the end of February itself. We run guided tours and conduct daily activities, such as a miniature painting exhibition, block paintings and old stone tools”.

Apart from the guided tours various other activities are also organized by the museum for the students such as generating content for the museum and aiding at the front desk. “One of the treasure hunts created by previous interns is still in use at the museum,” said Kulkarni.

This seems to be perfect for students pursuing graduation and post- graduation courses.

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