After paying a visit to the Siddhivinayak temple the next destination that I visited during my stay at Mumbai was the Prince of Wales Museum that is located at MG road, Fort, in the heart of South Mumbai. Presently this museum is renamed as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS).
This is the most prominent museum of Mumbai and witnesses a huge volume of tourists all the year round. The Prince of Wales museum is located quite near to the Gateway of India and was founded in the early 20th century by eminent citizens of Mumbai to venerate the visit of the then Prince of Wales. This museum was renamed in the early 21st century after the name of the great ruler and founder of the Maratha Empire, Shivaji.
This is the most prominent museum of Mumbai and witnesses a huge volume of tourists all the year round. The Prince of Wales museum is located quite near to the Gateway of India and was founded in the early 20th century by eminent citizens of Mumbai to venerate the visit of the then Prince of Wales. This museum was renamed in the early 21st century after the name of the great ruler and founder of the Maratha Empire, Shivaji.
Being an architect I am very much interested in the architectural style of monuments and buildings. This museum is built in Indo- Saracenic style that is blended with the architectural style of Mughals, Jains and the Marathas as well. Apart from the building the surroundings are thaumaturgically adorned by flower beds and a palm garden.
As I walked inside the museum building I was amazed to discover that it had a possession of about 50,000 exhibits that were a livid embodiment of the history of India. Few of the collectibles were also acquired from foreign lands. The museum is divided into three segments namely, archaeology, art and natural history. It also houses artifacts from the Indus valley civilization along with relics from the ancient times of Guptas, Chalukyas, Mauryas and Rashtrakutas.
I was quite delighted to see the artifacts exhibited in the Prince Wales Museum but what made me feel really attracted towards this building of historic significance was the skill and excellence of the architects who build this museum.
As I walked inside the museum building I was amazed to discover that it had a possession of about 50,000 exhibits that were a livid embodiment of the history of India. Few of the collectibles were also acquired from foreign lands. The museum is divided into three segments namely, archaeology, art and natural history. It also houses artifacts from the Indus valley civilization along with relics from the ancient times of Guptas, Chalukyas, Mauryas and Rashtrakutas.
I was quite delighted to see the artifacts exhibited in the Prince Wales Museum but what made me feel really attracted towards this building of historic significance was the skill and excellence of the architects who build this museum.
The three storied rectangular building is made up of grey Kurla Basalt and Trachyte Malad stone which has buff color. This structure is capped by a dome which is set on a base and adds an additional story on the central portion of the building. The central dome is surrounded by a cluster of pinnacles that are further topped with miniature domes.
The domes are a clear resemblance of mughal architectural style that is blended in the structure. The interior columns, balcony and railings are significant of Maratha and Jain forms of craftsmanship. Hence for me it was a delight to visit the CSMVS, which is truly a gem of Mumbai.
The domes are a clear resemblance of mughal architectural style that is blended in the structure. The interior columns, balcony and railings are significant of Maratha and Jain forms of craftsmanship. Hence for me it was a delight to visit the CSMVS, which is truly a gem of Mumbai.