The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, known by its initials CSMVS and formerly the Prince of Wales Museum, is Mumbai’s finest museum and one of the best in India. The Scottish architect George Wittet designed the building in the Indo-Saracenic style, with a great central dome, turrets and arched windows, and it stands in a garden of palms in the Kala Ghoda district. Inside, collections range from Indus Valley artefacts to Mughal-era works and include sculpture, miniature paintings, decorative arts, an arms and armour gallery that features the Mughal emperor Akbar’s armour, and a natural history section with fossils and skeletons. The museum also runs guided tours, workshops, lectures and special exhibitions. It is a cool, quiet retreat from Colaba’s heat and noise, and a good place to understand the layers of history behind the city’s monuments before you go out to see them.
How to visit
The museum is in Kala Ghoda, a ten-minute walk from the Gateway of India and close to the Jehangir Art Gallery and the National Gallery of Modern Art. According to its visit page, it is open Monday to Sunday from 10:15 to 18:00, the ticket counter closes at 17:45, and it is closed only on four national days: 26 January, 1 May, 15 August and 2 October. The page notes that a few galleries are closed for works, so look at the plan on arrival.
What to expect
Foreign adults pay a higher fee than Indian citizens, and children pay less; entry with an audio guide is listed as complimentary for foreign visitors, which makes it worth taking. A camera pass is needed for a handheld camera, tripods and selfie sticks are not allowed, and large bags go to the baggage counter at the Visitors’ Centre. There is no place to eat on the campus, so eat before you go, and drinking water is available. The galleries are air-conditioned and unhurried, and a good visit takes two to three hours.
Making the most of it
Arrive at opening, start with the sculpture and miniature galleries, and finish with a walk through the gardens. Pair the museum with the Gateway of India and Colaba Causeway, and allow extra time if you want to join a guided tour or a special exhibition.
What to expect
The experience
A self-paced visit through air-conditioned galleries of sculpture, miniatures, arms and armour and natural history, with an audio guide available.
Best time
At opening on a weekday, which also avoids the midday heat before you head back out to the harbour.
How long
Two to three hours, a little more if you take a guided tour or a special exhibition.
Tips
Eat beforehand, leave large bags at the baggage counter, take the audio guide and check which galleries are closed for works.
Quick picks
- Best for
- History and art lovers and anyone who wants context before seeing Mumbai’s monuments.
- Families
- Older children enjoy the armour and natural history galleries, but there is no café on site.
- Couples
- A quiet, cool break with gardens to walk afterwards.
- Pair with
- The Gateway of India and Colaba Causeway, a short walk away.
- Time needed
- Half a day with the gardens and a nearby lunch.
Good questions
What are the CSMVS opening hours?+
It is open daily from 10:15 to 18:00, and the ticket counter closes at 17:45. It closes only on 26 January, 1 May, 15 August and 2 October.
Is the CSMVS the same as the Prince of Wales Museum?+
Yes, the museum was built as the Prince of Wales Museum and is now named after the Maratha king Shivaji. Many guidebooks and locals still use the old name.
How much is the entry for foreign visitors?+
Foreign adults pay a higher fee than Indian citizens and children pay less. Entry with an audio guide is listed as complimentary, so check the current rates on the museum’s visit page.
Can I take photos inside the museum?+
Handheld cameras need a camera pass, while tripods and selfie sticks are not allowed. Commercial photography needs prior permission.
Is there food at the museum?+
There is no place to eat on the campus, although drinking water is available. Eat in nearby Kala Ghoda before or after your visit.
