Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum Pune

Exhibiting the 20,000 rare objects that date back to the 14th century, Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum of Pune is a delight for the visitors. All the exhibits displayed in the museum are painstakingly collected by Dinkar Kelkar (who died in 1990). The quirky collection of the museum includes hookah pipes, lamps, toys, kitchen utensils, furniture, puppets, betel-nut cutters and an amazing gallery of musical instruments.

Dinkar Kelkar, the founder of the museum, toured the remotest parts of the country to add to this interesting collection of items. Most interesting part of the museum is the Gujarat Gallery, which has typical wooden interiors that are quite typical of the houses of Gujarat. Sitar shaped like a peacock, crocodile veena, Kadamba tree Lamp, vessels, textiles, spice boxes and puppets, some of the finest examples of superb craftsmanship, are amongst the must-see exhibits in the museum.

Apart from the all these collections, the biggest attraction of the museum remains the ‘Mastani Mahal’. According to the historical facts, the businessman, who was the owner of Mastani Mahal, invited Dr. Kelkar to restore the place, which was then completely in ruins. Then, Dr. Kelkar took one room that was intact, completed the restoration process and created a grand museum around it.

As tourists walk through the galleries of the museum, they would see the history come alive. With so many things to see, Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum is a must visit for the history lovers on a trip to Pune.

Address

1377- 78, Shukrawar Peth, Pune, Maharashtra 411002