National Museum of Natural History Museum

The National Museum of Natural History in New Delhi is a public natural history museum in the National Capital Territory of Delhi that presents collections relating to India’s biodiversity, geology and environment. It functions as an educational and research institution with displays intended for school and public audiences.

Exhibition galleries present specimens and displays such as taxidermy of animals, plant collections, minerals and geological exhibits, and educational dioramas and panels. Galleries and temporary exhibitions are used for outreach and school programmes aimed at explaining ecological and environmental topics to visitors.

The museum was created to collect, preserve and present natural history specimens and to support environmental education; it is managed as a public institution. Over time its activities have focused on preserving scientific collections and running public information and education initiatives.

The museum sits within the urban area of New Delhi in the National Capital Territory of Delhi. It is located inside the city and is reached by road from central Delhi and nearby neighbourhoods.

• Best time to visit: Typically quieter on weekday mornings; school groups and guided tours increase crowds in late morning and early afternoon.

Located in central Delhi’s museum district; accessible by taxi from Rajiv Chowk/Connaught Place or by metro to Patel Chowk (Yellow Line) followed by a short taxi or auto-rickshaw ride.

• Time a visit for weekday mornings to avoid school visits, which swell crowds in the fossil and mineral rooms.
• Ask staff about special specimen displays - curators sometimes rotate rare paleontological pieces into view.
• Combine with the nearby National Museum complex and the India Gate area for a full day in central Delhi.