27 April - 17 August, 2025
Curated by Raffael Dedo Gadebusch
Commissioned by Maharaja Yeshwant Rao Holkar II and designed in 1933 by Berlin architect Eckart Muthesius, Manik Bagh in Indore stands as India's earliest icon of modernity. The exhibition explores not only the extraordinary design of the Palace in different materials and manifestations but also the influence of the International style on a young and emerging nation and its premier city Bombay, now Mumbai. On view are a selection of rare vintage photographs by Eckart Muthesius, Emil Leitner and Man Ray, complemented by little-known watercolours, drawings and design studies by Muthesius.
Every Sat & Sun
11:30 am (English) and 12:30 pm (Marathi/Hindi)
Free walkthroughs of the Museum and ongoing exhibitions are conducted by members of the Education team. Free and open to all. No prior registration required.
The Museum offers a rich selection of learning and outreach programmes focused on providing stimulating, participatory experiences that respond to different age, interest and language groups, and recognize a diversity of backgrounds. These experiences are aimed at creatively engaging with the Museum’s collection of artworks and exhibitions, encouraging critical engagement with Mumbai’s history, and artistic and cultural developments.
Going forward, the Museum will continue to offer online as well as on-site programmes.
Sat, 28 June 2025 | 10:30 am & 12:00 pm
Manik Bagh’s innovative interiors and custom-designed furniture by leading international artists and designers, introduced a new design sensibility to India. The workshop, in collaboration with Sunday Bricks, takes inspiration from this 'fairytale palace', inviting participants to explore furniture-making using LEGO.
Age: 8 years & above (Adults are welcome to join!)
Charges: Rs. 200 per participant, Museum entry ticket applicable separately
Sun, June 15, 2025 | 11 am - 12:30 pm
Manik Bagh palace, India’s earliest icon of modernism and cross-cultural design, merges architecture, art, design, and crafts into a harmonious entity – a Gesamtkunstwerk (total work of art).
Join us for a walkthrough of the exhibition, followed by a workshop where we reimagine spaces by cutting, layering, and remixing found images, paper cutouts, or personal photographs, and construct visual storyboards using the materials provided through playful experiments with perspective, scale, and texture.
Age: 14 and above
Charges: Rs. 150 per participant
Museum entry ticket applicable
Sat, June 7, 2025 | 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Step into the whimsical world of the book Cow Says! by Nandini Nayar, illustrated by Malvika Nair. Join us with the storyteller Munira Dalal and explore the delightful sounds of animals. From mooing cows, piggy oinks to roaring lions, this storytelling session is packed with exciting activities and a moo-tastic good time!
Age: 3+
Language: English
Charges: Rs 150 per head. Museum entry ticket is applicable separately.
Note: A caregiver must accompany a child. An accompanying adult does not require a separate event ticket. Museum entry tickets are applicable to both.
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to revisit our past talks by
eminent scholars.
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Solve riddles inspired by the Museum's permanent collection and
win prizes!
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Join us as we explore our past exhibitions and discuss their
continuing relevance.
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Share your artworks inspired by the Museum objects!
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Established in 1857, the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad is the oldest Museum
in Mumbai. It is a treasure house of decorative & industrial art
objects. The richly designed interiors of the Museum include the
encaustic Minton tiles, imported for the Museum in the late 19th
century. These patterns, found on the Grand Staircase & the
Mumbai Gallery, are a treat for our visitors and are an
important part of the city's history.
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Piece-by-piece, make a Masterpiece!
How long does it take you to solve this jigsaw puzzle?
Share a screenshot and tag us @bdlmuseum on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.
BDL Museum is now on Spotify!
Tune into our curated playlist inspired by the BDL Museum's collection of Ragamala miniature paintings! The Ragamalas in the Museum’s collection are from the Jaipur school of miniatures. Ragamala, meaning 'garland of ragas', is a set of miniature paintings that depict personified ragas of Indian classical music. A raga is a melodic framework in Indian classical music with symbolic associations such as seasons, time, and mood. It is meant to evoke certain emotions among the listeners. Ragas also provide room for improvisation to musicians and singers.
The playlist features some of the most celebrated artists in Indian classical music. It begins with spirited morning ragas, progressing into soulful evening ragas.
The Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Mumbai City Museum seeks to serve the community as an Institution dedicated to excellence in cultural education through exhibitions and unique visual and intellectual media
An Institution of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai. Supported by the Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation. Restored by INTACH, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage
Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum
Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Udyan and Zoo (Rani Baug),
91/A, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Road,
Byculla East Mumbai 400027 India
T: +91 22 23741234
10:00 am - 5:30 pm
Closed on all Wednesdays and select public holidays.
