On the occasion of International Museum Day, celebrated each year on 18 May, The Quint brings you a list of Indian museums that should be on your bucket list.
The day, organised by the International Council of Museums, gives the public an opportunity to speak to the officials and the staff who run the museums. The day is aimed at spreading awareness about the role that museums play in society. This International Museum Day, here’s a list of unique Indians museums to add to your bucket list:
1. The Click Art Museum, Chennai
Chennai’s 3D art museum is tailor-made for the ‘selfie addict’. This particular form of art is called ‘Tompe-l’oeil’ in French – which can be translated as "to deceive the eye".
2. The Human Brain Museum, Karnataka
This museum, at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences in Karnataka, was meant to help medical students gain a better understanding of the human body. Today, the museum draws hordes of visitors everyday. Visitors also get to hold the human brain, or the heart, to understand how they work.
3. Antarang Museum of Sexual Health Information, Mumbai
The museum, which was established in 2002, is aimed at raising awareness about sexually transmitted diseases and the human body. Sex education done right, we say.
4. Sulabh International Toilet Museum, New Delhi
This museum houses a rare collection of toilets, dating back to 2500 BC. It has an extensive collection of toilets from around the world. It’s interesting that we have a toilet museum in a country where many houses still don’t have toilets.
5. Disk and Machine Museum, Kerala
With over 10,000 gramophone records, 250 gramophones and phonographs, this museum is the perfect place for music lovers. The museum opened its doors to the public on 25 January 2015.
Each of these museums have a different and interesting theme. Knowledge is only as interesting as you make it. So the next time someone says “museums are boring”, you know what to say.
(This story was first published on 18 May 2016. It is being reposted from The Quint’s archives mark International Museum Day on 18 May.)
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