Introduction

Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum, while preserving the memories of a father for his long-lost son, also conserves the spirit of Indian craftsmanship that celebrates art in our day-to-day lives. ‘Kaka’ Kelkar was as much a collector of words as he was of works of folk art. His travels to the innermost recesses of the country not only provided him with inspiration for his poetry, but also enabled him to build a truly envious assemblage of objet d'arts—a collection, which was eventually handed over by him to the Maharashtra Government’s Department of Archaeology, to establish a museum in the name of his son, who died young.

Divided into 42 sections, the objects on display, from writing and musical instruments, kitchen utensils, earthenware, toys, masks, woodwork, sculptures; to coins, textiles, door gallery, paintings and lamps bear testament to the unparalleled skill of the artisans of the Mughal and Maratha eras, who could transform ordinary utensils of daily use to extraordinary pieces of art. One cannot but be rendered speechless by the manner in which the merely functional has been turned into fantastic, the mundane into marvels and the ordinary into the ornate. The Museum also houses instruments of musical maestros, including Bal Gandharva’s tamboori, Pannalal Ghosh’s flute, Hirabai Badodekar’s tanpura, Madhukar Golwarkar’s shehnai, and P L Deshpande’s sarinda, among others.

Tucked amidst this allure of artistry is a small room that evokes the enchanting tale of Peshwa Bajirao I and his concubine Mastani. The reproduced ‘Palace of Mastani’, with all its resplendence, is truly a sight to behold and instantly transfers the visitor to an age when romance ruled and life was luxurious.

Special Attributes

The Museum celebrates the creativity of Indian artisans, who could transform the most mundane of daily objects into a marvelous piece of art.

Nuisance

The site is very peaceful and free of irritants.

Dressing restrictions

Dress in whatever you find comfortable.

Connectivity

PMT Buses, Auto-rickshaws, Private Taxis.

Enjoyed by

All

Exposure

You will be indoors and in a centrally air conditioned enclosed area.

Avoidable Season

26th January (Republic Day), 30th January (Gandhiji's Death anniversary), 15th August (Independence Day) and 2nd October (Gandhiji's birthday)

Facilities

Basic, prepare accordingly.

Things Not Allowed

Bags

Tip

Avoid using the flashbulb of your camera. If you do, you have to pay a hefty fine of INR 500. Also, keep your voice soft while appreciating the artifacts on display.

Type of site

Personal collections of a single individual that portray the diversity, artistry and profound skill of Indian artisans.