Nagpur Central Museum 🇮🇳

Step into history at the Nagpur Central Museum, popularly known as Ajab Bangala, located in the Civil Lines area of Nagpur, Maharashtra. Established in 1863 under the direction of Sir Richard Temple, this is the oldest and largest museum in Central India. Housed in a massive colonial-style building designed by Capt.

Cobbe, it offers over 8,000 square feet of display space spread across eleven themed galleries. You will find a rich array of artifacts spanning from prehistoric times to the modern era, sourced from Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Western Maharashtra. Nature and history lovers will be fascinated by the natural history collection, which features a rare 67.5-million-year-old Jainosaurus dinosaur fossil excavated from Jabalpur, a huge skull of a prehistoric elephant, mineral stones, and stuffed animals.

History buffs can explore the Nagpur heritage section to view Chalcolithic antiquities, copper plate inscriptions, ancient coins, and stone sculptures ranging from the Maurya period to Maratha times. Additional galleries display tribal artifacts like boomerangs, historical arm and armor collections, Bombay School of Art paintings, and statues of Queen Victoria. Modern updates include gardens, a cafeteria, interactive kiosks, and QR codes offering artifact details in multiple languages.

What to see at Nagpur Central Museum

• 67.5-million-year-old Jainosaurus dinosaur fossil
• Huge skull of a prehistoric elephant
• Ancient stone sculptures from Maurya to Maratha eras
• Tribal art and artifacts, including boomerangs and tools
• Historic arms and armor used by Mughals, Marathas, and British rulers

Visiting tips

Scan the Quick Response (QR) codes in the display galleries using your smartphone to access artifact information in English and foreign languages.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

Nagpur Central Museum is easy to reach on Nagpur’s public transport. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Nagpur travel guide.