National Crafts Museum 🇮🇳

The National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum, widely known as the National Crafts Museum, is a major cultural institution situated in New Delhi, India. Positioned at the corner of Pragati Maidan opposite the Purana Quila complex, the museum operates under the Ministry of Textiles. Originally founded in 1956 by the All India Handicrafts Board, the site was developed over three decades through the efforts of Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay to serve as an ethnographic environment for artisans across the country. The present physical complex was created between 1975 and 1990 by architect Charles Correa, who blended traditional architectural concepts with modern design.

The museum houses a collection exceeding 35,000 distinct items showcasing traditional Indian craftsmanship. Its holdings encompass woodwork, stonework, clay objects, metal jewellery, paintings, and a wide array of textiles. Notable highlights include 250 to 300-year-old Bhoota sculptures from Karnataka, 300-year-old Kashmiri dushalas, embroidered Chamba handkerchiefs, Kutch embroidery, and rare Baluchari and brocade saris. Exhibit areas are divided across specific spaces, including the Tribal and Folk Art Gallery, Ritual Craft Gallery, Courtly Craft and Textiles Gallery, Bhuta Sculpture Gallery, and the Gallery of Popular Culture.

A prominent element of the site is its five-acre village complex, which originated from a temporary rural exhibition held in 1972. This outdoor area contains 15 representative structures showcasing shrines, courtyards, and traditional dwellings from various Indian states, alongside everyday domestic objects. Passages and open corridors throughout the village complex feature painted folk traditions, with visiting artists arriving monthly to paint on the museum walls. Visitors can also observe traditional resident artisans creating and selling handcrafted goods in a dedicated section of the venue.

In addition to its exhibition spaces, the site features research facilities, a reference library, a photo laboratory, a conservation lab, and an auditorium. In 2015, initiatives began to establish a Hastkala Academy on the premises to train craftsmen, converting some galleries into classrooms. During these ongoing renovations, a notable room of Madhubani murals painted by artist Ganga Devi was whitewashed, drawing public criticism. The museum welcomes visitors from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm every day except Monday, and it is accessible via the Pragati Maidan Delhi Metro Station.