National Museum of Natural History, Natural history museum in Barakhamba, Delhi, India
The National Museum of Natural History in Barakhamba is a natural history museum in Delhi that presents dioramas recreating habitats, along with minerals, plant and animal specimens. The galleries spread across several floors, with each section covering a different aspect of Indian nature, from deserts and coastal strips to mountain ranges.
The museum opened in 1972 as part of a national campaign to promote science education and environmental protection. It was founded at a time when India was expanding its museum network to make research and learning accessible to a wider public.
The name reflects the museum's role in teaching natural science, with school groups and families walking through the galleries each day to learn about native species and their habitats. The displays mirror the geographic range of India, from tropical forests to high mountain zones, showing how nature shapes everyday life across the country.
The museum sits close to public transport routes and offers guided tours in several languages, tailored to the interests of different visitor groups. The layout allows easy movement between themes, from geological finds to living ecosystems.
The research department holds a large collection of fossilized plants and animals that document millions of years of biological change in South Asia. Some of these finds are old enough to reveal life forms that existed before the Himalayas took shape.
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