Sulabh International Museum of Toilets, Sanitation museum in Mahavir Enclave, New Delhi, India
The Sulabh International Museum of Toilets is a sanitation museum in Mahavir Enclave that holds artifacts from about 50 countries, displaying sanitation equipment and practices spanning from 3000 BC through the 20th century. The collection ranges from ancient toilet techniques to modern systems and documents how sanitary facilities developed across the world.
The museum was founded in 1992 by Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak and became India's first educational center dedicated to documenting global sanitation development. Its establishment marked the beginning of a systematic effort to record sanitation technologies and their importance for public health worldwide.
The collection shows toilet seats from the Victorian era, chamber pots, and water closets that reflect how different societies approached hygiene over centuries. Each item tells a story about the daily habits and values of the people who used it.
The place is open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM, and guided tours are available where experts explain the development of sanitation technologies. Visitors should allow enough time to explore the different exhibition areas and take full advantage of the guided tours.
One of the more unusual exhibits shows a toilet disguised as a bookcase, playfully revealing the everyday nature of this often-hidden place to visitors. The museum also displays information about NASA technology that converts urine into drinking water.
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