Out of the Box: CY picks India’s most unusual museums

Shankar’s International Dolls Museum

Showing the biggest accumulation of dolls from all through the world, the Shankar’s International Dolls Museum has two segments displaying more than 160 glass cases from New Zealand, India, Africa and Australia. The International Museum was set up by K. Shankar Pillai in Delhi with innumerable number of accumulations of dolls.The Shankar’s International Dolls Museum has a collection of dolls that divided into two segments decisively; the dolls assembled from New Zealand, USA, UK any other province of autonomous states while the other side embodies dolls are accumulated from Center East, India, Asian nations and Africa. Notwithstanding dolls showing distinctive nations, the guests can additionally have a sight of different accumulations of outfit’s dolls, representing Indian dances and traditions, pairs of bride and groom.

Sulabh International Museum of Toilets, Delhi

Counted third amongst the world’s 10 most weird museums by Time Magazine this museum in New Delhi throws a light on the trends of toilet that evolved in past 4500 years. There are varities of toilet right from simple chamber pots to the extremely ornamental Victorian pots, one can look at the entire toilet history at Suaabh International Museum of Toilets. The major attraction within the museum is the imitated copy of the seat of King Louis the XIV. It is assumed that the king used it to excrete during the court gatherings.

INS Kurusura Submarine Museum, Vishakhapatnam.

It had 31 years of service in its kitty, was a part of the Indo-Pak war of 1971 and is now an extremely exceptional museum. INS Kurusura was initially the Kalvari-class diesel-electric submarine used by Indian Navy that was dismantled from services in the year 2001. Post which it was reintroduced to the masses in the form of a museum alongside the Ramakrishna Mission Beach of Vishakhapatnam. With a stance of 91 meters length and eight meters breadth, it is a concrete made foundation that handles the weight of the overall submarine. From the interior visitors can actually feel like standing within a submarine and get the real feel about its functions, the sailors and their lifestyle, their food, attire and the actual sense of being in a marine submarine even though above water But who’s complaining?

VECHAAR Utensils Museum, Ahmedabad.

How often have you heard about a Utensils Museum? Well Ahmedabad sure boasts of one. Mr. SurendraPatel, the man who thought otherwise, created this utensils museum named as VECHAAR, which stands for Vishalla Environmental Centre for Heritage of Art, Architecture and Research. The musuem is a treasure trove of sorts with utensils that have lived over decades and were collected from various nooks and corners of the country. It was set up to merely gather, maintain and appreciate the creative skills and brilliance of the craftsmen. Also ‘Vechaar’ unlike other conventional museums, where the items on display are cased, believes in the “barrier-free”exhibit of its amazing collection of over 2000 rare utensils.One can find on display utensils of, Bronze, clay, terracotta brass and copper. Pots for storing water, cooking utensils, serving, butter milk churning vessel, spoons, rolling pins, storage jars, cookers, steamers, casseroles, woks and frying pans, jugs, kettles, bottles and boxes, plates, glasses and bowls, spice-boxes, tiffin-boxes, nut crackers, infants’ feeding cups, knives and real tantra havan kunds.

Human Brain Museum, Bangalore.

This probably tops the list of creepy but Bangalore’s NIMHANS was built for rather noble purposes – to endorse the neurobiology study a human brain museum was made during the 95’. It was a joint effort of the central government’s Department of Science and Technology, Department of Biotechnology, and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). People visiting can elaborately understand the inside and outside brain activities including the anatomy, neurology, physiology, psychology, psychiatry, and neurosurgery.It is open for the public only on Saturdays 10am to 3pm.

Mayang Black Magic and Witchcraft Museum, Assam.

Well, this one is pure spooky! Known as the Land of Black Magic, Around the hills and bank of river Brahmaputra lies village Mayang. Around 40 km from Guwahati Mayang is Black magic and witchcraft capital of India. Its history and how black magic became a usual ritual of this village has not been well documented, but rumours suggests that people elevate and abscond in the air, cases of humans transforming into animals, and irrepressible monsters supernaturally becoming disciplined and amenable. The remnants of dark magic are conserved in this museum.

Cover Graphic: Aniruddha Das