Introduction
The National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum, popularly known as the Crafts Museum, is one of India’s most significant repositories of traditional crafts, textiles, and folk art. Located in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, the museum is dedicated to preserving and showcasing India’s rich and diverse handicraft heritage. Established in the 1950s by the renowned freedom fighter and designer Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, the museum was later formally inaugurated in 1972 under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
Spread across a sprawling 5-acre complex, the museum houses over 33,000 artifacts, including rare textiles, tribal paintings, terracotta sculptures, metal crafts, and intricate woodwork from various regions of India. The museum’s unique ‘Village Complex’ offers a life-size recreation of traditional rural dwellings, complete with artisans working on their crafts, providing visitors with a firsthand experience of India’s living craft traditions.
Beyond its exhibits, the Crafts Museum serves as an important center for research, conservation, and promotion of India’s indigenous artistic traditions. The museum also hosts workshops, live demonstrations, and an artisan bazaar, where visitors can interact with skilled craftsmen and purchase authentic handmade products.
A must-visit for art lovers, historians, and craft enthusiasts, the Crafts Museum is a celebration of India’s vibrant artistic legacy and its enduring craftsmanship, making it a cultural landmark in the heart of the national capital.