Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum
One man's lifetime collection of everyday Indian art: lamps, musical instruments, nutcrackers and more, in a museum in the old city.
Quick facts
- Location:
- Bajirao Road, Shukrawar Peth
- Collection by:
- Dr Dinkar Gangadhar Kelkar
- Known for:
- Lamps, musical instruments, betel nut cutters
- Timings:
- Check before visiting
History
Dr Dinkar Gangadhar Kelkar spent most of his life collecting objects of Indian daily life and art. He named the collection after his son Raja, who died young, and later gave it to the Government of Maharashtra so that everyone could enjoy it.
What you can see today
- Thousands of objects, from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and older.
- Oil lamps of many shapes, musical instruments, and a large set of betel nut cutters (adkittas).
- Costumes, weapons, toys and kitchen utensils that show how people lived.
- Mastani Mahal, a set of old palace rooms rebuilt inside the museum.
How to reach
The museum is on Bajirao Road in Shukrawar Peth, near Natu Baug and a short walk from Vishrambaug Wada.
Tips for visitors
- Plan for at least two hours. The collection is large.
- Good for children who like old toys and instruments.
More in Historical Pune
- Shaniwar Wada The fortified palace of the Peshwas in the heart of old Pune. Built in 1732, burnt in 1828, and still the best-known landmark of the city.
- Lal Mahal The palace where Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj spent his childhood with Jijabai. Rebuilt in the old city next to Shaniwar Wada.
- Kesari Wada Home of Lokmanya Tilak and of the Kesari newspaper. A museum on Tilak and one of the best-known Ganesh festivals of Pune.
- Vishrambaug Wada The mansion of Peshwa Bajirao II, known for its carved wooden front. One of the finest wadas still standing in Pune.
- Aga Khan Palace A grand palace from 1892 where Mahatma Gandhi was held during the Quit India movement. Kasturba Gandhi's memorial is here.
- Pataleshwar Cave Temple A rock-cut Shiva temple from about the eighth century, carved out of a single hill right in the middle of Shivajinagar.
Questions and answers
Who started the Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum?
Dr Dinkar Gangadhar Kelkar built up the collection over his lifetime and gave it to the Government of Maharashtra.
What is the museum known for?
Its lamps, musical instruments and betel nut cutters, and the rebuilt Mastani Mahal.
Sources: Written by PuneDiary. Facts checked 10 October 2026.