The National Museum in New Delhi, established in 1949, houses more than 200,000 art objects spanning over 5,000 years of Indian art, history, and craftsmanship, making it one of the most significant cultural institutions in the country. Its collection covers an extraordinary range: Indus Valley Civilization artifacts from Harappa and Mohenjo Daro, Buddhist relics, miniature paintings (one of the largest such collections in the world), sculpture, jewellery, textiles, coins, and decorative arts from across the subcontinent. Many visitors describe the Harappa and Mohenjo Daro galleries as a particular highlight, and the museum is genuinely vast, large enough that serious history enthusiasts could easily spend a full day exploring it rather than the typical 90 minute to 3 hour visit most people manage. Entry is inexpensive for locals (around Rs. 20 to 50) and more for foreign visitors (roughly Rs. 500), and an audio guide, widely recommended by reviewers for the depth it adds, is available for a small additional fee.That said, recent reviews paint a mixed and somewhat inconsistent picture of the visitor experience. Several travelers in 2024 and 2025 reported the museum "in transition," with large sections, sometimes cited as 60 percent or more, closed for renovation or packed away ahead of a planned move to a new building, meaning some of the most famous pieces may simply not be on view depending on when you visit. Complaints about weak or absent air conditioning, poor signage and wayfinding between galleries, inconsistent availability of the audio guide and highlights tours, and notably unhygienic restrooms in the older sections come up repeatedly, alongside criticism that newer galleries (such as the upgraded Tribal and Colombian art sections) are far better maintained than the aging ground floor and main Harappan displays.