Railway termini are our gates to the glorious and the unknown. Through them we pass out into adventure and sunshine, to them, alas! we return.
-E.M. Forster
The National Rail Museum had been on my bucket list since I was in Delhi. Even after spending some 6.5 years in the metro city, I couldn’t make a visit. I had planned once with a friend but couldn’t go due to certain reasons. Thereafter, I couldn’t muster the interest to go there alone, until another friend of mine asked to look for a place to meet. I had covered most of the places in Delhi, except NRM and hence I came up with a plan four years after my first planning.
Place: National Rail Museum
Location: Service Rd, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, Delhi
Nearest metro: Jor bagh, Moti Bagh
Timing: 10 AM- 5PM (Last entry at 4:30 AM, Monday closed)
Tickets: 50/- for the museum + 20/- for the joy train. Click here to book online.
Things to do: Sightseeing, Museum, Dining, Souvenir, Joy train ride
Ideal time to spend: 4-5 hours
1. About National Museum
The place is all about trains, tracks, stations and railways in use since the time they came to India. The engines of multiple locomotives and different types of trains used and in use for a variety of purposes are kept here.
One can take a look at these locomotives fixed on railway tracks and the purpose they serve. The whole place is like miniature railways where you can get a feel of taking a closer look at the functioning of railways.
2. Joy Train Ride
Since the place is spread over a significant area, you can purchase a ticket (20/-) for the joy train for sightseeing. If anyone wants to have a closer look and spend time here, they can walk through the place.
The train takes a ferry every half an hour which lasts for less than 15 minutes. Out of the several trains (whose ticket rates were displayed at the counter), only the joy train is functional. On enquiring, staff said that it’s due to the lack of maintenance. Had they been functional, the dream of travelling in the centuries-old train have become a reality.
3. Museum
Inside this museum, there is another museum which collects history, equipment, miniatures, artefacts and other objects related to railways since the time it came to India. No additional ticket is required to visit here.
It’s a pleasant and enriching exercise to take a walk through it.
4. Dining
There are two places at NRM that caters to the appetite of the visitors. The first is a small outlet near the museum, selling snacks and soft drinks and softies. The second is a dedicated restaurant.
Aesthetically decorated, giving a feel of the Indian railway, this restaurant is on the first floor of the building at the centre. A long incline is ready to take you there. The service, besides the food, is awesome. The best part is that it’s less crowded, thus hygiene is good. The rates are also reasonable (Rs. 500/- for two).
5. Souvenir Shop
Before you leave the place, don’t forget to collect souvenirs to make your visit memorable. A range of things are available such as postcards, artefacts, coffee mugs, T-shirts, fridge magnets, drawings, paintings, handcrafted items and others.
The shop is located at some distance away from the museum and can be located easily.
And guess what, I had to board a train for home later that day!
©Shashank
If you’ve any queries, questions or comments let me know in the comment box. Also, Thanks Kajal for contributing to the pictures and accompanying me to this place.
Pragmatic's Personas 