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Yuge Yugeen Bharat: A landmark museum for the Indian capital
India’s largest museum will open in phases from 2026, tracing 5,000 years of civilisational history
- PUBLISHED: Mon 26 Jan 2026, 11:41 AM
- By:
- Kushmita Bose
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New Delhi is set to add a significant new cultural landmark to its tourism and heritage landscape with the phased opening of the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum. A core part of the Central Vista redevelopment, the project is expected to become the world’s largest museum by scale once fully completed.
Planned as a long-term national cultural institution, the museum will present India’s civilisational history across nearly 5,000 years. The first gallery is expected to open to the public by the end of 2026, with additional galleries scheduled to follow over the next three years, officials from the Ministry of Culture have said.
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A Shift in How Delhi Uses Its Landmarks
What sets the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum apart is not only its scale, but its location. The museum will occupy the historic North and South Blocks on Raisina Hill — buildings that have, for decades, been associated with governance rather than public life.
As government ministries relocate to newly constructed offices, these early 20th-century structures are being repurposed through an adaptive reuse approach. Their iconic sandstone façades will remain intact, preserving the architectural character of Raisina Hill, while their interiors are being redesigned to meet the requirements of a modern museum.
The shift reflects a broader change in how Delhi’s most recognisable buildings are being reimagined, not as closed administrative spaces, but as places accessible to the public.
Scale, Space and Structure
Once fully operational, the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum will span approximately 1.55 lakh square metres. It is planned to house around 30 thematic galleries, spread across a mix of indoor exhibition halls, open courtyards, and outdoor display areas.
The galleries are intended to guide visitors through different phases of India’s civilisational development, beginning with early urban settlements and moving through classical, medieval, and later historical periods. The layout is designed to allow for both chronological and thematic exploration, rather than a strictly linear experience.
Planners have also proposed an underground tunnel linking the North and South Blocks, which would help manage visitor movement and create a continuous cultural circuit across the site.
Artefacts from Across the Country
The museum’s collection is being assembled from multiple national and state institutions. According to the Ministry of Culture, around 25,000 artefacts have already been shortlisted for display, with the full collection expected to eventually grow to between 80,000 and 100,000 objects.
These artefacts are being sourced from the National Museum, state museums across India, and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The aim is to bring together objects that are usually dispersed across institutions into a single, cohesive narrative.
Among the highlights planned for display are an Indus Valley terracotta hourglass dating to around 2500–1750 BCE, a fragment of a Mauryan edict pillar from the 3rd century BCE, a Gupta-period sculpture of Surya from the 5th century CE, elements of the Konark Sun Wheel from the 13th century, and a Chola-era Nataraja bronze from the 10th to 11th century.
International Expertise, Indian Context
To support the project, the National Museum entered into a technical cooperation agreement in late 2024 with France Muséums Développement. The collaboration focuses on curatorial planning, exhibition design, conservation practices, and visitor experience, drawing on international museum standards.
Officials have said the museum is being developed in line with guidelines set by Unesco and the International Council of Museums, particularly in areas such as conservation, interpretation, and accessibility.
The architectural design is being led by Arcop Associates, with Thai architect Kulapat Yantrasast serving as the principal designer. Yantrasast is known for his work on major international museum projects, including the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles. His role involves balancing the functional needs of a large museum with the historical integrity of the heritage buildings.
More Than Exhibition Halls
Beyond galleries, the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum will include auditoriums, research libraries, conservation laboratories, and education spaces. These facilities are intended to support academic research, public programming, and long-term preservation work.
Officials estimate that once fully operational, the museum could attract up to 10 million visitors annually, making it one of the most visited cultural institutions in the country. The expected increase in footfall is also likely to benefit surrounding businesses and strengthen Delhi’s position as a cultural tourism destination.
The first gallery, opening in late 2026, will act as an introduction to the larger project. Featuring around 100 carefully selected artefacts, it is designed to offer visitors a preview of the museum’s broader scope and approach.
As work continues, the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum represents a significant moment for Delhi—not just in terms of scale, but in how the city chooses to present its past. By placing a civilisational narrative at the heart of its most symbolic precinct, the project marks a shift from power to public memory.
As a passionate storyteller and content writer, Kushmita Bose loves weaving narratives that inform, inspire, and entertain. Whether she's unraveling tech revolutions, dissecting industry reports, or bringing a brand’s journey to life, Kushmita thrives on transforming ideas into captivating stories. When she’s not busy crafting content, you’ll probably find her daydreaming about her next travel adventure.