CM Devendra Fadnavis along with BMC commissioner Bhushan  Gagrani and Mangal Prabhat Lodha, tourism and skill development minister during reopening of Bhau Daji Lad Museum after repairs and renovation at Rani Baug, Byculla in Mumbai

The museum is committed to cultural education and fostering a dialogue through exhibitions, workshops, and performances, inspiring an appreciation of the artistic, cultural, and economic history of Mumbai

The museum opened again to the general public on Wednesday

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had, in March 2023, started the museum’s renovation work, and the restoration, rejuvenation, and conservation efforts were completed within 18 months as per the schedule

This included waterproofing and restoration of the roof, intricate repairs of its ornamentation, internal and external plasterwork, repairs to windows, plinth protection, painting, and refurbishing of railings and ramps

The Mumbai civic body spent around Rs 2.8 crore on this project, which enhances the grandeur and beauty of this iconic structure

The museum showcases the city's rich cultural heritage and artistic history

The concept of the museum emerged from the Great Exhibition in London,1851

Initially named the Victoria and Albert Museum, it was established in 1855 and opened to the public in 1857

The foundation stone of the current museum building was laid on November 19, 1862, by then-Governor Sir Henry Bartle Frere, and its construction was completed in 1872

In honour of Dr Ramkrishna Vithal, also known as Bhau Daji Lad, who played a key role in its establishment, the museum was renamed after him on November 1, 1975

The museum is a confluence of science, art, and spirituality, featuring clay figurines, maps, stone engravings, photographs, rare books, and more

It is organised into six sections that include the history of Mumbai, industrial arts, 19th-century paintings, founding exhibits, the Kamalnayan Bajaj Mumbai Gallery, and the Kamalnayan Bajaj Special Exhibition Gallery

In 2005, the museum received the UNESCO Award of Excellence for Cultural Heritage Conservation for its restoration project