Complete Guide to the National Museum of Pakistan

National Museum of Pakistan:
About the Museum
Galleries
Important Features
Location
Contact Details
Ticket Prices
Timings
Nearby Restaurants

The National Museum of Pakistan is, without a question, one of the most interesting places in Karachi for history buffs and art admirers. Since the place holds the artefacts of cultural heritage of our country, it is mostly visited for educational purposes by schools and families with young children.  

The multi-storeyed building of the museum is divided into genre specific galleries which host some of the most antique objects. Owing to its amazing artefacts and antique art pieces, it is also deemed as one of the largest museums in Pakistan.

We recommend a visit to this museum for everyone who enjoys the company of history and art; whereas if you’ve already been to the national museum, you might want to check out Pakistan Maritime Museum, and the PAF Museum in Karachi.. However, you might need a little information on the museum before planning a visit. In this blog, we will give you a complete guide to the details from location, timings, and national museum history.

Let’s begin!

About National Museum of Pakistan, Karachi 

Frere Hall, one of the most famous tourist spots and historical landmarks in Karachi was originally the National Museum of Pakistan. It was established in 1951, and only had a total of four galleries. The museum was then moved to its current location in 1969. The new building is situated close to the Burnes Garden which is one of the most popular and oldest parks in the area. 

Even though it initially only had a handful of galleries that visitors could benefit from, the new building is now constructed on a multi-storey plan, housing a little over 7 different genre-specific galleries. Each of these galleries have artifacts from various historical eras, dating all the way back to the Stone Age. 

Galleries at National Museum of Pakistan 

The artifacts in the National Museum of Pakistan are categorised into the following categories and galleries: 

• The Prehistoric Genre (2 Million – 2500 BC)  
• The Protohistoric Genre (2500 – 1500 BC)
• The Late Harappa (2200 – 800 BC)
• The Gandhara Gallery (2nd – 6th Century AD)
• The Hindu Gallery (6th – 16th Century AD)
• The Freedom Movement Gallery (18th – 19th Century AD)
• The Ethnology Gallery
• The Coins Gallery
• The Quran Gallery
• The Islamic Art and Crafts Gallery

Important Features of National Museum, Karachi 

The National Museum of Pakistan is located in the vicinity of the Burnes Garden, which adds to the overall beauty of the location. People who visit the museum can also relax on the benches and enjoy the views of the lush-green garden. You are sure to spot a few historical monuments in the garden while visiting the National Museum of Pakistan. 

There are a number of facilities in national museum, some of which include the following: 

• A whopping collection of 58,000 coins in the Coin Gallery
• A collection of over 300 copies of Quran, including some really rare manuscripts. 
• It provides an up-close look at the cultural heritage of Indus Valley Civilisation 
• Antiques fetched directly from the sites of Mohenjo Daro and Harappa. 

Location of National Museum 

The National Museum of Pakistan is in the jurisdiction of Saddar Town – the heart of the city. It is one of the most conveniently accessible locations for the citizens of Karachi. Whether you are travelling from areas like Nazimabad, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, PECHS, or such areas, you can easily reach since it is widely connected to the main arteries of the city. 

Contact Details of National Museum 

If want to make any reservations for the field trip or fetch some details about the venue, here’re the details of the museum including address and contact number:

Address: Shahrah-e-Kemal Ataturk, Saddar Karachi, Karachi City, Sindh 75500

Contact number: (021) 99212839

National Museum Ticket Prices

Entry to the boundaries of the museum is absolutely free. You can sit in the park and enjoy the view. However, if you want to take a look at the artefacts, we’ve mentioned the ticket prices below:

National Museum Ticket Prices: PKR 20 

National Museum Timings

If you’re planning a visit to the National Museum, you should know that the museum operates seven days a week. We have mentioned the exact timings and days below:

 Monday to Sunday: 9 am to 5 pm

Restaurants Near National Museum 

The museum is situated extremely close to Burns Road which happens to be the city’s most famous food streets. We’d recommend you to end your trip by visiting one of these restaurants: 

• Al Naz Biryani Centre
• Waheed Kabab House
• Food Centre 
• Mazedaar Haleem
• Karachi Haleem

For refreshments and desserts, you can try Fresco or Delhi Rabri House. 

Here, we conclude our guide for the National Museum of Pakistan. We hope that the provided information was useful for you and you will soon be planning a trip to the National Museum in Karachi. If you have any further queries, you can contact us at blog@jagahonline.com. 

If you’ve already visited the National Museum, and are still looking for locations to plan your next visit, here are a few other places you can take into consideration: 

• Mohatta Palace 
• Beaches in Karachi 
• Largest Mosques in Pakistan 

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