Charkha is a spinning wheel and the Charkha Museum in Delhi has on display an interesting collection of 14 charkhas dating between 1912 and 1977.
These Charkhas were donated by people are displayed in a long hall, neatly labeled indicating the donor’s name and the date of manufacture.
The museum is also dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi who was a strong advocate of Charkha and used it as a symbol of self-rule and self-reliance during his struggle against the British Raj in India. The Charkha was used by Gandhi Ji as an important tool for the national rejuvenation of India during the freedom struggle.
There are also two steel sculptures outside the main hall that are very interesting. One is a lion made up of charkha wheels, though gear wheels are used. This Make in India structure looks magnificent.
The other is a huge sculpture of a Charkha.
The huge Charkha has become a landmark within just a few days of its inauguration.
My Impression
The museum is housed in the garden area in the middle of Connaught Place and is not very large. I could see all the exhibits in under 30 minutes.
The entrance fee for the museum is INR 20 which is basically pocket change, so plus one star for that.
Along with the ticket they also gave me a cotton handloom handkerchief and alternatively I could choose a tricolor cotton band which could be wrapped on the wrist. It looked quite cool but I opted for the Khadi or handspun handkerchief. I loved this gesture very much that will serve as a souvenir.
Near the entrance of the museum is an information center and also a souvenir shop.
It was a nice experience and this museum stands out from the other 51 museums in Delhi. Since the museum is located at a natural elevation right in the middle of Connaught Place giving a bird’s eye view of the entire area.
How Reach
Take the Delhi Metro Yellow, Red, or the Blue line, all of which pass through Cannought Place.
I visited the place on my bike and parked in the Palika underground p[arking for INR 10 per hour.
Accessibility Features
The Information Center and the Souvenir shop are accessible for a wheelchair via a leveled floor from the main road.
There is also a tactile path from the Metro Station exit all the way to the entrance of the museum.
The main museum building however has stairs with no ramp or railing making it a bad example of accessibility at such a prominent place.
Here’s a snapshot
Ramp Access.
A wheelchair-accessible Entrance.
A wheelchair-accessible Parking.
A wheelchair-accessible Restroom/Toilet.
What Else To Do In Delhi
While you are in Delhi, these are the top-recommended places:
as mentioned in the article.
