Your weekend fix: A slice of history and quirks at the city's museums

Time of India

11-07-2025

Pune offers diverse museums showcasing history and culture. Prasanna Kale found the Vikram Pendse Cycle Museum and Peshwe Museum surprisingly engaging. Blades of Glory Cricket Museum displays cricket memorabilia. The Vikram Pendse Cycle Museum traces the evolution of bicycles. Joshi's Museum of Miniature Railways exhibits model trains. Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum houses artefacts dating back to the 9th century.
Most people expect museums to be quiet halls filled with ageing artefacts and hushed reverence, but for 25-year-old Pune-based insurance worker Prasanna Kale, the city's quirky museums offered something entirely unexpected. A visit to the
Vikram Pendse Cycle Museum
and the historically rich
Peshwe Museum
left him pleasantly surprised. 'I went in expecting a quick look around and ended up spending hours,' he says, adding, 'It made me realise how much of Pune's soul is tucked away in these little-known corners.' In a city that has a deep-rooted connection to history and culture, museums have been giving Punekars a glimpse of interesting collections along with a slice of history. This weekend, you could head to one or all of them to check out what they have to offer.
Blades of Glory Cricket Museum
Where: Tulshibagwale Colony, Parvati Paytha
Timings: 10 am-7 pm (Daily)
Entry fee: Rs 236 per person
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At Blades of Glory, the walls are lined with signed bats, jerseys, and priceless cricket artefacts that speak about a lifelong devotion to the sport. Founded by Rohan Pate, this museum has seen various cricket greats, including Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid, admiring the collection. For 17-year-old Atharva Vaidya, a student, visiting the museum was both inspiring and eye-opening. 'The highlights for me were the sections on Tendulkar and Kohli,' he says. If given a chance, Atharva says he would love to create a museum of foreign coins and currency notes in Pune.
Vikram Pendse Cycles private Museum
Where: Sahawas Society, Karvenagar
Timings: 11 am – 6 pm (Saturdays and Sundays)
Entry fee: Rs. 100 per person
At the Vikram Pendse Cycle Museum, the evolution of two-wheelers is traced through beautifully preserved vintage cycles, each with its own story. The collection has over 150 cycles, right from foldable cycles used by paratroopers in the second world war, to a tricycle manufactured in 1925.
Joshi's Museum of Miniature Railways
Where: Late GA Kulkarni Path, near Karishma Society, Kothrud
Timings: 9.30 am – 5 pm (Monday to Friday); 9.30 am – 4 pm and 5-8 pm (Saturdays)5-8 pm (Sundays)
Entry fee: Rs. 120
Another addition to the unusual museums based on hobbies, Joshi's railway museum takes itsrvisitors on a journey through the eyes and the vision of its creator. True to their names, these museums feature an exclusive and niched collection of exhibits. While the miniature trains may seem like childlike fascinations at first glance, their depth often surprises visitors. 'Globally, model trains are considered the queen of all hobbies because nearly every branch of science is covered in this — from physics and electronics to photography and math,' says Dr Ravi Joshi, director of the museum.
Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum
Where: Natu Baag, Shukrawar Peth
Timings: 10 am – 5.30 pm (Daily)
Entry fee: Rs. 100 for Indians and Rs 350 for foreigners
The Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum, built from the personal collection of poet and historian Dr D G Kelkar, houses artefacts dating back to the 9th century. It's among the oldest and most well-known museums in the city. 'Dr Kelkar's vision was to narrate history through artefacts,' says director Sudhanva Ranade, who has also introduced tech upgrades like 3D virtual tours and smart audio guides to engage younger visitors at the museum. There is also an additional fee of Rs. 100 for mobile photography, Rs. 200 for still photography and Rs. 500 for videography.
Peshwe Museum
Where: Parvati Hills, Parvati Paytha
Timings: 7.30 am - 8 pm (Daily)
Entry fee: Rs. 20
Meanwhile, the Peshwe Museum offers a glimpse into the legacy of the Maratha empire, showcasing tools, weapons, and artefacts from an era that once defined the city's power and prestige, quietly preserving a past often overshadowed by grander monuments. This one is popular among youngsters to get a glimpse of the rich history of the city.
Other museums that you can visit
Mahatma Phule Museum (Ghole Road), Tribal Cultural Museum (Camp), Zapurza Museum of Art & Culture (Kudje village)