The city’s largest museum, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya was built in 1914, and originally called the Prince of Wales Museum of Western India. The building is a fusion of British, Hindu and Mughal architecture – a style called Indo-Saracenic – pioneered by British architect George Wittet in the early 1900s. The museum has over 50,000 artefacts including bronze and stone sculptures, miniature paintings and Tibetan and Nepali art. Don’t miss the only Assyrian frieze in India, on display in the Pre and Proto History Gallery. Take the 45-minute audio tour explaining 38 displays that the museum considers its masterpieces. On your way out, pick up leaf etchings from Orissa (R385-1,080), Mughal-style miniatures (R1,500-4,000) and black-and-white photographs of Mumbai landmarks (R600-2,250).

Children can leaf through Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s collection of over 50,000 books, read his correspondence with world leaders (including a handwritten letter by Leo Tolstoy to him), hear his voice on an old audio tape available and learn about milestones of Gandhi’s life and fight for Indian freedom through tableau sequences depicted by a colourful collection of almost 40 clay doll figures.

R30 for Indians, R300 for foreigners, R15 for college students and R5 for children between 5 to 12 years.