In the Post
–Visiting Mohatta Palace Museum
–Visiting Quaid-e-Azam House Museum
–Visiting National Museum of Pakistan
–Visiting TDF Ghar
–Visiting State Bank of Pakistan Museum
–Visiting Pakistan Maritime Museum
–Visiting PAF Museum
–Visiting Sindh Wildlife Museum
Be it food, culture, sightseeing, or history; Karachi – an urban megalopolis in every sense of the word – offers the best of everything. Among the dozens of avenues dedicated to fun and entertainment, the city also hosts quite a few museums that detail Karachi’s phenomenal development over two centuries.
These museums in Karachi are as close to a time machine as you can get, so buckle up as these museums will take you on a journey through time and unravel the past as you’ve never witnessed before.
List of the Best Museums in Karachi
We’ve taken the liberty of compiling some of the best museums in the city of lights that every history buff should visit at least once.
- Mohatta Palace Museum
- Quaid-e-Azam House Museum
- National Museum of Pakistan
- TDF Ghar
- State Bank of Pakistan Museum
- Pakistan Maritime Museum
- PAF Museum
- Sindh Wildlife Museum
Mohatta Palace Museum
Originally constructed as a luxurious residence in 1927 for Shiv Rattan Mohatta – a successful Marwari entrepreneur of the time – Mohatta Palace is one of the fascinating places to visit in Karachi. An Anglo-Mughal architectural touch is clearly visible from the design of this architectural masterpiece.
Mohatta Palace Museum has a total number of 44 galleries where historical artefacts hailing from different regions of Pakistan are displayed. The museum also organises art exhibitions on a regular basis. The existence of the glorious stone statues adds to the magnificence of this place.
Address: 7 Hatim Alvi Road, Old Clifton, Block 5, Karachi
Opening Hours: 11 am till 6 pm
Ticket Price: PKR 30
Quaid-e-Azam House Residency
Standing proud right in the middle of Karachi’s constant hustle and bustle, there stands a peaceful, more than a century-old yellow limestone structure known as the Quaid-e-Azam House. Also called the Flagstaff House, this beautiful building, located opposite the Avari Tower Hotel, was used by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah – the founder of Pakistan – as one of his residences.
Visitors of this historic museum get a mega dose of surprise and a renewed sense of respect while sifting through an extensive collection of Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s personal belongings. With beautiful stone carvings, circular balconies, and arched openings, Quaid-e-Azam House Museum is arguably one of the most beautiful museums in Karachi.
Address: Fatima Jinnah Road, Karachi Cantonment, Karachi
Opening Hours: 9 am till 4 pm
Ticket Price: Entry is free
National Museum of Pakistan
Established in 1950 as a replacement of the defunct Victoria Museum, National Museum of Pakistan is dedicated to Islamic heritage, historical artefacts, and valuable pieces of art. It is one of the most popular museums in Karachi displaying the cultural history of Pakistan.
There is plenty to see and explore at the National Museum of Pakistan. The museum features 11 galleries including an exclusive Quran gallery that hosts a collection of around 300 antique copies of the sacred scripture. Other attractions at the museum include ancient artefacts, sculptures, political manuscripts, and miniature paintings dating to the Indus Valley and Gandhara Civilization.
Address: Shahrah-e-Kemal Ataturk, Saddar, Karachi
Opening Hours: 9 am till 5 pm
Ticket Price: PKR 20
TDF Ghar
Taking preservation of history and heritage of Karachi to the next level, The Dawood Foundation renovated the house in use of Hajiani Hanifa Bai during the 1930s and converted it into a museum now known as TDF Ghar. It is a recreational spot as well as a museum. The motive behind TDF Ghar is to promote the concept of informal learning places in Karachi.
Restored with original fixtures, ‘The Living Room’ of TDF Ghar has been converted into a fascinating museum with enthralling furniture and antique pieces. Along with a museum facility, this place also features an exhibition hall called the ‘Numaish Hall’, a training room, and rooftop views of Mazar-e-Quaid paired with the deliciousness of local cuisine served by Sehan Café. TDF Ghar can also be reserved for organising art exhibitions, film screenings, training sessions, and workshops.
Address: M. A. Jinnah Rd, Soldier Bazaar, Amil Colony, Karachi
Opening Hours: 10 am till 10 pm
Ticket Price: PKR 50
State Bank of Pakistan Museum
The place that once functioned as Imperial Bank of India now serves as a museum displaying priceless antique pieces of the subcontinent. Inaugurated in 2006, the purpose of the SBP Museum is to share knowledge and information about the evolution of monetary systems from ancient to modern times.
Visitors here can browse through the incredible monetary history of the world and discover interesting information about ancient currencies. Coins dating to the era of Alexander the Great and Gandhara period are also on display here. Besides coins’ galleries, the museum also features currency and stamp galleries, which people can visit to discover amazing secrets about the paper-based currencies and stamps used as forms of money throughout history.
Address: I.I Chundrigar Road, Lalazar, Karachi
Opening Hours: 9.30 am till 5 pm (Sundays Closed)
Ticket Price: Entry is Free
Pakistan Maritime Museum
Sitting along an artificial lake and lush green grassy lawns in the area of Karsaz, Pakistan Maritime Museum features six galleries and an auditorium. The museum is managed and operated by Pakistan’s Naval Forces. Being of the most famous museums in Karachi, Pakistan Maritime Museum has enthralling navy relics on display that attract visitors of all ages.
Breguet Atlantic Aircraft, Daphne Class Submarine, PNS Mujahid (M164), and the minesweeper are probably the most attractive displays at Pakistan Maritime Museum. Spanning over 28 acres, this large open-air museum is one of the most exciting places to visit in Karachi.
Address: Pakistan Maritime Museum, Karsaz Road, Karachi
Opening Hours: 9 am till 10 pm (Hours may vary on weekends and holidays)
Ticket Price: PKR 30
Pakistan Air Force Museum
Pakistan Air Force Museum, popularly shortened as the PAF Museum, features all the famous aircraft and weapons used by Pakistan’s Air Force. This museum is based on a hall and an open-air facility where radars, aircraft, and many other types of weapons are kept on display.
The two most popular attractions on display at the PAF Museum are the Indian jet fighters captured in the 1965 war and Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s Vicker aeroplane. Counted among the most famous museums in Karachi, World War history buffs can get up-close with the different models of fighter jets used during World War I and II.
Address: PAF Base, Main Shahrah-e-Faisal Road, Karachi
Opening Hours: 9 am till 9 pm (Hours may vary on Fridays)
Ticket Price: PKR 40
Sindh Wildlife Museum
After a long wait of 29 years, the Sindh Wildlife Museum has been finally renovated and reopened for the public. The museum is located in the Freemasons Lodge Building, which was constructed in 1914 during the British Raj in Karachi. The renovation work on the museum was carried out in almost a year’s time with a cost of PKR 1.6 million. The project was jointly funded by the provincial government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The main objective of the Sindh Wildlife Museum is to preserve and portray the ecological diversity of Sindh as well as to educate the younger generations about flora and fauna of the region. The animal species kept on display in the Sindh Wildlife Museum include 322 local and migratory birds, 82 mammals and 107 reptiles native to the region. Furthermore, the museum also hosts a large library with extensive research material in the form of thousands of books and journals related to wildlife and their natural habitats.
Address: Deen Mohammad Wafai Road, Civil Lines, Frere Town, Karachi
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday (9 am till 5 pm)
Ticket Price: Free Entry for All
Apart from all these museums, the rich heritage of Karachi is also reflected through several government buildings present in the city that are living proof of the architectural magnificence of the region, which has evolved with time.
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