International Museum Day: Intimidated by museums? Experts share a foolproof guide on how to plan your visit

To the uninitiated visitor, a museum can often feel daunting, enormous and even boring. Simply walking around and scanning through the collections without retaining any information overwhelms people - some may altogether opt out of museum trips because they don't know how to go about it.

Mumbai boasts of notable museums with rich collections. Among them, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) in Fort, which recently turned 100, and the Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum in Byculla, which is the city's oldest museum.

Mid-day Online spoke to Manisha Nene, director, galleries and general administration at CSMVS Museum and Tasneem Zakaria Mehta, director, Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum, who shared a comprehensive guide with tips for visitors across ages. Read it and prepare for your next visit!.

How does one plan their museum visit? Does it differ for people from different age groups?

Nene: The museum is full of treasures that will fascinate all age groups. We currently have 18 galleries open to the public, as well as a brand-new exhibition at our children's museum. Usually, children of younger age groups enjoy the children's museum and our Natural History section the most. However, they can also find new things to learn in our other galleries. Families with children will enjoy spending their time participating in all the various activities at our Children's Museum.

Zakaria Mehta: The Dr. Bhau Daji Lad is a jewel box museum, it is small but full of interesting, very detailed objects which have been curated to narrate multiple stories the more you look at them and forge connections between these objects. We also host exhibitions exploring the history of the city of Mumbai, the issues about our environment, gender disparity, urban planning, photography, textiles, etc. that appeal to different audiences. If there are special exhibitions or events going on at the Museum, you may want to plan more time to be able to see everything the Museum has to offer or make repeated visits like many of our local Mumbai-based visitors do. Those visiting with children or senior citizens will need to plan visits considering breaks in between at the Museum Café!

The vast collections can seem overwhelming. How can one approach the subject of their choice? Please suggest tips for different age groups.

Nene: The CSMVS has an encyclopedic collection and has something for everyone. For those interested in coins, we have the money gallery. For those interested in paintings, we have galleries showing Indian miniature paintings, Tanjore paintings and paintings from Bombay school as well as prints and postcards. For those interested in arms, we have them in the Indian decorative art gallery. For those interested in textiles, we have a gallery dedicated to that too. If anyone is interested in foreign themes, we have Chinese, Japanese and Himalayan art displayed in the heritage wing of the museum too and a variety of different art objects from around the world. Additionally, we also have QR codes available at several locations that visitors can use to learn more about our works. Many galleries also play informative short films that visitors can enjoy and learn from. Usually for younger audiences, below 10 years of age, we suggest they start their visit with the Children's Museum and the Natural History Section.

Zakaria Mehta: The Museum showcases the city's art and culture through a rare collection of fine and decorative arts, maps, glass negatives, photographs, prints, rare books, miniature models, and dioramas that highlight early Modern Art practices as well as the craftsmanship of various communities of the Bombay Presidency. There is something for every age group and interest group whether it is the history of Mumbai, the art historical study of form and figure, Indian miniature paintings, beautifully designed pottery, silverware, boxes with inlaid ivory, and cutting edge contemporary art by established as well as upcoming Indian and international artists that address relevant issues in our society today.

For school children and family groups, our collection of miniature clay models and dioramas are attractive and effective visual storytelling tools even if you do not want to read the labels or information sheets. We have special worksheets for children to help them interpret the collections and ongoing exhibitions at their own pace and learn new perspectives. These worksheets include simple yet educational activities that help break down the different ideas and themes reflected in the exhibitions or the permanent collections.

For teenagers and young adults, the ‘Instagrammable' collection, conversation-starting contemporary installations and interventions, and the beautiful building are a great pull to the Museum. Or if you're a senior citizen especially interested in talks by eminent scholars, you can attend special artist and curator-led walkthroughs, seminars and lectures. We also have a very successful film screening programme for cinephiles!

The Dr Bhau Daji Lad museum has a new exhibition titled ‘A Hall of Wonder' to mark 150 years of the Museum building. Photo: Bhau Daji Lad Museum

Currently at your museum, what are the different exhibitions for the different age groups?

Nene: Currently there are two special exhibitions open for visitors - Enduring Memories: 100 Years with the Tata Collection (showing some important and never before seen exhibits from the Tata Bequest to the Museum) and Three Dimensions of Divinity: Thanjavur Art Revealed. Our newest exhibition at the Children's Museum, Mumbai in a Box, is a unique sensorial experience for children and is a must-visit. For each of the other galleries, we don't have set specific age groups; we believe individuals of every age and stage can find something that interests them.

Zakaria Mehta: We have a new exhibition titled ‘A Hall of Wonder' that we have put together to mark 150 years of the Museum building. The exhibition examines the early beginnings of the Museum and the relationship with the botanical gardens next door. To commemorate this special occasion, the Museum has also brought out a new publication titled Mumbai - A City Through Objects, 101 stories from the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum, co-published by Harper Design and edited by the Museum Director, Tasneem Zakaria Mehta. The book takes an expansive look at the intertwined history of the city and the institution through objects that bring alive the stories that made both, the city and the Museum into what they are today.

We are looking forward to showcasing a series of exhibitions inspired by the research done for the book and the narratives therein. These topics are something that can relate to all our visitors no matter the age groups since we put together intensive outreach programmes built around the exhibitions for our audiences.

We also have few exhibitions inspired by the textiles in the Museum collections on the Google Arts and Culture platform which is regularly updated and is an important archive of our past exhibitions.

How many hours does an average museum visit take? Is it advisable to approach it all at once or in multiple visits?

Nene: A visit to the museum can take as long as the whole day or can be a few hours long too - it completely depends on how much time each visitor wants to dedicate to the museum's offerings. Visitors that have small children or elderly people accompanying them may want to spend no more than 1-2 hours at the museum, whereas others may prefer to spend the whole day at the museum, visiting the different galleries and spending time in the museum lawns and outdoor spaces.

Zakaria Mehta: On average, a visit to the BDL Museum takes about 2 hours. But it depends upon an individual's interests. We have had visitors who intended to spend only one hour but stayed back for over three hours because they were taken in by the stories that are visually conveyed through our collections. Multiple visits are definitely recommended because we have new exhibitions every few months.

What are the ideal days to visit the museum so as to get the maximum benefit out of it without being intimidated by the crowd?

Nene: The museum tends to be less crowded on weekdays during the day. Individuals who prefer to visit when there's smaller crowds can choose to plan their visit during the week.

Zakaria Mehta: The Museum stays closed on all Wednesdays but any time during the week from Monday - Thursday are good to visit without being overwhelmed by the crowd. On weekend mornings, it is advisable to visit before 1 pm so that you can attend our free weekend tours led by members of the Education team.

Please suggest handy tips that people of different age groups should follow before and after visiting a museum.

Nene: We recommend that visitors view the website before the trip to read the open and close so they can plan their trip. Next would be to look at the events calendar, since the education team also plans various activities especially over weekends and special days. It would be helpful if they see some of the collection uploads and thus understand where the different exhibits that fascinate them are placed with the various galleries of the museum. Our social media platforms also give a good idea of the collections and events.

Zakaria Mehta: One of the best ways to prepare for your visit to the BDL Museum is to check out our website Dr Bhau Daji Lad museum and follow us on social media platforms @bdlmuseum or even browse through our collection on Google Arts and Culture to know more about the permanent collection and ongoing special exhibitions, or programmes. This will help make the most of your visit to the Museum.

We recommend that visitors give themselves enough time to stand still in front of objects that their eyes gravitate towards and observe their own responses to artworks and the questions that arise in their minds during the visit. If you're on a curator or artist-led walkthrough, you can ask your questions right away! It is also important to leave feedback via social media or on the visitor feedback forms that are placed at the exit to help us understand how to offer better facilities or what public opinion is about our programmes and exhibitions. The Museum's mandate is to serve our community and feedback forms are an important way for the Museum to measure its impact.

What should one carry while visiting a museum?

Nene: One can carry a book and a pencil to take notes, or draw or sketch. Visitors can also carry a camera to take pictures, we have photography passes that can be purchased along with the Museum ticket. It is also advisable to carry a bottle of water. We have filtered water dispensers around the museum campus, in case visitors want to refill their bottles. Visitors should also wear comfortable shoes and clothing on their visit to the museum.

Do keep space in your bags for materials you make at the museum in the various activities. The museum shop is also a good space to shop for some souvenirs of exhibits you liked in the museum.

Zakaria Mehta: A small notebook or even your phone to use notes and take pictures (without flash!) to record and remember your visit to the Museum or note interesting objects that you want to explore are recommended. You may come across something interesting that you would like to read about further and note it down. Lastly, comfortable shoes and an open, curious mind is a must while visiting museums!

What are the common misconceptions associated with a museum? Please bust the myths for us.

Nene: One of the most common misconceptions associated with a museum is that they are meant only for art enthusiasts. This is not true at all. Our museum is a space for people of all age groups and with varied interests. Everyone can find something that will pique their interest. For those that enjoy nature, we have our beautiful children's museum lawns, the shaded area near the Baobab tree, which is over 95 years old, and our Natural History section. For those who enjoy hands-on activities, we have our children's museum activities, coin-making booth, greeting card-making booth and other such activities around the museum. Everyone can enjoy the varied offerings of our space.

Zakaria Mehta: The most pervasive myth about the Museums is that they are boring or only have objects from the distant past that are irrelevant to the present times. Museums are democratic cultural hubs and visionary leadership along with public-private enterprise can help Museums achieve their goals of managing permanent collections, putting up exciting exhibitions, and serving their community with opportunities for interdisciplinary learning. One can learn valuable lessons from the collective histories of mankind, of which museums are custodians but museums also have an additional responsibility to mirror contemporary issues, and injustices, and be a safe, experimental space to contemplate and spark exciting conservations about the future.