Virtual travel in India during lockdown – Museums, safaris and more

An unusual post from me after 6 weeks of lockdown. Virtual travel in India and the world has helped me during these testing times and kept me cheerful. Before we move forward, here are some questions for you.

Are you a regular traveller? 

Are you missing your business travels?

Did you miss your annual summer vacation with family?

If the answer to all of these questions is yes then I feel your pain. I had a few trips planned over the last 2 months – a safari in the national park, a family function, a business trip and a wedding – all of which were going to take me to newer places than I have been before. Yes, the Covid-19 pandemic has struck us all and struck us hard. But thanks to the technology of the 21st century, we can visit many a lot of places around the world virtually from the comfort of our homes. I say that’s the best way to kill the quarantine time.

Do you think that is exciting?

We all know India has fascinating culture and heritage which are captured over the years in museums throughout the country. If you are an art lover, then there are virtual art galleries and if you are a wildlife lover, you can go on live virtual safaris trying to sight the tigers.

Starp your seat belts as I take you on a Virtual Travel in India.

Paintings by Raja Ravi Verma

If you are an art lover then you probably know and have revered the works of the legendary artist from India – Raja Ravi Verma. I remember visiting the museums with his artwork as a child. My favourite would be the painting with piercing almost real eyes which would follow you in all directions and give you the feeling that the subject is looking directly at you. As eerie as I thought this was, it made me wonder about the creativity and precision with which this was made. 

Raja Ravi Verma is one of the most celebrated painting artists from India. His works are primarily displayed in the museums of Vadodara. Amid the national lockdown, five specially curated exhibitions and 200 images of paintings, sketches and archival photographs of his work were launched. This is the largest image bank of the works of the legendary painter, who had received patronage from Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, the visionary ruler of erstwhile Baroda State.

This is the first time that works of Ravi Varma are exhibited on an online platform.

Read a detailed guide on Things to do in Vadodara.

National Museum, New Delhi

National Museum consists of an Exhibition of Indian Art and is perhaps the oldest museum in India. This gallery was jointly set up by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the National Museum. It has a rich collection of a large number of artefacts from the sites of Harappan Civilisation. The collection includes pottery, seals, tablets, weights and measures, jewellery, terracotta figurines, toys, etc. Other things which the museum includes are related to:

Archaeology

Buddhist Art

Indian Miniature Paintings

Evolution of Indian Scripts and Coins

Central Asian Antiquity

Coins

Indian Textiles

Pre-Columbian and Western Art

Wood Carving

Musical Instruments

Tribal Lifestyle of North-East India

Arms and Armour

Most of this can be visited through the museum’s online exhibitions.

Virtual Travel in India with Railways and Railway stations

Indian Railways go hand in hand while talking about India travel so why should it be left behind during virtual travel in India? One can enjoy the virtual 360 tours, navigating through train cars and rooms. 

Know the history and learn about the fascinating architecture behind the popular Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Mumbai. Go full steam ahead into the world of the railways with Google Cardboard virtual reality viewer and discover surprising facts about the history of transportation in India as well as get a behind-the-scenes tour of the luxurious train carriages of the royals.

Indian Museum, Kolkata

The Indian Museum, Kolkata is the largest museum in India and also known to be one of the oldest in the world. Established over 2 centuries ago, India’s most acclaimed museums is also known as the Imperial Museum. It displays a comprehensive collection of artefacts that narrate the social and cultural history of India from pre-historic times. It is most popular for its coin collection – having over fifty-two thousand coins from different regions of the Indian subcontinent. It also houses over a hundred interesting and curious objects collected from different parts of the country and displayed across its various galleries.

Travel virtually to National Museum here.

Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad

The collections at Salar Jung Museum, comprises of at least a million rare items, ranging from Buddhist to Egyptian, European, Arab, Sino-Chinese, and various other civilizations. The royal museum’s exceptional collections would make history enthusiasts, art lovers, as well as usual visitors fall in love. Rare manuscripts on textiles, parchments, wood, glass, and palm leaves in numerous languages such as Turkish, Urdu, Arabic, Persian, and Sanskrit are a part of the museum’s exhibit. A stunning vintage clock, acquired from British clockmaker, Cook and Kelvey Co., finds its place inside the museum. 

With over 38 galleries within the Salar Jung Museum, spread out on two floors, display a range of items categorized into different sections and sub-sections. Besides the main galleries, there are reading rooms, libraries, a sales counter, and a cafeteria.

Virtual travel to Salar Jung Museum here.

Victoria Memorial, Kolkata

Victoria Memorial is a testimony of the peak of the British Empire in India. With more than 25 galleries which include paintings, weapons, textiles, stamps and literary works, the Victoria Memorial owns a worthy and commendable collection of rare creative works, antique books, and noteworthy artefacts.

Explore the portraits and paintings by celebrated artists from India and the West, a collection of rare and antiquarian books, manuscripts and sculptures from the British period and a lot more through a virtual tour of one of Kolkata’s most iconic buildings dedicated to Queen Victoria.

You can also virtually visit European museums from the comforts of your home.

Virtual travel in India through Indian landscapes

Not a fan of museums like me? Go ahead through virtual travel discovering the landscapes, temples, waterfalls, architecture and culture. This list includes many of the UNESCO heritage sites too! Incredible India is an initiative of the Ministry Of Tourism and you can experience a 360-degree tour of these very places without spending any money from the comfort of your home!

Virtual wildlife safari by Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR)

I have been especially missing my time in the wildlife – whether it is near my home for birdwatching or in national parks. But all hope is not lost as the administration of Tadoba National Park has taken a decision to online telecast a video daily at 3 pm to see rich biodiversity of the forest. 

Wildlife enthusiasts can watch online video telecast daily. It is not a live telecast but it is shot one in advance and edited to shorten the 3-hour safari into 30minutes video. Live commentary ensures you know the name of birds and any wildlife you see.

I feel that virtual tours from the comfort of your home are the best and most sustainable way of travel right now! I hope you enjoyed this virtual travel in India. Did you travel anywhere else virtually? Let me know in the comments below.

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