The National Crafts Museum and Hastkala Academy is not what you usually imagine a museum to be. The moment you step in, the space begins to feel less like a formal institution and more like a village taking
shape around you.
From the moment you enter, the architecture sets the tone. The pathway leading inside is lined with bamboo railings displaying handicrafts from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and several other states, offering a gentle preview of the craft journey ahead.
The entrance itself feels warm and intimate, guiding you into what resembles a carefully preserved slice of rural India.
Through the cosy entrance, you step into an open area that immediately sets the mood. A large banyan tree stands at the centre, the kind you would expect in a village square, where elders gather to talk while people pass by on their way to work.
Even the ticket counter blends into this setting, built like a small hut. Entry for Indian visitors is free, and you don’t need to pay a single rupee to witness the country’s rich craft traditions.
To see the exhibitions, you walk through a heavy handcrafted wooden door, intricately carved with figures of Hindu gods and goddesses.
From the outside, the structure looks modest, but once inside, it opens up like a traditional haveli. One room leads to another, each separated by heritage wooden doors that make you feel as though you are moving through an old ancestral home.
The first exhibit appears almost immediately after you enter. It features a beautifully crafted miniature village landscape. Nearby, you come across puppets from different parts of the country, including Rajasthan and West Bengal, their colours standing out against the earthy interiors.
As you move ahead, you pass through a small courtyard that leads to a larger central courtyard. At its centre stands a massive wooden temple chariot, once pulled by devotees using thick ropes.
Walking into the gallery across from it, you encounter handicrafts and paintings linked to Hindu and Jain worship practices. What often catches you by surprise here is the scale, towering carved ‘jharokha’ and even a full two-storey traditional house structure within the exhibit space.
A staircase takes you to the next section, where you step into the richness of India’s textile traditions. Silks, wool and cotton fabrics from across the country fill the space, along with sarees and regional weaves from almost every state. Standing here, you begin to grasp how deeply craftsmanship is woven into everyday life in India.
Seen as a whole, the museum’s idea becomes clear. It is not designed as a lavish building meant to impress, but as a space where life feels slower.
Exhibits are housed in haveli-like structures, artisans work in open courtyards, and you can buy handwoven textiles, handmade objects, and crafts from across the country.
The village complex deepens this feeling further. For a moment at a time, it no longer feels like you are in a metro city.
Adding to this experience, the museum is hosting several artisans and studios from December 13 to December 21. As you move through the space, your senses are constantly engaged, from touching handwoven fabrics and paper made from fibres extracted from agricultural waste, to smelling bath and body products created with essential oils from Uttarakhand’s herbs.
You hear stories about preserving regional recipes, and pause to look closely at handcrafted brassware, statement enamel jewellery, and metal and wood craft from Chhattisgarh.
So, if you’re looking for a village-like pause without leaving the city, the National Crafts Museum offers a chance to experience India’s rich handicraft traditions, with artisan-led workshops unfolding over the next seven days.
For those who want to plan their visit, the workshop schedule is as follows:
December 13 | 12 noon
• Soof Workshop by Varso Living
• Documenting a Family Recipe by The Kindness Meal
December 14 | 12 noon onwards
• Wet Felting Workshop by Norbu
• Art of Making Jhal Muri by Luchee Food Story
• Needle Felting Workshop by Dakhni Diaries
December 19 | 12 noon
• Tatva Mix Clay Workshop by Earth Tatva
December 20 | 12 noon onwards
• Wet Felting Workshop by Norbu
• Enamelling Workshop by The Joyful Enamelist
December 21 | 12 noon onwards
• Sound Healing Workshop by Sarveda
• Community Potluck by The Kindness Meal
