National Gallery of Modern Art
Manikyavelu Mansion, Palace Road
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Distance
- 4 km away
- Entry
- ₹20 per adult
- Best time
- Weekday afternoons
Housed in the early-20th-century Manikyavelu Mansion, this is the Bengaluru outpost of the National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi, and it holds a permanent collection spanning Raja Ravi Varma to contemporary Indian artists across two connected buildings — the original heritage mansion and a newer wing added in 2009.
It's quiet almost every day of the week, which is either a point in its favour or a sign it's under-visited depending on how you look at it. The garden courtyard between the two buildings is a pleasant place to sit even if you're not there specifically for the art.
Highlights
- Raja Ravi Varma originals in the permanent collection
- Heritage Manikyavelu Mansion architecture
- Rotating contemporary art exhibitions in the newer wing
- Quiet garden courtyard between the two buildings
Good to know
- Photography of the permanent collection is usually restricted — ask at the desk before shooting
- Rarely crowded, so it's a good rainy-day or peak-heat indoor option
- Check for temporary exhibitions on their notice board — these change more often than the permanent galleries
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