Also known as India's National Museum, New Delhi National Museum is one of India's largest museums, situated at the intersection of the Janpath and Maulana Azad Street. Completed in 1949, the majestic repository's blueprints were prepared by the Gwyer Committee set up by India's government in 1946. Today the museum houses a whopping 200,000 works of art, both Indian and foreign, and is operated by the Indian Department of Culture Ministry. Covering a wide variety of items from ancient times to contemporary art pieces, the museum traces the rich cultural history of nations across the globe, from over 5000 years ago.
The museum also houses the National Museum Institute of History of Arts, Preservation and Museology which was added in 1983 as another section. Since 1989 this section has been running numerous courses for Masters and Doctoral degrees in History of Arts, Preservation and Museology. The archive also celebrates 4th and 5th Century B.C. Relics date back to the times of the Buddha and the Harappan Civilization, as well as various wooden carvings, drawings, sculptures, murals, textiles, armoury etc. The two-storeyed building has chambers clearly divided to show antiques of various ages.