Also Known As · International Dolls Museum, Delhi
New Delhi, Delhi · museum
A world tour in miniature — 6,000 costume dolls from 85 countries in glowing glass cases, a gentle, delightful family museum near ITO.
Shankar's International Dolls Museum is a small, joyful surprise in central Delhi — one of the largest doll museums in Asia, holding roughly 6,000 costume dolls from about 85 countries, arranged continent by continent in more than 160 backlit glass cases on the first floor of the Children's Book Trust building near ITO. It is the kind of place that delights children and quietly charms adults, a tour of the world's cultures told entirely through dress, dance and folk scenes in miniature.
Pure-vegetarian South Indian dosas and thalis
Pure-vegetarian North Indian dal makhani and paneer
Pure-vegetarian chaat, snacks and sweets
Shankar's International Dolls Museum is a small, joyful surprise in central Delhi — one of the largest doll museums in Asia, holding roughly 6,000 costume dolls from about 85 countries, arranged continent by continent in more than 160 backlit glass cases on the first floor of the Children's Book Trust building near ITO.
the museum is closed on Mondays and open through the day otherwise, with an inexpensive ticket (a little more for adults than children); reach it before the ticket counter closes in the early evening. It is compact — allow about an hour to ninety minutes — and best paired with nearby Feroz Shah Kotla. Nearest metro: ITO, right beside it. Check the current photography rules at the counter.
Visiting Hours
Entry Fee: Inexpensive — around ₹40 for adults and ₹20 for children (verify at the counter).
Verified: July 2026
Address
Nehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, ITO, New Delhi, Delhi, 110002
In Nehru House beside ITO metro
🚇 Nearest Metro: ITO (Violet Line) — beside Gate No. 4, ~4-minute walk; Pragati Maidan (Blue Line) ~750 m
🚶 Walking from Metro: From ITO metro (Gate 4) it is about a 4-minute walk to the museum in Nehru House.
Distance from
Parking
nearby · ₹20–₹50 (paid)
Limited parking near ITO; the metro is easiest.
🚕 Ride Hailing Tip: Uber and Ola drop at Nehru House on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, beside ITO metro Gate 4.
How to Reach: The museum is in Nehru House on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, near the ITO crossing. Nearest metro: ITO (Violet Line), beside Gate No. 4, about a 4-minute walk; Pragati Maidan (Blue Line) is about 750 m. Buses and autos stop nearby.
History
The museum was founded in 1965 by the pioneering political cartoonist K.
🏛️ Architect: The museum occupies about 5,000 square feet on the first floor of the Children's Book Trust building (Nehru House), with the collection shown in more than 160 backlit glass display cases arranged by continent and region.
Significance
Shankar's International Dolls Museum is one of the largest doll museums in Asia — roughly 6,000 costume dolls from about 85 countries, including a superb array of Indian costume dolls made in its own workshop — and a beloved Delhi family attraction.
Family Highlights
💰 Equipment Fees: Check current rules at the counter.
📍 The Golden Spot: The glowing continent-wise display cases, especially the Indian costume dolls.
🌅 Best Light Time: Any time — it is an indoor museum.
🌅 Secret View: The Indian costume dolls, made in the museum's own workshop, are the collection's real gem — richer than the international cases.
🎯 Crowd Hack: Weekday late mornings are calmest; weekends and school holidays bring families.
💎 Secret Fact: The museum grew from a single doll gifted to cartoonist K. Shankar Pillai by a Hungarian diplomat into a collection of over 6,000 from about 85 countries.
⚡ Express Tour
45 minutes — a walk through both wings.
🔭 Deep Dive Tour
2 hours — the museum, the bookshop, then Feroz Shah Kotla.
👕 Dress Code: No dress code; comfortable clothing.
📷 Photography Rules: Photography rules vary — check at the ticket counter before shooting the display cases.
🏧 Nearest ATM: ATMs around ITO and Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg (within 1 km).
It is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (ticket counter closes about 5:30 PM), and closed on Mondays.
It is inexpensive — around ₹40 for adults and ₹20 for children; verify the current price at the counter.
ITO on the Violet Line is right beside it (near Gate No. 4), about a 4-minute walk; Pragati Maidan on the Blue Line is about 750 m.
Roughly 6,000 costume dolls from about 85 countries in backlit cases, including a large collection of Indian costume dolls made in the museum's own workshop, plus themed dioramas.
Yes — it is one of Delhi's most charming family museums, an easy and educational outing; allow about an hour to ninety minutes.
The ITO and Daryaganj area nearby has good pure-veg options — Sagar Ratna, Veg Gulati and Haldiram's are all within easy reach.
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