A museum is a place that exhibits objects of historical, artistic, or scientific interest. They provide an opportunity to learn about various aspects of science and history and insights into cultures from around the world. It has sprawling complexes with thousands of things on exhibit available for public viewing. This description is accurate. But there’s much more to museums than just exhibits and educational programs. The definition of a museum constantly evolves as new types of museums continue to be created. If you’re looking for a unique cultural experience, you can visit many famous museums in Pakistan. These museums offer visitors a glimpse into Pakistani history and culture, from ancient relics to modern art. 

TOP 50 MUSEUMS IN PAKISTAN 2022

Museums offer more than just a static display of artifacts. They can also be fun! If you’re looking for some new museums to explore, or if you’re curious about what famous museums are in Pakistan, keep reading. This blog post will provide a list of Top museums in Pakistan, along with information on what each one offers. Whether you’re a history buff or just looking for something to do on the weekends, this extensive List of museums in Pakistan is sure to please you! Many museums are included in this, like the famous Mohatta Palace.

Abbott Museum

Abbott Museum is located in Abbottabad in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, housed in a historic structure, and features rare collections of past artifacts. It also holds replicas of various items used daily by the ancient Hazara people. A visit is worthwhile to truly comprehend the way of life of the people who are a part of this civilization. Abbott Museum has rare paintings and vintage photos. Guns, swords, and other weapons are available. Displayed are furniture pieces and frequently used utensils. Currency notes, postal tickets, and coins are on display. A balcony room has also been decorated with displays to give a genuine sense of the past. In actuality, one could learn about almost every facet of the Hazara local customs in such a compact area. You can visit it on any day of the week from 8 am to 4 pm.

Abdur Rehman Chughtai Museum

In Lahore’s Kalma Chowk Garden, you can find the Chughtai Museum. Abdur Rehman Chughtai is the first notable contemporary Muslim artist from Pakistan. So this Museum is devoted to his name to give him honor. This Museum contains an extensive collection of paintings, sculptures, and calligraphy by Chughtai and other notable painters. Pablo Picasso, Allama Iqbal, and many different famous personalities admired the work of Abdur Rehman Chughtai. His paintings are also present in many international museums. The Museum opens from Monday to Friday. You can visit it anytime between 12 am to 5 pm. The entrance is free for all visitors. 

Allama Iqbal Museum

Iqbal museum, located on Allama Iqbal road near Lahore railway station, is a tribute to the greatest poet and philosopher of the subcontinent. He is also known as the “Spiritual father of Pakistan.” Iqbal museum, also known as Jawed manzil, is located in the city of Gardens, Lahore. The Museum’s exterior looks like a prestigious white colonial building with an eye-catching garden at the front that depicts the whole life of Alama Iqbal before our eyes. We can see the Iqbal museum on one side of the road overlooking the Lahore Railway Station. Jawed Manzil, the last residence of Allama Iqbal, was converted into a museum before Iqbal left this world. Jawed Manzil was the last resident of Allama Iqbal from 1935-1938. He left this world on 21 April 1938 in Jawed Manzil. You must be wondering why it is called Jawed Manzil, named after his son; Jawed Iqbal is the last residence of Allama Iqbal. 

The Iqbal Museum features various personal belongings of Allama Iqbal, preserved in their original condition, including clothes, diaries, manuscripts, and some old furniture like a bed, his prayer mat, and a bookshelf filled with his writings. Iqbal is known as” Shair e Mashriq,” meaning poet of the East. Another title attributed to him is “Muffakkir-e-Pakistan,” meaning the Thinker of Pakistan. Visitors can go through almost the entire house and ponder the inspiring life of Allama Iqbal.

Archaeological Museum Umerkot

Thar Museum Umerkot, also known as Archaeological Museum Umerkot, is one of Pakistan’s ancient and best museums located in the Umerkot district in the Sindh province of Pakistan. It was established and inaugurated in 1968, but later on, due to its importance as a tourist site, its manufacturers decided to renovate the Museum and shift the Umerkot museum into an entirely new building in July 2006. The Archaeological Umerkot Museum houses inside the Umerkot Fort. Umerkot district is the birthplace of the Mughal emperor, Akbar the Great, the third emperor of the Mughal dynasty. He was born in 1542 in the town of Umerkot when the Afghan King Sher Shah Suri defeated his father, Humayun, in a military fight for the kingdom. Humayun fled to Iran, where the ruler of Umerkot, Rana Parshad Sodha, provided him refuge.

The Umerkot museum consists of many small halls located inside the fort. The archaeological Museum contains all the artifacts of the Mughal era preserved beautifully in their original condition. The Museum will provide its visitors with an insight into the traditional culture and lives of the Mughal rulers. Every corner of this historical masterpiece depicts the golden era of the Mughal dynasty. The paintings of all the Mughal rulers are adorning the walls.

Moreover, the Museum has many items on display, like clothes used by Mughal emperors, jewelry showcasing the culture of ancient times, swords and arrows, guns and armor used by the Mughal Army, and old books preserved neatly on glass shelves. Moreover, the most eye-catching spectacles of the Museum are various mannequins wearing clothes and jewelry of the ancient era and many other realistic figures of men and women moving with the help of strings, doing pottery, and playing musical instruments looking like real humans. A thorough visit to this splendid Museum will not disappoint its visitors.

Army Museum Lahore

Located in Lahore cantonment, the Museum offers visitors a glimpse into the country’s military history and heritage. It is one of the famous museums in Pakistan. Army Museum has many galleries displaying sculptures of all army chiefs, portraits of martyrs, ancient weapons and armor, modern aircraft, and vehicles. This Museum was inaugurated in 2017 by General Qamar Javed Bajwa. It opens from Saturday to Sunday from 9 am to 7 pm in the summer. Adults have to pay PKR 50, and children have to pay PKR 20 for entrance. 

Army Museum Rawalpindi

Established in 1961, the Army Museum Rawalpindi houses within the Rawalpindi Cantonment. Numerous displays about Pakistani rangers and frontier troops, and galleries of the Indo-Pak Wars of 1971 and 1965, can be found in the Museum. It also has an expansive outdoor display, from ancient relics to modern weapons and vehicles. It opens to travelers from 9 am to 4 pm. On weekends army museum Rawalpindi remains closed. So if you’re interested in learning more about this fascinating part of the world, check out the Army Museum but don’t forget your ID card at home. 

Bahawalpur Museum

The Bahawalpur museum, established in 1976, houses an extensive collection of artifacts from all over the country. It is a great place to learn about the culture and history of Pakistan. There are also several exciting exhibits on natural history and local crafts. Visitors will enjoy exploring the Museum’s galleries, which cover many subjects. It opens from 9 am to 4 pm but remains closed on Monday. The entrance to the Museum is free. 

Banbhore Museum

Banbhore Museum, located in the Thatta district of Sindh province, is one of Pakistan’s most important archaeological sites. The Museum is home to a collection of treasures that tell the story of the region’s ancient past. Visitors can explore everything from relics and ruins of the first mosque of the subcontinent and sculptures to coins and jewelry on display at Banbhore Museum. Museum houses in a smaller town south of Karachi. 

Bannu Museum

If you’re ever in the area of Bannu, Pakistan, be sure to check out the Bannu Museum. It’s home to an impressive collection of archaeological artifacts and historical relics from the region. The Museum is also a great place to learn about the history and culture of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. It opens from 9 am to 4 pm but remains closed on Sundays. 

Chitral Museum

Chitral museum is among the best museums in Pakistan, located in the Chitral district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the northwestern province of Pakistan. It was established on 8 July 2010. The Chitral region is known for its rich cultural heritage and magical views worldwide. This famous tourist site houses within sky rocketed mountains, turquoise valleys, and beautiful landscapes. The central ideology behind manufacturing this Museum was to keep Chitral’s customs, traditions, and history alive. In summers, Chitral is colorful and vibrant, whereas, in winters, it covers in the white shawl of snow.

The Museum comprises two galleries, the Ethnological Gallery and the Archaeological & Kalash Gallery, which feature the culture and way of life adopted by the Chitral people. This gallery houses many ancient artifacts, including weapons, wood-carved furniture, ceramics, hunting tools, daggers, and swords. The jewelry and antique ornaments are also displayed and preserved, depicting the cultural trends followed by the people of Chitral. The Archaeological and Kalash gallery features the historical and cultural materials of the Kalash valley, located almost 34 km from the Chitral. The architectural materials displayed in this gallery provide an insight into the rich cultural heritage of the Kalash people.

City Museum

You’ll find the City Museum in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province at the archaeological site of Gorkhatri in Peshawar.

Archaeological, anthropological, and antiquities galleries make up the Museum. The latter is the most recent addition, displaying artifacts from the British Raj that provide in-depth details about Peshawar’s Excavation profile. This site has a significant historical relic collection dating back to the Indo-Greeks or earlier. The daughter of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, Jahanara Begum, built the Gorkhatri complex’s current structure in 1640. You can visit City Museum any day between 8 am to 4 pm. 

Dir Museum

Dir museum, located in the Dir District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has a delicate and distinctive collection of Gandharan art. The structure has a fort-like appearance with an arched entrance, two corner picket towers, and a parapet with battlements. The foundation of the Dir Museum is the city’s most significant historical and cultural past, which dates back to the second millennium BC.

Fakir Khana Museum

The Fakir family owns Fakir Khana, a private museum and residence in the walled city of Lahore, Pakistan. The largest privately owned Museum in South Asia, Fakhir Khana, houses more than 20,000 artifacts from the 18th to 20th centuries. The Museum also holds a small collection of Ghandhara art and the Sikh era. The government partially funds the maintenance of the site. The home housed in the Museum provides information about upper-class Lahori families’ Sikh and British-era lifestyles. It opens from 10 am to 5 pm every day. 

Golra Sharif Railway Museum

Also Known as Pakistan’s Railway heritage museum and is located in sector F-13 of Islamabad. It consists of three halls with more than 150 artifacts illustrating the British Raj and nearly a century of uninterrupted Indian railway history. The Museum’s large yard, cranes, locomotives, trolleys, engines, tracks, saloons, and coaches depict the actual railway scenery from various phases in an impressive way. The British-displayed series of advertisements for imported tea is still visible in the Museum and offers a glimpse into the past. The Golra Sharif Museum is open daily from 9 am to 4 pm. On Friday, it opens from 8 am to 1 pm. Locals require Just 10 PKR for entry.

Gujrat Museum

Gujrat Museum, also famous as Ram Pyari Museum, is established recently in a historic building in Gujrat. The picture gallery, decorated with images of three Nishan-e-Haider holders from the Pakistani Army, is an intriguing and eye-catching feature of the Gujrat Museum. It also features elements of the local culture, such as the Sohni Mahiwaal epic, a mason at work, agricultural laborers at work, a rural home, cooking utensils, and old locks. 

Harappa Museum

Sahiwal’s Harappa Museum is the guardian of the oldest human civilization. The Museum has two galleries filled with various artifacts that show how the Indus Valley Civilization’s arts, crafts, and technology evolved. Currently, thirty showcases are on display. Copper and bronze artifacts, clay miniatures, toys, skeletons, and generally utilized items made of ivory, shell, and clay are just a few of the things on display. It opens daily from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm for its visitors. 

Hund Museum

Hund Museum, located in the Sawabi District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, is also an archeological site. Every year, thousands of people visit it. Before moving on to the Indian plains, Alexander the Great passed through Hund in 327 BC and stayed the night in the village. The Hund Museum showcases exquisite buildings from the Kushan, Hindu Shahi, and Islamic eras, as well as coins, jewelry, and other household items from the Indo-Greek period. The government opened it in 2009 on 33 Kanals of land. It remains closed on Fridays. 

Kasur Museum

The government of Punjab’s District Kasur constructed the Kasur Museum in 1999, in a historic structure from the colonial era. It is a cultural heritage museum. It consists of the Kasur Craft Gallery, the Archaeology Gallery, the Coin Gallery, the Tehreek-e-Pakistan Gallery, and the Islamic Gallery. 

Visitors can view a rare collection of fossils from all different eras in an archaeological gallery. There is also a collection of ceramics, sculptures, and kitchenware. It opens daily from 8 am to 5 pm for its visitors.

K2 Museum

K2 Museum, also known as the Italian K2 Museum, symbolizes the friendship between Pakistan and Italy. It is a modern and unique building constructed in a tent-like style. It was established in 2004 to commemorate Italian mountaineers’ first successful ascent of K2 in 1954. Recognized as one of Pakistan’s famous and unique museums, the K2 museum houses in Skardu, Gilgit Baltistan.

K2 museum Skardu houses a considerable amount of historical information about K2 and Skardu, maps, geographical locations, and artifacts depicting the cultural life of Skardu. The Museum features numerous photos of all the mountaineers who have trekked through the K2. You can visit this unique architectural masterpiece of Baltistan from Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm.

Kalasha Dur Museum

Located in Bumburet Valley, Lower Chitral District in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, Kalasha Dur Museum is a famous tourist site of great historical and cultural importance. It showcases the ancient culture of the Kalasha people, an ethnic minority in Pakistan. This Museum is also known as the House of Kalasha. It was built in 2005 to preserve the cultural heritage of the Kalasha people and the Hindukush region. It has a collection of up to 1300 artifacts, including musical instruments, clothes, jewelry, daily life tools, and weapons, providing an insight into the traditional life of the Chitral and Kalash valley. According to legend, Kalash people donated the artifacts; however, members of the NGO based in Greece collected most objects. The building is composed of two floors. 

Kalasha Dur Museum is open for tourists five days a week from Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm. The entrance fee is only PKR 10 to 20; however, if you want to capture photos, they can charge up to PKR 150.

Lahore Museum

Lahore museum is the largest and one of the most famous museums in Pakistan, established in 1894. This majestic red brick building on Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam was previously known as Mall Road, near Anarkali market, Lahore. The purpose of this vast masterpiece is to educate its visitors about the deep and rich history of Pakistan with the help of its diverse collection of ornaments from prehistoric times to the present day. The architectural design of the Lahore museum is a mixture of Mughal and British Colonial Architecture. It houses approximately 60,000 artifacts not only from Pakistan but also 

from many countries and regions such as Tibet, Bhutan, Africa, Burma, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Nepal.

Up to 40,000 coins, sculptures, modern paintings, Ghandhara art, weapons, and armor are all kept in the Lahore Museum. It also features stamps and manuscripts collections, art related to many religions, and much more. It is open for its spectators on all days from 9 am to 4 pm. The entrance fee is PKR 100 for locals and PKR 1000 for international tourists. A visit to such a vast collection of antiquities is never dull.

Lloyd Barrage Museum

Lloyd Barrage Museum is an informative museum located in the City of Sukkar in Sindh province. The Museum is small but incredible but provides a great history of the British irrigation system. It includes details on the construction of the magnificent Sukkar Barrage, also known as the Lloyd Barrage. A bridge model is present, along with enlarged images of the various stages of construction of this enormous structure to capture the water of the INDUS RIVER. The Barrage was constructed in the 19th century to transport water throughout Sindh. The Museum aims to inform the public about how British engineers created this masterpiece. Many people visit this fantastic Museum of Pakistan daily. It opens from 9 am to 5 pm.

Lok Virsa Museum

Lok Virsa Museum displays Pakistan’s living cultures and art. The Museum is perched above Shakarparian Hills on Garden Avenue in Islamabad Capital Territory. The Museum offers a wide range of fascinating attractions. The Museum displays traditional art, music, clothing, and more. Through crafts, music, and traditional clothing displays, visitors can learn more about the nation’s customs, dress, architecture, music, myths, and legends by perusing the Museum’s galleries through crafts, music, and folklore. Regular cultural events at the Museum are a fantastic way to understand Pakistani culture.

Additionally, there is a library on the premises where visitors can learn more about specific aspects of Pakistani culture. The Lok Virsa Museum is the place to go in Islamabad if you want a distinctive and educational experience. On Monday, the Museum remained closed.

Lyallpur Museum

Lyallpur Museum, situated in Faisalabad, is a heritage museum. As the old name of Faislabad was Lyallpur, that’s why the Museum is named Lyallpur museum. Museum has Ten galleries that display Faisalabad’s ancient history and culture. The construction of the Lyallpur Museum began in 2010. 

The Museum preserves the history and culture of the various parts of Sandal Bar. Sandal Bar emphasizes the region’s historical significance of the area Between the River Chenab and Ravi. It opens Monday to Saturday from 9:30 am to 4 pm for its visitors. 

Mardan Museum

Mardan Museum opened in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province’s District Mardan in 1991. The Museum consists of Gandhara, Islamic and Ethnological galleries. These are the sculptures discovered during excavations at Mardan’s ancient sites. The items in the ethnographic gallery include furniture, traditional jewelry, weapons, stools and boxes made of wood and leather, works of embroidery, musical instruments, and a variety of other things. At the same time, the Islamic gallery displays beautiful examples of the Quran, poetry, and religious writings, mainly in Arabic and Persian. Travelers can visit the Museum any day of the week. 

Mohenjo-Daro Museum

Sindh’s Provine is home to the Mohenjo-Daro Museum. The Museum is on the first floor of the Mohenjo-Daro complex, including a guest house and a lab. Established in the 1960s, the Museum displays the artifacts uncovered from the archeological site in forty showcases illuminated by natural light. Sadly, the statue of the king-priest is located in the Karachi Museum, while the most famous artifact from Mohenjo-Daro, the Dancing Girl, is in the Delhi Museum. After you have visited the Mohejo Daro ruins, it is worthwhile to visit Mohenjo-Daro Museum. The public may visit this archaeological Museum all days a week except Wednesday. It opens during the hours of 9 am to 5 pm.

Montgomery Museum

The Montgomery Museum has opened at the COMSATS Institute of Information Technology in Sahiwal. It was named Montgomery on the old name of Sahiwal. It displays hundreds of years of ancient artifacts discovered from Harrapa. This Museum also represents the ancient culture of Sahiwal. It exhibits coins from different eras, stuffed mummified birds, decorated pictures, and old means of agriculture. To know about Sahiwal’s cultural history, you must visit it. 

Multan Museum

The Multan Museum houses an impressive collection of coins, medals, postage stamps, manuscripts, recorded inscriptions, woodwork, camel-skin art pieces, historical models, and artworks from the Islamic and Pre-Islamic periods. According to the decision made by the city government and the Punjab government, they will transfer the “Ghanta Ghar” building to Multan Museum. While still under construction, the Multan Museum will soon be accessible to the general public and visitors. 

National History Museum

Greater Iqbal Park in Lahore is home to the National History Museum. Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated this first digital Museum in Pakistan. It is a Parks and Horticulture Authority Lahore project. The Museum has five sections presenting aspects of the Pakistan Movement, Pakistani music, film, and sports. The first section displays The significant pre-independence historical occurrences in Pakistan. The second section shows the partition of India. Through a 3-D virtual reality display, you can see the challenges faced by the migrants in the third section. Lollywood, the expansion of Pakistani music, and traditional handicrafts are all covered in the fourth section. Viewers can view clips from well-known Pakistani movies and hear timeless music. The fourth section depicts The sports history of Pakistan. National History Museum opens from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm.  

National Museum of Pakistan

National Museum, established in 1950, is the largest Museum in Pakistan, located in Karachi. In 1970, the Museum moved to its current location of Burns Garden. With the Museum’s expansion, the building now contains eleven galleries, including a “Quran Gallery.” National Museum also displays Fifty-two rare manuscripts of the Quran. The Museum houses hundreds of well-preserved sculptures in addition to a collection of 58,000 ancient coins, some of which date back to 74 Al-Hijra. The National Museum also received about 70,000 publications, books, and other reading materials from the Archeology and Museums Department. The Museum also includes an auditorium and a conservation lab. National Museum Karachi opens from 9 am to 5 pm.

National Museum of Science and Technology

To increase public and student awareness of science and technology, Pakistan’s government established the National Museum of Science & Technology in 1956. It is Pakistan’s first national-level science and technology museum. It contains a wide range of fascinating exhibits, models, and representations. The Foucault pendulum in this Museum is the biggest in South Asia. The Museum’s science and technology exhibits span over 11,000 square feet. The science museum in Lahore is currently hosting more than 500 scientific projects on a variety of topics. Among them are mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and psychology exhibits. Simple experiments and intricate models of the human body are among the projects. The purpose of these exhibits is to aid students in understanding various scientific principles. The Museum offers multiple interactive activities to engage visitors in learning. It would be best if you visited the Science Museum Lahore to learn about science and technology and understand science-related concepts. The Museum is open from Tuesday through Sunday, and don’t forget to bring your ID card. 

Omar Hayat Mahal Museum

Located in Chiniot, Pakistan, the Omar Hayat Mahal is a 20th-century wooden haveli. Sheikh Omar Hayat built it in 1935. Palace has five stories. Due to its lavish interior decoration, the structure has been referred to as an “ornament” of a building and exhibits outstanding examples of Chiniot’s regional woodworking style. The government installed a library, a museum, and a cultural center in the structure. Learners can access a rare collection of thousands of books and subscriptions to seven daily newspapers. Every artwork in the building tells a tale about the love and labor that went into its construction. There is no entrance fee in Omar Hayat Mahal.

Pakistan Air Force Museum

Located in Karachi, Pakistan Air Force Museum displays several radars, aircraft, and weapons of the Pakistan Air force. The Museum also houses a Folland from the Indian Air Force that landed in Pakistan during the 1965 Indo-Pakistani war and the aircraft used by Pakistan’s founder, Mohammed Ali Jinnah. In addition, there are photo galleries of nearly all of Pakistan Air Force’s squadrons and scale models of some World War I, World War II, and more modern aircraft on display. A gallery also displays the statue of Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman with pieces of his Mig-21’s fuselage and tail. Pakistan Air Force Museum remains open seven days a week from 9 am to 9:30 pm.

Pakistan Maritime Museum

The Pakistan Maritime Museum Karachi is a park and naval Museum constructed by Pakistan Navy. The 28-acre park has the main museum building. The minesweeper PNS Mujahid (M164), the Daphne Class Submarine PNS Hangor (S131), Breguet Atlantic aircraft, and the Queen’s wooden barge given to the Naval Chief in the 1960s are also on display at the Museum. The Museum’s core principles are modern concepts for presentation and interactive learning. There is also a library, a historical archive, and an auditorium with a seating capacity of 60 people. On your visit to the Pakistan Maritime Museum, check out the Aquarium Gallery to learn more about marine life. In addition to the galleries, there is an outdoor museum with a sizable lake with several anchored. The Museum is open every day from 8 am to 10 pm throughout the year. The entry fee is PKR 30 for adults and PKR. 20 for kids. On Saturday and Sunday, only families can visit the maritime Museum.

Pakistan Museum of Natural History

The Pakistan Museum of natural history Museum, Islamabad, opened its door to visitors in 1976. The Museum has six galleries. The recent addition of the 6th gallery of the Museum in 2016 includes fossils, animal and plant specimens, rocks, and sculptures of extinct creatures. This Museum also serves as a research center, and many scientists are actively working on Pakistan’s natural history. It also conducts seminars and workshops in the public section to educate the public about the importance of natural resources, plants, animals, and fossils. There is a skeleton of a gigantic blue whale at its entrance. There are More than 650 specimens of birds, a fish pond with 250 fish specimens, a lotus pond with a lotus population, and an animated solar system. A giant whale shark display, a volcano diorama, an earthquake exhibit, and a globe that exhibits the earth’s atmosphere and environment are also on display.

It remains open from 9:30 am to 8 pm on the summer days and from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm on the winter days. At the same time, it remains closed during lunch and prayer times. The ticket price is PKR 30 for locals and PKR 20 for students. But it is PKR 100 for foreign visitors.

Peshawar Museum

The Peshawar Museum is an old double-story building. Its old name is “Victoria Hall,” after the name of Queen Victoria. It is an ancient monument with a flavor of British, Mughal, Hindu, and Buddhist architecture. Initially, it had one hall, but later, the Museum expanded with a new building block having two galleries. It has a vast collection of more than 14,000 items of ancient Gandhara Buddhist artwork, 

sculptures, coins, statues, books, ancient arts, jewelry, households, Mughal paintings, and handicrafts. There is a lot of extensive Gandhara Buddhist art. It is one of the largest collections in the world. It is in the main hall and symbolizes life stories, worship, and miracles. There is the most extensive Gautama Buddha collection; Buddhist sculptures, stones, and other objects. There are about 8,625 coins and old Islamic and other archeological sites collection. The most interesting is the numismatic collection. There is a gallery exhibiting Mughal and Persian Islamic Art. Wooden facades, and Arabian and Persian inscriptions. Dress and weapons of numerous ancient leaders. Calligraphic silver, bronze, and ceramic tiles date back to 1224.

The gallery also displays the culture and life of the Middle Ages and British Rule to the Present. The tribes of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Kalash valley. There are cultural exhibits of their lives. It takes almost 30 minutes to visit the Museum, and the opening hours are 9 am to 5 pm. Museum remains closed on Friday. 

PIA Planetarium Museum

PIA Planetarium Museum, located in Karachi, depicts the history of the Pakistan Air Force and PIA’s old planes. The PIA Planetarium offers a wide range of galaxy education resource services for space enthusiasts, particularly kids and students. Students enjoy more detailed learning about science, the stars, and planets during weekly Sunday evening lectures in languages such as Urdu and English. The PIA Planetarium’s entrance cost is PKR 90 for children under 12 years old and PKR 120 for adults. 

Pushkalavati Museum

From the sixth to the first century BC, Pushkalavati, known as the Charsadda District, served as Gandhara’s first capital. Pushkalavati Museum, located in Charsadda, is an archeological site. It has notable scriptures on ethnology, archaeology, and paintings by Ghani Khan. This Museum, housed in the donated home of renowned Pashto poet and legendary leader Bacha Khan, showcases Peshawar’s ancient history and origins going back more than 4,000 years. There is a library in the basement of the Museum. The Museum remains open seven days a week from 9 am to 6 pm, and there is no entrance fee. 

Quaid-e-Azam House Museum

Situated on Fatima Jinnah Road, Karachi Cantonment, Karachi City, Sindh, Pakistan, the Quaid-e-Azam House Museum is a splendid monument dedicated to the inspiring life of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the politician, barrister, and the founder of Pakistan. It is also known as Flag Staff House. It is one of the most famous museums located in the city of Karachi. Quaid-e-Azam museum was not always a museum; before being a museum, it was the last residence of Quaid-e-Azam. He lived here from 1944 until he died in 1948. The Quaid-e-Azam museum houses all of the personal belongings of Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Everything is beautifully displayed and preserved. The Muslims of the sub-continent and Pakistan will never forget the dedication, efforts, and loyalty of Quaid-e-Azam. Moses Somake, a famous architect of his time, designed this building. This magnificent yellow stone mansion speaks volumes about the legend of history. 

The Museum is open to the public on all six days of the week except Wednesday. Timings to visit the Museum are 9 am to 5 pm. Being the most affordable Museum, the entrance fee for local visitors is PKR 20 while PKR 300 for foreign visitors. Students are free to enter for study and research purposes.

Rohtas Fort Museum

Located inside the Rohtas fort, Sher Shah Suri Museum is a small museum that depicts the culture, coins, swords, Holy Books, stamps, Army, and architecture of the Mughal era. You can see the antique coins from Hamayun and Sher Shah Suri periods here. Sher Shah Suri set up the army administrations and first rupia called TAAKA in the subcontinent. The legacy of Suri is present in this Museum. It opens from 10 am to 4 pm, and the entrance is free. 

Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Museum

Standing firmly on the premises of Khyber Medical College in Peshawar University, the Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology pays tribute to the services of Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum who was the first chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Museum features many commemorative paintings of Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum and spectacles of the Gandhara civilization, like ancient sculptures and pottery. He offered many literary services like establishing Islamia college and a government training school in Peshawar. He participated hand in hand with Mortimer Durand, who launched Durand Line, an international border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

This majestic historical landmark was founded by the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Ghulam Ishaq Khan, on 30th march 1989. The Museum is open to tourists on all five days of the week. Visiting timings are 8 am to 4 pm.

Shakir Ali Museum 

Situated brightly in the garden town of Lahore, Pakistan is the Shakir Ali Museum, established to commemorate the brilliant and famous Pakistani artist and art teacher. The Museum provides a chance for its visitors to reminisce about the accomplishments, memories, and inspiring life of Shakir Ali. He served his services as the principal of the National College of Arts in Lahore, producing many talented artists and painters through his efforts. He blessed Pakistan with many proficient and competent artists and painters through his guidance and mentorship. He was awarded the Pride of Performance Award in 1966 by the President of Pakistan. 

The design of the building is highly modern, with high ceilings and wide corridors. A sense of inspiration and a desire for creation radiates from every corner of the building. The Museum consists of an enchanting collection of paintings done by Shakir Ali and a spacious library of literature and art books. Moreover, the Museum features books, awards, and personal belongings of legendary artists preserved with love and respect. This masterpiece is undoubtedly a heaven for the Art connoisseur. He introduced cubism to the artists in Lahore. This place is open for art-loving people on all five days of the week with timings of 9 am to 5 pm.

Sindh Museum

Sindh museum is at the top of the List of Pakistan’s most famous cultural museums. Located on the national highway near Rani Bagh Qasimabad, Hyderabad, in Sindh, this historical landmark showcases the cultural heritage and history of Sindh and the Indus Valley Civilization. Sindh government established it in 1971 to restore and preserve the history, artifacts, and lifestyle of the ancient Rulers who have served Sindh with all their might. 

The Museum’s building has two sections: one has display galleries, and the other is an open area. The museum gallery displays eye-catching art and craft and depicts old village life through decoration with household objects. Another exciting thing featured by the Museum is in the form of life-size models representing a family sitting in a relaxed environment, spending an average day in life. This place is a must-visit for enthusiastic people interested in history. This archaeological Museum is open to the public on all six days of the week except for Wednesday. Visiting hours are from 9 am to 5 pm; entrance fees can vary from PKR 20 to PKR 300.

Sethi House Museum

In 1884, the Sethis families constructed this unmatched and rare architectural masterpiece in Peshawar by the name of Sethi House Museum. It is also called an example of Muslim architecture. It covers the area of 33 marlas. The wooden work of this house astonishes its visitors. In 2006 the government of Pakistan restored this house and converted it into a museum. If you ever visit Peshawar, don’t forget to visit this masterpiece of Muslim architecture. It opens daily from 9 am to 5 pm except for Fridays. 

Sindh Police Museum

Sindh Police Museum Karachi, launched in 2017, is a police heritage site. The Museum has a photo gallery housed in a separate structure. The ground floor of the main building has a small collection of vintage guns and much information printed on the banners hung on the walls. Charles Napiers issued several orders in 1843 that deal with rules that must follow in jails and animal cruelty. Rural and mounted police have a history of preserving order in rural areas. We can see the evolution of Sindh Police uniforms on the first floor, accessible via a wooden staircase. On the walls of two first-floor rooms, additional police orders with historical significance are hanging. This floor has some significant artifacts, such as administrative, census, and other reports. A collection of various communication tools used by the Sindh Police over the past century is on display in one corner. Sindh Police Museum opens from Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4:30 pm for its visitors. 

Sindhology Museum

Sindhology museum, also called Anthropological Research Center and Sindh Arts Gallery, is located inside Sindhology institute in Jamshoro, Sindh. The purpose of establishing this Museum is to showcase antique objects, setting up exhibitions and dioramas of famous personalities of Sindh. This Museum is a source of extensive research on past Indus valley civilizations and the present Sindh. The Museum houses various artifacts and relics for ordinary people and professional researchers so they can be attracted and involved in learning about the history and demography of their province. The Museum has various archaeological, ethnological, photographic, and musical galleries. A particular gallery is devoted to prominent personalities and heroes of Pakistan like Quaid-e-Azam, Benazir Bhutto, Hassan Ali Effendi, and many more. It is a must place to visit if you are traveling to Sindh. The Museum is open to visitors and researchers on all seven days of the week. Visiting hours are from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

State Bank Museum & Art Gallery

Located on Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar Road in Karachi city of Pakistan, State Bank Museum & Art Gallery is one of the best-kept museums in Pakistan. The purpose of establishing this financial and central banking museum in Pakistan was to educate the general public and younger generation about the banking history of Pakistan, monetary policy, and the roles of the State Bank of Pakistan. The Museum was built in 1923 and inaugurated in 2011. The Museum’s vast and spacious building has an architectural design of the British era. The structure of the exterior of the building is similar to the Greco-roman style, made of a rare red sandstone. Showcasing the history of the state bank of Pakistan, the Museum has seven galleries: a stamp gallery, a currency gallery, a coin gallery consisting of coins and banknotes of old times, an Art gallery, a Governors’ Gallery, and a collection of Sadequain paintings. The opening hours of this prestigious Museum are 9:30 am to 5 pm, open from Monday to Friday. There is no entrance fee to explore this informative and unique historical site. You will have a worthwhile experience visiting this Museum.

Swat Museum

Located on Saidu Sharif road of Mingora city, in Swat valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan showcases the great history of Swat. The Museum was constructed in 1955 by an Italian architect on the instructions of the Governor of Swat, who collected numerous antiquities to preserve Swat’s history. Unfortunately, it badly deteriorated in 2005 because of the Kashmir earthquake. Later, a bomb blast damaged it in 2007 during a war between Pakistan and the Taliban. The authorities recognized the historical significance the Museum holds; as a result, the Museum was renovated and made seismic-resistant. Swat museum opened to the public in 2014. The Museum showcases up to 3000 objects relating to the life of Buddha.

Moreover, it features beautifully preserved old furniture, jewelry, and embroideries of historical significance. The Swat museum is open for its visitors on all days of the week except for Friday. Appropriate timings to pay a visit are 9 am–12:30 pm and 2:30–4:30 pm.

Taxila Museum

Taxila region in Punjab province of Pakistan is famous for harboring numerous archaeological sites with a vast collection of artifacts of the Gandhara civilization. In the Taxila region, Rawalpindi district of Punjab province of Pakistan, the Taxila Museum is an archaeological museum possessing a comprehensive collection of stucco sculptures and ancient artifacts from Buddhist Art of the Gandhara civilization. Most of the collection’s items came from Taxila excavations. Between 1913 and 1934, Sir John Marshall worked on the Taxila excavation. After the partition of the Sub-continent, Pakistani archaeologists had to unearth the Taxila valley and obtain precious artifacts featuring Buddhist Art. The Museum was inaugurated on 5 April 1928. Nearly 30,000 artifacts are currently on reserve at the Taxila Museum, and 7000 of those artifacts are on display. These artifacts include stone sculptures, an exquisite collection of beautifully preserved gold and silver jewelry, everyday household items that showcase the skilled craftsmanship of ancient times, a pottery collection, war weapons, old coins from the fourth to sixth centuries, and many other antiquities. Lovers of archeology and historical monuments will surely enjoy a visit to Taxila. This archaeological site is open to visitors on all days of the week. Appropriate times to visit in winters are 9 am to 4 pm, and in summers, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm entry tickets to the Museum can fluctuate between PKR 20 to PKR 500.

Victoria Museum

The current Supreme Court Registry building, standing on the I.I. Chundrigar Road (formerly Macleod Road) and MR Kayani Road in Saddar Karachi, Sindh province of Pakistan, was once called Victoria Museum. Victoria Museum is one of the most ancient buildings in Karachi, founded in 1887 during the reign of Queen Victoria. The old name of this building was Victoria and Albert Museum. After the partition of the subcontinent, Pakistan was in dire need of an appropriate structure to accommodate the offices of the branch registry of the Supreme court and courtrooms. So, the government of Sindh handed over the Victoria Museum to the Supreme court on 3 May 1995. later on, the Supreme court properly renovated and maintained the building. It features three courtrooms, three judges’ chambers, a conference room, a judges’ lounge, chief justice chambers, and a beautiful mosque. The Museum is open on all six days of the week from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the oldest Museum in Pakistan?

Lahore Museum, established in 1894, is the Oldest Museum in Pakistan. Built in the British colonial period, it is one of the most visited places in Lahore. Lahore museum is also the most famous Museum in Pakistan. Its displays have many compelling items, including old ammunition, a collection of Gandhara Art, Mahayana Buddhist sculptures, and coins. It has seventeen permanent galleries with over 60,000 historical and cultural artifacts. 

How many museums are in Pakistan?

There are over 50 museums in Pakistan, located in different Districts and Cities. In the above List, we tried to cover all the famous and best Museums in Pakistan. Many of these museums are archeological sites and depict that region’s old culture and history. 

Which is the biggest Museum in Pakistan?

Pakistan National Museum Karachi is the biggest Museum in the whole of Pakistan. This Museum preserves more than 1.5 lac antique artifacts and has eleven galleries. Many sculptures of Buddhists are present in the outer park.

What is the most interesting Museum you have ever visited in Pakistan?

The Pakistan Museum of Natural History is the most exciting Museum I have ever visited. Its Paleontology gallery is the most exciting one, which displays fossils and information about them. A skull from an Australopithecus is among the artwork and writings that discuss anthropology. The Wall paintings depict the prehistoric era. Pakistan Museum of Natural History museum has six galleries.

Conclusion

So we have completed a virtual tour of 50 top museums in Pakistan. Pakistan is home to some of the best museums in the world. Artifacts in these museums depict the ancient culture and history of Pakistan. If you’re traveling to Pakistan and want to learn more about the country, check out this List of famous museums in Pakistan. But don’t forget to bring your ID card wherever you go.