Museums and galleries in Karachi

Museums and galleries in Karachi

1. 
   SeeMuseum

   National Museum of Pakistan

   Displays a two million years old axe discovered on the Potohar Plateau. There is a remarkable gallery describing the early civilisation of Debal and Mansura. The collection of 58,000 old coins goes back as far as the 7th century CE and there are hundreds of well preserved sculptures. Another gallery, the ‘Freedom Movement gallery’, contains a large collection of pictures and articles arising from the time of the Independence movement. Items on display include archaeological artefacts, Islamic art, and other historical documents. The Quran gallery is renovated, equipped with air conditioning, modern lighting and audio system and has more than 300 copies of the Holy Quran, out of which around 52 rare manuscripts are on display. A gallery is dedicated to the relics obtained from cities of Mohenjodaro and Harappa of the famous Indus Valley Civilization, such as Moenjodaro’s best-known relics, the iconic sculpture of the priest-king and a bronze statuette of a dancing girl. Sa-Tu, Th 10:00-13:00, 14:00-17:00; F 09:00-12:00.

   Closed · opens 10 am
2. 
   SeeAttraction

   Pakistan Maritime Museum

   A well maintained naval museum and park which comprises six galleries and an auditorium. The main museum building is located inside the park. The museum is based on modern concepts of presentation and interactive education. Different artifacts of maritime and naval heritage have been incorporated through attractive dioramas, relief sculpture, murals and miniature paintings, touch screen computers, taxidermy and ancient weapons. A computer based maritime information retrieval system has also been incorporated to facilitate the visitors and students for easy access. Besides, the museum also displays Daphne Class Submarine PNS Hangor (S131), a small yard-class Minesweeper Ship, Breguet Atlantic aircraft and a wooden barge that was gifted to Naval Chief during 60s. Some good outdoor exhibits. Only families are allowed on weekends.

   Closed · opens 8 am·Rs 30
3. 
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   Karachi Zoo

   کراچی چڑیاگھر

   Established in 1878 and for a time commonly called 'Mahatma Gandhi Garden', this is one of the oldest zoos in Pakistan. There are around 500 different species of birds, 180 species of mammals and nearly 200 species of reptiles in some 107 cages. Attractions include "White Lions", "Mumtaz Mahal" and the "Elephant House", where two female African bush elephants born in Tanzania, named 'Noor Jahan' and 'Madhu Bala' were brought. A Mughal Garden including Mughal-style fountains, established in 1970, occupies a major part of the zoo with green lawns and seasonal plants. The garden is famous for different varieties of roses and other flowers that are exhibited there. A "Natural History Museum", is also one of the famous attractions of the zoo with stuffed animals, skins, antlers, horns and feathers. The Municipal Aquarium is also located in the zoo. It was constructed in 1953 and has a total of 28 tanks which contain a total of around 300 fishes from about 30 species. There is also a boating lake and a "Reptile House" which is one of the few reptile houses in Pakistan. There are 13 species of snakes and lizards. Newly born hatchlings of turtles, tortoises, terrapin and crocodilians are also exhibited.

   Rs 10 · Limited wheelchair access
4. 
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   Wazir Mansion

   Quaid-i-Azam Birthplace Museum) (وزیر مینشن

   This two-storey building was a family home completed in 1865, of the country's founder, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, where he was born and brought up. The house is foremost among Karachi’s historical and oldest buildings and is a protected national monument. It was renovated in 2008, has a reading hall and a library on the ground floor which has a collection of books related to the history of Pakistan and those that were once possessed by Quaid-i-Azam during his law graduation. The museum is located on the first floor and contains two galleries. One gallery incorporates three rooms including the one in which Quaid-i-Azam was born while the second and third rooms contain articles such as furniture which he used as the first Governor General of Pakistan. The second gallery on the second floor contains other relics of Quaid-e-Azam which are displayed in nine showcases. Relics include his dresses and other personal items used by Jinnah.
5. 
   SeeViewpoint

   Frere Hall

   موہٹہ پیلس

   A well preserved building and a beautiful structure built during the days of the British Raj in 1865. The main building built in the Venetian Gothic style with yellowish Karachi limestone and red and grey sandstone located in the middle of two beautiful, large and lush green lawns which extend to the road. The two peaceful gardens named "Bagh-e-Jinnah" (Jinnah Garden) have two old Victorian style fountains. It houses a gallery on first floor, which is full of paintings by Pakistan’s iconic artist Sadequain. The gallery exhibits his masterpieces of paintings and calligraphy. There is also a library. There is a book fair every Sunday where you can get cheap books both new and used.
6. 
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   Quaid-e-Azam House

   Flag Staff House) (قائد اعظم ہاؤس

   This beautifully maintained British Raj building, an important National Monument, was once owned by Mohammed Ali Jinnah, who lived there from 1944 until his death in 1948. His sister, Fatima Jinnah lived there until 1964. This is a yellow stone double-strayed building comprising of three rooms on the ground and three on the first floor is worth a visit, and you can see Jinnah and Fatima’s private apartments, with period teak wood furniture and accessories such as relics used by Jinnah. The structure of the building is limestone masonry with wooden trusses supporting the roof which is covered by red ceramic Mangalore tiles.

   Thu-Tue 09:00-16:00, Fri 09:00-12:00·Free
7. SeeHistory museum

   Pakistan Air Force Museum

   An impressive outdoor Air Force museum and park established in 1990 and then expanded significantly. Well organized displays with over 30 aircraft, weapons and radar have been displayed in vast lush green park, the main museum is located inside the building and features all major fighter aircraft that have been used by the Pakistan Air Force during wars with India. On display include scale models of some World War I, World War II and modern aircraft and photo galleries of almost all the squadrons of Pakistan Air Force. The museum also houses the Vickers VC.1 Viking used by Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah and a Folland Gnat of Indian Airforce, which was captured by Pakistani forces from Pasror in the 1965 war. Guided tours are free, and uncrowded on weekdays. Rides for children's and a restaurant also available. Only families are allowed on Sundays.

   Closed · opens 8 am·Rs 30

8. 
   SeeScience museum

   MagnifiScience Centre

   Established in 2021, it's the country's first interactive science museum, with over 200 interactive exhibits to understand different science concepts such as architectural and cultural elements of Karachi, sources of food, constructions, modes of transportation, the human body, light, sound, illusions, mathematics, and physics, including renewable energy and telecommunication. In addition to the exhibition areas indoors, there is also a simulation of a mangrove ecosystem installed inside. In the centre’s auditorium, science-related documentaries are screened as well as science-related program and workshops are held on a regular basis, predominantly over weekends. The original property was a colonial warehouse building within the historic Railway Quarter. The outdoor area comprises the centre’s Science Garden, including a playground, a natural maze and many indigenous trees and plants. In front of the building are a few outdoor exhibits and games, there are two ponds featuring science-related-information about the organisms living within. Guided tours are available. The MSC has a shop and cafeteria.

   09:00-17:00 weekdays, 10:00-19:30 on weekends·Rs 1100 (week); Rs 1200 (weekend/holiday)
9. 
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   Mohatta Palace Museum

   فریئر ہال

   Another fine British Raj building, completed in 1928, but has an architectural resemblance to palaces in Rajasthan. It was built with pink stone from Jodhpur in combination with the local yellow stone from Karachi, creating a fusion of Rajput and Mughal architectures. The palace was built by an ambitious self-made businessman from Marwar as his luxurious summer home and then became the residence of Jinnah’s sister, Fatima, after he left Karachi for India in 1947. Now, it offers a diverse range of activities for both the casual and informed visitor.

   Tue-Sun 11:00-18:00
10. 
    SeeHistoric site

    Empress Market

    ایمپریس مارکیٹ

    A famous marketplace dominated by a Gothic-Mughal-style clock-tower of the colonial era, situated in Saddar, which is one of the most congested and busiest areas of Karachi. The market is one of the most important landmarks of the city and traces its origins to the British Raj era, when it was constructed in 1889 and named "Empress Market" to commemorate Queen Victoria, the Empress of India during the late 19th century. The building was constructed as a marketplace to cater for the European elites who were either living in or frequently visiting Karachi at that time. Today, it is amongst the most popular, oldest and busiest places for shopping in Karachi and one of the few historical spots of the city. The building was arranged around a courtyard, 130 ft by 100 ft, with four galleries each 46 ft wide and those four galleries provide accommodation for some 280 shops and stall keepers. Commodities sold in the Empress Market range from condiments, footwear, fruit, vegetables and meat to stationery materials, textiles and has numerous pet shops.
11. SeeMuseum

    State Bank Museum

    Focuses on money, coinage and economic. This is the only currency museum of Pakistan that displays the financial history of the nation dating back to when Pakistan was part of the British Raj. The exhibition hall comprise of seven Galleries.

    Mon-Fri 09:00-17:00·Free

12. SeeHistoric site

    Quaid-e-Azam's Mausoleum and Museum

    Mazar-e-Quaid) (مزار قائد

    The final resting place and magnificent mausoleum of the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah (known as Quaid-e-Azam or "Great Leader"), is a prominent impressive landmark of Karachi made entirely of white marble with impressive north African arches. The mighty mausoleum was completed in the 1960s and designed by Mumbai based, Indian architect Yahya Merchant. The tomb is fabulously built on a 4 m high platform made of white marble with curved Moorish arches, copper grilles and a four-tiered crystal chandelier gifted by the people of China. Fifteen successive fountains lead to the platform from one side and, from all sides, terraced avenues lead to the gates. In the interior of the grave complex, there are three graves in a row and one to the north. The northern one, which is decorated with a series of black floral designs at the base, belongs to Fatima Jinnah, Jinnah's sister. Out of the three graves, the northern one belongs to Liaquat Ali Khan, who died as Prime Minister of Pakistan. The extreme southern grave belongs to Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar. In the middle lies buried Nurul Amin, who rose to be the Vice-President of Pakistan. All these graves are made of Italian white marble, and they are of the box type, like the sarcophagus of Jinnah, placed on a triple base. But the sides of these graves are tapering inward while that of Jinnah is diverging outwards. These are all plain graves, except that of Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, which has a basal floral ornamentation. Official and military ceremonies take place here on special occasions, especially on 23 March, 14 August, 11 September and 25 December. Dignitaries and officials from foreign countries also visit this place. Around the mausoleum is a 53 hectare park "Bagh-e-Quaid-i-Azam" laid in the format of Islamic art, with fountains all around it, fitted with spot-lights which project light on the white mausoleum and making the glowing tomb able to be seen for miles at night. The tomb is guarded at all times and af

13. SeeAttraction

    Port Grand

    Alongside Karachi Harbour, this is an extensive and very pedestrian friendly food strip with scores of restaurants, cafes and eateries and entertainment complex popular with the elite of Karachi. Pedestrian friendly pier built along the 19th century Native Jetty Bridge, with having different good restaurants of exotic Pakistani and foreign food and other food and beverages kiosks on one side and breathtaking views of Karachi Harbour on the other side. A shopping mall, an art gallery, a tavern area, a mosque, many stalls, a children's play area, and a theatre stage is located in the complex area. A 200-year-old Hindu temple named "Shri Laxmi Narayan Mandir" is just outside the complex entrance. Entrance is "strictly for families & couples", which makes the atmosphere very family friendly and safe. The place has a discriminatory policy of forbidding single males, except for Wednesday evenings. Likely to be overcrowded during weekends and public holidays. Musical concerts often take place as well. The entry fee is Rs 300 per person out of which Rs 200 would be redeemable at different food outlets and shops inside the complex. Free valet parking is available for visitors. Don't forget to take an exciting speed boat ride in China Creek for Rs 500 per person which includes a complimentary pass to enter the Port Grand area. With amazing stunts and incredible spins, the ride will provide an unforgettable experience.

    Open now · closes 1 am

14. Buy

    Park Towers

    One of the oldest upscale shopping in town still attracts many visitors. Has shops of various downtown boutiques, a food court, a superstore, an indoor kids' theme park and art gallery.

15. SeeArt gallery

    Clifton Art Gallery

    E Street

16. BuyArt shop

    Chawkandi Art Gallery

    105 Marine Point, Block 9 Clifton,

17. SeeArt gallery

    Canvas Gallery- Clifton 4

    E Street

18. SeeArt gallery

    Art Scene Gallery

    Shahrah e Firdousi

19. SeeArt gallery

    Sanat Initiative

    Commune Artist Colony, Sadiq Godown, Miskeen Gali, off M.T. Khan Road, Old Queens Rd

20. SeeArt gallery

    Koel Gallery

    F-42/II, Block 4, Clifton, Karachi, Pakistan

21. SeeHistory museum

    Sindh Police Museum

    V29C+JP3 , Garden Rd, Gazdarabad Police Head Quarters,

22. SeeScience museum

    TDF Magnifi Science Centre

    Plot no 1 RY-15, Railway Quarter

23. SeeArt gallery

    VM Art Gallery

    ZVMG Rangoonwala Community Centre

24. SeeArt gallery

    Ivs Gallery

    Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, St-33, Block-2, Scheme-5, Clifton , Karachi

25. SeeMuseum

    Directorate General of Antiquities & Archaeology

    C 82, Block No. 2, Clifton

26. SeeMuseum

    PAF Museum

27. SeeHistory museum

    TDF Ghar

    Muhammad Ali Jinnah Rd

28. SeeArt gallery

    Grandeur Art Gallery

    Zamzama Boulevard

29. SeeArt gallery

    Commune Artist Colony

    Miskeen Gali

30. SeeArt gallery

    Artline Studio

    34c Khayaban-e-Shamsheer, DHA Phase 5 Stadium Commercial Area Defence V Defence Housing Authority

31. SeeArt gallery

    Gandhara-Art Gallery

    Shahrah e Attar

32. SeePlanetarium

    M.Z Plastic Center

    V258+Q9F , Rāmchandra Temple Rd, Aram Bagh

33. SeeMuseum

    National History Museum

    V2FG+W2P Millat Nagar

34. SeeMuseum

    PN Museum

35. SeeHistory museum

    Parsi House For Shoot

    V29J+WP 14 Jinnah Rd, Parsi Colony Parsi Colony Saddar,

36. SeePlanetarium

    Saify Burhani Plastic - Poly Bags

    V2GC+J8V V2GC+J8V, 83 Nishtar Rd, Garden West Area,

37. SeeArt gallery

    Sanat

    Shahrah e Firdousi

38. SeeArt gallery

    Thar Gallery

    9th Commercial Lane

39. SeeArt gallery

    YBQ Designs Studio

40. SeeMilitary museum

    museum 1997

    Karsaz Road

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Karachi (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps.