Srimanthi Bai Memorial Government Museum — Attraction in Karnataka

Srimanthi Bhai Memorial Government Museum Mangalore, Karnataka was founded on 4 May 1960 by Sri B.D Jatti, the chief minister of Karnataka Government.The museum is located in Bejai, a little off the main road, but it is worth the effort to find. The major portions of the collections were made by Col. V.R. Mirajkar. He was a medical officer at Lahore during the Second World War in the British Indian Army.The museum was his living house, designed and constructed in nearly the same blueprint as the building structures of Milan, Italy, in the year 1935, and it looks like a ship. Later, the house was donated to the government of Karnataka in 1955,along with all the collection of antiques and contemporary masterpieces acquired during his trips within and outside India. Thereafter, it was transformed into a museum and named in honour and memory of his mother, Srimanthi Bhai. The museum consists of Paleolithic & Neolithic stone tools, coins, metal utensils, ethnologixal materials, arms & armors,replicas of Harappa and Mohenjodaro, Gandhara & Takshahshila school of art, Warangal, Nagarajunakonda, Sarnath, Konark, Kushana, Ahimchatra etc. Animal seals, wooden panels, gigantic wooden figurines, porcelain materials, musical instruments, lamps, clock,wooden god figurines and other antiques. The first floor of the building is dedicated to collections made by col.V.R. Mirajkar. It also contains a photo gallery, Gandhiji photo gallery and a kids section. Outer premises covers hero stone, sati stones, kannada inscriptions, statues, of soldiers, Jaina, Veerabhadra, Vinayaka, Nagastones & cannons collected from Jamalabad Fort, Belthangady.It also has wide variety of items from manuscripts to coin, paintings, furniture, sculptures, Chinese porcelain pots.Museum has interesting pieces of modern art work and the stone cravings belonging to various periods within Karnataka. Puppetry, wooden art work and bootharadhane related artifacts pertaining to Tulunadu are very rare and interesting. It also hosts modern art work collected from Java. The museum is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, seven days a week.One can spend 2 hour here if interested in Art and history. Staffs here speaks kannada they don't know much about the details of museum.Ticket costs ₹20 per head please note that UPI is not encouraged ONLY CASH.Unfortunately I forgot to bring my wallet & requested the head here, he was very kind hearted told to do UPI. Note-Photography inside the museum is...

Shrimathi Bai museum is a must visit for every native resident . The collection of artifacts belonged to Dr Vaman Raghunath Mirajkar. He was a renowned Indian surgeon in  pre-partition India. Dr Mirajkar served in the army medical corps in various wars and received the honour from the then king of England. The museum mainly contains collection of precious items and artifacts including international collections from Africa to Nepal.  He treated many poor patients for free at the Local Seva Mandal clinic.  He and his family donated this prized possession and this spectacular bungalow to the people of Mangalore in memory of their late mother. A man this reputable unfortunately has no mention anywhere today.

There is not even a poster about this  founder at the museum .  It is saddening that large taxidermy collections have been given away to Mysore.

The location where the Bungalow( called Mirajkar's bungalow then) is on what once was called Bhattara gudde ( Bhat's Hill)

Simply the location of this place itself takes you back to the golden days of Mangalore.

Pointers: Good for all kids and adults.

Easily spend two or 3 hours here.

Parking fee some 20-30 rupees

Adult tickets 20Rs

Carry cash

Road is narrow and uphill . The museum is at the top of the hill at dead end.Drive slow.

What I didn't like: No information about the founder, the man that donated this wealth for the society

No guides

Poor museum maintenance

No description of the items

The showcases are poorly lit

Most old precious statues are not protected

Many items left out in open damage in rain

Most items are dusty.

Coins and metal idols corroded and unclean

Leather puppets in unattended boxes .

We don't know how long we have before the rest of the items at the museum get damaged due to poor maintenance. I suggest you visit this place soon. Take your friends and family along. May be this place will get the care and attention...

A quiet treasure tucked into Bejai’s bustle. The Srimanthi Bai Memorial Government Museum isn’t just Mangalore’s only museum—it’s a time capsule of stories, cultures, and craftsmanship. Housed in a ship-like heritage building once owned by Col. V.R. Mirajkar, the museum blends personal legacy with public history. From ancient coins and copper inscriptions to Gandhara art replicas and Tulunadu masks, every gallery whispers of civilizations past and the collector’s passion.

What moved me most was the intimacy of the space—it feels like walking through someone’s curated memories, not just a government archive. The Gandhiji photo gallery and the eclectic international artifacts (from Persia to Paris) add unexpected depth. There’s a quiet dignity in how the exhibits are arranged—no loud signage or commercial distractions, just a gentle invitation to pause and reflect.

As an educator and storyteller, I saw lessons waiting to unfold—physics in the ship-like architecture, history in the copper plates, and poetry in the silence between displays. The museum offers a glimpse into the layered identity of Mangalore itself—coastal, cosmopolitan, yet deeply rooted in tradition.

It’s a space that encourages reflection, not rush. Ideal for students, artists, and curious wanderers who seek meaning beyond the surface. Even a short visit can leave you with lingering thoughts and quiet inspiration.

✨ Entry is free, and the staff are courteous. It’s not flashy, but it’s sincere. Perfect for cultural curiosity, heritage appreciation, or even a poetic pause...