Military Museums In India That You Should Visit

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Only Best of the Friends and Worst of the Enemies Visit Us - Indian Army

India has its long and successful military history dates back several millennia, with several armies fighting to govern Indian soil over the centuries. It is the experience of lifetime to know about these wars, reading about bloody battles, courageous acts of soldiers, arms and armies of that time, which always inspires us. If you are fascinated by India's military history, you should definitely pay a visit to these seven military museums in India that stand today. These museums showcase the weapons, vehicles and aircraft used by the Indian military over the years, bringing you closer to a side of India's history that some may not be familiar with.

So take a look to these seven military museums in India that will fascinate you about the military world!

1. Jaisalmer War Museum

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Jaisalmer War Museum is located 10 km from Jaisalmer city on the Jaisalmer-Jodhpur Highway. It has been set up by the Indian Army to commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of soldiers, specifically during the 1965 Indo-Pak War and the 1971 Longewala battle. It also traces the evolution of the Indian Army. There are many war trophies and vintage equipment on display, along with tanks, guns and military vehicles.

The Museum has:

• Two information display halls (Laungewala Hall, Indian Army Hall)

• An audio visual room

• A souvenir shop

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It is a top tourist attraction due to its aesthetic layout, fountains, green lawns and amenities. The Jaisalmer War Museum is considered by the international online travel guide TripAdvisor to be one of the top war museums in Rajasthan.

2. Air Force Museum, New Delhi

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Pic Courtesy - Rahul buddala

The Indian Air Force Museum lies at the Palam Air Force Station, New Delhi which was usually goes unnoticed by visitors to Delhi. The museum was the only one of its kind in India until the unveiling of the Naval Aviation Museum in Goa in 1998.

This museum is divided into two sections - an annexe and a main hangar. As you enter the annexe, you will get into the history of the Indian Air Force laid out in a pictorial form. The indoor display includes photographs of air force and personnel in various uniforms. You can find photos of officers who fought bravely during the 1966 and 1971 India-Pakistan wars and the Second World War before that.

The hangar section of the museum showcases a number of vintage aircraft, helicopter, jet engines, air craft guns and recovered enemy aircraft and army tanks. Outside the hangar, you can find the larger aircraft, including helicopters and jet aircraft like the Sukhoi Su7, MIG 21 and 23, and the MI-4 helicopter. Airplane enthusiasts will love to have a look at the Hurricane, Tempest, and Lysander of Second World War fame.

3. Indian War Memorial Museum, New Delhi

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Pic Courtesy - Biswarup Ganguly

The Indian War Memorial museum is located in the Naubat Khana of the Red Fort Complex in Delhi which is dedicated to the army’s actions under British. There are some details of the battle of Panipat and also on display are traditional items such as daggers, gupti, arms and helmets. Various badges, ribbons, and uniforms of Turkish and New Zealand army officers, and flags are also on display.

4. Naval Aviation Museum, Goa

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Pic Courtesy - Wikimedia

Apart from booze, bikinis and beaches there is another side of Goa which is the home to this captivating museum that captures the evolution of Indian Naval Air Arm. The museum is divided into two main parts, an outdoor exhibit and a two-storey indoor gallery. The Museum was inaugurated in October 1998 and is one of the Two Military Aviation Museums in India, the other being the Indian Air Force Museum, Palam in Delhi. The Naval Aviation Museum is the only of its kind in the entire continent of Asia.

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Pic Credit - Wikimedia

The museum’s interior is designed to look like the INS Viraat aircraft carrier, and includes galleries showcasing naval equipment, photographs of major battles, a plaque remembering those who sacrificed their lives for the country, and a simulation room. Located near Bogmala, the museum overlooks scenic Bogmala beach and includes several massive aircraft, including the HAL HT-2, Westland Sea King and HAL Chetak.

5. Samudrika Naval Marine Museum, Andaman and Nicobar

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Pic Courtesy - Tour MY India

Lying in Port Blair at the south of the Andaman Islands, the Samudrika Naval Marine Museum is also known as Fisheries Museum. It is maintained by Indian Navy but its exhibits are not of the military kind. Instead, it showcases the tribal communities of Andaman and Nicobar and the diverse ecosystem that you can find on the islands and within the ocean waters off the island coasts.

This museum aims to generate awareness about the environment in the ocean and the marine life. The museum has five sections presenting history of Andaman Islands, Geographical information, people of Andaman, Archaeology and Marine life. The museum is small so u can cover it in small amount of time.

6. Kursura Submarine Museum, Vizag

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Pic Courtesy - Vizag360News

If you fancy a stealthier career below the waves, you would want to take in the Kursura Submarine Museum at Vizag. INS Kurusura Submarine is a Soviet built-I-641 class Submarine was inducted into the Indian Navy on 18, December 1969 and the same was decommissioned on 28, February 2001 after 31 years of glorious service to the nation. She played a key role in patrol missions during the 1971 war. After decommissioning, this submarine was preserved as a museum for public access on Ramakrishna Mission Beach in Visakhapatnam.

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Pic Courtesy - Wikimapia

INS Kurusura Submarine Museum offers a chance to get inside a real submarine. The place offers a quick walkthrough of the submarine, the compartments within and the lifestyle of mariners inside this machine.

The Concept of using a submarine as a museum is the first of its kind in Asia. It was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister Chandra Babu Naidu on Aug 9, 2002. It is a special ship because despite being a decommissioned submarine, it still receives the navy's "Dressing Ship" honour, which is awarded only to active ships.

7. Cavalry Tank Museum, Maharashtra

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Pic Courtesy - Glasreifen

In the city of Ahmednagar, Maharashtra lies the first museum dedicated to cavalry tanks in Asia and has about 50 vintage exhibits on displays. The oldest one is a Ghost Rolls Royce armoured car. There are also some which were used during World War 1 in the battlefields of Cambrian Somme and Flanders. There are some trophy tanks from the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965 like American made M47 Patton, Chafee and Walker BullDog.

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The Whole Museum is much cleaned and well maintained. The environment is green and serene. Each tank has a small board where its brief history is given. They are well presented and clearly marked with their origin. If gadgets and cars are your thing, then you cannot afford to miss this one!

This post was originally published on Travel With Jha.