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“A time travel experience,”
“A journey down memory lane,”
“A truly Nostalgic adventure,”
“A journey into the history in three dimensions”
These are just a few of the numerous comments from my fellow passengers as we embarked on an incredible journey into the universe of wheels at the Heritage Transport Museum.
Upon entering the main lobby on the ground floor, with a glimpse of the train compartment on the rail track right outside, we were warmly greeted by Mr. Tarun Thakral, the Founder & Managing Trustee. A seasoned hotelier with over 35 years of experience in the hospitality industry, both in India and abroad, Mr. Thakral transformed his passion for vintage and classic cars into reality by establishing the Heritage Transportation Trust in 1996. As the Founder and Managing Trustee, he spearheaded the creation of India’s first comprehensive transport museum, showcasing his deep passion and extensive knowledge.
Mr. Thakral kindly guided us through this wonderful time travel. The vision behind the museum is to share its rich and diverse collection with a large audience, offering a fun-filled learning experience. Conceptualized to literally transport visitors to a bygone era, the museum opened to the public on 7 December 2013, becoming India’s first comprehensive transport museum. It vividly brings to life the history and evolution of transport heritage in India through an extensive collection of vehicles and related memorabilia.
The collection not only includes objects directly related to transport but also reflects the socio-cultural life and art associated with it. The museum houses over 3,500 curated objects, weaving a tale of India’s colorful transportation history. This vast collection is categorized into various sections such as pre-mechanized & heavy mechanized transportation, railways, aviation, maritime, collectible Indian toys on transport, rural & indigenous transportation, two-wheelers, and popular & tribal art sections. Additionally, the museum features a rich collection of contemporary art displayed throughout.
In one of my favorite sections, Mr. Tarun pointed out, “This is the same model of Mercedes-Benz S280, where Lady Diana died in the crash in Paris on August 31, 1997.” This section explores the evolution of the Indian car industry, showcasing over 75 vintage and classic cars. It features a recreated Indian street scene adorned with vintage ephemera, a vintage petrol pump with spare parts memorabilia, and a special section celebrating cars used in Bollywood movies. A mini auditorium screens films related to transportation, and a dedicated area focuses on Hindustan Motors and Premier automobiles, reviving the nostalgia of the iconic Ambassador and Padmini cars.
The Railway Gallery was both spectacular and enlightening, showcasing the dedication of the team. It features both indoor and outdoor exhibits. Indoors, visitors can experience the elegance of rail travel through a historically themed railway platform and a beautifully restored 1930s railway saloon from the BBCI Railway. The collection includes models of iconic locomotives and various memorabilia like original posters, enamel advertising signs, and a train ticket dispensing rack. Outdoors, steam locomotives such as a 1921 Kerr Stuart, a 1923 Bagnall, and a fully functional 1953 Jung are displayed, alongside a Rail Bus, an open steam boiler, a water column, and a Merryweather fire pump, with two steam road rollers that were once used by the Railways.
Located at Taoru-Gurgaon, an hour’s drive from New Delhi, the museum occupies a 3-acre complex. It spans four air-conditioned floors, offering over 100,000 square feet of exhibition space, a library and reference center, a mini auditoriu a museum souvenir shop, seminar rooms, and a refreshment area. The museum has been recognized with prestigious awards including the 2016 National Tourism Award for the most Innovative & Unique tourism project, the 2016 & 2018 Traveler’s Choice Award by TripAdvisor, the International PATWA award 2017 for innovation at ITB, Germany, and the 2017 ITCTA award for the best Museum.
Whether you’re an automobile enthusiast or not, the gallery fascinates with its meticulous details, efforts in recreating the bygone era, and the authenticity and sincerity of the atmosphere, which truly deserves a big salute.
Heritage Transport Museum Bilaspur Taoru Road, Major District Road 132 Off NH-8 (Bilaspur Chowk), Taoru Road Gurgoan, Haryana- 122105 http://www.heritagetransportmuseum.org
Anirban Dasgupta
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