The display boasts of exquisite collection of vintage cars, trains, aircraft and boats, says Neha Kirpal.
A recent visit to the Heritage Transport Museum, located in the midst of Tauru in Haryana, was an eye-opening experience. Spread across four floors, this sprawling space of 100,000 square feet, consists of an exquisite collection of vintage cars, trains, aircraft and boats among other things. One of the first things one notices on entering the museum is the imposing chandelier on the ceiling made of car lights and stainless steel. The unique display has been designed beautifully, and divided into various sections.
The first exhibit showcases the evolution of wheels over centuries. Then, one gets to see toys hailing back to the 2,800 year old Indus Valley Civilization and an installation created out of carriage lamps belonging to the early 20th century. These are all accompanied by rare lithographs, graffiti art by Hanif Quereshi, Warli and Gond art, depicting means of transportation used during the British era. Then there is the stately Jodhpur Saloon, a train coach that was used by the Maharaja of Jodhpur in 1930. The railway section also features various engine models, railway lamps, a ball token machine and an old railway ticket counter. Ancient phones and gramophones further add to the charm. Another section on bullock carts has Rajasthani palkis and camel carriages, cycle and hand-pulled rickshaws and European style horse coaches. The bus gallery has different kinds of buses from the 1940s to the 1970s. The truck art section is bright and vibrant, and showcases colourful truck designs that are often seen in both India and Pakistan. There is also an interesting exhibit of a Contessa car completely covered with 1-rupee coins.
56 An interesting section has cars that were used in several Bollywood movies. Across the same, one sees street scenes that evoke nostalgia, with brands and products that were popular many years ago. Then, there are different models of old cars, such as the Ambassador, Chevrolet, Buick, Impala, Studebaker and Rolls Royce. There is also a petrol station as well as an educational auto-mechanic section for children. Childhood Nostalgia is another great section having yesteryear toys, such as trains and dinky cars. Then there are stamps and matchboxes with vehicle symbols. Apart from that, the museum also has a library, book lounge, café and store.
Currently, the museum has two new exhibitions. “Light Years Ahead,” created by acclaimed artist Vishal K. Dar, features sculptural installations envisioned as totems from an alternate cultural realm. Set in the museum’s newly designed experience room, these luminous pieces, consisting of cows, insects, bees and animal faces, invite visitors to dream of the future. “Prints of the Divine” is an exhibition showcasing rare oleographs, lithographic plates and postcards by renowned artists Raja Ravi Varma and M.V. Dhurandhar. It visually narrates the history of early Indian prints, featuring a diverse collection of divine art presented across various mediums. Curated by collector Prem Kandwal, most of the artifacts on display are from his private collection and are being exhibited publicly for the first time.
Talking about the exhibition, Tarun Thakral, Founder and Managing Trustee of the Heritage Transport Museum, said, “Both exhibitions offer unique journeys – one towards the future and the other exploring the past.” “Witness how art was democratised from the King’s Darbar Hall to the common man a century ago by artist Raja Ravi Varna who has given faces to Hindu gods and goddess, how he has influenced the art of his disciple MV Dhurandhar and how Dada Saheb Phalke took inspiration from both to become the father of Indian movies. Witness how our ancestors used different types of transport a century ago all under one roof,” added Kandwal.
