India's cultural environment is as dynamic and varied as its artistic legacy. For anyone eager to discover the creative spirit of the nation, the art galleries are a veritable gold mine of ancient customs and modern manifestations. These five galleries provide an insight into India's changing art landscape and ageless aesthetic traditions, regardless of your level of experience with art or your level of curiosity as a tourist.

Kiran Nadar museum of art , New Delhi and Noida

Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, India's first public charitable museum for modern and contemporary art, is a private initiative with a public purpose. It boasts a staggering collection with art by Anish Kapoor, S.H. Raza, and M.F. Husain. The museum regularly features fresh exhibitions and foreign collaborations, a dynamic environment that challenges conventional concepts of art display.

Indian Museum, Kolkata

The Kolkata Indian Museum has a great art gallery of Mughal paintings, Bengal School paintings, and colonial relics, but it is more famous as the nation's oldest and largest museum. Anyone interested in the interplays among art, history, anthropology, and archaeology should stop by. The museum is a must-see on any cultural tour because of its splendour and historic significance.

Government Museum and Art Gallery, Chandigarh
This museum, with the renowned architect Le Corbusier's master plan, houses a rare group of contemporary, Pahari and Rajasthani miniatures, and Gandhara sculpture. This is a treasure of culture in terms of its combination of mid-century contemporary building and ancient tradition. The gallery of Chandigarh has fewer visitors compared to the others in the city, providing a serene and enjoyable experience for those who love art.

Jehangir Art Gallery , Mumbai

One of the most well-known locations where Indian artists can work is the Jehangir Art Gallery, founded in 1952 in Kala Ghoda, the art district of Mumbai. It is a venue for both older and emerging artists in Indian art, with several exhibition spaces and a constantly changing array of artwork. The gallery is also conveniently located near other cultural landmarks like Mumbai's street art culture and the Prince of Wales Museum. It's perfect for those who wish to have an entirely immersive cultural experience.

National gallery of modern art (NGMA), New Delhi
The National Gallery of Modern Art, a haven for modern and contemporary Indian art, is situated in the heart of the capital. With a collection of more than 17,000 works, from masterpieces by Raja Ravi Varma, Amrita Shergil, Rabindranath Tagore, the NGMA takes up residence in a colonial bungalow close to India Gate. The gallery conducts regular educational workshops, touring exhibitions, and retrospectives. For all those interested in tracking India's journey in the visual arts from the 18th century to the present day, it's an ideal beginning.