National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA)

The National Gallery of Modern Art is one of the major tourist attractions in Bangalore. It was inaugurated in 2009 and operates under the Ministry of Culture of the Indian Government. Its main objective is to acquire, preserve and showcase the modern arts to the world. It is not only an art gallery, but also a hundred-year-old Manikyavelu Mansion once belonged to VilumManickavelu Mudaliar, a Yuvaraja of Mysore.

The National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in Bengaluru is located at GF, Manikyavelu Mansion, 49, Palace Rd, Vasanth Nagar. From Varthur, it only takes about 40 minutes to reach here via HAL Old Airport Road. The time may vary due to heavy traffic in peak hours. You can also opt for more affordable travel options such as shared cabs, buses and metro. The closest metro station to the National Gallery of Modern Art is Cubbon Park or MG Road. The fare is only about Rs. 40.

The entry fee for the National Gallery of Modern Art is ₹20 for Indians and ₹500 for foreigners. Also, for the students (up to the XII class) with a valid ID, the entry is free. In the garden and open-air exhibition, it is free to take pictures. However, inside the building, ₹1,000 per image is charged.

NGMA is open from 10 AM to 6 PM. It is operational from Tuesday to Sunday. Important to note that on all public and national holidays, this place is closed to visitors.

Best Time to Visit NGMA

The NGMA is mostly an indoor setup; hence, visiting here at any time of the year is perfect. However, for tourists, Bangalore may seem more pleasant during the winter months. From November to February, you can explore the entire open-air ground freely. Plan your visit on weekdays to avoid any heavy rush.

At NGMA, you can look at 500+ paintings and art exhibits. These are placed throughout the two floors, across a corridor, multiple rooms and spacious halls. These artworks are classified into various categories and timelines.

Some of the notable exhibits include works by Raja Ravi Verma, Jamini Roy, Amrita Sher-Gil, Rabindranath Tagore and a large number of modern and contemporary artists.

To enjoy the art on a more personal level, NGMA also has a public art reference library, an auditorium, a museum shop and a cafeteria. Guided gallery walks and workshops are also organised here.

Art enthusiasts can also attend seminars on art and culture, film screenings and other educational programmes. Dance performances and storytelling sessions are frequently held at the auditorium.

After the paintings, you can move on to marvellous sculptures. Sculptures by S. Dhanpal and Kanayi Kunhiraman, and various other miniatures, are part of the collection. The timeline ranges from modern to post-modern era artworks and traditional forms.

So, if you are living at Prestige Evergreen, it is a great opportunity to spend 1-2 hours at the National Gallery of Modern Art and experience art on a deeper level.