Mumbai's first Shivaji museum to open near airport.

The city will get its first museum dedicated to Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji after whom the city airport has been named. Expected to be unveiled shortly, no deadline has been said for the opening of this museum.

Officials involved with the construction of the project said that the museum, built over 5,000 sqm, will have items that will chronicle the times and life of Shivaji. A 9metre high statue atop the main hall of the museum is expected to give tourists and visitors to the city a glimpse of the warrior's glorious historical past. It will be the first such museum in the city dedicated entirely to the relics of Shivaji.

The statue, being sourced from Aurangabad, will be different from the ones which depict Shivaji astride a horse. Water from a fall will cascade beneath the feet of the statue. The museum, which will stand about eight metres high, will be partly underground.

Built by airport operator, Mumbai International Airport Limited, the museum will be located towards the start of the elevated road abutting the Western Express Highway near Vile Parle.

DNA