Mysuru Rail Museum
The Mysuru Railway Museum, established in 1979, is one of India’s earliest outdoor railway museums dedicated to celebrating the nation’s rich railway heritage. Managed by the South Western Railways, it showcases vintage steam locomotives, railway carriages, inspection cars, signaling and telecommunication equipment and other historical artifacts. Spread across over 1,30,000 sq ft adjacent to the Mysuru railway station, the museum stands as a landmark of India’s engineering and cultural history.
By the end of 2019, the revitalization of the museum was commissioned to reimagine it as a vibrant public space that blends heritage, ecology and design. The project was developed in collaboration with the Divisional Railway Manager, Ar. Sumedha Sah, and Ar. Rahul M. The master plan prioritized existing mature trees conservation and were meticulously mapped and integrated into the design, shaping the layout of pathways, galleries, and exhibit placements.
Handling railway exhibits weighing over 60 tons required precise engineering and coordination, with cranes maneuvering locomotives and coaches into position without disturbing the site ecology. The material palette draws from Mysuru’s architectural heritage -local granite, Athangudi tiles, oxide flooring, and polished wooden furniture evoke the city’s timeless character. Today, the museum attracts 300–400 visitors daily, functioning as both a cultural landmark and a restored urban open space, allowing public engagement with India’s rail legacy in a biodiverse and climate-sensitive setting.
