Sulabh International Museum of Toilets
RZ-83 Palam-Dabri Marg, Mahavir Enclave, New Delhi, Delhi, 110045
Delhi’s Sulabh International Museum of Toilets must be one of the most memorable museums in India--if not the world. Despite being a fun and quirky museum, it’s also very educational and has an important mission: to inform visitors about sanitation issues around the world. It displays toilets and toilet-related paraphernalia from more than 50 countries, from both ancient and modern times.
The basics
The Sulabh International Museum of Toilets was founded in 1992 by the Sulabh Sanitation and Social Reform Movement. The intention was to inform the public about important issues around sanitation and hygiene, particularly in India, by displaying developments in toilet technology since ancient times. As well as the important message, this museum is appealing to both adults and kids for its novelty factor. Most travelers visit independently while staying in or around Delhi.
Things to know before you go
- Schedule about an hour to tour the museum, although it can be a bit tricky to locate, so leave plenty of time to get there and back.
- Some highlights include a toilet that turns waste into ash, and a replica of a toilet used by French king Louis XIV.
- Free guided tours are put on by a docent, but there is plenty of informational signage if you want to look around by yourself.
How to get there
The museum is in southwest Delhi, not far from the Indira Gandhi International Airport. While you can get there by taxi, Delhi’s traffic could make this a slow trip, so taking the Metro is a better option. The closest station is Dashrathpuri, on the Violet Line, from which the museum is a short walk or auto-rickshaw ride.
When to get there
The museum is open every day, with reduced hours on Sundays.
Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, Founder of the Museum
The Sulabh International Museum of Toilets was founded by Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, a sociologist and activist who believes the humble toilet is a tool for social change. Through his work with his foundation, the Sulabh Sanitation and Social Reform Movement, he’s won national and international development awards, and has attempted to uplift some of India’s most oppressed groups. He has promoted the end of “open-air defecation,” which leads to health issues and deaths. Visitors to the museum can learn more about his work.
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