Mumbai’s Iconic Dabbawalas, Serving Meals Since 1890, Now Have Their Own Museum!

Mumbai is incomplete without its ‘Dabbawalas’— the tiffin service in operation since the 1890s. Now, to celebrate their legacy and service, a new museum has been opened, dedicated entirely to them. The Mumbai Dabbawala International Experience Centre (MDIEC) was inaugurated in Bandra West. Here’s more on it!

Mumbai’s Iconic Dabbawalas Now Have A Museum

We’re proud to announce the Grand Opening of the Dabbawala International Experience Centre – a tribute to Mumbai’s iconic Dabbawalas, known for their unmatched dedication, precision, and service.

📅 Date: 14th August 2025
🕐 Time: 1:00 PM
📍 Venue: Harmony Apartments, Ground… pic.twitter.com/VNepYYwZ8c

— Shrikant Tara Pandit Bharatiya (@ShreeBharatiya) August 13, 2025

The Mumbai Dabbawala International Experience Centre (MDIEC) was inaugurated in Bandra, Mumbai. As per a report by Deccan Herald, this museum will celebrate the service of men dressed in spotless white kurta-pyjama with a Gandhi topi, delivering hot lunches to people across the city. The inauguration was also announced by Shrikant Tara Pandit Bharatiya, a Member of the Legislative Council on X. 

Dabbawalas, a tiffin service that has been part of Mumbai since 1890, are now over 130 years old. The museum houses a gallery showcasing their life, contribution, and transformation over the years. It was inaugurated on the eve of Independence Day by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, in the presence of the closely knit Mumbai Dabbawala community. The community’s leaders, Ulhas Shantaram Muke and Ramdas Baban Karvande, were also present at the inauguration.

Also Read: London’s Dabbadrop, Inspired By Dabbawalas, Is An Eco-Friendly Food Delivery Service

Why The Museum Was Needed

As per the same report, the number of Dabbawalas has dropped sharply from over 5,000 during the 1970s-2000s to only 1,500 post the COVID-19 pandemic. The museum has been set up to showcase the Dabbawalas’ dedication and contribution to the lives of residents. They have been delivering tiffin boxes to Mumbaikars since the 1890s.

Every day, these dabbawalas pick up lunch boxes from one lakh Mumbai homes, travel by local trains, and deliver them to offices before lunchtime so that office-goers can enjoy food prepared by their family members. Once lunch is over, they collect the empty boxes and return them to the respective homes. What makes them special is their efficient delivery system. They travel 45-70 km every day to ferry lunch tiffin boxes, each one marked and sorted according to its lid markings and destination address. Over the decades, this service has created a strong community in Mumbai.

Also Read: Digital Dabbawalas: Mumbai’s Iconic Dabbawalas Get An Upgrade; Will Now Accept Online Orders

A museum dedicated to these Dabbawalas, who have been an integral part of Mumbaikars’ lives for over a century, is much deserved, right?

Cover Image Courtesy: Dabbawala, Wikipedia/ joshidaniel