Tucked inside the quiet lanes of Khareghat Colony in Mumbai stands a museum that most people don’t even know exists, yet it is one of the most unique cultural spaces in the world. The Framji Dadabhoy Alpaiwalla Museum, founded in 1954 by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet, is the only museum on the planet dedicated entirely to the Parsis and Iranian Zoroastrians.
Inside The Framji Dadabhoy Alpaiwalla Museum
The only museum in the entire world dedicated to the Parsis and Iranian Zoroastrians, it was opened in 1954 by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet. The heart of it comes from one passionate collector, Framji Dadabhoy Alpaiwalla. He was a bullion merchant who simply understood the importance of preserving his culture.
He collected everything, like old documents, portraits, textiles, utensils, ritual items, and photographs – basically anything that told a story about Parsi life. What began as a personal collection eventually turned into a treasure house of community history. Later, a scholar-priest and archaeologist, Ervad (Dr) Jamshed Unvala, donated something extraordinary: archaeological finds from Susa and Yazd in Iran. These were objects that came from the original homeland of the Zoroastrians.
Together, they created a museum that feels like a bridge connecting ancient Persia, early Bombay, and the Parsi homes of today. The treasures from ancient Persia are some of the most meaningful pieces in the museum. Imagine holding clay containers from Susa, items recovered from a 17th-century dakhma (Tower of Silence) in Yazd, and excavated ritual objects used by ancient Zoroastrians
The Framji Dadabhoy Alpaiwalla Museum also houses old photographs and postcards that show Mumbai before it became the bustling city we know today. The museum holds everyday items that show how Parsis lived, dressed, and celebrated, like chinaware brought from China during trade, European-style furniture used in old Parsi homes, ritual implements, prayer manuscripts, and objects used during ceremonies.
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Some of the artefacts at the Framji Dadabhoy Alpaiwalla Museum are truly irreplaceable. It showcases valuables like a firman from Emperor Jehangir (1618 CE) granting land to two Parsis and the calling card of Dadabhai Naoroji, the first Indian MP in Britain.
Today, the museum has been completely restored so it can welcome visitors with a fresh experience. With support from the Ministry of Culture and the Bombay Parsi Punchayet, the museum boasts new lighting and modern display cases, a redesigned walkthrough of the entire Parsi journey, and more.
And the most interesting addition is a walk-in Fire Temple, created specifically for visitors who want to understand Zoroastrian worship. Since visitors cannot enter actual fire temples, this is a rare chance to see what the sacred spaces look like. Even if you aren’t Parsi, this museum speaks to anyone who loves culture, history, or the simple beauty of human stories.
The Parsi community is small and shrinking, and this museum makes sure their stories aren’t lost.
Cover Image Courtesy: Ministry of Culture, Government of India/Facebook