What to expect from India’s first-ever Madame Tussauds in Delhi

Background History:

There was a girl named, Marie Grosholtz. She was born in an impecunious family in Strasbourg, France on 1 December, 1761. Her father Joseph Grosholtz was killed in the Seven Years’ war just two months before she was born. In order to run the family, her mother Anne-Marie Walder moved to Bern in Switzerland and worked as a housekeeper in Dr. Philippe Curtius’s family. Along with being a physician, the doctor was a skilled wax artist. In 1765, he gave up his career in medicine and moved to Paris to establish a wax portraiture firm.

Did You Know?

The oldest waxwork on display is the cast of Madame du Barry, mistress of Louis XV of France, created by Dr. Philippe Curtius in Madame Tussauds, London.

Madame du Barry – The Sleeping Beauty

A year later, the Grosholtz family moved to Paris and the doctor taught the young 6-year old Marie, the art of wax modelling. At the age of 16 (in 1777), she created her first wax figure of Voltaire, who was a writer, a historian, and a philosopher.

François-Marie Arouet, commonly known as Voltaire

There was no stopping for her. She created portraits of many personalities, was employed as the art tutor for Madame Elizabeth of France and during the Reign of Terror in France, she was appointed to create death masks of the victims.

In 1795, she married a civil engineer Francois Tussaud. She went to London in 1802 to exhibit her waxworks along with her children. As she did not fare well and also because of the Napoleonic Wars, she was unable to return to France. In 1835, she established her first permanent exhibition in Baker Street (Yes, the Sherlock one! 😉). And this is how the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum embarked its journey.

It is a global tourist attraction now with the presence in around 24 cities. The most recent is the Madame Tussauds, Delhi.

The lady herself!

---

Madame Tussauds, Delhi

Anyone who visits a foreign soil makes sure that he/she gets a chance to visit the Madame Tussauds of the country. Indians had been longing to get our very own wax museum, and this dream has come true. I got the golden opportunity to tour the museum in Delhi a little while back. The most-awaited attraction is based out of Connaught Place, the central part of Delhi. It is a museum with the life-size wax replicas of celebrities and famous personalities.

As we reached the Regal building premises, we were stamped on our hands (they may tie a chic paper band now) and guided to the first floor.

The entry looks like this – All blinged-out!

As we were invited for the opening ceremony, this is how the red carpet was laid for us with all the shutterbugs along the sides! 😍

Going through the security checks, everything seemed so mesmerizing and exquisite. Brian Lara welcomed us at the reception. Desi actor Salman Khan took us on his desi ride.

Salman Khan

Moving on to yesteryear’s personage, we shook a leg with the most charismatic and stunning, Madhubala and the greatest showman of Indian cinema, Raj Kapoor in his black and white avatar.

Raj Kapoor

Madhubala

Tip: Follow the route, keep on reading the signs on the walls, you may find something intriguing.

Ranbir Kapoor

Dhina Dhin Dhaa.. Dhina Dhin Dhaa..

On the sets of The Kapil Sharma Show

As we progressed, we encountered the wax station. You can get your hands waxed at the Wax Hands station (Literally! 😉). A professional photographer will be on the go, you can catch him and get gorgeous pictures clicked trying out quirky and offbeat poses. You can find props for yourself to get the feel. Going further is the area dedicated to sports stars – Mary Kom, Kapil Dev, heart-throb Lionel Messi, God of cricket – Sachin Tendulkar, Milkha Singh, to name a few.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Next, we advanced to the second floor. You can use the elevators or the staircase. We were given a warm reception by the national heroes of the country – Mahatma Gandhi, Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Narendra Modi, and others.

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

(L to R) Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Narendra Modi

(L to R) Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

As we passed through the dingy lanes of the museum, we found Michael Jackson in his striking stance. The area ahead is dedicated to the singing sensations – Asha Bhosle, Sonu Nigam, Beyonce Knowles, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and the like. Get dressed in the whacky costumes and pose for the shutterbugs.

Desi avatar

Videsi avatar

JB

The conclusive section is a casual arena, where celebrities are hanging out with their glasses of wine. We blend in and chilled out for some time.

Hrithik Roshan

Kareena Kapoor Khan

Angelina Jolie

(L to R) Big B and Anne Hathaway

The Kardashians!

Scarlett Johansson

Leonardo DiCaprio

This concluded our quick jaunt of the museum. We collected our pictures from the exit gate. They have a souvenir section, where you can dig into Madame Tussauds products – mugs, bottles, bags, trophies and many more.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

And as we departed, we were disguised into the lanes of Connaught Place again.

My Recommendation:

Since it is the first ever museum in India, it is a must go for everyone. It was very enticing and dazzling affair. There are many more wax figures yet to be included.

So I will give it a 9/10.

 

Timings: 10 am to 7.30 pm

Ticket details: BookMyShow prices and Madame Tussauds Official website prices

Address: 44 Regal Building, Connaught Place, Delhi – 110001

Image Source: Google, unless mentioned.

Insights:

• It has handicap accessible entrance.
• Eatables are not allowed, so stuff up yourself before you enter the museum.
• The wax hands and the professional photographs are paid services.
• You can stay in there for as long as you want, otherwise you can cover everything in 2-2.5 hours.
• Go in a group, you are going to have much more fun than going alone. And, do not forget to bring out the child in you.