Since 2016
KHOJ Timeline
Milestones and locations of a dynamic children's museum in Ahmedabad — from the birth of the concept to exhibitions at Naranpura, the Riverfront, Surat and the garden.
Milestones & Locations
How KHOJ Unfolded
The concept began in 2016 when Manthan Education Programme Society (MEPS) met museums across the world as part of a European Union project, including the ZOOM Kinder Museum in Vienna, Austria. That encounter shaped the idea of a dynamic, ever-evolving museum for Gujarat. Since then KHOJ has grown into exhibition cycles, a garden, a riverfront space, a social initiative and a Surat location in development.
The Khoj Museum timeline traces how a shared curiosity turned into a public institution. The idea first took shape when educators and museum professionals began comparing approaches to science learning, sparking the thought of a museum that could keep changing rather than settle into a fixed collection. What started as conversations became a working plan, and the plan became a space where inquiry, play and everyday creativity could live side by side.
From those early discussions, the museum's philosophy has remained simple: children and adults learn best when they are encouraged to touch, explore and ask their own questions. Exhibitions were therefore built around themes rather than objects, with hands-on activity, films and participation woven into each cycle. Over time this approach grew deeper, adding depth to the building process and connecting regular visitors with the ideas behind each display.
The timeline also marks an expansion beyond a single venue. Alongside exhibition cycles, the museum developed a garden, a riverfront setting and a social initiative that brings the same exploratory spirit into public spaces and community programmes. Events, postcards, competitions and collaborative projects with partners and supporters extended the experience further, showing how a museum can act as a civic connector across a city and its visitors' daily lives.
A second location in Surat now stands in development, carrying forward the original ambition of a dynamic, participatory museum. Each stage of the journey has built on the last: initial ideas, themed exhibitions, engaging activity programmes and growing partnerships. The result is an institution that stays open-ended by design, continually revisiting how children and families learn, create and connect with science, innovation and art in equal measure.
Chronology
Key Moments
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2016
Birth of the Concept
As part of the European Union project, MEPS met up with multiple museums from around the world, one of which was the ZOOM Kinder Museum in Vienna, Austria. Inspired by its dynamic, ever evolving nature, MEPS believed Gujarat would benefit from a museum of this kind.
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Exhibition Cycle 1
KHOJ Naranpura
The first Naranpura exhibition cycle set the tone with Bulbule (bubbles and surface tension), Moving Images (the story of animation, from flipbooks to VR) and Khagol (astronomy — planets, moons and constellations). A dynamic setup allows the content to evolve with new cycles.
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Exhibition Cycle 2
Environmental Prosperity
The second Naranpura cycle moved towards environmental prosperity, covering soil, plastic waste and climate change — building on the hands-on style of the first cycle.
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Ongoing
Establishment of Garden
Unutilised land was transformed into a child-friendly learning space with a nature trail of over 2,500 different plants, including 70–80 species used for medicine, vegetables and hosting butterflies — part of the KHOJ Naranpura experience.
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21 Jan 2022
KHOJ Riverfront
Inaugurated on 21 January 2022, KHOJ Riverfront is filled with a magical world of water, moving images and bubbles — a place to have fun with science while learning the social impacts of water in daily life.
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13 Apr 2022
KHOJ Social
KHOJ Social was started on 13 April 2022 as an initiative by KHOJ to contribute to society and community. It aims at encouraging the curiosity of people from all stratas of society in science, art and innovation by conducting various workshops.
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In development
KHOJ Surat
KHOJ Surat is in its developing stage, covering the hot topics of viruses and sustainability. Visitors explore the entire existence of viruses — including how many are good for us — alongside sustainable living goals, with an activity area for drawing, painting, sculpting and DIY stations.
Where To Look Next
Follow The Story
About KHOJ
The origins and philosophy behind a dynamic children's museum, and the joint initiative of MEPS with international museum partners.
AboutCome See It For Yourself
KHOJ Naranpura is located at the Vedhshala campus, near Naranpura Railway Crossing, Ahmedabad. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM; closed Mondays.