Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak a social activist, founded the Sulabh International Museum of Toilets in 1992 in New Delhi, and Time magazine named it one of the strangest museums in the world. The museum, which was founded with the goal of addressing the world history of sanitation and toilets, is far from ordinary and a source of enjoyment for many. The exhibits bring visitors the entire history of toilets from 3000 BC to the twentieth century, meticulously arranged in three sections of Ancient, Medieval, and Modern, with exhibits gathered from more than 50 countries and ranging from ornately carved toilets to painted urinals and related anecdotes.
The Museum houses a unique collection of data, photographs, and artefacts tracing the history of toilets from 2500 BC to the present day. It gives a timeline of technological advancements, toilet-related social conventions, toilet etiquette, sanitary conditions, and legislative attempts across time. It features a large collection of privies, chamber pots, toilet furniture, bidets, and water closets dating from 1145 AD to the present day. It also contains a unique collection of lovely poems on toilets and their use.
A replica of the throne-cum-toilet that was used in King Louis XIII of France’s court is one of the major attractions of the museum.There’s also a display of the world’s earliest large-scale sanitation system, as well as photographs of Indus Valley civilization ruins, which are said to have used a very simple but effective sanitation system consisting of brick commodes connected to a complicated drainage network.
The Sulabh International Toilet Museum is usually open seven days a week.But due to COVID-19 outbreak it will remain closed till further notice.