Gargoti Museum

Gargoti Museum, at Sinnar near Nashik, is devoted to minerals and precious stones and is described as the only museum of its kind in India. It grew out of the private collection of K C Pandey, an enthusiast who gathered a very large range of specimens, and it draws students, mineral specialists and architects as well as ordinary visitors.

The collection is set out in two galleries. One, Minerals from the Deccan Plateau, shows crystals formed in the region's rock, among them yellow calcite. The other, the Prestige Gallery, holds cut gemstones, diamonds and rare minerals brought from other countries. Honours received by the museum include the Pride of India award, the Sinnar Gaurav and the Saraswati Puraskar.