Tick Tock...Watch Museum Here I come

We all have grown up seeing those big wrist watches in our dad’s wrist with brand name “HMT” which was known as country's first wristwatch maker back in 1970’s. HMT (Hindustan Machine tools)  shut its services in 2016. But management decided to continue their legacy by showcasing their journey to common people in the form of museum – HMT Heritage Museum.  I knew that there used to be HMT watch factory near Jalahalli Bangalore but did not know that there is a museum also. Thanks to my fellow travel blogger who visit this recently and informed me about the same.

So, we planned to visit this for a half day tour. My dad accompanied me to this trip since he had emotions about his first HMT watch and he had also visited HMT factory during one of his official visits back then. He had a lot of stories to tell. Hence this trip was even more special to me 😊. 

This museum is located at Jalahalli, Bangalore. There is no direct metro train to this place but you can get down at Gorguntepalya Metro station and take an auto/cab which might take another 15-20 minutes drive to this museum. And from Majestic (Bangalore City Bus Stand) you can take 273 series buses and get down at HMT Colony stop right in front of the museum.

We reached the museum and parked our car inside. The parking fee is Rs 20 for 2 hours. This museum is open throughout the week from 10 AM to 5 PM except on National Holidays and Tuesday is their weekly off.

There is an entrance fee of Rs.30 for museum visit. We took the entry ticket and started our journey into the evolution of India's largest manufacturer of wrist watches, how their business evolved with time and expanded their product portfolio from watches to tractors and then dairy. Ground Floor takes you through this journey, various types of watches, what goes into watch making.

HMT's Journey and Evolution

Watch Making - Various Parts

After knowing about their journey, you next enter into the parts of a watch.  There are microscopes here and you can view the tiny parts of a watch here. 

Watch Making Process and Tools Used

We next entered a room where the watch making process was explained and the various tools that are required in the making of a watch. 

HMT Staff Uniforms

Attendance punching unit

In the same area you can find a model of HMT tractor on display and cross sections are made to show the function of each and every component of the tractor

Tick Tock....Tick Tock...Watches

Next we moved into the most important Finished Watches section. You will find an amazing display of watches from their entire product portfolio. Its a treat to watch 😊

Took this picture as a souvenir since my dad used to have this watch😊

Gold Biscuit Watch which has 1 gram of gold biscuit embedded on the dial

Special Watches

Next we entered special section where Braille watches were on display that helped visually impaired people to read time. There is also a user manual kept which is in Braille for them to understand the functions. 

HMT's Customized Watches At Iconic Landmarks

This section was pretty interesting because here HMT lets us know all those important landmarks where HMT watches are on display like Lalbagh, VTU, Omkar Hills etc

Giant Size Clock Tower installed at Omkar Hills, Bangalore (Second Largest Tower Clock in the world)

This ends the tour of the ground floor part of the museum. We next headed to the first floor. Museum is very well planned and organized. You can move around on your own and don't require a guide here.

Machine Tools Division 

First floor takes us along a tour of their machine tool division. This is a must visit for people who are interested in Mechanical Engineering Science especially in areas such as ball bearings, lathe machines etc.

Next we moved to the last section in this floor - Tractor Division

HMT Tractors

Once you come outside the museum, the security guard will offer you a ride on the tractor for Rs. 30 for one round of the museum. We didn’t take it. But if you are visiting with your kids then worth a shot 😊.

There is also a souvenir shop where you can buy some HMT watches to take back home.

HMT Souvenir Shop

One can easily spend around 2-3 hours here since you will travel back in time into this famous brand's journey  and if you feel nostalgic at the end of the tour you can even carry a HMT Watch back home. 

Would recommend taking an old timer like your dad with you who would explain you how this brand evolved, stories around the expansion and their emotions about their first "HMT watch" which is priceless. I am recommending purely based on my experience😊.