The IGRMS or the National Museum of Mankind is an unique museum spread over an area of 200 acres. The museum exhibits contemporary tribal cultures and has actual dwellings of typical tribal villages of Indian states in display. The IGRMS is an autonomous organization of the Govt. of India, Ministry of Culture which presents the story of mankind in time and space. Situated in a prehistoric site, this one of its kind museum also has a vivid collection of pre-historic painted rock shelters. There are three kinds of exhibitions in display including open air exhibitions, indoor galleries and periodical or temporary exhibitions. The open air exhibitions have a coastal village, a desert village, a Himalayan village, a mythological trail and a traditional technology park. However, the most striking part of this exhibition is the Tribal Habitat comprising life size dwellings built by tribes.
There are two indoor galleries called Veethi-Sankul and Bhopal Gallery and the main building has exhibition halls, a reference library, indoor and outdoor auditoriums and other facilities.
The headquarters of the IGRMS is located in Bhopal with a regional centre in Mysore. Unlike other national Museums, which were set up to house certain collections in possession, the IGRMS was started without any collection to display, rather with a set of ideas. The IGRMS acts as a facilitator for forging interrelations between the community and Museums.