Karnataka is planning to introduce a mobile museum dedicated to showcasing the unique biodiversity of the Western Ghats, with a specially designed Volvo bus travelling across the state to reach different sections of society. The project has received state approval and is expected to be launched within the next six months, according to Karnataka State Western Ghats Taskforce Committee Chairman Mohammed Tabrez Alam Shariff. The estimated project cost is ₹1 crore.
Volvo is donating a 15-metre 9600 service model multi-axle luxury coach for the initiative. The bus will feature interactive and holographic screens displaying the region’s wildlife, waterfalls and forests. It is also planned to operate using roof-mounted solar panels, with a focus on achieving a zero-carbon footprint.
The mobile museum will be divided into three sections, with the two sides forming display corridors that will occupy approximately three-fourths of the bus. The remaining space will serve as a seating area for discussions. Theme-based, life-size models will also be installed to offer visitors an immersive experience of the Western Ghats ecosystem.
The displays will use images and videos sourced from multiple sources, along with graphics and animations designed to attract younger visitors. Thematic forest environments will also be created inside the bus, with the flexibility to change displays to showcase different ecosystems and biodiversity themes.
The initiative aims to take information about the Western Ghats’ ecological significance beyond conventional museum spaces by bringing interactive learning experiences directly to communities across Karnataka. Its mobile format is expected to make the region’s biodiversity more accessible to students and other sections of society.
Shariff also said discussions are underway to develop a dedicated, permanent Western Ghats museum across 10 acres of land. Further details about the proposed site, development timeline and facilities were not available in the supplied information.