Shangri La

The Shangri La Museum a part of Honolulu Islamic Art, Culture, and Design is housed at Doris Duke’s former villa on Diamond Head, just outside of Honolulu, Hawaii. The museum was founded by Doris Duke in the 1960s. Now owned and operated by the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art, the building is a public museum highlighting the arts and civilizations of the Islamic world. It was previously owned by the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art (DDFIA). A guided tour departing from the Honolulu Museum of Art, which conducts the visits in cooperation with the DDFIA, is available to visitors. Doris Duke spent a lot of time in this luxurious oceanfront mansion near Diamond Head State Monument, which she used to own and enjoy. In 1937, she began building and then spent more than 60 years embellishing its walls and halls with art and furnishings sourced from a variety of countries, including Egypt, Morocco, Spain and many others. It is possible to go on a tour of her house and see some of the more than 2,500 artifacts she gathered throughout her life, which are presently on display for you to see and learn about. Visitors to Shangri La should be aware that it is not only a must-see for art fans, but it is also a worthwhile stop if you are at all captivated by the mysterious heiress who resides on the estate. Many recent visitors have referred to the museum’s collection as “unbelievable,” and they believe that it is well worth the travel to view it for themselves. Several people have also pointed out that the home itself–which has been compared to large estates for instance Top Kapi Palace in Istanbul and Agra’s Taj Mahal–is difficult to overlook when visiting the city. Keep in mind, however, that areas of the museum are currently closed for renovations and repairs. Visitors to Shangri La must make reservations many months in advance to ensure a spot on the itinerary. The Honolulu Museum of Art offers guided tours on Wednesday through Saturday, with departure times at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and1:30 p.m., respectively, with a duration of approximately two hours and fifteen minutes. Each participant must purchase a ticket to the Honolulu Museum of Art in advance through the museum’s online ticketing system, which costs $25 per person. Kids under seven are not authorized to take a tour of the facilities. Admission to the Honolulu Museum of Art, admission to the Shangri La collection, and round-trip transport to and from the property are all included with every ticket. In order to gain additional information, please visit the Shangri-La website.