Fact File
» Address - 27, Jawarharlal Nehru Road, Kolkata
» Timing - 10.00-17.00 (March – November)
10.00-16.30 (December – February)
Opens on all days except Mondays and recognized holidays.
» Entry Fee - Indian: Rs. 10.00 (approx.)
Foreigners: Rs. 150.00(approx.)
Free for children below 12 years of age.
Photography is not allowed without prior written permission from
the authorities.
» Exhibits - Egyptian Mummy, Buddhist stupa from
Bharhut, Buddha's Ashes, Fossil Skeletons of Prehistoric animals,
Art Collection, Rare Antiques, Collection of Meteorites etc.
Location
Located in Chowringhee on Jawahar Lal Nehru Road, commonly known as
' Jadughar', the Indian Museum of Kolkata is the ninth oldest
regualr museum of the world.
About Indian Museum
The Kolkata Indian Museum established long back in 1814 in the
Asiatic Society Building was founded by Dr. Nathaniel Wallich, a
botanist from Denmark. It is one of the earliest museums established
in the world and considered the largest and best museum in the
country. In 1875, it was shifted to the new building in Italian
architectural style designed by Walter B Grawille.
Opened to public in 1878, the museum has over 60 galleries and is
divided into six main sectors of Art, Anthropology, Archaeology,
Geology, Industry and Zoology. The museum with 3 floors is spread
out over an area of 930 sq.mts. It is an independent institution
funded by the Government of India.
Art Section
Spread on the Ist and II floor, the Art collection of the Indian
Museum comprises of miniature paintings, textiles, decorative art
objects from Asian countries -- China, Japan, Nepal, Tibet, Myanmar,
Sri Lanka, Thailand, Java and Kampuchea. Muslin and Jamdani from
Dhaka, Baluchari textile of Murshidabad, Phulkari of Punjab, Chamba
rumal, Persian carpets, Kanthas of Bengal, ritual robes, wood
carving, metal images, ivory, lacquerware, bronze, ornaments;
Persian, Mughal, Rajasthani, Pahari, Deccani miniature paintings,
manuscript illustrations of Western and Eastern India, Bengal school
paintings, Nepalese and Tibetan temple banners.
The South East Asian gallery in the Art section has three separate
galleries for artifacts from China-Japan, Burma and Nepal-Tibet. In
the gallery of the China-Japan, there are coloured porcelains, wine
cups, ivory and rhinoceros horn carved articles, paintings etc.
The tradition of Burmese gallery displays brass and bronze figures,
wood carvings, silverwares and lacquer ware objects depicting
'Jatakas', scenes from the epic 'Ramayana' etc.
In the Nepal-Tibet Bay a few bronze images and woodcarvings
extending in date from the 9th-10th century to the 18th-19th century
have been displayed. Special mention may be made of the bronze image
of Siva belonging to the 9th-10th century and wooden figure of
Salabhanjika of the 15th-16th century, both from Nepal and bronze
figures of Yamantaka and Aryavalokitesvara, yab-yum figures of
Samvara with Sakti and Hevajra with Sakti from Tibet. The ritual
objects - phur-bu (magic dagger), incense-burner, butter-lamp and a
set of ornaments and bone-apron made of human bones are equally
noteworthy.
Anthropological Section
The Anthropological Section displays numerous objects of material
cultures of both tribal and non-tribal peoples of India, large
dioramas put up through considerable amount of research work You can
also watch the gallery of rare musical instruments.
Archaeological Section
The Archaeological Section displays stone-age artifacts from India
and abroad, pre-historic antiquities from Mohenjodaro, Harappa,
ranging from 2500 B.C to 1500 B.C, Sculptures belonging to all
phases of history from the 4/5 century B.C the late mediaeval times;
inscriptions on stones and copper, Indo-Muslim architectural pieces
and a representative collections of Indian coins.
Some of the galleries in this section are Bharhut, Egyptian, Coins,
Orissan Art, Gandhara etc. Bharhut gallery houses the railings and
gateway of the Buddhist Stupa with carvings and sculptures depicting
scenes from Buddha's life excavated from Bharhut in Madhya Pradesh
in 1874 by Sir Alexander Cunningham. There is also an urn containing
Buddha's ashes. Due to this the museum has become a place of
pilgrimage. Gandhara gallery holds the best collection of Buddhist
Sculptures from Gandhara region and other stone sculptures. The
Egyptian gallery has a 4000 year old 'mummy', sculptures, paintings
etc. The coin gallery has a collection of coins from the 5th century
B.C. which displays gold coins issued by Kanishka, Samudragupta,
Kumaragupta-1, Akbar and Jahangir.
Geological Section
The extensive Geological Section has over 80,000 specimens,
displayed in four galleries showing varieties of meteorites,
precious stones, ornamental building stones, rocks and minerals and
fossils.
Zoological Section
The Zoological section, the largest of its kind in India, is rich
with innumerable specimens of insects, fish, reptiles, mammals and
birds.
Industrial Section
The industrial Section has boasts several thousand botanical
specimens bearing upon medicine, forestry, agriculture and
cottage-industry.
Nearby Attraction
If you are exploring Indian Museum, you must visit its nearby
attraction such as Sahid Minar, BBD Bagh, St. John's Church, St.
Andrew's Church, Govt. of W.B. Tourists Bureau.
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