Asia’s Oldest Museum Is In Kolkata—And It Even Has A 4,000-year-old Egyptian Mummy!

Indian Museum, Kolkata | The oldest and biggest multidisciplinary museum in the Indian subcontinent was established in 1814 and is located in Kolkata. Standing at the Jawaharlal Nehru Road in the centre of the city, the Indian Museum houses the country's most extensive historical, artistic, cultural and scientific legacy. This must-visit museum in India is often referred to as the "Jadu Ghar" (The House of Magic) by the locals owing to its extensive architecture and enormous collection that never ceases to enthrall the tourists.

Historical Origins

The Asiatic Society of Bengal, which was founded in 1784 by British philologist and jurist Sir William Jones, is the body credited with founding the Indian Museum. Dr. Nathaniel Wallich, a Danish botanist and the museum's initial curator, helped form the concept for the establishment. The museum was first established in the Asiatic Society's building before it was relocated to its current location in 1875. What saw its beginning as the "Asiatic Society Museum" subsequently found itself addressed as the "Imperial Museum" and finally some time later came to be known as the "Indian Museum." This roomy neoclassical edifice was built to house the museum's quickly expanding collection.

Through the colonial and subsequently the post-colonial era, the museum developed into a prestigious establishment, making a substantial contribution to the expansion of museology and heritage studies in India. Incidentally, the basic model of the Indian Museum also served as an inspiration for a gamut of other museums throughout the nation, including those in Chennai and Mumbai.

Architectural Legacy

The current building, designed in the classical Italian style, was completed in 1875 and purpose-built to serve as a museum, rather than being adapted from an earlier structure. Located on what is now Jawaharlal Nehru Road, the site was selected for its centrality and accessibility within the growing colonial capital of British India. The building that was designed by W.L. Granville, a British architect, features grand colonnades, courtyards, and spacious galleries tailored to the display of artefacts and scientific specimens. Its opulent colonnades, lofty ceilings and arched windows alone make for a fine piece of architectural heritage. It is extended across several stories and takes up a sizable plot of land next to the busy Park Street neighbourhood. Imperial beauty, characteristic of British India's 19th-century institutional architecture, is evoked by the building's imposing façade and central courtyard.

Inside, the galleries are built up thematically, with spacious hallways and brightly lit rooms that provide visitors with a serene and scholarly environment. Modern facilities for conservation and display have been incorporated into recent renovations that aim to maintain its historic character. Unlike many other institutions of its time that were housed in repurposed colonial mansions or administrative buildings, the Indian Museum was envisioned from the outset as a dedicated cultural and educational space, reflecting the British desire to institutionalise the study of India’s history, art, and natural sciences within a formal and architecturally imposing setting.

Major Exhibits and Collections

The museum has six major sections, namely, Art, Archaeology, Anthropology, Geology, Zoology, and Economic Botany. Its most famous and prized exhibit is the 2nd-century BC Bharhut Stupa railings, known for intricate carvings depicting Jataka tales. The Amaravati sculptures from Andhra Pradesh, dating to 200 BCE – 200 CE, are equally significant, showcasing early Buddhist art.

The 19th-century Egyptian mummy, which is one of the most visited items in the Archaeology area, is accompanied by artefacts from the Mauryan Empire, the Gupta era, and the Indus Valley Civilisation. Bengali terracotta items, prehistoric tools, and the Ashokan lion capital provide insight into India's ancient past.

Beautiful miniature paintings from the Mughal, Rajput, and Pahari schools may be seen in the Art area, and tribal artefacts, traditional clothing, masks, and ritual objects from different Indian communities can be seen in the Anthropology gallery. With their taxidermy representations of endangered and extinct animals, such as the now-extinct pink-headed duck and a massive blue whale skeleton, the Natural History wings are just as captivating.

Educational and Urban Importance

The Indian Museum is as much a national educational institution as it is a city museum or a tourist destination. Its library, publications, and research division have significantly influenced scholarly discussions in the fields of art history, archaeology, and museology. Furthermore, the museum is also remarkably ingrained in the city’s topology of Kolkata's urban spread and history owing to its central location and vicinity to major sites like the Victoria Memorial, Park Street, and the Indian Museum metro station. Its reach has grown in recent years, becoming more accessible to younger audiences and international researchers because of digital initiatives, guided tours, and well chosen exhibitions.

Preservation and Modernisation Efforts

The preservation of delicate artefacts, updating of the displays, and infrastructure maintenance have all presented difficulties for the Indian Museum. However, there has been a slow restoration thanks to efforts by the Archaeological Survey of India and the Ministry of Culture. To improve the visitor experience, projects include digitising collections, upgrading lighting and signage, and implementing QR code-based information systems.

The museum reaffirmed its position as a vibrant cultural institution in a contemporary setting in 2014 by launching a number of activities in honour of its bicentennial, such as international partnerships and themed exhibits.

The Information | Indian Museum

Address: 27, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Park Street Area, Kolkata

Timings: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm; closed on Mondays

Entry Fee:

• Adults: INR 75

• Below 18: INR 20

• Foreign nationals: INR 500

Guides are available for free.

Photography Charges:

• Smart phone camera: INR 50, exclusive of GST

• DSLR camera: INR 100, exclusive of GST

• Small Video Camera: INR 2,000, exclusive of GST

• Camera with Stand: INR 5,000, exclusive of GSTindian museum kolkata timing​

Hotels near Indian Museum, Kolkata

The Oberoi Grand, an iconic five-star hotel in Kolkata, is located less than 400 metres away from the Indian Museum. Sapphire Suites, a four-star hotel, is roughly 500 metres away.