Indian Museum Kolkata (Timings, History & Entry Ticket Fee)
With its foundation stone placed in 1814, the Indian Museum in Kolkata is the largest museum in India and the seventh oldest museum in the world. It features displays of some of the best items, including as armour, skeletons, fossils, antiques, ornaments, Egyptian mummies, modern paintings, and Mughal paintings.
One of the most unusual collections of coins and sculptures from the second century AD can also be found in an Indian museum. Separate galleries feature architectural remnants from Bodhgaya as well as sculptures from the Gandhara School of Art. The museum is commonly referred to as “Jaadu Ghar.”
For all history lovers, museums are a veritable gold mine. The 35 galleries in the Indian Museum are categorised into six areas: economic botany, geology, zoology, art, archaeology, and anthropology. In February 2014, the museum commemorated its bicentennial.
History of Indian Museum Kolkata
The idea of establishing a museum in 1794 was in itself a moment of pride for India’s cultural progress and a valuable addition to its history and heritage. The Asiatic Society of Bengal, founded in 1784 by Sir William Jones, a renowned scholar who dedicated his life to serving India, came up with the idea for the Indian Museum, but it didn’t take shape until 1808, when the members of the society were given a suitable location in the Chowringhee-Park Street area by the then-Government of India.
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The Asiatic Society of Bengal was founded with the primary goals of preserving the customs and culture specific to Asia’s small geographic area and fostering a hub for the study and advancement of art and culture via sociocultural activities. In February 1814, Danish botanist Dr. Nathaniel Wallich founded the Indian Museum. According to Dr. Wallich, the museum should include two sections: one for geology and zoology and another for archaeology, ethnology, and technology. Wallich was appointed the Asiatic Society’s Oriental Museum’s Honorary Curator. Additionally, he had given away a number of botanical specimens from his own collection.
As the museum began to become more well-known among Indians and Europeans, donations from all around the nation began to stream in. In 1816, there were 27 donors on the list, all of whom were European, and they contributed 127 items. Col. Stewart, Dr. Tytler, General Mackenjzie, Mr. Bryan Hodgson, and Capt. Gillon were the individual collectors. Baboo Ram Comul Sen, Kali Kissen Bahadoor, Moharaja Radhacant Deb, Mathuranath Mullick, Sivachandra Doss, and her Highness Begam Sambroo were the most well-known of the 49 Indian benefactors.
The museum’s geology and mineral sections were enlarged by the government, which also provided an extra subsidy of INR 250 per month for the geology area alone. The monthly pay of the curators of the other divisions ranged from INR 50 to INR 200. This was carried out following Dr. Wallich’s resignation.
In 1858, the Geological Museum was merged with the Geological Survey of India.
On April 1, 1878, the new/present structure was opened to the public with just two galleries. It was changed into a category-segregated, multifunctional organisation. In the new structure, the Zoology section’s bird gallery and the Archaeology gallery were inaugurated.
The museum’s zoological and anthropological divisions helped establish the Zoological Survey of India in 1916, which paved the way for the establishment of the Anthropological Survey of India in 1945.
Originally called the “Asiatic Society Museum,” the museum eventually changed its name to the “Imperial Museum” before being renamed the “Indian Museum.” The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, is in charge of the organisation.
Architecture of Indian Museum Kolkata
Another architectural marvel that endures to this day is the current Indian Museum structure. The building was created by Walter Granville, the most well-known architect of the Victorian era, who is credited with creating many of Kolkata’s icons.
At a total cost of INR 1,40,000, the museum was finished in 1875. Each level of the three-story building is around 930 square meters in size. Anthropology, Art, Archaeology, Zoology, Botany, and Geology are the six main areas into which the 60 galleries are separated.
In addition to a museum store that offers picture postcards, art albums, children’s books, and photographs, the museum also has a library with a sizable collection of some 50,000 volumes and periodicals.
Indian Museum Collections and Galleries
In each of its galleries, which are divided into six categories, the Indian Museum’s collection has some of the best and rarest items. The collections include fossils, Egyptian mummies, sculptures, jewellery, ancient Indus Valley relics, and much more.
Archaeology Section: Bharhut Gallery, Gandhara Gallery, Main Entrance Gallery, Pre and Proto-Historic Gallery, Minor Art Gallery, Long Archaeology Gallery, Bronze Gallery, Coin Gallery, and Egyptian Gallery are among the galleries that showcase collections under this heading.Art Section: The galleries in the art category feature textile and ornamental arts as well as paintings from all over the world.
This group includes galleries from South East Asia, Bengal, the Mughal Empire, and Decorative Art and Textiles.
Anthropology Section: Included in this section are the galleries for masks, cultural anthropology, paleo-anthropology, and musical instruments.
Siwalik Gallery, Invertebrate Fossil Gallery, Rock & Mineral Gallery, and Earth and Meteorite Gallery with Gem Section are the galleries that fall under the Geology Section.
Section on Botany: This category contains the greatest materials on Indian flora and vegetation, including Indian timbers, food items, medicinal products, vegetable fibres, oil and oilseeds, and other crops that are frequently grown in India.
Zoology Section: Fish Gallery, Amphibia and Reptilia Gallery, Bird Gallery, Mammal Gallery, and Ecology Gallery are all located within the Zoology Section. The Zoological Survey of India currently oversees the anthropological and zoological divisions.
List of Major Galleries at Indian Museum
Bharhut Gallery, Bronze Gallery, Gandhara Gallery, L. Archaeology gallery, Egypt Gallery, Egypt Gallery, Paintings Gallery, Textile Gallery, Botanical Gallery, Bird Gallery, Mammal Gallery.
Timings of Indian Museum Kolkata
The visiting hours of Indian Museum are:
Tuesday to Friday – 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM IST
Saturday and Sunday – 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM IST
Note: The museum remains closed on Mondays and public holidays
Indian Museum Entry Fees and Camera Charges
Entry Fees:
For Indian Nationals Adults: INR 50
For Indian Nationals Children above 5 years: INR 20
For Foreign Nationals: INR 500
Camera/Photography Charges:
Smart Phone: INR 50
Still Camera: INR 100
Small Video Camera: INR 2000
Camera with Stand: INR 5000
How to Reach Indian Museum Kolkata
The Indian Museum is easily accessible and reasonably priced by metro due to its downtown Kolkata location. A number of minibuses and buses also stop directly outside the museum. At the bus stop on Lindsay Street, ask and get off.
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