Indian Museum, National museum in Kolkata, India.
Description
The Indian Museum is a national institution in Kolkata, India, with thirty-five galleries spread across multiple floors of a large building in the city center. The halls are organized by theme and range from archaeological finds to natural history displays and artworks from different periods.
History
The Asiatic Society of Bengal founded the institution in 1814, making it the first museum on the Indian subcontinent. It later moved to the current building and expanded its collections through donations and expeditions during the 19th century.
Culture
The name reflects its original role as a repository for the Asiatic Society's collections and a center for research in Calcutta. Visitors today walk past Indian sculptures alongside Buddhist relics, while scholars still use the archives for study.
Practical
The institution opens every day except Monday, and guided tours are available in several languages. Ramps and elevators provide access to all exhibition areas for wheelchair users.
Did you know?
One room displays a complete elephant skeleton alongside prehistoric fossils, while another section shows Egyptian mummies. A stone slab bears carved footprints associated with Buddha.
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Kolkata's past surfaces in religious sites, colonial buildings, and busy markets scattered across the city. The British era left its mark through the white marble Victoria Memorial and administrative structures around BBD Bagh and the Writers Building. Religious spaces range from the Dakshineswar...
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