Indian Museum, National museum in Kolkata, India.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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