Indian Museum located on Jawahar Lal Nehru Road, is a popular tourist attraction in Kolkata. Also known as Jaadughar, it is the ninth oldest museum in the world. As it is centrally located, access to the museum is easy from all locations. This three storeyed building covers an area of 930 square meters. The museum features various art collections, mobile exhibition van, fossil collections, Egyptian mummy, collection of meteorites, a library and the varied museum publications. This museum is a self governing institution aided by the Department of Culture of the Government of India.
History of Indian Museum
On 2nd February 1814, the museum was established inside the Asiatic Society building of Calcutta. Dr. Nathaniel Wallich, a botanist from Copenhagen, Denmark was the founder of this museum. The museum was shifted to the present location in the year 1875. This new museum was designed by Walter B Granvil in the Italian style. The museum was opened to the public in 1878. Earlier there were only two galleries, but now the museum comprises sixty galleries, divided into the six sections of Archeology, Art, Geology, Botany, Anthropology and Zoology.
Indian Museum Facilities
- Mobile Museum: A van or Museo-bus carrying 20 pictures in the two tiers of the bus moves to the rural areas to enhance their knowledge about rich Indian culture
- Training programs: To train the masses, 3 different programs like short course in museum study, in-service museum training course and practical training in Museum method is conducted
- Library: A collection of 50,000 different kinds of books and journals are available
- Video corner: Shows are arranged for the students and visitors on a regular basis
- Temporary exhibitions: Reserve collections of the museum are displayed
- Inter-state exhibition: Organized to enhance the interaction process with other states culturally
- Sketching permission in the galleries: Students are allowed to sketch the different objects and exhibits that are displayed in the museum
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- Educational film shows: Film shows (indoor and outdoor) are arranged
- Mobile conservation laboratory: This laboratory offers technical support to the small museums located in the outskirts of the city.
- Bookshop: Various publications of the museum are available here
- International exhibition: Participates in various exhibitions held in different places all around the world
- Exhibit of the Month: Every month in the lobby of the museum, objects from the museum are displayed
- Photography: The photography section allows visitors to take snaps for documentary work. A fee of Rs 50 or Rs 100 must be paid in order to take photographs
Indian Museum Library
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The library has a huge collection on topics like Arts, Archeology, Anthropology and Museology. A membership fee is charged from those willing to be a member of the library. Some of the popular journals available at the library include Cambridge Archeological Journal, Oriental Art, Antiquity, The Burlington Magazine, Journal of American Conservation, Arabian Archeology and Epigraphy and many more. The library is open from 10.30 am to 4.30 pm on all days of the week. It remains closed on Sundays and second Saturdays and on public holidays.
Indian Museum Painting Gallery
The painting gallery was opened on March 16th, 2004. It includes a collection of Mughal paintings portraying the court life and palace scenes of that period. Besides, there are Kangra- Kalam Paintings and Kalighat Patas (Bengal's folk art). The palm leaf manuscript depicted through a painting is the oldest, belonging to the late 12th century.
Indian Museum Information
The museum remains open from March to November between 10.00 am and 5.00 pm everyday. From December to February, it is open from 10.00 am to 4.30 pm. The museum is closed on Mondays and all public holidays.
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