Getting to know the World’s history in the Indian National Museum, Kolkata

For many people, especially youngster these days, the word Museum is an alternative term for boredom. You don’t believe me, well, let me prove it to you by a simple exercise.

Tell your Kids or your friends or your better half that you are going to take them for a trip and watch their expression when you tell them that. Once you notice they are all hyped and everything then break it to them that you are taking them to a museum. Trust me maximum number of times you will have completely opposite reaction.

This is my first blog and I have chosen to write about The Indian National Museum because for me the word museum expresses the importance of memories. Museums are places where you will get to see the memories of the world in the form of different artifacts, monuments, structure and lots of amazing things. There are lots of museums which showcases artifacts about a single civilisation or species or only earth but there are also many museums which houses just about everything for your eyes to feast in and your brain to get a knowledge of. One of the example of those museums is The Indian National Museum in Kolkata, India. The museum originated from the Asiatic Society of Bengal which was created by Sir William Jones in 1784 and now it is 9th largest museum in the World and the largest museum in India. It has a rare collection of antiques, armour and ornaments, fossils, skeletons, mummies and Mughal Paintings of 1600 C.E.

Collections

Egyptian human mummy, about 4,000 yrs old, at Indian Museum.

Egyptian

It currently occupies a resplendent mansion, and exhibits among others: an Egyptian mummy. The mummy is being restored.

Indian

Indian artifacts include the Buddhist Stupa from Bharhut, the Buddha’s ashes, the Ashoka pillar, whose four-lion symbol became the official emblem of the Republic of India, fossil skeletons of prehistoric animals, an art collection, rare antiques, and a collection of meteorites.

Stone sculpture of Devi Durga in Kolkata

The Indian Museum is also regarded as “the beginning of a significant epoch initiating the socio-cultural and scientific achievements of the country. It is otherwise considered as the beginning of the modernity and the end of medieval era” by UZER Places.

Natural History

The museum has four galleries dedicated to natural history, namely the botanical, insect, mammal and bird galleries. It also contains prehistoric artifacts such as the huge skeleton of a dinosaur.

ADDRESS: 27, Jawaharlal Nehru Rd, Fire Brigade Head Quarter, New Market Area, Dharmatala, Taltala, Kolkata, West Bengal 700016

Tickets: ₹20–500

PHONE: 033 2252 1790

TIMING: Tuesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM. Monday Closed