Inaugurated in 1814, The Indian Museum is the oldest and largest museum of the country, housing about a hundred thousand works covering a whole range of Indian history, art, archaeology, anthropology, and natural sciences. Situated in the heart of the city, the museum is an invaluable storehouse of treasures for tourists, students, scholars and historians, and features countless artifacts of ancient civilizations, mummies, dinosaur fossils, treasure coins and rare artifacts. It also happens to stand on one of the most magnificent colonial building structures in the city of Kolkata.Major Attractions: Egyptian mummy, Ashokan artifacts, Buddhist sculptures, dinosaur fossils, art galleriesTop Activities: Museum tour, history exploration, photography (where permitted), educational visits, cultural learningDuration: 2–4 HoursBest Time to Visit: October to MarchThe Indian Museum collection consists of some incredibly rare and valuable items like archaeological artefacts, ancient documents, works of art and design, folk artefacts, zoological, and geological material which put to display the Indian Heritage. The displays includes among other precious exhibits the exquisitely preserved Egyptian Mummies that have always fascinated young as well as old visitors. Other impressive exhibits include ancient artefacts from the Indus valley, Buddhist stupas, and ancient Buddhist artifacts. The galleries in the museum, such as the Archaeological Gallery, theEthnology Gallery, the Numismatics Gallery, the Fine Arts Gallery, and the Natural History Gallery help you learn a lot about India of today and of the past. This is the only kind of place in India that shows the Indian Heritage with utmost grandeur and splendor. Each of its sections and galleries are a feast to researchers and history lovers, and offers an incredibly informative visit into various facets of India. The majestic colonial architecture and the expansive halls serve as the perfect backdrop for the vast collection that is neatly arranged to showcase the diverse artefacts of the nation. The Indian Museum is strategically located close to other prime Kolkata attractions like Victoria Memorial and Park Street making it possible to cover some other famous spots of the city in a day. When the climate is pleasant with winters visiting India, there is no other time better than this to get down and witness one of the best museums of India.
