10/09/2022
Enjoy the deep history and culture of the "City of Joy" at these museums.
The Best Museums In Kolkata And What Makes Each One Worth A Visit...
Kolkata is not just a city of food, but also a very deep history and culture. And the best museums in Kolkata let you explore the city’s rich history, heritage, and culture. If you are a museum or history buff, then you can’t miss all the different types of museums in Kolkata, from one that houses globally significant historical artefacts, to one that is dedicated to Kolkata’s very own trams, to one that makes for a whole adventure out of science, there is something for everybody. If you are travelling with kids, or want to take out your siblings or cousins for a day out, there are more than one museums in Kolkata to visit with your kids. Let’s find out what are all these places that we tend to forget about, that remain a great place to learn and reconnect with our past.
Here are the best museums in Kolkata, and what makes them unique..
KOLKATA
We tell you the best museums in Kolkata, and what makes them worth a visit.
#1 ) Indian Museum
The Indian Museum in Kolkata was founded in 1814, at the present building of the Asiatic Society at 1 Park Street. It’s current location is at 7 Jawaharlal Nehru Road near Park Street in Kolkata, and if you are in the city, you need to make a trip there as soon as possible. The Indian Museum in Kolkata is the earliest, and the largest multipurpose museum in not only India, but also the subcontinent and in the Asia-Pacific region of the world. The building itself is a heritage structure, and is a tribute to architectural grandeur. The simple white exterior marks an elegance that makes it really stand out. The foundation of the Indian Museum was laid in 1814, which marked the beginning of India’s museum movement. The museum is till today, the largest museum across India, and one needs ample time on their hands to see all of it’s sections thoroughly. It is home to some extremely exquisite artefacts and objects, spanning categories like armour, antiques, ornaments, skeleton, fossils, mummies, and beautiful Mughal paintings. With its 14 full-sized galleries, where section is dedicated to a specific category, one day is simply not enough to do justice to this museum and its collection. It also happens to be the home to the only specimen of an Egyptian mummy in India. For those interested in some extra learning, the museum also hosts crash courses, workshops, and exhibitions from time to time.
Timing: 10AM to 5PM Tuesday to Sunday
#2 ) Victoria Memorial
If there was a spot for Kolkata’s most iconic structure, it would very likely go to the Victoria Memorial, a structure built to commemorate Queen Victoria, by the then Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon. But very few people know that this monument was built with the purpose of housing, to function as museum to the might of the British Indian Empire. Victoria was built by the British more than 300 years ago, when Kolkata was the capital of the East India Company, and the eventual capital of the the British Empire in India. So if you want to take a trip through how the city’s colonial history, and how it led to the city it is today, head over to 1 Queen’s Way. Lord Curzon had wanted a beautiful and royal looking structure to pay tribute to the queen, and the monument doesn’t let you down, it is just as royal and regal as it was envisioned as. But while you are enjoying the beauty of the memorial and the grounds, make sure to venture in and take a look at the artefacts and paintings in the gallery. It has 25 galleries, which include the royal gallery, the national leaders gallery, the portrait gallery, central hall, the sculpture gallery, the arms and armoury gallery, and the newer, Calcutta gallery. It also has the largest single collection of the works of Thomas Daniell and his nephew, William Daniell, along with a collection of rare and antiquarian books such as the illustrated works of William Shakespeare, the Arabian Nights and the Rubaiyat by Omar Khayyam, as well as books about kathak dance and thumri music by Wazid Ali Shah. Even if it may not be one of the best museums in Kolkata by ordinary standards, the history behind it makes this a special place to visit indeed.
Timing of Gallery: 10 AM to 6 PM, on all days except Mondays and National Holidays
Timing of the Grounds: 5.30 AM to 6.30 PM (March to August), 5.30 AM to 6 PM (September to February) throughout the year
#3 ) Rabindra Bharati Museum
The Thakurbari of Jorasanko is the ancestral home of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. The home of Tagore, where he was born, spend much of his childhood, and also died, now houses the Rabindra Bharati Museum. The house is called ‘Jorasanko r Thakurbari,’ where Jorasanko means two (jora) bamboo bridges (sanko), and Thakurbari refers to the home of the Thakur (or Tahore) family. The acclaimed poet’s home and museum is located on the Rabindra Bharati University campus at 6/4 Dwarakanath Tagore Lane. A trip to this museum is essential if you want to not only understand, but also appreciate the intricacies of Bengali culture and literature, which are extremely closely related. Pay your tribute to the master, while taking a walk across his life, as the house has been restored to preserve the way the household would have appeared when the Tagore family had lived in it. The museum has a lot to offer to guests, including many insights and anecdotes into Rabindranath Tagore’s life, as well as the history of the Tagore family, including their involvement with the Bengal Renaissance and the Brahmo Samaj.
If you are interested, you can plan your visit to coincide with one of the many events take place here, including the Pochishe Boisakh celebration, cultural events Tagore’s birthday, observing his death anniversary, and the the festival of arts, the Aban Mela.
Timing: 10.30AM to 5PM, closed on Mondays
#4 ) Science City
Kolkata’s one of a kind Science City was inaugurated in 1997, to a lot of excitement and energy from the city’s residents. Science city blended together the concept of an amusement park, a museum, and a centre for science designed to educate and interest kids. It is also the largest science centre in the Indian subcontinent. Located at J.B.S Haldane Avenue, Mirania Gardens, East Topsia, Topsia, Science City is easily accessible by the EM Bypass. Some of its most interesting attractions of this science museum in Kolkata include the Earth Exploration Hall, a Biodiversity enclave, the Space Odyssey centre, a Maritime Centre, Musical Fountains, a Butterfly Nursery, an Outdoor Science Park, picnic grounds, the Science Exploration Hall, and a speciality called Science on A Sphere. The experience, although superb for kids, is also quite amazing for adults. Which makes this one of the best museums in Kolkata to visit with your kids.
Timing: All days of the year (except Holi), 9AM to 8PM.
#5 ) Birla Industrial & Technological Museum
The Birla Industrial and Technological Museum is located at 19A Gurusaday Road in Kolkata, behind the popular Ballygunge Ice-Skating Rink. The museum established in 1959, is believed by many to have been the starting point of the science museum movement in India. The brainchild of former West Bengal CM Dr. B C Roy, the museum was helped in its journey by patrons like Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India, and industrialist G D Birla. The museum has 12 different galleries, each hosting a section related to science and technology, including transport, biotechnology, metals, fascinating physics, electricity, and a children’s gallery. From the very beginning when the Birla Industrial & Technological Museum opened its doors, they have taken the initiative to host in-museum educational activities like lectures, film shows, various exhibitions, science fair, and even a teacher training program.
Timing: Every day from 9.30 AM to 6.00 PM including Sundays and Holidays, Closed on Doljatra (Holi) and Kalipuja
#6 ) Netaji Bhavan
Netaji Bhawan is a museum dedicated to the legendary freedom fighter Subhash Chandra Bose, at what was his ancestral home. Located at 38/2, Lala Lajpat Rai (Elgin) Sarani, The Netaji Museum was established in 1961 by Netaji Research Bureau, to function a full-fledged biographical museum. With hundreds and thousands of material about Netaji collected from across the world, the museum tries to put together and present the life and times of the venerable and firebrand leader of the freedom movement. The external appearance of the Netaji Bhawan is kept the same as it used to be when Netaji and his family resided here. The building still maintains its traditional pillars and porticos that are typical of the early 20th century architecture of a Bengali residential house. Except for protective glass barriers, much of the house has been kept the same way, and artefacts like Netaji's own simple cot, clock, clothes, shoes, even his Ayurvedic medicines and Gita have been preserved carefully. With its huge collection of material and information, the museum needs a good few hours of exploring. We suggest you avoid going there during Netaji’s birth week, as the crowd tends to be intensive, and you may not get the space to explore effectively.
Timings : 11AM to 4.30PM, Closed on Mondays
#7 ) Academy of Fine Arts
The Academy of Fine Arts is located at 2, Cathedral Road in Kolkata, and is a non-government cultural institution. Established in 1933, the first president of the academy Maharaja Prodyot Kumar Tagore took the initiative to start a gallery where he annual exhibitions were hosted. The Kumar Tagore, who came from a veritable aristocratic background was not only privy to the huge art collection of his family, but was also an art connoisseur, philanthropist, and photographer himself. During the first days of the Academy, the Indian Museum building on Chowringhee Road road lent itself to host the shows. Over the years, interest in Kolkata having its own proper art gallery grew, and the matter received support from the likes of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Eventually, the land was selected and a new building was built under the stewardship of lady Renu Mukherjee. The first exhibition to be hosted at the new building at Cathedral road was one of fifty paintings by artist Nandalal Bose, on 11th September, 1960. Today the Academy plays host to many art shows, from local and international artists, and remains a hub of cultural expertise and talent.
Timing: 3 PM to 9 PM
#8) Birla Planetarium
The M. P. Birla Planetarium in Kolkata is a wonderland of beauty and science, that one definitely must visit on their trip to this city. What makes this one of the best museums in Kolkata is its ability to transport us from the here and now on earth, all the way to the skies. At the Birla Planetarium, you can watch the cosmos unfurl in front of you, and it does so in a way that it truly takes your breath away. The the building’s architecture is is based on the famous Buddhist Stupa at Sanchi, and in it’s simpleness, their is a subtle charm. The planetarium is located at 96, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, right next to St. Paul’s Cathedral and close to the Victoria Memorial, which are both landmarks of the the city of Kolkata. The planetarium opened its door to its patrons and curious souls on the 29th September of 1962, and was inaugurated on 2nd July 1963 by the then Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. As part of his inauguration speech, he famously said, “We tend to exaggerate the importance of our petty selves on this speck of dust. So, this planetarium must serve a useful purpose, apart from gathering knowledge and imparting it. It gives us an idea of what we are and makes us think in a true perspective.” And true these words have stood, as for decades people have found themselves staring up at the dome of planetarium and losing themselves in the grand scheme of things, learning of the stars, the skies, and the universe. When it was inaugurated in 1962, it was the first public planetarium in India. It has designed and presented more than 300 astronomical projects dealing with various aspects of astronomy, astrophysics, celestial and space sciences and even mythology concerning the stars and the planets. The planetarium hosts shows in three languages, Bengali, English, and Hindi, with a total seven shows in a day. You can book the tickets online at their website as well.
Timing: Shows are held from 12.30PM to 6.30PM
Website: https://www.mpbirlaplanetarium.org/
#9 ) Kolkata Tram Museum Smaranika
Located at Kolkata’s bustling Esplande, the Smaranika Museum, is one of a kind, when it comes to types of museums in Kolkata, and is dedicated to trams. It opened its doors only in 2014, but the unique concept, which also happens to be very close to the heart of the people, makes it deserving of being on this list. The Kolkata Tram Museum, or Smaranika, is set up in a refurbished, vintage 1938 tram. The tram’s interiors have been renovated to turn it into a museum that showcases the rare, interesting, and now perhaps on the way to being forgotten things about trams. It also houses various tram memorabilia, ranging from the early days of the tram, to its position today. The museum also has a collection of rare photos of old Calcutta streets, replicas of the earliest trams like horse-drawn tram cars, the omnibus, flat wagon trams, watering trams and more. Old tram passes and coupons, a coin-exchanger machine, uniforms and caps used by the conductors, and various tram parts like the red lamp, the governor switch, and pull-off springs. You will even find newspaper cuttings and pamphlets from various festivals around the world celebrating tram journeys, and some posters with reference to the trams of Kolkata in literature. Keeping with the museum’s theme, your entry tickets are also designed as tram tickets. The total time to needed to explore this almost quaint museum is about one hour, and you can also opt for guided tours to make the most of your time there. Photography and videography are both allowed, and the museum also houses a small cafe.
Timing: 1PM to 8PM
#10 ) Nehru Children’s Museum
The Nehru Children's Museum is located at 94/1, Chowringhee Road in Kolkata. And as you can probably tell by its name, it is one of the best options for museums in Kolkata to visit with your kids. The museum was built to foster curiosity and learning in children, as well as to pay homage former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru by the National Cultural Association. It was established in 1972, on Jawaharlal Nehru’s birthday. The exhibits in the museum, which are spread over three floors, cover topics that appeal to kids, as well as cultural topics presented in a child friendly way like the epics, the sciences, and history. The museum famously houses galleries on the Mahabharata, and the Ramayana, which have been one of its most popular attractions, along with the Doll Gallery. The Ramayana and Mahabharata exhibits have miniature models to let kids explore the epics, while the in the Doll Gallery, dolls from 92 countries are displayed. Aside from all these regular displays, the museum also hosts various exhibitions, competitions, events, workshops, courses, and projects for kids from all strata of the society. The entry fee is ₹20 for those who are 16 years and above, while for those below 16 years, it is ₹10.
Timing: 11AM to 7PM on Wednesday through Friday. 10AM to 7PM on Saturdays and Sundays. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
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