Indian Museum, Kolkata
India's oldest museum, founded in 1814, with Bharhut stupa remains, an Egyptian mummy and natural-history galleries.
Overview
The Indian Museum is one of the oldest and largest museums among the places to visit in Kolkata. Here are its official fees, hours and what to prioritise.
The Indian Museum on Jawaharlal Nehru (Chowringhee) Road was established on 2 February 1814, according to Wikipedia, and holds about 2.5 million items arranged in six sections: Indian art, archaeology, anthropology, geology, zoology and economic botany.
Highlights listed there include an Egyptian mummy about 4,000 years old, the railings and gateways of the Buddhist Bharhut Stupa, remains of the Amaravati Stupa, Buddhist and Hindu sculptures from medieval Bengal, Bihar and Odisha, miniature paintings, terracotta objects and meteorites. The building was designed by W. L. Granville in consultation with Sir Thomas Holland.
The museum's own site lists adult entry at INR 75, INR 20 for children under 18 and INR 500 for foreign nationals, with school groups free, and charges extra for photography. It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm and closed on Mondays. The collection is large and some galleries have been renovated while others remain traditional, so choose two or three sections rather than trying to see everything.
The museum sits close to Park Street, the Maidan and New Market, which makes a half-day of central sightseeing easy to plan.
Entry fees
Entry
₹75 per person
VerifiedChild (Indian)
Children below 18 years, per the official site.
₹20 per person
VerifiedAdult (foreign national)
Foreign nationals, per the official site.
₹500 per person
Verified
Camera
₹100 per camera
Verified
Photography
₹50 per camera
Verified
Organised school groups up to Std. XII enter free. Photography fees are charged plus 18% GST.
Opening hours
- Mon
- Closed
- Tue – Sun
- 10 AM – 6 PM
Tuesday–Sunday 10:00–18:00; closed Mondays.
Closed all Mondays; closures on public holidays not stated on the fetched page.
Visitor information
- Best time to visit
- November to February; weekday mornings.
- Best time of day
- Weekday morning
- How long to spend
- 2–3 hours
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Families
- Suitable for families
Good to know
- Photography requires a paid permit
Location
27, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Park Street Area, Kolkata 700016
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
22.55806, 88.35083
Get directionsPhotos
The museum building. Photo: Biswarup Ganguly / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0 The museum at night. Photo: Paul Hamilton / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0 Gandhara relief, 2nd century CE. Photo: Biswarup Ganguly / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0 Bharhut railing carving. Photo: Anandajoti / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 Buddhist sculpture. Photo: Brahmavadini / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Indian Museum entry fee?
The official site lists INR 75 for adults, INR 20 for children below 18 and INR 500 for foreign nationals.
Is the Indian Museum closed on Mondays?
Yes, it is closed all Mondays and open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm.
Information sources
Where the facts on this page come from, and what still needs confirming.
Information last checked 8 October 2026
Not yet confirmed
- public holiday closures
Not available yet
- senior citizen or student rates
- Indian Museum Kolkata – official site · Official site
- Wikipedia – Indian Museum · Encyclopedia
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