Bharat Kala Bhavan
The art and archaeology museum of Banaras Hindu University, with sculptures, miniature paintings, textiles and coins.
Overview
Bharat Kala Bhavan is the BHU art museum and an indoor choice among the places to visit in Varanasi. This guide covers its collections, timings and ticket notes.
Bharat Kala Bhavan is the museum of Banaras Hindu University. It was founded on 1 January 1920 as the Bharatiya Lalit Kala Parishad, with Rabindranath Tagore as its first honorary chairman, and moved to its present building on the BHU campus in 1962 after Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation stone in 1950.
Wikipedia counts 104,376 items, including archaeological pieces, paintings, literary material, a large numismatic collection, textiles and decorative arts, Buddhist and Hindu sculptures from the 1st to 15th centuries and Mughal miniatures and manuscripts. Incredible India says the museum has 11 galleries and describes solar-powered lighting and climate-controlled cases.
It is a good indoor stop for travellers interested in Indian art and a quiet contrast to the ghats; allow time for the campus too. Hours are given as 10 am to 5:30 pm, closed on Saturdays, Sundays and university holidays by Incredible India, while other sources give 10:30 am to 4:30 pm; check the BHU site (bhu.ac.in/kala, as noted by Wikipedia) before going. Fees quoted online differ by visitor type and are unverified. Photography is reported as not allowed inside.
Entry fees
Entry
Adult (Indian)
Travel snippet reported Rs 20 for Indian visitors. Unverified.
Source: Bharat Kala Bhavan fee search results (travel blogs)
Amount needs verification
Student
Students from outside BHU with valid ID, per a travel snippet. BHU students and staff reportedly free. Unverified.
Source: Bharat Kala Bhavan fee search results (travel blogs)
Amount needs verification
Adult (foreign national)
Travel snippet reported Rs 250 for foreign visitors. Unverified.
Source: Bharat Kala Bhavan fee search results (travel blogs)
Amount needs verification
Amounts come from a travel-site snippet only; the BHU site was not loaded.
We only show an amount when a source backs it. Prices change, so confirm locally before you go.
Opening hours
- Mon – Fri
- 10 AM – 5:30 PM
- Sat – Sun
- Closed
- Incredible India; other sources give 10:30–16:30
Monday–Friday 10:00–17:30; closed Saturdays, Sundays and university holidays (Incredible India). Other sources differ.
Summer timings may differ; one source reports 7:30 am–1 pm in May and June (unverified).
Visitor information
- Best time to visit
- Year-round
- Best time of day
- Late morning
- How long to spend
- 1.5–2 hours
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Families
- Suitable for families
Good to know
- Photography and videography are reportedly not allowed inside
- Carry valid ID for any student concession
Location
Banaras Hindu University campus, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
25.27139, 82.99611
Get directionsPhotos
Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum, BHU. Photo: Jeff Hart from Bloomington, IN, USA / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 Miniature painting on display. Photo: VasenkaPhotography from USA / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 Sculpture gallery. Photo: VasenkaPhotography from USA / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
Frequently asked questions
What is in Bharat Kala Bhavan?
Wikipedia lists over 104,000 items including sculptures, paintings, textiles, coins and manuscripts, with Buddhist and Hindu sculptures from the 1st to 15th centuries.
What are the Bharat Kala Bhavan timings?
Incredible India lists 10 am to 5:30 pm, closed Saturdays, Sundays and university holidays; other sources differ, so check with BHU.
Information sources
Where the facts on this page come from, and what still needs confirming.
Information last checked 7 October 2026
Not yet confirmed
- all fee amounts
- conflicting hours
Not available yet
- more photos
- official BHU tariff and hours
- Incredible India – Bharat Kala Bhavan · Tourism board
- Wikipedia – Bharat Kala Bhavan · Encyclopedia
- Bharat Kala Bhavan fee search results (travel blogs) · Other
Destinations near Varanasi
Uttar Pradesh
Agra
A Mughal capital on the Yamuna in western Uttar Pradesh, home to the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and nearby Fatehpur Sikri, three UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
10 attractions
West Bengal
Darjeeling
Darjeeling is a hill town in the northern tip of West Bengal, at about 2,045 m in the Eastern Himalaya, known for tea estates, the Toy Train and views of Kanchenjunga.
10 attractions
Sikkim
Gangtok
Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, is a hill city at about 1,650 m in the eastern Himalayas, known for its Buddhist monasteries, Kangchenjunga views and the car-free MG Marg.
10 attractions