Indian Museum, Kolkata

The Indian Museum in Kolkata is the largest and oldest museum in India and depicts the cultural history of India from prehistoric to Muslim times. It was founded in 1814 by the Asiatic Society of Bengal and its first curator was Nathaniel Wallich, a Danish botanist. Its original goal was to have a place where manmade and natural objects could be collected, cared for and displayed. Its permanent collection contains antiques, fossils, mummies, textiles, archaeological artifacts and Persian and Indian paintings. A highlight is the first painting done on a palm leaf manuscript. They are presented in thirty-five galleries with cultural and scientific artifacts, and it is considered the most comprehensive museum in India.

_{(Exterior photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons; Interior photo courtesy of Indian Museum.)}