Asutosh Museum of Indian Art
আশুতোষ সংগ্রহশালা
The first university museum in India, devoted to the art of eastern India.
About Asutosh Museum of Indian Art
The University of Calcutta set up this museum in 1937 and named it after Sir Asutosh Mookerjee. It was the first public museum in an Indian university. The collection concentrates on Bengal and eastern India: Pala-period sculpture, terracotta, folk painting, kantha embroidery, dolls and scrolls.
Why visit
Bengal’s folk and classical art in one place, almost always empty of crowds.
What to see and do
- Pala and Sena stone sculpture
- Terracotta plaques from Bengal temples
- Kantha, patachitra scrolls and folk dolls
Plan your visit
- Area
- College Street, North Kolkata
- Nearest landmark
- University of Calcutta, College Street
- Best time
- Afternoon. October to March is the most comfortable time of year.
- Time needed
- About 1 hour
- Cost
- Usually under ₹100 a head
- Entry
- Entry is controlled (permit, caretaker, service times or event days). Inside the University of Calcutta’s College Street campus. Opening days, hours and visitor arrangements are not currently verified: check with the university.
- Metro
- Mahatma Gandhi Road or Central (Blue Line)
- Walking
- Little walking
- Photography
- Photography is restricted.
Nearby and related places
- College Street (Boi Para): A kilometre of book stalls between the city’s oldest colleges.
- Indian Coffee House: The high-ceilinged hall where Bengal’s writers and students argue over coffee.
- Thanthania Kalibari: A small, very old Kali temple on Bidhan Sarani.
- College Square: A tank ringed by colleges where the city learns to swim.
- Paramount: A sherbet shop from 1918 with marble tables and a famous daab sherbet.
- Favourite Cabin: A 1918 tea cabin where revolutionaries and poets met.
Walks that include it
- College Street Book Trail: Books, coffee and a hundred-year-old sherbet
More guides
- Places in College Street
- Museums and galleries in Kolkata
- Hidden gems of Kolkata
- Things to do on a rainy day
- Places near a metro station
- All places to visit in Kolkata
Last checked on 2026-10-02. Each place was checked to exist and its position confirmed. Timings, closing days and ticket prices are shown only where known and can change: confirm before you travel.