Metcalfe Hall

মেটকাফ হল

A colonnaded hall of the 1840s facing the river.

About Metcalfe Hall

Built in the early 1840s and named after Charles Metcalfe, the Governor-General who freed the press, the hall is ringed by tall columns modelled on an Athenian temple. It first housed the Calcutta Public Library, the ancestor of the National Library. It is now in the care of the Archaeological Survey of India, which has used it for an exhibition on the city.

Why visit

A Greek temple on Strand Road, usually empty.

What to see and do

The colonnade of thirty columns
The exhibition inside, when open

Plan your visit

Area: BBD Bagh (Dalhousie), Central Kolkata
Nearest landmark: Strand Road at Hare Street
Best time: Morning or afternoon. October to March is the most comfortable time of year.
Time needed: About 30 minutes
Cost: Usually under ₹100 a head
Entry: Open to the public with a ticket. An ASI building. Whether the exhibition is currently open, and its hours and ticket, are not currently verified.
Metro: Mahakaran (Green Line)
Train: BBD Bagh (Circular Railway)
Walking: Little walking
Photography: Photography is fine with some care.

Nearby and related places

St John’s Church: A 1787 church whose garden holds the tomb of Job Charnock.
Millennium Park: A landscaped riverside park along Strand Road.
Currency Building: An Italianate banking hall of 1833, rescued from demolition.
BBD Bagh & Lal Dighi: The tank and square at the centre of the colonial capital.
General Post Office: A domed post office on the site of the first Fort William.
St Andrew’s Church: The 1818 Scottish church with a tall white spire.

Walks that include it

Colonial Kolkata Walk: Dalhousie Square, the capital of British India

More guides

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.