Asiatic Society of Bengal

Overview

The Asiatic Society, founded in 1784, is one of the oldest learned institutions in Asia. Its grand colonnaded building on Park Street holds a museum and a library with over 100,000 rare volumes.

Highlights

• Rare manuscripts: The collection includes Sanskrit, Arabic, and Persian texts dating to the 12th century.
• Numismatic gallery: One of India's finest coin collections spanning Mauryan to Mughal periods.
• Indo-Greek art: Buddhist Gandharan sculptures and bas-reliefs.

History

Founded by Sir William Jones, the orientalist and polymath, the Society played a pivotal role in the Western study of Indian languages and history. Its research led to the recognition of the Indo-European language family.

Visitor Tips

• Tip 1: The museum on the ground floor is open to all; the library requires researcher credentials.
• Tip 2: Don't miss the Ashoka-period stone inscriptions.
• Duration: 45–60 minutes.