Indian Museum completes 200 yrs, to reopen after modernisation

After completing 200 years of its existence today, the Indian Museum, the oldest in Asia, will reopen to visitors from this Tuesday with an upgraded infrastructure and renovated galleries.
As part of the bicentenary celebrations of the museum, Culture Ministry is funding Rs 100 crore for its makeover which would be done in two phases.
Closed to visitors since last September for renovation and restoration work, the renovated museum, popularly known as 'Jadughar', would be thrown open once again from this Tuesday.
Indian Museum director Dr B Venugopal told PTI that they have modernised the galleries on Gandhara sculptures, human evolution, textiles and decorative arts.

Galleries on fishes, amphibia, reptiles and birds and Bharhut sculptures have been given a face-lift while a new gallery on coins would be the latest addition.
Work on the remaining galleries in art, archaeology and anthropology sections will be undertaken later on in 2014-15, Venugopal said.

In addition, the modernisation of natural history galleries (geology, botany and zoology) will be undertaken during 2015-16 for which a proposal is being prepared, he said.
Besides giving a face lift to the exteriors of the main museum building, they have also modernised visitor facilities by adding a souvenir shop and cafeteria.
Founded in 1814 at the cradle of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Indian Museum is the earliest and the largest multi-purpose museum in Asia. Worldwide, it is the ninth oldest.