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Writer's pictureYash Jegathesan

Sequel to Exploring the Rich Heritage of Indian Archaeological Sculptures at Kolkata's Indian Museum

It is highly recommended to visit the Indian Museum, Kolkata to discover the roots of our ancestors. Below are some highlights from my visit in August 2023. I hope this will encourage you to study and research about these archaeological sites and get to know more history.

Kolkata's Indian Museum was first to be established in India. It holds extremely valuable heritage. These sculptures requires dedication to study and introspect in our life alongside evolution of history. The sculptures did not just carve them, they were visionaries, leaving us with clues of the past for future generations to embrace.


I am very delighted to have taken the time to visit this museum aside from my work. I want to thank the archaeologists for their dedication in bringing these rich heritage to us.


All credit goes to archaeological team. Photos are from my journey to the museum. If you are sharing this article, please credit the rightful owners. The purpose of this short article is to bring to you some of the most captivating rich heritage sculptures for those that can't travel to this place.


This is my final sequel article towards exploration of the Kolkata's Indian Museum or we shall see if I get to do another visit in the near future.

indian museum kolkata
Archaeological Sites Map of India


indian museum kolkata
Dancing Ganesa, 12th century C.E. made of basalt from North Bengal.

indian museum kolkata
Dancing Ganesa archaeology information

indian museum kolkata
Vishnu, 9th century C.E. made of granite from South India.

indian museum kolkata
Vishnu archaeology information

The lion on top of elephant on both sides of Vishnu is a recurring trend in most of the important temples. In some temples, they are shown separately and in other temples, they are built as pillars or on the walls.

Specifically, the elephant is on the doorways or lintels and in others before the Sannathi (meaning like an arch before the deity). It has deeper history to these icons. In my recent visit to the Madurai Meenakshi Sundereswarar temple, there were two elephants carved as an arch before the lingam. Madurai was the oldest city and was ruled by the Pandya dynasty but their icon was fish as in the name of Goddess Meenakshi. Shiva is always seen with Nandi. Thus, the elephant has significant influence during the ancient history. Elephant is always associated with great memory, royalty and was revered (worshipped) before it was more known as Ganesha (God of Elephant). In addition, a White Elephant (Airavata) was the mount or vahana of God Indra. For this article, let us just admire the sculpture from the lens of the sculptor.

indian museum kolkata
Vishnu, 12th century C.E. made of basalt from Sarisadaha, West Bengal.

indian museum kolkata
Vishnu archaeology information

indian museum kolkata
Garuda, 11th century C.E. made of basalt from Jalghata Kachery, West Bengal

indian museum kolkata
Kubera; God of Wealth, made of black basalt, 7th century C.E. from Bihar.

indian museum kolkata
Kubera archaeology information

indian museum kolkata
Vaishnavi from Chengleput, Tamil Nadu.

indian museum kolkata
Vaishnavi archaeology information

indian museum kolkata
Varahavatara (boar incarnation of Vishnu), 11th century C.E. made of basalt from Bihar.

indian museum kolkata
Varahavatara archaeology information

indian museum kolkata
Varahavatara (boar incarnation of Vishnu), 10th century C.E. made of basalt from Surajkund, Nalanda, Bihar.

indian museum kolkata
Varahavatara archaeology information

indian museum kolkata
Siva from Chowrakasba, Bangladesh made of basalt, 11th century C.E.

indian museum kolkata
Siva archaeology information

indian museum kolkata
Dancing Siva, 12th century C.E. made of granite from Halebidu, Karnataka

indian museum kolkata
Dancing Siva archaeology information

indian museum kolkata
Dancing Bhairava, 12th century C.E. West Dinajpur, North Bengal.

indian museum kolkata
Dancing Bhairava archaeology information

indian museum kolkata
Surya, 12th century C.E. from Halebidu, Karnataka.

indian museum kolkata
Surya, Siva and Vishnu; 26th regnal year of Dharmapala Ca.770-810 C.E. made of chlorite from Bodhgaya, Bihar.

indian museum kolkata
Venu Gopala, 12th century C.E. made of granite from Halebidu, Karnataka

indian museum kolkata
Venu Gopala archaeology information

indian museum kolkata
Wish Fulfilling Tree 2nd century C.E. made of red sandstone from Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.

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