Subarna Roy Chowdhury Sangrashala History for Kolkata

Subarna Roy Chowdhury Sangrashala is a private museum by the Sabarna Roy Choudhury family, who had transferred by lease their rights over three villages to the EIC (East India Company). Kolkata once used to be an important trade as well as a religious center even before the arrival of ‘Charnock’. The establishment of Sabarna Sangrahashala was a family effort to restore as well as correct this distorted history that is widely prevalent. Sabarna Sangrahashala is the only museum in India that is run by a family. This museum possesses rare documents, and articles, including ‘Kabilatipatras’ dating back to the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries (an important holding being one which has the signature of Kavi Rama Prasad Sen dated 1794). Other important articles include a huge earthen rice pot dating 1840 which has a capacity for 240 kg of grain, a metal candle stand dated 1795, a metal hookah dated 1878, and grinding wheels dated 1845. The Sabarna Sangrahashala also possesses rare stamps and coins. This museum organizes an ‘International History and Heritage Exhibition’ every year in February which is based on different themes showcasing exclusive important resources of history. This also includes seminars, cultural events as well as open quizzes as a part of the event.

Attraction

Subarna Roy Chowdhury Sangrashala is a private museum owned by Mr. Sabarno Ray Chaudhury’s Family which displays unknown yet precious facts and artifacts of Kolkata and Bengal. This place is very unique and showcases the ancient belongings which were used by some renowned persons as well. The aesthetic narrative on each object is given by Mr. Deborshi Ray Chaudhuri (who is a member of the Sarbarno Ray Choudhury family). This helps us to know various unknown facts about Kolkata during the British and Mughal era. Though there is no entry fee for visiting this unique museum, taking pictures or videos inside the museum is also prohibited. However, please remember that you just need to call their official number and book an appointment to visit the Sabarna Sangrahashala Museum.
Besides, one history festival is conducted every year on the 1st Sunday of February. This is known as the ‘International History and Heritage Exhibition’. At that time well-known artists as well as actors and celebrities grace the museum with their presence. You will certainly feel thrilled to visit it during the festival.

History

Subarna Roy Chowdhury Sangrashala was a Zamindar family during the ‘Mughal Bengal’. They controlled significant swathes of territory, including those three villages which would later become ‘Kolkata’, before the sale of zamindari rights in 1698 to the East India Company. The Sabarna Sangrahashala is a private museum run by this influential family.

Inside/Outside Views

Mr. Roy Choudhury personally takes care of his collections in the Sabarna Sangrahashala Museum. It’s worth a visit if you love history, art, and culture. You will feel like you are either a time traveler or on a time machine. You will know a lot of facts about Kolkata as well and will be shocked to know the real history rather than the history which is taught to us by paid historians.
Here, you can see the copper, silver, and zinc coins displayed in this museum. Some of them are the rarest of the rare collections, donated by famous and influential families of Kolkata. You can also find a ‘Mughal era parchment-written manuscript’ among the ground floor curios. The Rare collection of Stamps, Artefacts, Coins, and Manuscripts is mesmerizing as some of them date back to the 18th century or even the 17th century. Having a glimpse of a huge rice pot that can hold a mere 240 kg of rice grain is astonishing. Sabarna Sangrahashala Museum is one of the very nicely preserved collections of the state. Now, it has become a part of history. We highly recommend you visit this red building if you are visiting Kolkata.

How to Reach

By road: It is situated in Kolkata’s ‘Barish’ area. From the busy area of Kolkata, the Sabarna Sangrahashala Museum is only 13 km away. Kolkata is well connected with other major cities like Siliguri, Delhi, Ghaziabad, Mumbai, etc. of the country. And from Kolkata city, you will get local transport to reach the site.

By air: The closest airport, ‘Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport’ (which is an international one), is almost 30 kilometers away from this area and is in Dum Dum, Kolkata. You can visit this place from outside of India. Apart from that, there are airports in Delhi, Mumbai, or Lucknow with direct flights to Kolkata. From the airport, you can easily get local transport to reach the site.

By train: The closest railway station from the Sabarna Sangrahashala Museum is only 14 km away at the ‘Sealdah Station’. This station is well connected with major areas of the country. From the station, you will get local transport so that you can reach the site.

Tips for Travellers

• Please wear suitable and comfortable clothes according to both culture and seasons.
• Don’t forget to follow the code of conduct.
• If you are visiting Kolkata for the first time, try to visit in a group for safety purposes.
• Please stay away from total strangers.
• Please remember that you just need to call their official number and book an appointment to visit the Sabarna Sangrahashala Museum.