System for Museums & Archives for Research and Access to Knowledge
| Place | Howrah |
|---|---|
| State | West Bengal |
| Virtual Museum | No |
| Year of Establishment | 1795 |
| Museum Type | Herbarium / Botanical / Research Repository |
| National Importance Museum | Yes (National Reposi |
| Address | Central National Herbarium-Botanical Survey Of India And Ministry Of Environment, Botanical garden,, 4, Botanical garden, Shalimar, Howrah, West Bengal 711103 |
| Visiting Time | 11:00 AM to 04:00 PM (Monday to Friday) Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and National Holidays. |
| Entry Fee | Free Entry (However, entry to the AJC Bose Indian Botanic Garden, where it is located, costs ₹30 for Indians and ₹300 for foreigners). |
Established in 1795 by Dr. William Roxburgh, the "Father of Indian Botany," this institution is the oldest and largest herbarium in India. It functions under the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) and houses approximately 2 million plant specimens collected from across the world.
The collection includes approximately 2 million herbarium sheets of Angiosperms, Gymnosperms, Pteridophytes, Bryophytes, Algae, Fungi, and Lichens, organized according to the Bentham and Hooker system.
Wallichian Specimens: Houses 12,300 exclusive specimens from the Nathaniel Wallich collection (1828–1849). Roxburgh Icons: A world-renowned collection of over 2,500 botanical paintings (Icons) made by local artists under William Roxburgh's supervision using natural dyes.
| Archaeological Survey of India | No |
|---|---|
| Notes | The herbarium is housed in a modern four-storied air-conditioned building (built in 1970). It is primarily a research facility; general tourists must seek prior permission for entry into the herbarium halls. |
| Artifacts | 20,722 Type Specimens (Holo/Iso/Syntypes); Original manuscripts of William Roxburgh and J.D. Hooker; The "Numerical List of Plants" (Wallich Catalogue); 6,000 botanical illustrations; Rare Linnean and pre-Linnean botanical publications. |
| Highly Descriptive | Yes |
| Contact Details | +91 33 2668 3235 |
| Email ID |
cnh@bsi.gov.in calherbarium@yahoo.co.in |
