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The Kolkata GPO Postal Museum has always been an exciting place to visit for history lovers and adventure lovers. It’s a special retreat for all those curious people who love getting postcards stamped. This is a little-known but relatively obscure museum in the middle of Kolkata that lets visitors take a look at the world of communication and post. This is for anyone seeking the unusual or simply a person interested in the history of postal services in India. With the stamps collection, postal riders’ artefacts, and stainless, state-of-the-art activities and displays, one would spend hours in the city.
Location
Photo: Indrajit Das / Wikimedia Commons
Kolkata GPO Postal Museum is situated on the premises of the Kolkata General Post Office, and the building originated in the British era. Kolkata GPO Postal Museum address is Netaji Subhas Road, Kolkata, West Bengal. This provides museum visitors with insight into the changes in postal communications in India.
How To Reach
Photo: Ravi Dwivedi / Wikimedia Commons
By Road: The Kolkata GPO Postal Museum is in central Kolkata and one can reach it by car or taxi or by buses or metro. The museum is easily accessible via local buses and taxis and they often frequent the building.
By Rail: The nearest railway junction is Howrah, which is only 10 km away from the Kolkata GPO Postal Museum. From here, one has to order a taxi or take the local metro to get to the museum.
By Air: The closest airport to the museum is Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, 17 km. If you are at the airport, you may hire a local taxi or rent a car to visit the museum.
Things To Do
These are the best things to do while you are visiting Kolkata GPO Postal Museum:
1. Delve Into Postal History
Photo: Sivakumar B / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
Postal Museum of Kolkata GPO is an exciting voyage through India’s postal history journey. The stamps, the letters, and the media have been collected systematically, and the growth of communication in India is depicted here. For those who read a lot about the history of postage and how it helped develop the country, it becomes an exciting experience.
2. Discover Rare Stamps
Photo: Ranjit Pradhan / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
Taking visitors on a historical ride, the Kolkata GPO Postal Museum has an exclusive gallery of stamps from India and the world. For those interested in stamps, this is a great place to learn more about the stamps’ artistry and meaning. Some of the stamps on exhibit are over 200 years old. The museum is usually known to hold special exhibitions that occasionally display unique collections.
3. Explore Interactive Exhibits
Photo: Merve Şahin / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
Along with the history narrations, the Kolkata GPO Postal Museum also houses several forms of interactive sections. They let guests touch with their hand’s postal items and learn more about the history of communication. This way, you get an idea of how the means of postal communication developed, from the early telegraphs to the first-ever postal service forms initiated in India.
Places To Visit Around Kolkata GPO Postal Museum
Here are the best places to visit around Kolkata GPO Postal Museum:
1. Victoria Memorial
Photo: PramodKandulna / Wikimedia Commons
A colossal representation of British imperialism in India, the Victoria Memorial is a popular monument of Calcutta. Located at a distance of 4 Km from the Kolkata GPO Postal Museum, this building, built from white marble, is located amidst a garden and is a beautiful museum. Tourists can, therefore, take time to visit this museum to get a glimpse of the colonial, mainly historical, past of India. The gardens themselves are an excellent place to take a walk in the park, and the night light show is almost a must.
Location: Queens Way, Kolkata, West Bengal
Entry Fee: ₹30
Best Time To Visit: November to February
2. Indian Museum
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg / Wikimedia Commons
Only 2 km away from the Kolkata GPO Postal Museum, the Indian Museum is one of the oldest museums and most prominent museums in India. The company boasts libraries with some of the most extensive collections that retain materials on art and archaeology, anthropology, and geology among others. It has more than 30 galleries for display and would be a hub for anybody with a flair for India’s art, culture, and even its geology.
Location: Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Kolkata, West Bengal
Entry Fee: ₹20
Best Time To Visit: November to February
3. Marble Palace
Photo: Jungpionier / Wikimedia Commons
Marble Palace near Mukundapur, about 4 kilometres from the Kolkata GPO Postal Museum, is another splendid art of 19th-century architecture. This mansion was constructed in the neoclassical style of architecture based on the great marble design, splendid sculptures, and antique furniture. The palace is a good place for history or architecture enthusiasts. It is now a quiet retreat for a tranquil stay, although it is situated at the heart of the business hub in the northern part of Kolkata.
Location: Muktaram Babu Street, Kolkata, West Bengal
Entry Fee: ₹20
Best Time To Visit: October to March
Where To Eat
Photo: Maksudur Rahman / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
Once your tour at the Kolkata GPO Postal Museum is over, do not miss the opportunity to relish the best of Kolkata’s cuisines. For chelo kebab, Peter Cat would be great. If you want pastries and tea, Flurys is a good spot, Continental and Chinese food can be found in Mocambo and to taste Bengali food you must visit Bhojohori Manna.
Where To Stay
Photo: Quang Nguyen Vinh / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
If you wish to find a hotel near the Kolkata GPO Postal Museum, you should consider the best hotels, which include The Oberoi Grand Kolkata, The Park Kolkata, Hotel Hindusthan International, and JW Marriott Kolkata. Such hotels provide amenities and are near the museum and other exciting areas in the city.
Other Factors To Consider
Photo: Tony Wu / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
The best time to visit the Kolkata GPO Postal Museum is in the winter, between November and February, with an average of between 10°C and 20°C. This time of the year also presents a favourable experience in terms of the ability to cover both indoor and outdoor attractions across the city. Depending on your location, the taxi charge ranges between ₹150 – ₹500. Taxi charges are reasonable, and metro or bus costs are around ₹20 – ₹50. Kolkata GPO Postal Museum is open from 10:30 AM to 5 PM from Monday to Saturday. Still, it is closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Tips For Travellers
- Bring comfortable shoes as you are going to stroll around the museum and other attractions nearby.
- Bring your camera to the museum to capture the best of the unique artistic pieces inside.
- It is therefore important to check the timetable of the Kolkata GPO Postal Museum in order not to find out you have planned for a visit at the wrong time.
- Take a bottle of water with you to avoid getting thirsty if you visit outdoor attractions in the city.
- If you’re a stamp collector, ask about any special exhibits or collections that are currently on display during your visit.
Taking you through the milestones of postal history in India, Kolkata GPO Postal Museum West Bengal is equally appealing for history enthusiasts and explorers. This museum offers a rich cultural experience with a combination of old stamps, artefacts, and even stamp-related installations. It is situated in central Kolkata and ideal for anyone who wants to tour around historical places. Plan your visit today with TripXL and discover the past and the stories of one of the oldest professions, the postal service!
Cover Photo: Phila Ujan / Wikimedia Commons
