Tamluk (22° 22' N 87° 55' E) is the headquarter
of East Medinapur district, West Bengal and is situated at a distance
of 100 kms from Kolkata connected by road. The nearest railway station
is Mecheda lying on Kolkata – Kharagpur route of the south eastern
railway.
Situated on the right bank of Rupnaryan river,
Tamluk is found mentioned in ancient Pali and Sanskrit literatures in
different names such as Tamralipta, Damalipta, Tamralipi, Tamraliptika
or Velakula. It functioned as an important port from where Indian
sea-faring vessels sailed to distant lands. Tamluk also founds a place
of mention in the works of Pliny and the great geographer Ptolemy as
Taluctae and Tamalites respectively. Renowned Chinese pilgrims like
Fahien, Hiuen Tsang and Itsing who visited this place have left vivid
accounts of the flourishing port city. Besides a prosperous commercial
city, it was great religious centre also.
The antiquity and importance of the site have been
established through excavation from time to time. Assessing the
importance of the site, Archaeological Survey of India in the year
1954-55 undertook systematic excavation to reveal its cultural
sequence. The excavation revealed the earliest occupation from
Neolithic up to modern times.
Period I ascribed to Neolithic culture was characterized by finding
of Neolithic celts along with ill fired grey pottery. After a break
the site was seen re-occupied in third –second century BC.
Terracotta figurines of Sunga period, cast copper coins, NBP pottery
from the cultural wealth of this period.
The interest and zeal of the local public led to the establishment
of Taluk museum and research centre in 1975 with the primary objective
to preserve the rich cultural heritage of Tamluk and adjacent region.
In the newly organized museum, galleries have been
arranged in the main hall housing prehistoric implements collected
from various parts of Medinapur district. Bone tools, arrow heads,
knife, harpoon, fish hook etc are also displayed in the gallery.
Tamluk has gained fame in the realm of terracotta
art due to its unique terracotta plaques datable to the Sunga epoch.
The displayed terracottas mainly depict exquisite female figures
popularly known as Yakshis in jataka stories. The Kushana period
terracotta art is represented by human forms and toy carts datable
from 1st – 5th century AD. Terracotta seals and sealings of the post
Gupta period, antiquities of Pala period are displayed in the
collection. Development of Indian coinage has been displayed starting
from silver punch marked coins, cast copper coins, coins of Muslim
rulers and upto modern times.
Another interesting object on display is a Roman
amphora, indicating the trade contacts of this region with the Roman
empire. Scroll painting known as Pattachitra has been widely prevalent
in various regions of Bengal as an expression of folk art. The display
contains some such colourful scroll painting depicting puranic and
mythical stories.
No entry fee
Museum remain closed on friday.
