The National Library, Alipore, Kolkata 27 is situated in the lush green campus. Once the viceroy house, later became the biggest National Library in the country, the white building built in the gothic style in this beautiful,serene campus catches everyone's attention. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to state that it's the paradise on earth for bibliophiles. The reading room is well furnished, peaceful & fully air-conditioned. There is canteen also in the library campus. Food is available here at affordable rate. The reading room is open now for readers. One can't borrow books which are twenty-year or more old. A security deposit has to be made against every book borrow. The minimum security deposit is rupees two hundred.

The library is rich with so many rare books and the atmosphere is also serene..but the rude behaviour of the non administrative staffs is intolerable. The accessing process is very troublesome and lengthy. There are so many rules to follow to get even a photocopy, its allover like a hurdle race. If you can cross you can read

The National Library is only one of Kolkata's many positive developments. It is the first library in Eastern India and the largest library overall on the Indian Subcontinent in terms of volume. Being the first modern city of the British Empire outside of Great Britain, Kolkata had many advantages, but its rich heritage in terms of architecture, art, and culture deserves special mention. 30 acres make up the library's land area. The National Library claims of having the greatest collection of books, journals, magazines, manuscripts, and newspapers in both Indian and foreign languages. It is maintained by the joint efforts of the Department of Culture, Ministry of Tourism, and the Government of India.

The National Library is a result of the merging of the public library with the Imperial Library—several government libraries. The National Library (1953), then the Imperial Library housed several foreign (British) and Indian titles and was open to the public.[8] It collects book, periodicals, and titles in virtually all the Indian languages while the special collections in the National Library of India house at least fifteen languages.[8] The Hindi department has books that date back all the way to the nineteenth century and the first ever books printed in that language. The collections break down and consist of 86,000 maps and 3,200 manuscripts.[

In my 1yr there, this is my experience. 1. It takes a long long time to even request a book for reading, 45-50 mins per book. 2. Books older than 20yrs aren't allowed to be borrowed. Not even light reading books. The catch is, they don't have new editions of any book, sab purani hi milti hai 3. No permission to bring laptops unless you are a research scholar. 4. Permission mil bhi gyi, toh very few plugpoints for laptop use, jo ki subha hi bhar jati hai. Admin staff sometimes reserve the desks with plugpoints for themselves. 5. Extremely rude behaviour of admin staff. Security staff are way more helpful. 6. No printed materials allowed, not even question answer booklets which are mostly blank with just questions written on top. 7. Long process to get anything photocopied, too expensive (10rs per page!) and there is a limit of 50pgs I think. 8. Suggestions box is useless. 50 se zyada letter likha hoga maine, I'm pretty sure agle din dustbin me honge sb. 9. Basha bhawan chhorke baki sb jagah bandh hai. Koi bolta COVID, koi bolta renovation, no one knows for sure. Toh sb bheed whi hoti hai. In conclusion, it is a heritage building which has failed to keep pace with the times. Bs purani nostalgia ke liye thik hai, mast ghum skte hai environment acha hai, but it's not for serious students. Sadly it fails in the basic requirements of a modern day library. Isse acha 50-100 rs le lete registration fees lekin better amenities de dete.

The National Library of India is a library located in Belvedere Estate, Alipore, Kolkata, India. It is India's largest library by volume and public record. The National Library is under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. It is the largest library in India by volume and public record. It has a collection of over 2.5 million books, manuscripts, maps, and other documents. It has a large collection of rare and valuable books, including the Gutenberg Bible. It is open to the public for research purposes. It offers a variety of services, such as interlibrary loan, digitization, and reference services.

Located in the Belvedere Estate, Alipore kolkata. It's the oldest library of india and one of the largest in world. Perfect place for book lovers, it has a reading area, all sorts of books n magazine, research students travel from all parts of country.... the library also has dedicated department for the books of other countries...like this Vietnam Corner for the exchange of knowledge, art n culture from other countries. The building has immense historical importance.

National Library is situated in Alipur,kolkata ,jut near to Alipur zoo. It is India's largest library by volume. Thr library is maintained by Government of India. The library is designated to collect, disseminate and preserve printed material produced within India. With a collection in excess of 2.2 million books and records, it is the largest in the country.During pre- independence, it was the official residence of Governor. A great place for book 😍

The National Library of India on the Belvedere Estate in Alipore, Kolkata, is the largest library in India by volume, and India's library of public record. It is under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The library is designated to collect, disseminate and preserve printed material produced in India. The library is situated on the scenic 30-acre (12 ha) Belvedere Estate. It is the largest in India with a collection in excess of 2.2 million books. Before Independence, it was the official residence of Governor-General of India. The National Library of India is the country's largest largest library and the library of public record. The library "operates under the national government's Department of Culture and is designated to collect, disseminate, and preserve all printed material produced in India, and all foreign work published about the country-where 'every work about India.... can be seen and read'"(Murray, 2009). The National Library is a result of the merging of the public library with the Imperial Library housed several foreign (British) and Indian titles and was open to the public. Of further note, the National Library of India collects books, periodicals, and titles in "virtually all the Indian languages, with Hindi, Kashmiri, Punjabi, Sindhi, Telugu, and Urdu" maintaining the largest stacks (Murray, 2009). The Special Collection in the National Library of India house at least fifteen languages including "Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati...and Tamil with many rare works (Murray, 2009). The Hindi department has books that date back all the way to the nineteenth century and the first ever books printed in that language. The collections break down and consist of 86,000 maps and 3,200 manuscripts.

Loved the vibe. The greenary inside Calcutta city attracted me more. Must visit place.

The National Library of India on the Belvedere Estate in Alipore, Kolkata, is the largest library in India by volume, and India's library of public record. It is under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The library is designated to collect, disseminate and preserve printed material produced in India. The library is situated on the scenic 30-acre (12 ha) Belvedere Estate. It is the largest in India with a collection in excess of 2.2 million books.

Libraries are always love ❤. One of the oldest libraries we can say, built at the time of britishers. 6 years back I and my friends visited there, that time we saw some repairing work were going on. Yesterday again with colleagues for celebration of tamalika mam's birthday.... It was just nostalgia... Loads of old books and also some old scripts. Completely clean and old trees with scientific name... Once upon a time, it was our adda place... Yes there is a statue of rabindranath tagore, we used to seat over there.... And also near ashok sthambh.... ❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊

It is a very big library of India. It has 35 lakhs books till naw. It is going to be digitalized within 6 months. It is a very good library.

The Kolkata National Library, established in 1836, is one of India's oldest and most significant repositories of knowledge. Located in Alipore, Kolkata, it holds a vast collection of books, manuscripts, periodicals, maps, and other valuable documents. The library's imposing architecture and historical significance make it a cultural landmark. With a collection spanning diverse fields including literature, history, science, and more, the National Library serves as a valuable resource for researchers, scholars, and avid readers. It houses over 2.2 million books and offers an extensive range of materials in various languages, reflecting the country's diverse linguistic and cultural heritage. The library's role extends beyond being a repository; it organizes lectures, exhibitions, and seminars to promote literary and academic pursuits. The serene environs of the library provide an ideal setting for quiet reading and intellectual exploration. As a custodian of India's literary and intellectual legacy, the Kolkata National Library stands as a testament to the nation's rich cultural tapestry and its commitment to the pursuit of knowledge.

This is the largest library in India . This is a very famous tourist destination also .

Anuj kumar Nice library, free entry , free wifi . Beautiful garden .

It's a historical place where your mind will be refresh at anytime. All international books finds here. There is a ground where you can sit and refresh yourself. Also it is known one of the haunted place in India. You will have a great time to look here.

This is a pleasant place from the sound of the city.It is a perfect place for Reading.

As its name it is really nationally important institution where every book published in India can be found. It has the largest collection. It was built in 1836. Many times I have visited this place and the scenic beauty inside is mesmerizing.

The National Library of India is a library located in Belvedere Estate, Alipore, Kolkata, India. It is India's largest library by volume and public record. The National Library is under Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Currently, Dr. Prof. Ajay Pratap Singh working as Director General (additional) who is Director General of Raja Ram Mohan Roy Library Foundation, Kolkata since 2020. The library is designated to collect, disseminate and preserve printed material produced within India. With a collection in excess of 2.5 million books and records, it is the largest in the country. In the early days of British rule, it was the residence of the Governor General of Bengal and India. Later on, it became the residence of the Lt. Governor of Bengal, when the Governor General's and later the Viceroy's residence moved to today's Governor House.

It's a nice heritage building. It's Asia biggest library. People actually should visit this place. It's worth a experience.

National Library is home to some of the treasured write ups that are ancient, are our of print. One can find an extensive variety of reading materials in this Library. There is no entry fee however one need to carry an identity card. There are two types of membership cards one is permanent and another is temporary.

Good library if you are a member else visitor's arent allowed to touch books neither do they have access to all parts of the library, security staffs are also rude.

Went to watch the Tata Steel Chess 2021 here at Bhasa Bhavan. Great place , great ambiance.

One of the famous historic place of Kolkata. It was established in the British era. From then it is the biggest and most famous library of not only Bengal but also whole India. This is actually a museum for many rare books and journals. It is fomous all over the world. Every day may visitors including foreigners visit here. The place with it's magnificent buildings and lush green wide lawns sooth our eyes and soul. Apart from the scenic beauty it's important for book lovers and researchers.

Biggest collection of all types of books. Specially for the students, a great place for gathering know. Store House of knowledge.

The National Library of India on the Belvedere Estate in Alipore, Kolkata, is the largest library in India by volume, and India's library of public record. It is under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The library is designated to collect, disseminate and preserve printed material produced in India. The library is situated on the scenic 30-acre (12 ha) Belvedere Estate. It is the largest in India with a collection in excess of 2.2 million books.Before independence, it was the official residence of Governor-General of India.

The National Library is located in the Belvedere Estate, very close to the Alipore Zoo in Kolkata. The National Library of Kolkata is the largest library in India, residence of the former Lt. Governor of West Bengal. Currently this library has about 20 lakh books and 5 lakh manuscripts. It's considered an Institution of National Importance under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Government of India. The National Library or 'National Library' in the Belvedere building was moved and opened to the public on 1 February 1953. It is visited by more than 18,000 readers,, about 200,000 books and 500,000 ancient manuscripts in its collection. Its vast area is spread over about 130 acres of land. Currently the National Library of Kolkata is the second largest public library in Asia. The National Library of Calcutta has a collection of all the major newspapers of India. Historians can find here a valuable collection of nineteenth- and twentieth-century newspapers and periodicals. National Library-repository of rare collections of books, precious ancient manuscripts of the pre-British period, original letters and commentaries of famous people.

I won't rate the service of the library as I haven't used it for quite some years. However, when I went there in 2005, they were not able to handover a single book to me, though all the books I requested were listed in their catalogue. Maybe my field of research was to special. After a little more than a week and countless hours of waiting I finally left frustrated without having read a single book. Since then they really improved the whole park area and have restaurated the old library house which is now a museum. It's always a pleasure to spend some time here.

A perfect place for self development. It has a large collection of books with computer facilities and desk charging. It's very calm and quiet, just ideal to concentrate and work peacefully.

Library room is quiet impressive with lot of good & rare collection of books. Security systems also good all staff are helpful. People can avail library facility (book reading, laptop & free Internet without any charges which is very helpful for needy students.

A great place for students, I'm visiting regular basis as a member of national library , The reading room is just awasome with ample amount of books and study material .

It is India's largest Library by volume and public record. Perfect place for book lovers. Nice ambiance for reading books and various journals. Must visit place - Art Galary. It is situated in the same campus and it has nice collections old newspapers and old books. If you don't have Membership ID and just want to visit the place then you must have to carry COVID Vaccination Certificate. If you want to member then you can register at their portal also. The registration form is available in the official website of National Library, Kolkata Nearest Metro station - Rabindra Sadan Nearest places to visit - Alipore Zoo, The Agri Horticulture Society of India

It has largest collection of books. The library was built during British Era and structure is unique with green surroundings and trees. Now it is temporarily closed due to covid pandemic.

Excellent Outstanding collection of books 📚. Awesome and very useful and very necessary for those who are surprisingly waiting for huge number of quality based collection for books 📚, you read and enjoy reading with peacefull environment. Genuinely book lovers, authors, publishers any one, specially books 📚 lovers are invited and follow their instructions. Poor and rich both are equally invited in this place, Awesome place. Thanks 🙏.

India's largest and greatest library. And one of the oldest library. Every kind of books you can get here

The library is big and very nice. There is an Art Gallery within the library premises with many stunning arts. The reading section is on the separate building. It has E-Resource facility as well. The overall infrastructure is beautiful. However you should be fully vaccinated to enter the Premises.

When you can't study at home,you may opt this place. Just a mesmerizing ambience well maintained.

India's biggest Library and you can get all kind of books collection here

The National Library of India is the county's largest library and the library of public record. The library "operates under the national government’s Department of Culture and is designated to collect, disseminate, and preserve all printed material produced in India, and all foreign works published about the country—where ‘every work about India…can be seen and read’". Prince Dwarakanath Tagore was the first proprietor of the library.

Great place for any people of any age.

The National Library on the Belvedere Estate in Alipore, Kolkata, is the largest library in India by volume, 14th in the list of largest libraries, and India's library of public record. It is under the Department of Culture, Ministry of Tourism & Culture, Government of India. The library is designated to collect, disseminate and preserve printed material produced in India. The library is situated on the scenic 30-acre (12 ha) Belvedere Estate. It is the largest in India with a collection in excess of 2.2 million books. Before independence, it was the official residence of Lt. Governor of Bengal.

National library in Kolkata is the most oldest library in India . National library built in 1836 . I'm visiting this place many times. I love this place. The library is designated to collect , disseminate and preserve printed material produced in India . It is the largest in India with a collection in excess of 2.2 million books . Before independence , it was the official residence of governor general of India .

Nice

A cosy well maintained ocean of great books. It's an evidence of British colonial architecture. A heaven for book lovers.

The national library of India and the museum.. it is one of the oldest and biggest library in Asia and India ..It is India's largest library by volume and public record.The National Library is located on Belvedere Road in Alipore. It is open between 9 am and 8 pm on all working days and between 9.30 am and 6.00 pm on Saturdays, Sundays and Government of India holidays.. It's a very big place and has many reading rooms like bhasa bhavan ( the room with most sitting capacity) .. it's full with knowledge and heritage.. Also a very beautiful place to visit..

Books are there. But aftr pandemic lots of drama is their inside the national library. Many restrictions are applied so people cant enter & use the library. Its a very sad thing that the tax payers moneys are getting wasted due to the wrong policies & wrong rules, regulations. I highly condemn the authority of national library.

Really good environment and lots of books which are very rare can found here... peaceful place surrounding with lots of trees..

Beautiful place having lots of greenery and open air. The National Library is well maintained and clean. You won't miss the Viceroy palace which is spectacular looking at the surroundings. Do visit the art galary which hosts unique newspaper cuttings of Bhagat Singh. The only negative is lots of compliances and lots of legalities around getting books. Parking inside the campus is available, ask the security. Good place for reading.

Heritage place. Still one of the best places in Kolkata for book lovers. Good atmosphere for studying.

My most favourite place to visit.

Excellent ? place for readers.

This place is very silent and cool. This place is very Maintained. I always get attracted to Plants And Trees which are Very big and old.

It’s beautiful campus. The library is very big and has a lot of amazing collections. If you are visiting, the security will not allow you to sit and read here. A security personnel will escort you and show you around the library. You will not be allowed to touch any books.

The ambience is really good. All types of books are present here.

It's a great place of historical significance ...the museum is a must watch for visitors as many ancient manuscripts are preserved there... However ,I didn't know that one has to show ID proof to enter the premises of the area otherwise the security guards will embarrass you and they may even question your qualifications for not carrying any ID proof

Best environment for study .A meditating environment a calm and perfect ambiance

Awesom place?hare u spend your peaceful time..its located opposite alipur zoo...i visited this place meny time's..nd i have a national library membership card...well maintained clean place

A library and now also a museum. It holds one of the largest collections of books and periodicals. The wifi and reading room equips you with everything you need to help you silently work all day. There is also a kids section for kids. The canteen outside also has wholesome food and beverage options. However, what is bad is the huge staircase and slippery marble floor. No lift facility to take you up to the building.

It is good for all people to acquire huge knowledge from this library. But your age must be 18+ to make a visiting pass and great thing is it's near alipore zoo. I had the opportunity to visit the NLI . I was particularly interested in the Nehru Memorial Collection, which includes books, manuscripts, and personal belongings of India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. I was also impressed by the library's Sanskrit Manuscripts Collection, which contains some of the oldest and most valuable manuscripts in India. The National Library of India (NLI) is India's largest library by volume and public record. It is located in Belvedere Estate, Alipore, Kolkata, India. The library was founded in 1836 as the Calcutta Public Library, and was renamed the Imperial Library in 1891. In 1948, it was renamed the National Library of India. The NLI has a collection of over 2.5 million books, 100,000 manuscripts, 50,000 maps, 30,000 government publications, and 20,000 audio-visual materials. The library also houses a number of special collections, including the Nehru Memorial Collection, the Tagore Memorial Collection, and the Sanskrit Manuscripts Collection. The NLI is open to the public for research purposes. Visitors must have a valid ID and a research proposal in order to access the library's collections. The library also offers a number of public programs, including lectures, workshops, and exhibitions. I had the opportunity to visit the NLI a few years ago. I was particularly interested in the Nehru Memorial Collection, which includes books, manuscripts, and personal belongings of India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. I was also impressed by the library's Sanskrit Manuscripts Collection, which contains some of the oldest and most valuable manuscripts in India. The NLI is a treasure trove of knowledge and culture. It is a must-visit for anyone interested in Indian history, literature, and culture. Here are some other interesting facts about the NLI: The library's collection includes the original copy of the Indian Constitution. The library has a vault that houses some of the library's most precious artifacts, including ancient manuscripts and rare books. The library offers a number of online resources, including a digital library and a catalog of the library's collection. The library is a popular destination for researchers from all over the world. If you are ever in Kolkata, I highly recommend visiting the NLI. It is a truly remarkable place.

The place with it's magnificent buildings and lush green wide lawns sooth our eyes and soul. Apart from the scenic beauty it's important for book lovers and researchers.

Best place to study and make yourself happy and calm. Beautiful environment with beautiful views of nature. And positive energy spread around everywhere.

Largest library of India.

(Translated by Google) The National Library is a very good place to read. Reading amidst nature environment. (Original) नेशनल लाइब्रेरी पढ़ने के लिए बहुत हीअच्छी जगह है । प्रकृति वातावरण के बीच पढ़ना ।

Most horrible maintainence and arrangement

It is one of the oldest place in kolkata. Established from the time of british era and has plenty of things to offer for us

Largest library in India.

Heritage of Kolkata

Wide range of books, efficient and effective. Pretty composed place, helpful staffs, pretty good reading condition. A mandatory for readers.

Kolkata biggest library...

Nice

Library and books is a part of our life

You can have access to almost all curriculum books,periodicals,journals,newspapers.

A huge library for sure but one visiting for the first time have to keep in mind to bring with them some original identity proof like voter card, Aadhar card etc.Otherwise a nice place to spend some time with books.

Outstanding collection.

This is the Old building of National Library, namely Belvedere House, now declared as Heritage Building by the Archeological Survey of India. This building is built in 18th Century during Nawab Mir Zafar Period. For very short period, it was the residence of 1st Governor General of India, Warren Hastings. Later he shifted to Hastings House. Now it is proposed to open 'Museum of Word' in this building by the Govt. of India.

Love this place and good environment for study

Historical palace it was build in British era. This is the big library in our India.

Some old Rituals and to be proud feelings fot that Library

The National Library of India is a library located in Belvedere Estate, Alipore, Kolkata, India. It is India's largest library by volume and public record. The National Library is under Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The library is designated to collect, disseminate and preserve printed material produced within India. With a collection in excess of 2.2 million books and records, it is the largest in the country.

This is under the Central Government of India. Here accumulation of books and pieces of evidence about the past, especially written or other permanent account of records are more than twenty lakhs. It is the greatest size, extent or capacity library in India. The present Library buildings was the residence of the Governor General of India till 1911. Earlier it was called Calcutta Public Library then Imperial Library. It has been appeared as the National Library of India on Ist February 1953. Many research scholars are associated with it. The very old authentic records, maps and manuscripts are available here.

The experience was really great....Thank Tata for Organizing such a fabulous Chess Event

The Largest and greatest Library of India.

The management could be better, the library was mostly under construction so couldn't see much. The art exhibition was impressive though.

Known as knowledge hub the National Library of India is pride of Kolkata. One should must visit its rich treasure of books once in life. Must visit venue in Kolkata.

This place is truly magnificent. The environment around the library is also really great. Recently visited this place during Tata Steel Chess India 2021 which took place in Bhasha Bhaban . The place is really clean and well managed.

Very good library since the era of British in India

I am, one of the reader.

It is the National Library of India. More than 26 lakhs documents available. Legal deposit library under Delivery of books Act 1954. More than 58 divisions. Indian and foreign languages divisions. Directly controlled by Ministry of Culture, Government of India.