menu

History

HISTORICAL GENESIS

 

  • Foundation – 1902 in Shimla

About the Library

“John Marshall from the very beginning laid emphasis on the necessity of building up a good library for the survey and even in 1903-04 made a provision of Rs. 4000 for the purpose”.

“The Central Archaeological Library has now grown into an institution unique of its kind in India, with some forty thousand books and volumes of periodicals on Indology and history, archaeology, etc., of different parts of the world. No efforts are spared to keep it up to date. Writing in 1939, Marshall called it “the best archaeological library in India, perhaps in Asia”, J. Cumming, Revealing India’s Past (London, 1939:, p.31). If it was so fourteen years back, it is much more so today”.

Uniqueness of the Library

Our library is a unique and valuable treasure trove in India and the World.  It is a lifeline to the world community for those who are keen to undertake research work in the field of Archaeology, Religious and Cultural perspective of India, India’s ancient past and allied subjects.

The Library is special for the following reasons-

 

  1. Authentic records related to Archaeology, such as ASI reports, etc.
  2. Diary of Alexander Cunningham, John Marshall, etc. which are great source for researchers throughout the world.
  3. Collection of books on eminent scholars.
  4. Original collection of religious books and books on cultural heritage of India, such as the sacred books on the Hindus, Manusmiti, Kautilya’s Arthasastra, etc. which are in great demand by the researchers.
  5. Oriental collections on ancient Indian History which are not available in other libraries in India.
  6. Original, specific and holistic collection on places of India, such as Kalhan’s Rjtarangini on Kashmir, History of Gujarat, etc.
  7. Original and rare books on inscriptions, such as Kharosti, Brahmi etc. 
  8. Huge collection of Tibetan manuscripts (rare) which is very helpful to the scholars. The fact is also established by distinguished scholar, Sinologist and Tibetologist Dr. R.A.Stein while visiting the Library.
  9. Rare portfolios related to Ajanta, Ellora and many sites of archaeological importance.
  10. Toposheets which are solely available with Survey of India is also with us (being used for excavation and exploration purposes).
  11. Large collection of books on Archaeology, Epigraphy, Indology, Indian culture and its past, etc which make the library unique and distinct from others.

 

  • Collections
  • Books   - 1.5 Lakhs
  • Journals - 90 titles since 1960
  • Manuscripts - 6000 (preserved), 10,000 (Unpreserved)
  • Subjects - Archaeology, Anthropology, Art, Architecture, Ancient History, Indian Culture, Sociology, Epigraphy, Indology, etc.
  • Digitized collections – 12,261 rare books available on our website for general academic persuits.
  • Oriental Collection- 10,000  on Indian Horizon in original form like Sanskrit, Prakrit, some transalated work in English- Hindi of various religious prospects.
  •  A. Cunninghum  Dairy ( Unpublished Reports 1861-62  to 1888)
  • Porfolio: - 6,000 in numbers  of various Archaeological  Heritage Sites of India and Abroad. The work comprises of amalgamation of pre and post independence time.
  • Daily Newspaper and Magazines : It is available in both printed form and e - subscription of both Newspaper & Magazines is available for its user from June 2020 onwards.

 

  • Special collections
  • Tibetan Manuscripts
  • Annual Reports of ASI
  • Cunningham Reports
  • Ancient India
  • Annual Reports on Epigraphy
  • Memoirs of ASI
  • Portfolios
  • Maps and Toposheets , etc.

 

  • Collections of Eminent scholars
  • John Marshall, M.S. Wats , Ernest J.H. Mackay, D.R. Sahani , A.Ghosh , Sir William James, James Prinsep , James Furgussion , Charles Walkin , A. Cunningham, R.K.Gopal Bhandarkar, etc.