Located in the remote yet culturally vibrant village of Totopara, nestled at the Indo-Bhutan border in West Bengal, the Aariyom Village Culture Conservation and Research Centre (Museum) stands as a living archive of indigenous wisdom, tribal identity, and sustainable knowledge systems. Initiated by the Aariyom Foundation, this center represents a deeply committed effort to preserve, document, and present the unique socio-cultural and ecological richness of the Toto tribe, as well as other Nepali sub-tribes and local communities residing in this biodiverse region.

Since its inception, the Museum has become a beacon for cultural conservation and multidisciplinary research, offering visitors and scholars a comprehensive view into the heritage of the region. The center currently houses eight curated halls, each rich with authentic artifacts, traditional tools, ethnographic illustrations, visual documentation, and interpretative texts that reveal the life, customs, architecture, oral traditions, spiritual practices, and fading crafts of the indigenous people.

This initiative is not merely about showcasing history—it is about living culture and conscious continuity. The Museum also facilitates Aariyom’s ongoing publications, including two already published books on Totopara and a third currently in progress, alongside short documentaries produced by Aariyom Fundamental Research Institute (Afri). These visual works delve into the architectural patterns and forgotten cultural practices—such as the unique fishing techniques of the Toto people—ensuring that these living traditions are not only preserved but passed forward.

The center also acts as a space of interaction, education, and cultural pride for the local community. By anchoring the Museum within Totopara itself, Aariyom ensures direct involvement of local youth, artisans, and women, providing both employment opportunities and social empowerment. It also enables the showcasing and sale of local crafts, nurturing an ecosystem of economic self-reliance while reinforcing cultural identity.

With Totopara lying adjacent to the Jaldapara National Park, the museum has naturally evolved into a hub for ecological and biodiversity-related research, attracting scholars from disciplines such as ethnobotany, anthropology, linguistics, and environmental studies. This alignment of cultural and natural heritage amplifies the museum’s role as a site of sustainable development and educational tourism.

More than a building, the Aariyom Village Culture Conservation and Research Centre is a manifestation of a larger vision: to create a humanistic space that promotes complete education, universal welfare, and the highest possibilities of mankind through conscious knowledge, cultural pride, and multidisciplinary inquiry. It is a bridge between the past and the future—a junction of identity, development, and deep-rooted belonging.