This paper describes the ISI database of handwritten Bangla numerals. Bangla is the second most popular language and script of the Indian subcontinent and it is used by more than 200 million people all over the globe. The present database has several components which include both on-line and off-line handwritten numerals. Samples of numeral strings and isolated numerals have been collected under both modes of writing. This database has been developed at the Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition Unit laboratory of Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata. Samples of the present database are properly ground thruthed and subdivided into respective training and test sets. The off-line sample images are stored in TIFF image format and the on-line samples are stored along with various information as header in ASCII file format. This database will facilitate fruitful research on handwriting recognition of Bangla through free access to the researchers.