Victoria Memorial, Memorial museum in Central Kolkata, India
The Victoria Memorial stands 184 feet tall, constructed with white Makrana marble, featuring a central dome and four subsidiary domes at each corner.
Lord Curzon initiated the construction of this memorial in 1906 to commemorate Queen Victoria, and the building opened its doors in 1921.
The memorial houses 25 galleries containing paintings, sculptures, and artifacts that document the British presence in India from the 18th to 20th centuries.
The museum welcomes visitors from Tuesday to Friday between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM, with extended hours until 8:00 PM during weekends.
The memorial combines Indo-Saracenic architectural elements with Mughal, Venetian, and Egyptian influences, creating a distinct architectural identity in white marble.
Location: Ward No. 63, Kolkata Municipal Corporation
Inception: 1921
Architects: William Emerson
Architectural style: Indo-Saracenic architecture
Accessibility: wheelchair accessible with help
Made from material: Makrana marble
Operator: Ministry of Culture
Address: 1 Queen's Way 700071 Kolkata
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10:00-18:00, Saturday-Sunday 10:00-20:00, Holidays closed
Phone: +913322231891
Email: victomem@gmail.com
Website: http://victoriamemorial-cal.org
GPS coordinates: 22.54490,88.34250
Latest update: May 26, 2025 19:05
British rule in India from 1800 to 1947 left a distinct architectural legacy across major Indian cities. European styles including Victorian Gothic, Neoclassical and Renaissance merged with Indian decorative motifs and craftsmanship. The result was the Indo-Saracenic style, a hybrid form that expressed colonial power while incorporating local building traditions. Mumbai presents this architecture through Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the Rajabai Clock Tower and the Gateway of India. Kolkata displays it in the Victoria Memorial and Writers' Building, while Delhi offers Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Maidens Hotel. Chennai shows the Madras High Court and Government Museum, Hyderabad holds Falaknuma Palace and Shimla houses the Indian Institute of Advanced Study. These structures served as government seats, courthouses, railway stations, hotels and museums, and continue to define the urban landscape of Indian cities today.
Kolkata's monuments include the white marble Victoria Memorial, the Dakshineswar Kali Temple on the Hooghly River, the Indian Museum with its ancient collections, and Science City with its planetarium. Religious heritage includes the neo-Gothic St. Paul's Cathedral, historic synagogues, and Hindu temples. Traditional markets like New Market and the artisan district of Kumartuli reflect local culture. The colonial buildings of BBD Bagh and the Writers Building are reminders of the British past.
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