Victoria Memorial, Memorial museum in Central Kolkata, India
Description
The Victoria Memorial is a memorial building and museum in Kolkata, built from white Makrana marble in the Indo-Saracenic style. The central dome rises to a height of 56 meters (184 feet), surrounded by four smaller corner domes and arcades of pale stone.
History
Lord Curzon commissioned the building in 1906 to honor Queen Victoria, and construction concluded in 1921 after 15 years of work. The Prince of Wales inaugurated the structure while India's political landscape was already beginning to shift.
Culture
The galleries wrap around a central marble hall and follow a clear sequence, guiding visitors through the collection in chronological order. Locals often visit in the late afternoon and use the surrounding park as a meeting place after work.
Practical
The museum opens Tuesday through Friday from 10 in the morning and remains accessible until 6 in the evening, with weekend hours extending to 8. Entry requires security checks at the entrance, and bags are inspected for permitted items.
Did you know?
A bronze angel with outstretched wings stands atop the main dome and rotates with the wind, serving as a weather vane. This angel represents victory and was cast in Italy before being shipped to India.
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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...
Kolkata's past surfaces in religious sites, colonial buildings, and busy markets scattered across the city. The British era left its mark through the white marble Victoria Memorial and administrative structures around BBD Bagh and the Writers Building. Religious spaces range from the Dakshineswar...
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