Victoria Memorial, Memorial museum in Central Kolkata, India
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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: Queen's Way
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: December 4, 2025 14:20
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 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 Kali Temple on the Hooghly River to the neo-Gothic St. Paul's Cathedral and historic synagogues like Beth El and Maghen David. The Kumartuli neighborhood is known for artisans who mold clay figures for religious festivals, while New Market offers textiles, spices, and household goods. The Indian Museum holds ancient collections and archaeological finds, and Science City houses a planetarium and science exhibitions.
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