West Bengal Darshan

The Victoria Memorial is perhaps the most grandiose landmark of Kolkata, remnant of Kolkata’s colonial past. After the death of Queen Victoria, the Empress of British India, Lord Curzon, the then Viceroy of British India, decided to set up a majestic monument as a tribute to the memory of the deceased British Queen. The princes and the people of the country overwhelmingly acceded, and the foundation stone for the monument was laid by King George V, who was then the Prince of Wales, on January 4, 1906. Victoria Memorial was finally open to the public in 1921.

Designed by Sir William Emerson, President of the British Institute of Architects and constructed by Martin & Co. of Calcutta, the architecture of this art museum of Kolkata is worth admiring. Set up on 64 acres of land, the main building 184 feet high occupies an area of 338 foot x 228 foot. During that time, the construction of the memorial cost INR10, 500,000. Curzon had insisted that the memorial be built of white marble, similar to the Taj Mahal of Agra. Accordingly, white marble was brought from the quarries in Makrana in Rajasthan, from where Shah Jahan obtained stones for the Taj. The memorial is a curious blend of Mughal and European architecture. Housing stunning art galleries, impressive sculptures and surrounded by a wonderful garden, Victoria Memorial is a popular tourist destination.

For further details of its latest exhibits and information, visit the official site of Victoria Memorial http://www.victoriamemorial-cal.org/