Victoria Memorial: A White Marble Building in Central Kolkata

If you think Victoria Memorial Kolkata is only a historical monument and a landmark for the city then, that’s not entirely the case. The majestic monument stands tall as a mark of the architectural and colonial history of Kolkata. Not only the legacy but also the white marble architecture draws in tons of tourists to Kolkata Victoria thereby making it a tourist attraction. Surrounded by sprawling gardens, Victoria Palace Kolkata has a lot more of it that needs to be known. And we are here with a dedicated article that talks about the magnificent monument. To know more, keep scrolling!

History of Victoria Memorial

The Victoria Memorial, the most famous building in Kolkata is the result of Lord Curzon’s brain who was once the Viceroy of India under British rule. It was in the year 1901 when the then Empress of British India died, Lord Curzon decided to honour her with the construction of a grand memorial monument. The proposal was to build the memorial as a stately edifice and for the visitors to have a look at the past marvels. In 1906, the foundation stone of Victoria Memorial was kept by the Prince of Wales who afterwards became King George V on January 4th. Victoria Memorial was officially inaugurated in 1921 and thereafter opened for public visits. Later, after India became independent, there were multiple additions done to Victoria Mahal.

The Enticing Victoria Memorial Architecture

If you think a specific type of architecture suffices the structure, then let us tell you that it’s the amalgamation of multiple styles of architecture. The prominent one is the Indo-Saracenic style displaying the elements of both British and Mughal architecture. Also, the monument hints at some Egyptian, Deccani, Venetian, and Islamic architectural elements. The palace is made out of Makrana marble that gives a royal vibe altogether.

Talking about the design, Victoria Memorial is inspired by the majestic Taj Mahal. The design elements incorporated in the architecture are one central dome, four other domes, a terrace, chhatris shaped like octagonal domes, and high portals. On top of the central dome, there is a statue of the Angel of Victory which is 16 feet high. A lot of allegorical sculptures can also be noticed, for instance, the north porch showcases learning, motherhood, and prudence.

Design of Victoria Memorial Gardens

Roughly, the lush gardens of Victoria House Kolkata, take up 26,000 square meters or 64 acres of area and some highly experienced gardeners are on duty to maintain these beauties. It was Lord Redesdale along with David Prain who designed the gardens of such a monumental structure. The bridge which was designed by Esch has the statue of Empress Victoria seated on her throne which was created by Goscombe John and also a statue of bronze which was made by George Frampton. In the Victoria Memorial Hall, you will also find statues dedicated to James Broun-Ramsay, Robert Clive,1st Marquess Cornwallis, Arthur Wellesley, Charles Cornwallis, Hastings, and 1st Marquess Dalhousie.

When you move to the south of the Victoria Memorial, you will locate an arch in the memory of Edward VII which has Edward VII’s equestrian statue which was formed by Bertram Mackennal. Also, a marble statue of Lord Curzon made out of marble by FW Pomeroy is present.

Interesting Facts about Victoria Memorial Kolkata

• Architectural resemblance to Taj– Similar to the Taj Mahal, Victoria Memorial is also made out of the Makrana marbles brought from Rajasthan. Along with the dome, some other architectural elements also resemble that of the Taj. You can surely call it one of the best examples of amalgamating Mughal and British architecture. This style of architecture was used by the Britishers during the 19th century and was known as the Indo-Saracenic Revival style of architecture. 

• The museum inside the central dome– You will find many allegorical scriptures inside the central dome which represent charity, motherhood, prudence, and wisdom. There is also a Victoria Memorial museum inside the monument which has paintings from the colonial era and also memorabilia of Victoria. In addition to this, the Victoria Memorial museum also has some hard-to-find post stamps and manuscripts dating back to the Mughal era.

• Galleries in Victoria House Kolkata– As many as 25 galleries are present in the memorial to please the eyes of the visitors. Some of the galleries are the Central Hall, gallery of portraits, Calcutta gallery, gallery of arms and arsenal, and the gallery of sculptures. And in the National Leaders Gallery, you can also find the portraits of Indian freedom fighters being displayed.

• Indians funded the construction of the memorial-For constructing this enthralling memorial, donations were accepted from all across India and hence a large portion of the construction was funded by the Indians. The British Government did fund the construction but partly.

• Statue of rotating Angel– There is a statue of the Angel of Victory which is 16 feet in height and placed on top of the great dome which rotates with the flow of wind.

• Walls with multiple writings-When you enter the memorial, you can notice two writings, one which is on the columns of the entry gate that says, ‘VRI’ which is Victoria Regina Imperatrix that means ‘Victoria Queen Empress. The other one can be spotted on the entry gate of Victoria Memorial hall that says, ‘Dieu Et Mon Droit’ which translates to ‘God is always right.’

Development of Victoria Memorial

Presently, this monument is one of the most famous buildings in Kolkata with several galleries and almost 28,000 artefacts which includes armours and arms, antique books, paintings, and sculptures.

Victoria Memorial Entry Fees and Timings

• The Victoria Memorial Gallery– For visitors, the gallery remains open from Tuesday to Sunday between 10 am to 5 pm. Indians have to pay entry fees of ₹20 and foreign nationals have to pay ₹200. Children in school uniform up to class 12th and army personnel do not have to pay any entry fees.
• The Victoria Memorial Gardens– For visitors the gardens are open on all seven days between 5:30 am to 6:15 pm. The entry fee is ₹10 for senior citizens aged above 60, the yearly ticket is ₹1,000. For others, the fee is ₹2,000.

How to Reach Victoria Memorial?

Since Victoria Memorial is at a central location, you can reach there easily by an ola or uber. And keeping the peak hours away, it usually takes one hour to reach Victoria Memorial.

Light and Sound Show at Victoria Memorial

The evenings at Victoria Memorial are nothing less than bliss because of the sound and light show. This show takes the spectators on a journey of Kolkata’s history and heritage. The title of the show is Pride and Glory- The Story of Calcutta and it surely brings alive the fascinating stories that the city has held from the past. Note that the shows do not happen on Mondays, between July and September, and on national holidays.

• Show Duration: 45 minutes
• Bengali Show Timings- From October to February in between 6:15 pm to 7 pm and from March to June 6:45 pm to 7:30 pm.
• English Show Timings- From October to February between 7:15 pm to 8 pm and from March to June 7:45 pm to 8:30 pm.
• Entry fees for Bengali Show- ₹10
• Entry fees for English Show- ₹20

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