Victoria Memorial in Kolkata, Victoria Memorial Hall Kolkata, Calcutta Tour, Kolkata Travel

Victoria Memorial is one of the most fascinating landmarks of Kolkata. Built entirely of white marble, Victoria Memorial, one of India's most beautiful monuments, represents a unique combination of classical European architecture and Mughal motifs. The Victoria Memorial blends the best of the British and Mughal architecture. The Victoria Memorial hall was built with white Makrana marbles. The Prince of Wales laid the foundation stone of Victoria Memorial in 1906 and it was inaugurated in 1921 in memory of Queen Victoria. The Victoria Memorial is 338 by 228 feet and a height of 184 feet. 

The history of the Victoria Memorial in Calcutta has its roots in the colonial period of Indian history. Lord Curzon was the Viceroy or the person who ruled India in the name of the British Crown in India from 1899 to 1905. He secretly nurtured the vision of building a magnificent edifice that would not only be a tribute to his English masters, but would also get him a place in the annals of Indian architectural history. After the death of the popular British monarch, Queen Victoria at the age of 94, Lord Curzon got the chance to build the monument of his dreams. Lord Curzon then proposed the construction of a mausoleum in the center of a garden in her memory. He also proposed a museum in the same complex, which would house artifacts pertaining to the British rule in India. Curzon, who preferred to abide by democratic norms, sought advice from various quarters regarding the probable site and the nature of construction.

Today the Victoria Memorial Hall is a museum having an assortment of Victoria memorabilia, British Raj paintings and other displays. As night descends on Calcutta, the Victoria Memorial Hall is illuminated, giving it a fairy tale look. It is interesting to note that the Victoria Memorial was built without British government funds. The money required for the construction of the stately building, surrounded by beautiful gardens over 64 acres and costing more than 10 million was contributed by British Indian states and individuals who wanted favors with the British government.
As one walk up around the museum, the bronze Victoria on her throne, or the bronze Edward VII on his horse, or the marble Curzon looking very stern can be seen. The entrance arches soar through two high storeys, with its entire rambling dominated by a colonnaded dome and capped by three tons of bronzed and victorious angel. One of the external sculptures on the north side depicts a lion's head with water flowing out of it and passing into four troughs representing the four great Indian rivers - the Ganges, the Krishna, the Indus and the Jamuna (Yamuna).
At present the Victoria Memorial has notable collection of weapons, sculptors, paintings, maps, coins, stamps, artifacts, textiles etc. The Royal gallery in Victoria Memorial has portraits of the Queen and Prince Albert. There are numerous paintings, illustrating events from Victoria's life. Another remarkable peace in Victoria Memorial is a painting by the Russian artist Vasseli Verestchagin, portraying the state entry of the Prince of Wales in Jaipur in the year 1876. In the post independence period a new addition was made to the Victoria Memorial. It was the addition of the National leaders' gallery with the portraits and relics of the freedom fighters.

Air:- There is N.S.C. International airport at Dumdum in Kolkata. Regular flights to rest of India and world are available here.

Rail:-Kolkata is very well connected to rest of India through two major railway stations, Sealdah and Howrah.

October to March