{"id":17714,"date":"2014-11-28T09:16:34","date_gmt":"2014-11-28T09:16:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mapsofworld.com\/travel\/?p=17714"},"modified":"2022-09-19T10:58:35","modified_gmt":"2022-09-19T10:58:35","slug":"victoria-memorial-kolkata","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mapsofworld.com\/travel\/destinations\/india\/victoria-memorial-kolkata\/","title":{"rendered":"Victoria Memorial, Kolkata"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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\"Victoria<\/a>

Victoria Memorial – One of the most beautiful monuments of Kolkata<\/p><\/div>\n

Calcutta (now Kolkata) had been the capital of India under the British rule from 1772 till 1911. Such a prolonged exposure to the modern British naturally brought to Calcutta a new intellectual and cultural awakening, hitherto unseen. Not surprisingly, therefore, when the time came to construct a monument in honor of the deceased Queen Victoria, Calcutta was the chosen site. A lesser known fact is that the Victoria Memorial received no funding from the British government. The white marble edifice and its surrounding 65-acre garden required a staggering amount of rupees one crore, five lacs to build, which after accounting for inflation would be roughly equal to twenty two million forty eight thousand dollars today. It was entirely funded by the British owned Indian states and individuals who wanted to ingratiate themselves with the British government in Calcutta.<\/p>\n

The splendid white tribute, brings together the nuances of Mughal architecture with the thoroughness of British implementation. Sir William Emerson was the chief architect who conceptualized the Victoria Memorial in its entirety. The function of execution was entrusted to Messrs Martin and Co. of Calcutta. The whole construction, from the laying of the foundation stone, to the public inauguration, took fifteen years.<\/p>\n

Architecture of\u00a0Victoria Memorial<\/span><\/h2>\n

In the list of architectural marvels in India, the Victoria Memorial is considered next only to the Taj Mahal in majesty. However, in terms of fusing architectural styles, The Victoria Memorial perhaps surpasses the great Taj. Designers of the Memorial have drawn from Mughal, Venetian, Egyptian, Deccani and Islamic styles and fused them all with a finesse only the British modern architects were capable of, at that time.<\/p>\n

The makrana marble building starting from the massive podium to the lantern above the dome measures 184 feet. The figure of the Angel of Victory atop the lantern measures another 16 feet. No wonder, then, that the towering monument makes a lasting first impression on a visitor.<\/p>\n

Victoria Memorial Hall<\/span><\/h2>\n

The galleries of Victoria Memorial pay a fitting homage to Calcutta’s colonial past. They house oil paintings depicting various important occasions of the Queen’s life in chronological order. There are paintings of the Queen’s coronation, her marriage to Prince Albert, the marriage of her son Edward VII, and so on. The Queen’s piano and writing desk have also been preserved here. Perhaps the most famous painting is the oil painting depicting the entry of Prince of Wales (Edward VII) into Jaipur.<\/p>\n

If all this makes the Victoria Memorial sound like a servile salute to India’s imperialist past, then you will find the National Leaders’ Gallery, with portraits of freedom fighters, a redeeming feature.<\/p>\n

Of use to contemporary playwrights and men of letters is the vast collection of invaluable manuscripts like the letters of Tipu Sultan, the Gazals of Hafiz, Akbar Namah, Shah Namah, collection of plays by William Shakespeare, Arabian Nights and Rubaiyat.<\/p>\n

Victoria Memorial Garden<\/span><\/h2>\n

Victoria Memorial is popular among penny-pinching young lovers as it offers a free spot to get cozy and have a good time in general. Indian culture is conservative as a rule, and public displays of affection among unmarried couples meet with disapproval. As a result, places like the Victoria gardens become the popular choice of lovestruck cupids.<\/p>\n

Victoria Memorial by Nightfall<\/span><\/h2>\n

Come nightfall, and the white marble building looks resplendent bathed in twilight. The Victoria Memorial holds a light and sound show that showcases the history of Kolkata, which, till date remains a matter of great pride to all Bengalis.<\/p>\n

Victoria Memorial Map<\/span><\/h2>\n