Victoria Memorial

    The Victoria Memorial is a large marble building in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), West Bengal, India, which was built between 1906 and 1921.  It is dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria (1819-1901) and is now a museum and tourist destination under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture.  The Memorial lies on the grounds by the banks of the Hooghly River, near Jawaharlal Nehru road.

The Victoria Memorial, Kolkata

    In January 1901, on the death of Queen Victoria, George Curzon and Viceroy of India, suggested the creation of a fitting memorial.  He proposed the construction of a grand building with a museum and gardens.  The Prince of Wales, later King George V, laid the foundation stone on 4 January 1906 and it was formally opened to the public in 1921.  In 1912, before the construction of Victoria Memorial was finished, King George V announced the transfer of the capital of India from Calcutta to New Delhi.  Thus the Victoria Memorial was built in what would be a provincial city rather than a capital.

Side View of Victoria Memorial

     The Victoria Memorial was funded by many Indian states, individuals of the British Raj and the British government in London.  The Princes and the people of India responded generously to Curzon's appeal for funds and the total cost of construction of this monument amounting to one crore, five lakhs of rupees.

Victoria Memorial in Night

     The Victoria Memorial's architect was William Emerson, president of the Royal Institute of British Architects.  The design is in Indo-Saracenic revivalist style.  This style is a mixture of British and Mughal elements as well as Venetian, Egyptian, Deccani and Islamic architectural influences.  The building is 338 feet (103 m) by 228 feet (69 m) and rises to a height of 184 feet (56 m).  It is constructed by white marble.  The garden cover an area of 64 acres.  They are maintained by a team of 21 gardeners.  On a bridge there is a bronze statue of Victoria.  Victoria is seated on her throne.  She is wearing the robes of the Star of India.

A Statue in the garden of Victoria Memorial

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