Who built victoria memorial

Table of Contents • • • • • • • Who built Victoria Memorial and why? The Victoria Memorial, one of the top historical places in Kolkata, is the brainchild of Lord Curzon, a Viceroy of India. When Queen Victoria, who was the Empress of British India, died in January 1901, Curzon suggested building a grand memorial to honor her. When was Victoria Memorial open by Prince of Wales? January 4, 1906 King George V, the then Prince of Wales, laid the foundation stone on January 4, 1906 and it was formally opened to the public in 1921. Who controls Victoria Memorial? the Ministry of Culture He is the Chief Executive. The Memorial is under the ‘administrative control’ of the Ministry of Culture, Department of Culture, Government of India. Victoria Memorial is an autonomous organisation and is governed by the Board of Trustees with H.E. the Governor of West Bengal as the Chairperson. What was there before Victoria Memorial? ONCE A PRISON! Long before the Victoria Memorial was built here, this was the site of Kolkata’s Presidency Jail. Established in 1778, one of the jail’s famous inmates was James Hickey, who launched India’s first newspaper, Hickey’s Bengal Gazette. What is inside Victoria Memorial? The marble structure features 25 galleries, a huge collection of books and works of art. A statue of Queen Victoria is placed inside the memorial. The museum is an architectural marvel. Built in marble, the building features dome shaped designs, tall pillars and corner towers. Is Victori...

Victoria Memorial: A White Marble Building in Central Kolkata Last Updated -- February 28th, 2023 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...

1. Architecture The structure is built using a blend of both British and Mughal architecture which is known as Indo-Saracenic Revival architecture, which is an architectural style which was followed in British India during the late 19th century. 2. Foundation Stone The foundation stone of Victoria Memorial was laid by Prince of Wales in 1906. Victoria Memorial after dusk Photo Courtesy: 5. Resemblance to Taj Mahal Like Taj Mahal, 6. Galleries at Victoria Memorial There are 25 galleries in Victoria Memorial. The galleries include the sculpture gallery, the royal gallery, the central hall, the portrait gallery, the arms and armoury gallery and the Calcutta gallery. The other exhibits of the museum include coins, stamps and maps of those times. One of the sculptures at Victorial Memorial Photo Courtesy: 7. First Location of Presidency Jail Before the Victoria Memorial was erected, the location housed Presidency Jail, which was later demolished from there and relocated to Alipore, to construct the memorial. 8. Funded by the People of India This massive structure was funded by Indians. Donations were called from all over the country, and the amount collected was used for the construction of this spectacular memorial. The British government also partly funded the structure. A stunning image of Victoria Memorial Photo Courtesy: 9. Decolonisation after Indian Independence As a part of decolonisation after 1947, many of the statues erected by the British all over India were either ...

Long before the Victoria Memorial was built here, this was the site of Kolkata’s Presidency Jail. Established in 1778, one of the jail’s famous inmates was James Hickey, who launched India’s first newspaper, Hickey’s Bengal Gazette. Hickey was imprisoned here, on trumped-up charges, for exposing the corruption of Warren Hastings. Older texts refer to this area as ‘Harinbari’ or ‘deer house’, suggesting that there may have once been a hunting lodge here. Some say it was a ‘zoo’ because the jail inmates were treated like ‘animals inside a cage’! In 1906, the jail was shifted to Alipore and the site was used to build the Victoria Memorial. 2. THE BONG CONNECTION The contract to build the Victoria Memorial was awarded to Messrs Martin & Co, which was part-owned by a Bengali, Sir Rajen Mookerjee. Initially hired to build only the foundation, the firm’s work impressed the British and it ended up building the entire monument. Mookerjee was later knighted. Martin & Co continues to exist, although Mookerjee’s family is no longer at the helm. 3. BUILT OF THE SAME MARBLE AS THE TAJ Known as the ‘Taj of the Raj’, the British wanted the Victoria Memorial to boast the finest quality as did the Taj Mahal in Agra. So they used the same marble from Makrana in Rajasthan. Martin & Co set up a quarry in Makrana and the East India Railways transported the marble to Calcutta for free. 4. VICTORIA MEMORIAL WAS ONCE COVERED IN DUNG During World War II (1939-1945), as the Japanese inched closer to...

The Victoria Memorial or Victoria Palace Kolkata is much more than an iconic landmark or a historical building in the city. This magnificent monument cum museum stands as a reminder of the city’s colonial and architectural heritage. Nestled against lush green lawns, this opulent memorial made of marble is also one of the top tourist attractions in Kolkata. Whether you are planning to book your Looking for more details about Victoria Memorial? Here’s everything you need to know about this prime heritage monument in Kolkata, including timings, entry fee, history, architecture, and other interesting facts. Victoria Memorial Information: Location Queen’s Way, Maidan Status Museum under the Ministry of Culture Museum Timings 10:00 am to 5:00 pm; closed on Mondays and National Holidays Garden Timings 5:30 am to 6:15 pm; every day Museum Entry Fee ₹ 30 for Indians; ₹ 100 for foreigners of SAARC countries; ₹ 500 for foreigners of other countries Gardens Entry Fee ₹ 20 per head Annual Fee for Morning Walkers ₹ 2000 per person; ₹ 1000 for senior citizens Nearest Metro Station Maidan Year of Establishment 1921 Commissioned by Lord Curzon Dimensions 103 meters (length) x 69 meters (width) x 56 meters (height) Garden Area 57 acres Architectural Style Indo-Saracenic revivalist Architect William Emerson Material Used Makrana marble Victoria Memorial: History The Victoria Memorial, one of the top Victoria Memorial Architecture Located on Queen’s Way, Maidan, Victoria Memorial features Ind...