Victoria Memorial

The Victoria Memorial, a huge monument made of white marble located in the heart of the City of Joy, Kolkata (erstwhile Calcutta) in West Bengal, India is one of the most famous monuments in West Bengal that has become a museum and popular tourist spot of the state. A brainchild of George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston and Viceroy of India, this monument epitomising beauty and elegance was dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria (1819–1901). This grand and exquisite memorial not only stands as reminiscence to the rule of British Crown in the Indian subcontinent but also stands out as an excellent architectural gem in Indo-Saracenic revivalist style. It is a must visit tourist destination for first time visitors to experience the essence of Victorian era in the midst of the bustling metro city of Kolkata.

Architecture of Victoria Memorial
William Emerson, the then President of the Royal Institute of British Architects was the chief architect of Victoria Memorial, and built it out of white Makrana marble, sourced from Jodhpur in Rajasthan, India. He was assisted by supervising architect, Vincent Esch. The architecture of the heritage monument is based on Indo- Saracenic revivalist style with a mix of influences from Egyptian, Venetian, Deccan and Islamic elements. The construction of the memorial was commissioned to Messrs, Martin & Co. of Calcutta.

The memorial stands at a height of 200 feet including 16 feet height of the ‘Angel of Victory’ placed on top of the central dome. The ‘Angel of Victory’ is mounted on huge ball bearings on top of the central dome which rotate with the wind. Four allegorical sculptures namely, Art, Architecture, Justice and Charity surround the central dome. Three more allegorical structures, Motherhood, Learning and Prudence, are placed just above the front façade or north porch. All the allegorical sculptures were sculpted in and shipped from Italy.

The royal coat of arms is sculpted just above the arched entrance of the gallery. The central dome has four subsidiary octagonal domed chhatris clustered at lower level and four domed towers at four corners of the edifice along with high portals and roof.
Two massive marble lion statues at the main entrance of memorial grounds represent power. A colossal bronze statue of the Queen Empress stands a few metres away from the main entrance of the garden grounds. The bronze statue was sculpted in England by Sir George Frampton and shipped all the way to India.
Coming to the design of Victoria Memorial Gardens, the lustrous lawns and gardens encircling the memorial were designed by Lord Redesdale and David Prain. Vincent Esch, Emerson’s supervising architect, went on to design the most interesting parts of the heritage structure – the bridge of north aspect and garden gates. There are two large pools that adorn the memorial gardens.

Kolkata Tourist Attractions

Kolkata Tourist Attractions, the City of Joy, is one of the oldest and most loved cities in India. Apart from a rich history and culture, there are also a number of amazing places to visit in Kolkata. No matter what type of traveller you are, no matter where you come from, it is hard not to fall in love with Kolkata. It is a city with vibrant and colourful lanes, and you can feel the pulse as you meander through these lanes. Kolkata is not merely a city. It is an emotion that needs to be felt. It is a canvas coloured with every shade. And, if you are here, you can absolutely not miss these 21 amazing places to visit in Kolkata.