Viceroy of India Lord Curzon created the Victoria Memorial, one of the most significant historical sites in Kolkata. Curzon suggested constructing a large memorial in Queen Victoria’s honour after she passed away in January 1901. Queen Victoria was the Empress of British India. He suggested that the memorial should be a grand structure with a museum where people can view the wonders of antiquity.
The Prince of Wales, later known as King George V, lay the memorial’s foundation on January 4th, 1906. In 1921, the structure was formally dedicated and made accessible to the general public. After India attained independence, the memorial underwent later expansions.
Construction and Architecture
In the Indo-Saracenic revivalist architecture of the Victoria Memorial, you can find influences from the Mughals, the British, the Egyptians, the Muslims, the Venetians, and the Deccanis. The building has dimensions of 103 by 69 metres and rises to a height of 56 metres. The marble used for it is white Markana.
The Victoria Memorial’s design was influenced by the Taj Mahal. The building’s characteristics include a massive central dome, four smaller domes, tall gateways, octagonal-shaped domed chaatris, domed towers at the corners, and a terrace. A 16-foot-tall figure known as the Angel of Victory is perched atop the main dome. Numerous allegorical statues, including those that stand in for charity, justice, art, and architecture, are positioned all around the main dome. On the site are allegorical statues that represent knowledge, motherhood, and learning.
This old structure is now home to one of Kolkata’s best museums. The memorial has 25 galleries, including, to name a few, the National Leaders Gallery, the Calcutta Gallery, the Portrait Gallery, the Royal Gallery, and the Gallery of Sculpture. Over 28,000 objects, including weapons and armour, sculptures, rare books, paintings, and other items, can be found at the Victoria Memorial Museum.
In addition to the stunning structure, the memorial’s expansive green grounds make it a great spot to relax and take early-morning strolls in Kolkata.
The gardens have a total area of roughly 57 acres and include statues of people like Rajendra Nath Mookherjee, Charles Cornwallis, Queen Victoria, and Arthur Wellesley. The Ministry of Culture is presently in charge of the site.
The handwritten Quran of Emperor Aurangzeb, Kalighat paintings, the private war diary of Tipu Sultan, rare volumes including Rubaiyat by Omar Khayyam and illustrated works by William Shakespeare, Indian landscape paintings by Thomas and William Daniell, etc.
One of the most stunning buildings in both Calcutta and the entire nation is the Victoria Memorial Hall. Victoria Memorial Hall stands now as a true icon of Kolkata, representing the opulent and regal British architecture.
The VMH, which is situated on 1 Queen’s Way, was designed as a memorial to the late Queen Victoria by Lord Curzon, the Viceroy of British India.
Curzon therefore proposed that this memorial take the shape of a large marble hall that would be built on the Calcutta Maidan and serve dual purposes as a monument to the Queen and as the national gallery and Valhalla of the Indian Empire.