Victoria Memorial Kolkata (Timings, History, Entry Fee, Built by)
The Victoria Memorial, one of the best architectural structures in Kolkata, ought to be at the top of everyone’s list of locations to see. Victoria Memorial serves as a reminder of the former colonial splendour in the centre of Kolkata’s busy metropolis.
The monument made of white marble is the epitome of absolute grandeur, captivating and leaving its visitors in awe. Lord George Curzon, the 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston and Viceroy of India, came up with the idea for the monument as a “stately” tribute to Queen Victoria, the first Empress of British India, who passed away.
Originally constructed as a memorial, the monument is now a museum containing actual objects that belonged to the Empress Queen. In addition to them, the gallery features a priceless collection of original manuscripts and paintings, as well as artefacts belonging to governor generals and viceroys who held significant administrative roles under the Raj. The 64 acres that make up the memorial gallery and the gardens that surround it are rather large.
Just thinking about how the hall’s hallways may appear if royalty or other dignitaries were to pass through them fills one with a sense of pride.
Architecture of Victoria Memorial
The Victoria Memorial was designed by William Emerson, the president of the Royal Institute of British Architects at the time, and was constructed using white Makrana marble from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. Vincent Esch, the supervising architect, helped him. With a blend of Egyptian, Venetian, Deccan, and Islamic characteristics, the heritage monument’s architecture is based on the Indo-Saracenic revivalist style. Messrs. Martin & Co. of Calcutta were commissioned to build the memorial.
The memorial is 200 feet tall, including the 16-foot-tall “Angel of Victory” that is atop the central dome. On top of the central dome, the “Angel of Victory” is positioned atop massive ball bearings that spin in response to the wind. The central dome is surrounded by four allegorical sculptures: Art, Architecture, Justice, and Charity. Just above the north porch or front façade are three further allegorical structures: Motherhood, Learning, and Prudence. Italy is where all of the allegorical sculptures were created and transported.
Just over the gallery’s arched entry is a sculpture of the royal coat of arms. Along with large portals and a roof, the central dome features four domed towers at each of the building’s four corners and four auxiliary octagonal domed chhatris grouped at the lower level.
Power is symbolised by two enormous marble statues of lions at the memorial gardens’ main entrance. A few meters from the garden grounds’ main entrance is a massive bronze statue of the Queen Empress. Sir George Frampton created the bronze statue in England, and it was transported all the way to India.
Regarding the design of the Victoria Memorial Gardens, Lord Redesdale and David Prain created the shimmering lawns and gardens that surround the memorial. The bridge of the north side and the garden gates, two of the heritage structure’s most intriguing features, were designed by Vincent Esch, Emerson’s supervising architect. The memorial gardens are decorated with two sizable pools.
History of Victoria Memorial
When Queen Victoria passed away in January 1901, Lord Curzon, the Viceroy of British India at the time, suggested erecting a state memorial in the shape of a stately white marble structure to honour her reign as Empress of India. On January 4, 1906, King George V, the Prince of Wales at the time, lay the building’s foundation stone. In addition to serving as a monument to the queen, Lord Curzon wanted to use the memorial hall as a national gallery where a few of the queen’s personal possessions would be on exhibit.
The memorial’s construction cost a total of 1,05,00,000 Indian Rupees. The whole sum was funded by native states and Indian kings. They were honouring the queen in this way. The British government in London also contributed a modest amount of the money.
Although the foundation was laid in 1906, it took 15 long years to finish the memorial since Curzon left India in 1905 due to opposition and turmoil following the division of Bengal. As a result, work proceeded much more slowly, and by the time the monument was unveiled to the public in 1921, British India had moved its capital from Calcutta to Delhi. Edward VIII, Duke of Windsor, dedicated the memorial.
The memorial was constructed on the site of the former Presidency jail, which was dismantled to create room for it. Later, the jail’s employees and prisoners were moved to Alipore.
Inside Victoria Memorial Gallery
The enormous museum features twenty-five distinct and enormous galleries, including the Calcutta Gallery, the Portrait Gallery, the National Leader’s Gallery, the Sculpture Gallery, the Queens Hall Gallery, the Arms and Armoury Gallery, and others. Nearly 30,000 priceless objects may be found in the museum, along with rare paintings and pictures of the queen’s life by Indian and Western artists.
William Shakespeare’s antiquated books, Wajid Ali Shah’s works on Kathak dance and Thumri music, and literature like The Arabian Nights and Rubaiyat by Ommar Khayyum are all in the museum’s largest collection.
The museum collection also includes an illustrated manuscript copy of Ain-i-Akbari, written by the well-known Persian author Abu’l-Fazl ibn Mubarak, who served as Emperor Akbar’s court historian. The book provides a thorough statistical analysis of Akbar’s reign and imperial establishments.
The Royal Gallery
As the name implies, Queen Victoria’s personal possessions and oil paintings fill this gallery. Scenes from the Empress’s life are depicted in the paintings, such as Victoria receiving the holy sacrament at Westminster Abbey during her coronation, becoming married to Prince Albert at St. James’ Palace, and celebrating her jubilee services at Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral, respectively.
Vassilli Verestchagin, a Russian artist, created the most striking representation of the Prince of Wales’ state entrance into Jaipur in 1876. At 7 by 5 meters, it is the largest in the world and is regarded as one of Verestchagin’s finest. Two cannons used in the Battle of Plassey are among the exhibits. Tipu Sultan’s dagger and artillery diary, which were not preserved for permanent display until 2015, are also significant artefacts. In 1904, Sahebzada Ghulam Mohammad, a descendent of Tipu Sultan, gave the notebook to the trustees of Victoria Memorial.
Queen Victoria’s personal belongings, such as her chair, rosewood pianoforte, and writing desk from Windsor Castle, are the nicest items to see at Queens Hall Gallery. Edward VII gave these to Victoria Memorial.
The portrait gallery features paintings of the most powerful individuals during the British Raj. Masterworks by The Daniells, Thomas Daniell and his nephew William Daniell, artists from the 18th century, are the gallery’s main draws. The two are well-known for their aquatint paintings and are thought to have journeyed throughout India, recording the nation in their works. The memorial is home to the world’s largest collection of Daniells paintings.
The Durbar Hall Gallery features a collection of paintings on the cultural heritage and way of life of both India and Britain, while the Portrait Gallery features paintings of notable individuals. The museum’s Entrance Hall Gallery features a collection of paintings and pictures that document the several phases of the Victoria Memorial’s construction between 1906 and 1921.
The National Leader’s Gallery
Following India’s independence, the National Leader’s Gallery was added, and it includes scenes and pictures of notable figures and leaders from the Indian liberation movement. Austrian artist Walter Langhammer, who had settled in Bombay and worked with Mukul Raj Anand and Hermann Goetz to promote post-colonial Indian art, was one of the gallery’s most well-known donors.
Calcutta Gallery
In honour of the city’s 300th anniversary, the museum’s newest addition is the Calcutta Gallery. This gallery chronicles the city’s growth from the time Job Charnok arrived and purchased three villages until India gained its independence and was divided in 1947. Photographs, drawings, maps, sketches, and crucial historical documents are used to chronicle and represent every significant event.
The gallery also features a life-size recreation of the Chitpur Road in the 19th century. Saiyid Nurul Hasan, the governor of West Bengal and the head of the Victoria Memorial’s board of trustees, came up with the idea for this gallery and worked to promote it.
The Gardens of Victoria Memorial
The 64-acre grounds of Victoria Memorial’s gardens feature well-kept grass, flowers of different hues and seasons, as well as pools and fountains. A group of twenty-one gardeners look after and maintain the grounds. The bronze statue of Victoria sitting on the throne while wearing the Order of the Star of India is the garden’s main feature. The most photographed feature on Esch’s bridge is the statue, which is positioned in between the story panels.
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Statues representing British Indian leaders, such as Arthur Wellesley, James Broun Ramsay (1st Marquess of Dalhousie), Robert Clive, and Charles Cornwallis (1st Marquess of Cornwallis), are scattered throughout the garden. The Edward VII memorial arch is visible as one enters the memorial grounds through the south gate. There is a statue of Edward VII riding a horse in the arch.
Lord Curzon is depicted in a marble statue at the hall’s south entrance. Additional statues of George Robinson, 1st Marquess of Ripon and Governor-General of India (1880–1884), Rajendra Nath Mookherjee, a pioneer and distinguished Bengali industrialist, and Lord William Bentinck, Governor General of India (1833–1835), are scattered throughout the garden.
Light and Sound Show in Victoria Memorial
The light and sound performance illuminates the memorial grounds throughout the evenings. The program, “Pride and Glory: The Story of Calcutta,” tells the tale of the city’s illustrious past. Son-et-Lumiere is another name for the show. Everyone is strongly encouraged to go to the show. Another stunning sight is the memorial building, which is awash in colour.
How to Reach Victoria Memorial
All of the major cities have easy access to Victoria Memorial. Considering the variety of transport options in the city, commuting is also hassle-free.
By Air: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport is the closest airport.
By Train: Howrah Junction is the closest train station.
Visiting Hours and Entry Fees for Victoria Memorial Gallery
Memorial gallery opening hours: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Note: Gallery remains closed on Mondays and national holidays
Entry Fees:
Indian Nationals – INR 20 per head
Foreign Nationals – INR 200 per head
Free entry for students and army personnel (in uniform)
Visiting Hours and Entry Fees for Victoria Memorial Gardens
Opening hours: 5:30 AM to 6:15 PM all days
Entry Fees:
Daily ticket – INR 10 per head
Yearly ticket – INR 1000 (for morning walkers)
Opening Hours and Tickets for Light and Sound Show
October to February: 6:15 PM to 7:00 PM (Bengali) | 7:15 PM to 8:00 PM (English)
March to June: 6:45 PM to 7:30 PM (Bengali) | 7:45 PM to 8:30 PM (English)
Note: The light and sound show is not conducted between July to September
Tickets:
INR 10 for kids, INR 20 for adults
Note: Tickets for the light and sound show are distributed 12:30 PM onwards at the ticket counter
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