|
Victoria Memorial has been built in a sprawling 26 Hectares of land and a visit to Victoria Memorial is the best education one can possibly have of The British East India Company's rule in India. Here you will come face to face with miniature paintings and images of Queen Mary, King George V and Queen Victoria. What is more, you will be mesmerized by the 3,500 Articles associated with the everlasting memory of Queen Victoria.
Victoria Memorial is one of the most fascinating landmarks of Kolkata. A visit to this Memorial rekindles the opulent Raj Era nostalgia. It is made of White Marble and there is a harmonious blend of European and Mughal Architecture. Scholars and historians refer Victoria Memorial as an unhappy attempt by the Britishers to build a better Taj Mahal.
Lord Curzon first conceived the idea of building a memorial of stupendous dimension as a fitting tribute to Queen Victoria. Kolkata being the capital of British India, was the natural choice for a building of such magnitude.
The Prince of Wales laid the foundation stone of the Memorial at Kolkata on 4th January, 1906 and on 21st December, 1921, the Memorial was opened to Public by The Duke of Windsor.
The Victoria Memorial Garden is much preferred by young and old brigade. The beautifully landscaped garden is all of 64 Acres and is an ideal place for relaxation. The elites and the crème-di-la-crème of Kolkata come to The Victoria Memorial Garden for rejuvenating morning walks and jogging along its winding pathways. Being a Raj Era Monument, The Victoria Memorial Garden too has its share of Raj era statues like that of the Queen with the star of India or for that matter the statues of British luminaries like Lord Bentinck and Lord Ripon.
Try to coincide your visit to Victoria Memorial so that you can witness the spectacular Son-et-Lumiere which is held every day of the week, except Monday. The Son-et-Lumiere vividly portrays the British East India Company setting up base in Kolkata, India's freedom movement and the 300 year old evolution of the city of Kolkata from a fishing village to one of India's largest metropolitan cities.
Victoria Memorial Attractions: Queen Victoria's Statues, Portraits and Busts of renowned personalities of British East India Company, early pictures of the city of Kolkata, French Artillery / Guns captured at the Battle of Plassey.
Apart from The Royal Gallery, a visit to The Kolkata Gallery is highly recommended which displays the historical legacy of Kolkata right from Job Charnock's discovery of Kolkata till the year 1911, after which the capital of British India was relocated to Delhi.
 As far as historical relics are concerned, you will come across intriguing pieces like The Nawab's throne, Ivory chair of Warren Hastings, medals Awarded to Prince Dwarkanath Tagore by Queen Victoria and of course The Pistols used by Warren Hastings in actual warfare.
Source: Wikipedia
Click here for Photo Features
|
1:53:11 PM
