About Victoria Memorial :
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 three thousand five hundred articles associated with the everlasting memory of Queen Victoria. Through these articles one can get an idea of the life and times of Queen Victoria. Of special importance are the Queen’s dresses, the famous Rosewood piano the Whispering Gallery in the dome and numerous artillery weapons used in the Battle of Plassey.Victoria Memorial is one of the most fascinating landmarks of Kolkata. A visit to Victoria Memorial rekindles the opulent Raj era nostalgia. It is made of White Barble and there is a harmonious blend of European and Mughal architecture. Scholars and historians refer to 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. Once the outlay of the building which was designed by Sir William Emerson, the need for funds proved to be a stumbling block. But Lord Curzon being an astute administrator raised money from the benevolent princes and the people of India. 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. 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. 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.
Special Attraction :
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.
General Information about Victoria Memorial :
Location: Kolkata
State: West Bengal
Capital: Kolkata
Language: Bengali, Hindi, English
Temperature: Max 42˚C, Min 27˚C (summer), Max 26˚C, Min 14˚C (winter)
Best Season: September to March
Famous as : Raj Era Monument.
Time to visit : From March to October – 10.00 to 17.00 From November to February – 10.00 to 16.00 Sound & Light show – 7.15 to 8 P. M. Victoria Memorial is closed on Monday.
Admission Fee : For Indians – INR. 10.00 For Foreigners – INR. 150.00
Photography charges : Photography is strictly prohibited.
Time required for sight seeing : 2 hours
Parking : Hourly parking charges applicable.
How to Reach Victoria Memorial :
By Air:
Kolkata is well connected by airways, to all the major countries in the world as well as to the key Indian cities. There are regular flights from all the major cities of India, like Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai, to the place. Even international destinations, in France, Britain, Holland, Bangladesh, Japan, Singapore, Nepal, Jordan and Thailand, are connected to the Netaji Subash Chandra Bose International Airport of Kolkata. This airport is located at Dumdum, about 15 km away from the main township.
By Rail:
The rail connectivity of Calcutta is also very good. Trains connect the city with all the major cities of India. Super fast trains like Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express ply between Kolkata and Delhi and other nearby places. Kolkata has two major railway stations; one is located in Howrah and the other is at Sealdah, with the former being the stop for majority of the interstate trains.
By Road:
The road connectivity of Kolkata to adjoining areas is also wisely planned. The Esplanade Terminus is the main bus terminal that lies in the heart of the city. From here, you can easily get a bus as well as taxi for travelling to the cities within West Bengal as well as in the neighbouring states. Even road connectivity to Bangladesh is smooth and comfortable, with frequent Bus service.
How to Travel in Kolkata:
For the international tourists, it is always advisable to carry their Indian visa, as it is cumbersome to get one after arriving Carry all your important documents and money If you are travelling alone, don’t publicize it. Incase you happen to lose your passport, immediately lodge a complaint at the police station and also inform your country’s embassy. It is advisable to carry adequate photocopies of your passport, traveller’s checks and insurance. Beware of touts and agents. Make sure that your hotel reservation is done and it is confirmed. To secure your belongings, use a combination lock.