Victoria MemorialUnarguably the first location on every tourist’s itinerary when visiting Kolkata, the massive Victoria Memorial complex, one of the finest structures ever built in the country, artistic heritage left behind by the British in the city.

The Victoria Memorial, Kolkata, was creatively designed by architect Sir William Emerson as a tribute to Queen Victoria. He combined Mughal architectural styles to make an Indo-Sarcenic structure primarily from Makaran marble.

The Victoria Memorial was opened in 1921 as a tourist attraction. Besides the Royal Gallery with portraits of the British royal family, the Victoria Memorial museum section contains a vast collection of exhibits which display maps, coins, stamps, weapons and other artifacts related to the era during which Queen Victoria ruled as Empress of India and later years of British colonial rule of India.

The memorial was to house an inspiring museum dedicated to the Queen and the colonial history and the interiors cater to just the same – but before heading within, one cannot but roam around the central structure taking in the splendid architecture made more captivating by the white marble slabs stacked one over the other to complete the striking edifice.

There is a large bronze statue of Queen Victoria seated on her throne in the foreground leading to the memorial structure; atop the gigantic front facade are statues of Motherhood, Learning and Prudence while the massive well-proportioned dome is surrounded by allegorical statues of Art, Architecture, Justice and Charity besides being topped by a 16-feet high statue of the Angel of Victory that in itself weighs about 4.5 tons!

The Angel of Victory, with its slender figure, large wings and blowing a bugle, was made in Rome and stands on a mercury ball that allows it to rotate on its axis when the wind speed is high (and given that the ball is 184-feet above ground, the wind is considerable there)

Victoria Memorial Kolkata Museum Timings: 10a.m. to 5p.m.

Victoria Memorial Kolkata Garden Timings: 5.30a.m. to 7p.m. (sale of entry tickets closes at 6.45p.m.)

Ticket Prices of Victoria Memorial, Kolkata:* Museum: Rs.10/- per head for Indians / Rs.150/- per head for foreignersNote: School children in uniform: free entry / Army personnel in uniform free entry