Last Sunday, I visited the iconic tourist destination of Victoria Memorial Hall in central Kolkata to participate in this Local Guides Meetup hosted by @NandKK ji in association with West Bengal Local Guides community.
Here’s some interesting facts about this popular place:-
The historic Victoria Memorial Hall was established more than a century ago, in the year 1921. Construction began on 1906.
It primarily is marble structure that hosts a museum in the memory of former British monarch Queen Victoria.
It was commissioned by then Viceroy of British India, Lord Curzon after the death of Queen Victoria in 1901.
The museum is located in the middle of a 64-acre complex, divided into 21 gardens and a set of connected waterways.
The garden is wheelchair accessible.
There is a bronze statue of Queen Victoria on the throne of British empire, located next to the hall. Also, there are statues of multiple British Indian officials and prominent Indian personalities built around.
The museum explores the socio-cultural evolution of Bengal and India, walking down the path of time ranging from Mughal era to British Raj to the freedom movement till the independence of India attained in 1947.
The museum is open everyday between 10 am and 6 pm except Mondays and public holidays. The entry fee is a nominal ₹50. The garden is accessible at ₹30 everyday except holidays.
The place has a good transportation connectivity. Nearest metro station is Maidan on the north-south line. It is accessible by bus, ferry (close to Babughat), train (in close proximity to both Howrah and Sealdah railway terminus) and cab service.
Also, there are horse-driven carriages available for a joyride around the park.
Victoria Memorial is an iconic place in India which speaks about the grand architecture of India during pre independent. Thank you for sharing @ReshamDas Great to see the enthusiasm of Local Guides from West Bengal.
@Ssiddharth2000 well said. From an architectural point of view, this is one of those Indo-Gothic structures that combines the pre-British Mughal and Islamic design with Indian Hindu style combined along with Gothic revivalism - a favorite of British designers back in that era.
Interestingly, this white structure was painted pitch black during the World War II in the 1940s, as British Calcutta back then was a direct bombing target of Japanese air raiders.
Thank you @ReshamDas dada for this insightful post and recap of the meet-up.
Since the post is about the majestic Victoria Memorial, so I want to share a information about it.
The Victoria Memorial in Kolkata was painted black in 1943 during World War II to camouflage it from Japanese air raids, according to several sources. The British government took this measure to protect the iconic monument from potential bombings. The black paint was applied to the building after it was first covered in cow dung and bamboo scaffolding.
Thank you @Reeshav.Das for sharing this lesser known piece of history that surrounds our town. Unfortunately, many of the local visitors do not value such information about what really transpired at the very venue today we just pass time sitting on the lawn, loitering around and shooting selfies.
It was truly a pleasure having you join our Sunday meetup at Victoria Memorial Hall. Your detailed write-up and the interesting facts you’ve provided are incredibly insightful and really capture the essence of the place.
Thank you so much for coming and for sharing your experience, especially for highlighting those great details about Victoria Memorial. We had a great time, and your contribution to the West Bengal Local Guides community is much appreciated!
Thank you so much @NandKK ji. Kolkata is full of such historical places as an ancient city transforming through centuries of socio-political and cultural evolution. Now that you are here, we will explore a lot, along with our Local Guides mates joining us in this journey.
Wow @ReshamDas this is a very nice post. The pictures too are very beautiful. When I visited Calcutta might be before you were born, the metro work has started that time itself. This place I have missed that time. Thanks for sharing the interesting facts.
Wow @Gurukrishnapriya ma’am, that’s great to know that you visited Calcutta a long time ago. The metro rails began operating here in 1984 and it has by 2025 spanned a great portion of the city, with work going on to connect the growing neighborhoods as well. Please do visit Kolkata and this time, do not miss Victoria Memorial Hall.
Super @ReshamDas could you guess the year I visited . You told Metro work started in 1984. When I visited the works were going on. First time I visited a year before, that is in 1983. I bought two tavas that time, one for dosa and another for frying, still I am using them. Second time I visited in the year 1999, back from Nepal tour, just for 1 day. During those visits, I had a great time.
Dear @ReshamDas We had a wonderful meetup at the iconic Victoria Memorial! This magnificent structure holds a special place in the hearts of Kolkata residents, symbolizing the city’s rich history and architectural grandeur. It serves not only as a museum showcasing historical artifacts but also as a beloved gathering place for people of all ages. The sprawling gardens offer a tranquil escape, and the monument itself stands as a timeless reminder of Kolkata’s past. It was fantastic to share this significant landmark with everyone at the meetup.
Following up on our wonderful meetup at the Victoria Memorial, I wanted to share a video that captures this iconic landmark. It was great to experience the significance of this place with all of you.
