Victoria Memorial

The Victoria Memorial is located in Calcutta, one of the largest and most densely populated cities in India. Now it is a museum, a garden and park complex and one of the most interesting historical and architectural monuments of the era of the British Raj. It was built in memory of the English Queen Victoria.

Queen Victoria

Victoria ruled in Great Britain for more than 63 years, in 1837-1901, from 1876 she was considered the Empress of India. Her reign became the true Victorian era, when the British Empire achieved unprecedented industrial and cultural prosperity, political and military power. India in those years was part of the British Empire.

In January 1901, the Queen died at the age of 81. In memory of her, it was decided to build a grand memorial in the very center of Calcutta, which for some time was the capital of the British possessions in India. The Victoria Memorial is still the most famous and visited monument in the city.

Construction of the memorial

The author of the project was the famous English architect William Emerson, who had previously worked extensively and fruitfully in India. The buildings built in the Italian Renaissance style were used as an architectural model. During the construction, the classical style was richly decorated with Asian elements of local architecture.

Construction began in 1905 and lasted for 15 years until 1921. Interestingly, the funds for the construction of the memorial were provided not only by the state treasury or the British rich. Ordinary people of India also donated money. 

Architectural appearance of the memorial

The general appearance of the building looks quite classic: above the central arch there is a dome decorated with a bronze figure of an angel. There are light turrets on the sides. To make the building look immaculately snow-white, the building was lined with special marble, mined in the same Makran, where the cladding material for the famous Taj Mahal was mined.

What else can you see on the territory of the memorial

First of all, it is worth paying attention to the bronze statue of Queen Victoria, made by sculptor George Frampton. The ruler of a vast empire, over which the sun does not set, is depicted on the throne already in adulthood, holding in her hands the attributes of royalty. This short, plump woman was called the "Grandmother of Europe" behind her back. Interestingly, her grandson was the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II. The sculptor has well conveyed the imperious and even a little haughty look of the queen.
There is an image of a trumpeting angel on the central dome of the memorial. He is also called the "Angel of Victory" or "Angel of Victoria." The figure was made in Italy specifically for the memorial, the angel is cast in bronze and has a rather impressive size - 6 meters in height.

In the semicircular gallery of the memorial there is a statue of Lord Cornoulis, who built many magnificent buildings in India. In the palace and park complex, you can see many beautiful flowers, walk along the alleys, and admire the clean, cool ponds.