FACTS & FIGURES
Built In 1906-21
Built ByLord Curzon
LocationCalcutta (West Bengal)
AN IMPERIAL LEGACY
The Victoria Memorial in Calcutta is a wonderful example of the western style of architecture. The monument, built by Lord Curzon, the erstwhile Viceroy of British India, not only pays homage to a legendary British monarch but also reflects the memories of the British rule in India. The museum within the Victoria Memorial, houses one of the best collection of artifacts to be found in any museum in India.
BRITISH (EUROPEAN)
ARCHITECTURE
The period of European colonization and the subsequent British rule in India had its impact on Indian architecture too. The main manifestations of this style of architecture were churches, barracks, forts, residential quarters, administrative quarters etc. The British also introduced new techniques in the construction of buildings, which were different from the ones used by the indigenous people of India at that time. The buildings, like the Victoria Memorial in Calcutta, and the Rashtrapati Bhavan, which were built between 1857, when the reins of India passed into the hands of the British Crown and 1947, when India gained independence, are good examples of the colonial style of architecture.
The colonial style of architecture was a combination of the British/European style and the Indo-Islamic style, which was in itself a unique combination of the Hindu and Islamic styles. This also paved the way for modern architectural styles to develop in the post-independent India. The world famous Victoria Memorial in Calcutta is one of the finest examples of the European (western) style of architecture found in India.
VICTORIA MEMORIAL
The history of the Victoria Memorial in Calcutta has its roots in the colonial period of Indian history. Lord Curzon was the Viceroy or the person who ruled India in the name of the British Crown in India from 1899 to 1905. He secretly nurtured the vision of building a magnificent edifice that would not only be a tribute to his English masters, but would also get him a place in the annals of Indian architectural history.
After the death of the popular British monarch, Queen Victoria at the age of 94, Lord Curzon got the chance to build the monument of his dreams. Lord Curzon then proposed the construction of a mausoleum in the center of a garden in her memory. He also proposed a museum in the same complex, which would house artifacts pertaining to the British rule in India. Curzon, who preferred to abide by democratic norms, sought advice from various quarters regarding the probable site and the nature of construction.
Curzon appealed for funds and he received ample funds for his dream project from the upcoming mercantile class in India and also from a number of princely states. He did not have to ask for any financial assistance for the monument from anyone outside the Indian subcontinent. The construction work proceeded in the absence of the chief architect who provided guidance from Britain. Since Curzon would have nothing short of the best, the job was entrusted to Sir William Empson, president of the British Institute of Architects. He drafted his plan, modeling the building on the tradition of the Italian renaissance architecture, though its resemblance to the Taj Mahal is unmistakable. Still, Sir William described his model as an occidental design. It was decided that he would visit the work site annually if necessary. Robert Lyons Serenoaks, the superintending architect, oversaw the day to-day functioning. He was responsible for the execution of the project and sent photographs of the progress made in the construction work to Sir Williams every month. The initial estimated expenditure was 300,000 dollars.
It is said that a goods train 17 miles long would have been required to bring the entire building material needed for the Memorial. The total weight of the building has been calculated to be around 80,300 ton and the quantity of marble for it measured 16,080 cubic feet. The same quarries of Makrana in Rajasthan, from where Shah Jahan had obtained marble for the Taj Mahal, were excavated. The cost of marble, including freight charges, was initially estimated to be around Rs. 2.5 million. Later, the expenses were reduced by Rs. 200, 000, when the Indian Railways waived the transport costs and offered free carriage. In the later part of 1917, construction was temporarily brought to a halt as heavy rains flooded the Makrana region. New quarries were opened in the adjoining areas to maintain an uninterrupted supply of marble for the edifice. The construction, which began after laying of the foundation stone in 1906, took 15 years in completion. The building was formally inaugurated on December 28,1921.
A black bronze angel holding a bugle in her hand was placed at the apex of the dome above the Memorial and has always been regarded as a curious addition to the monument. The statue, five meters tall and weighing 3,500 kg is fixed to its pedestal with ball bearings and can rotate when the wind speed is high enough. Italian craftsmen sculpted the various statues that adorn the large garden of this monument.
Both the laying of the foundation stone and the inaugural function were grand and colorful events with a curious blend of pomp and solemnity. King George V laid the foundation stone in1906, while Kind Edward VIII, who was still a prince then, inaugurated the completed structure in 1921. However, Lord Curzon, the mind behind the Victoria Memorial, could not see its completion, as he had to leave for Britain soon after construction work began.
HOW TO REACH
The Victoria Memorial is located in the heart of Calcutta city, which is the capital of West Bengal. Calcutta is well connected by air, rail, and road to most of the important centers in India. Travelers can reach this monument either by availing the services of the local means of transport like buses, taxis or cycle rickshaws. Other means of travel within Calcutta are the ferry, tram, and the underground metro rail service.
Built ByLord Curzon
LocationCalcutta (West Bengal)
AN IMPERIAL LEGACY
The Victoria Memorial in Calcutta is a wonderful example of the western style of architecture. The monument, built by Lord Curzon, the erstwhile Viceroy of British India, not only pays homage to a legendary British monarch but also reflects the memories of the British rule in India. The museum within the Victoria Memorial, houses one of the best collection of artifacts to be found in any museum in India.
ARCHITECTURE
The period of European colonization and the subsequent British rule in India had its impact on Indian architecture too. The main manifestations of this style of architecture were churches, barracks, forts, residential quarters, administrative quarters etc. The British also introduced new techniques in the construction of buildings, which were different from the ones used by the indigenous people of India at that time. The buildings, like the Victoria Memorial in Calcutta, and the Rashtrapati Bhavan, which were built between 1857, when the reins of India passed into the hands of the British Crown and 1947, when India gained independence, are good examples of the colonial style of architecture.
The colonial style of architecture was a combination of the British/European style and the Indo-Islamic style, which was in itself a unique combination of the Hindu and Islamic styles. This also paved the way for modern architectural styles to develop in the post-independent India. The world famous Victoria Memorial in Calcutta is one of the finest examples of the European (western) style of architecture found in India.
VICTORIA MEMORIAL
The history of the Victoria Memorial in Calcutta has its roots in the colonial period of Indian history. Lord Curzon was the Viceroy or the person who ruled India in the name of the British Crown in India from 1899 to 1905. He secretly nurtured the vision of building a magnificent edifice that would not only be a tribute to his English masters, but would also get him a place in the annals of Indian architectural history.
After the death of the popular British monarch, Queen Victoria at the age of 94, Lord Curzon got the chance to build the monument of his dreams. Lord Curzon then proposed the construction of a mausoleum in the center of a garden in her memory. He also proposed a museum in the same complex, which would house artifacts pertaining to the British rule in India. Curzon, who preferred to abide by democratic norms, sought advice from various quarters regarding the probable site and the nature of construction.
Curzon appealed for funds and he received ample funds for his dream project from the upcoming mercantile class in India and also from a number of princely states. He did not have to ask for any financial assistance for the monument from anyone outside the Indian subcontinent. The construction work proceeded in the absence of the chief architect who provided guidance from Britain. Since Curzon would have nothing short of the best, the job was entrusted to Sir William Empson, president of the British Institute of Architects. He drafted his plan, modeling the building on the tradition of the Italian renaissance architecture, though its resemblance to the Taj Mahal is unmistakable. Still, Sir William described his model as an occidental design. It was decided that he would visit the work site annually if necessary. Robert Lyons Serenoaks, the superintending architect, oversaw the day to-day functioning. He was responsible for the execution of the project and sent photographs of the progress made in the construction work to Sir Williams every month. The initial estimated expenditure was 300,000 dollars.
It is said that a goods train 17 miles long would have been required to bring the entire building material needed for the Memorial. The total weight of the building has been calculated to be around 80,300 ton and the quantity of marble for it measured 16,080 cubic feet. The same quarries of Makrana in Rajasthan, from where Shah Jahan had obtained marble for the Taj Mahal, were excavated. The cost of marble, including freight charges, was initially estimated to be around Rs. 2.5 million. Later, the expenses were reduced by Rs. 200, 000, when the Indian Railways waived the transport costs and offered free carriage. In the later part of 1917, construction was temporarily brought to a halt as heavy rains flooded the Makrana region. New quarries were opened in the adjoining areas to maintain an uninterrupted supply of marble for the edifice. The construction, which began after laying of the foundation stone in 1906, took 15 years in completion. The building was formally inaugurated on December 28,1921.
A black bronze angel holding a bugle in her hand was placed at the apex of the dome above the Memorial and has always been regarded as a curious addition to the monument. The statue, five meters tall and weighing 3,500 kg is fixed to its pedestal with ball bearings and can rotate when the wind speed is high enough. Italian craftsmen sculpted the various statues that adorn the large garden of this monument.
Both the laying of the foundation stone and the inaugural function were grand and colorful events with a curious blend of pomp and solemnity. King George V laid the foundation stone in1906, while Kind Edward VIII, who was still a prince then, inaugurated the completed structure in 1921. However, Lord Curzon, the mind behind the Victoria Memorial, could not see its completion, as he had to leave for Britain soon after construction work began.
HOW TO REACH
The Victoria Memorial is located in the heart of Calcutta city, which is the capital of West Bengal. Calcutta is well connected by air, rail, and road to most of the important centers in India. Travelers can reach this monument either by availing the services of the local means of transport like buses, taxis or cycle rickshaws. Other means of travel within Calcutta are the ferry, tram, and the underground metro rail service.
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