History of Victoria Memorial Kolkata

Victoria Memorial is located in Kolkata. This creation was totally built with marble. Victoria Memorial was built between 1906 and 1921 as a beautiful memory of Queen Victoria. Now it becomes a museum and tourist destination of Kolkata. It is situated at the center of Kolkata. It has a large garden with an area of 64 acres (260,000 m2). On the death of Queen Victoria in January 1901, The 1st Baron Curzon of Kedleston suggested creating this building.

Curzon said,

“Let us, therefore, have a building, stately, spacious, monumental and grand, to which every newcomer in Calcutta will turn, to which all the resident population, European and Native, will flock, where all classes will learn the lessons of history, and see revived before their eyes the marvels of the past.”

Victoria Memorial is made up of with Makrana marble-like Taj Mahal. There is a story behind the bronze fairy at the top of the building. It was created to provide the supercilious weather vane. However, it stopped rotating long years back. To start its twirl again, a ball needed, which is found only in Liverpool.

Victoria Memorial Kolkata is visited by more than 1,000,000 tourists every year. Victoria Memorial is an ideal place to visit in winter (November to February). People love to spend the whole day in the garden. Six water bodies are there and several different trees surround the marble palace. In the evening an amazing light and sound shows have been organized at Victoria Memorial.

Our Experience in Victoria Memorial

Victoria Memorial is a place where we can spend the whole day. I and my husband went there often. After entering the place we feel the historic aroma. Walking into the rocky path and keep the building in front of me, it feels that we entered some of the British Empire.

Victoria Memorial Garden

The gardens are surrounded by some fine greenery and I can spend the whole day sitting beside the water body. Different types of birds and flycatchers used to take their bath at the water bodies. In summer Kolkata raises its temperature at around 45 degrees. So the crowd is a little low in summer. Apparently, the crowd is 50 times more than summer. We went there with a bucket of food and snacks. Find a fine place to see the Queen’s building and keep the water body aside us and of course under a tree to avoid the harsh sunlight, we placed our mat. After having some food we went to visit the museum.

Victoria Memorial Museum

Inside of Victoria Memorial you will see art the marvel, galleries, a huge collection of books Queen Victoria Statue, Paintings, Old currency and many more.  First, we can see the Queen’s statue in the middle of the room after entering the building. Before the room, there are two rooms as well on both sides. In these rooms, we can find the histories of Kolkata. In the beginning, how Kolkata looks, it is framed in some beautiful portraits here. Then the main room we entered filled with swords and jackets. There is also a ship model which is very beautiful. Then we went upstairs. That place is also full of historic things. This gallery is full of pictures of the British empire which looks so pretty. The oil painting is beautiful at that time.

Light and Sound Show

After completing the visit to the museum, we came back to the garden again and occupied a sit to enjoy the light & sound show of Victoria which is very popular and beautiful. It looks that the light is dancing following the sound of music. In the evening Victoria looks very beautiful with the lights and it is a heavenly experience to visit this place.

Entry fee of Victoria Memorial

For Indian:

The entry fee to the garden is Rs. 20/-
The entry fee to the museum is Rs. 30/-

Foreigners For Nationals of SAARC Countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Maldives, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka (as per Passport): The entry fee to the museum is Rs. 100/-

Other Countries:

The entry fee to the museum is Rs. 500/-
Free entry for school students up to class VII with school uniform and school ID.

Victoria Memorial Timing

Victoria Memorial remains closed on Mondays and National Holidays.

Garden Timings 5:30 AM to 6:15 PM
Museum Timings 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Entry closes at 4.30 p.m.)

Son-et-Lumiere (Light & Sound) Show Timing

March to June 6.45 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. (Bengali Show) 7.45 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. (English Show)
October to February 6.15 p.m. to 7 p.m. (Bengali Show) 7.15 p.m. to 8 p.m. (English Show)

How to reach Victoria Memorial?

Address – Victoria Memorial Hall, 1, Queens Way, Maidan, Kolkata, West Bengal 700071.

From Airport – You can take ola, uber or taxi to Victoria Memorial at weekend take 1:30 hours and at the weekend it will take 1 hour.

Sealdah Railway Station– You can take a local Bus to Victoria Memorial. It will take 25 to 30 Minutes at the weekend, 45 min to 1 hour on weekdays. or you can take Ola, Uber, local taxi.
Howrah Railway Station:– You can take Ola, Uber, local taxi or local buses are freely available from Howrah Bus Stand which is walking distance from Howrah station to reach Victoria memorial. It will take 1 – 1:15 hrs. to reach Victoria Memorial

Metro Rail:- If you want to go by metro Maidan and Rabindra Sadan stations are the nearest one, Walking distance.

Some FAQ about Victoria Memorial?

1. Victoria’s photo Gallery is the first photo gallery in India.
2. Victoria Memorial is also built with Makrana marble-like Taj Mahal.
3. The 1st Baron Curzon of Kedleston suggested creating this building.

You can get free guide support for the gallery visit from Tuesday to Sunday (except National Holidays & Monday) for 35-40 minutes. Timing for the visit: 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 noon 1 p.m., 2 p.m. 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m.

Food in Victoria Memorial

There is a canteen in Victoria. We can get Chinese, Mughlai, South Indian and North Indian and Bengali foods. The canteen is clean; you can have lunch around 30 people at a time. Food quality is average.

Outside food is allowed in Victoria Memorial Park.

Victoria Memorial Parking

Victoria parking is available at the backside of the building near Rabindra Sadan. However only four wheeler parking is available, two-wheeler parking is not there.