The demise of the venerated Queen Victoria of England, in January 1901, caused Lord Curzon, the then Viceroy of India, to pay a tribute to the respected memories of the Queen Head of British Kingdom, Queen Victoria. The Victoria Memorial hall is a royal, wide, monumental and expansive structure, invested with grandeur . It is beautified with a mind-blowing garden. This was to be a historical museum where people could see before them pictures and statues of men who played a prominent part in the history of this country and develop a pride in their past.
The princes and people of India, living during Curzon`s office, answered warmly to his call for finances , required for setting up such a big project. The architectural-exercise of monument, incurred, an enormous, 1 crore and 5 lakhs rupees, the whole of which got supplied from noble subscriptions, forwarded by the benevolent patrons. The Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata is an artistic excellence personified. Standing as the pride of the Mega city, Kolkata, this building of magnificence and heritage, is taken care of by the Department of Culture, Government of India.
Built out of untarnished White Marble , the Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata , brings into the limelight, a splendid synthesis of European and Mughal architecture. Sir William Emerson, President of the British Institute of Architects, was the master-architect who gave shape to this architectural splendor . The entire task of carving out this historical structure, from the very scratch , was the responsibility of the Messrs. Martin & Co. of Calcutta. Vincent Esch was recruited as the supervisor of this constructional-project .
History recounts, that on 4th January, 1906 the Prince of Wales presided the laying down of the foundation- stone ceremony of the Victoria Memorial Hall at Kolkata . And this much awaited and history-reminding construct was finally inaugurated by the renowned Duke of Windsor on 21st December, 1921, for sanctioning public-entry.
