TThe year was 1876 when Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India completing its total domination of the country; uqe had begun a century earlier with the activities of the East India Company.
When the mid-nineteenth century, the Society's government was replaced by direct rule from England, the pressure on the Indian people grew, and began to happen a few turns. Discontent grew among the local population who saw how they separated the English rights of the Hindus.
Artistic production, as well known in India, fell under the British government, mainly due to lack of patrons who ofmentaran these activities. By contrast, has improved the historical research and, above all architectural creations. Product of the momentum in this branch of art, created some famous monuments such as the Gateway of India, the Bombay High Court today or treat: the Victoria Memorial Hall.
Located in Calcutta, it took almost 15 years to build. After the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, Lord Cuzon, Viceroy of India, proposed to build a great memorial to the Queen. The proposal was greeted with delight by Gandra Englishmen living in the country, and provided the necessary funds for the establishment of the Victoria Memorial Hall.
King George V, then still Prince of Wales, was the one who laid the foundation stone of the building on January 4, 1906 and was opened in 1921.
The Victoria Memorial Hall today houses an important museum that holds in its galleries paintings and sculptures of different eras. The Royal Hall retains an impressive collection of paintings whose main purpose is the Queen Victoria, but also saved thumbnails, stamps, lithographs, postcards and souvenirs throughout the period of British rule.
But aside from its rich museum, making it the country's first, is also a delight to stroll through its exquisite gardens full of fountains, trees, flower beds and magnificent sculptures. The lighting at night is spectacular, and also annexed to the Victoria Memorial, there is a planetarium, an auditorium, St. Paul's Cathedral, the Academy of Fine Arts and the Nandan complex known for hosting major cultural and artistic evenings.
Being fairly central, ideally you to have your hotel nearby, because it can start your tour of Calcutta with a morning stroll through the gardens as the schedule as they open.
The Victoria Memorial Hall is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 to 17 h. although the gardens are open from 5.30 pm 19 The entrance to these is 4 rupees while the museum costs 150 rupees (around 2.25 €).