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The building is 184 ft high upto the base of the figure of Victory, which is another 16 ft high. The groups of figures above the north porch represent Motherhood, Prudence and Learning. Surrounding the main dome are figures of Art, Architecture, Justice, Charity etc. The Memorial is situated on a 64 acres of land with the building covering 338 ft by 228ft.

The total cost of construction of this monument amounting to one crore, and five lakhs of rupees (Rs.1,05,00,000/-) was entirely derived from their voluntary subscriptions. The Architect entrusted with the design was W. Emerson. A pupil of William Burges, Emerson had first visited India almost forty years before. His early works in the sub- continent included the famous Crawford Markets in Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1865 and the splendid but incomplete All Saints Cathedral in Allahabad (1869-1893). In these and some other early projects Emerson experimented with medieval Gothic styles, in the manner of his teachers. But the design of his other great work in Allahabad, Muir College in 1873, is more eclectic. Drawing on Venetian, Egyptian and Deccani sources, this was one of the first essays in the Indo-Saracenic Movement. Like the contemporary Senate House in Madras (now Chennai) by R. F. Chisholm, it is a colourful and extravagant building, combining forms from the Islamic architecture of various regions with a European structure. Moving from British India to the princely state of Bhavnagar in Gujrat, Emerson continued in a similar way with the Takhtsingji Hospital (1879 – 93) and the Palace (1894 – 95). Here at the request of his patron, he introduced forms from Hindu architecture, such as corbelled arches.

Now based in England and approaching sixty, Emerson was clearly going to need an assistant, to supervise the construction of the building on site. The man appointed for this role was Vincent J. Esch. A generation younger than Emerson, Esch had like him, gone out to India at the start of his career and in 1899 he was appointed Assistant Engineer in the Bengal Nagpur Railway, a job which gave him much practical experience in large-scale construction and costings.

In the New Year of 1902, Emerson engaged him to prepare a sketch of his original design for theVictoria Memorial and anxious to avoid any involvement of the Public Works Department, urged the Viceroy to put him in charge of the plan’s implementation. More cautious, perhaps, Curzon seems to have tested Esch out with a couple of minor commissions. He employed him to design a Circuit House, bombarding him with advice to adopt the “simple old Italian style”. At the same time, Esch prepared designs for the temporary Exhibition Building for the Delhi Durbar of 1903. In this case, consistent with his general plans for the Durbar, Curzon required something in the Mughal style, and he was pleased to find Esch compliant.

Even so, the appointment was not immediate. Building operations on the Memorial were slow to get started, and had not properly begun by the time Curzon left India at the end of 1905. They were then subject to further delays as his successors had less enthusiasm for this inherited scheme, and lengthy tests had to be made on the foundations.

Meanwhile, the real break in Esch’s career came in 1907 when he won the competition to design the Bengal Club, a prestigious building on a conspicuous site on Chowringhee. At the same time, he was concluding his service with the Bengal-Nagpur Railway by designing their new head office at Garden Reach. These two projects won him a reputation for capable design and efficient management, and launched him in private practice. By the time the construction of the Memorial began in earnest, in 1910, Esch had established himself as Calcutta’s leading architect. He was then formally appointed the project’s Superintending Architect. Esch’s major clients in Calcutta included the Allahabad Bank, the Royal Calcutta Turf Club, and Duncan Brothers. From 1914 to 1921, he was also employed by the Nizam of Hyderabad, in an extensive reconstruction of the Nizam’s capital. Esch designed numerous large public buildings in Hyderabad, including the Railway Station, the High Court, the City High School, and the Osmania Hospital.

Like many others, too, he could not help comparing the Memorial with the Taj Mahal. There is a certain resemblance with , more than the details mentioned which, lends the building a pervasive Indian character. It arises, first, from the material. From the very start, even before he expressed his views on its style, Curzon insisted that the Memorial should be built of white marble, and in the event the stone was brought from the same quarries in Makrana, Rajasthan, that supplied Shah Jahan.

There is also a correspondence in the forms: the great dome, clustered with four subsidiary, octagonal domed chattris, the high portals, the terrace, and the domed corner towers. There is even some correspondence in the function: like Shah Jahan, Curzon conceived the building as a memorial to an Empress and as a powerful visual statement. This linking of the Mughal and British periods is sustained by the collection of exhibits within; and it is typical of the self-presentation of the late Raj, of which Curzon’s Delhi Durbar and the whole Indo-Saracenic movement are further examples. In this context, the echo of the Taj Mahal need not have been an effect deliberately sought by the architect; but it is evident that Emerson greatly admired the Mughal masterpiece – a youthful lecture on it which he delivered to the RIBA in 1870 was a sustained panegyric.

Kolkata alias Calcutta is India’s second largest city and the capital of West Bengal, situated at the point where the Indian subcontinent starts to narrow into the triangular southern peninsula. Formerly the capital of British India (1772-1912), it is a city with a great deal of charm – its imperial monuments, strong cultural and religious flavour leaves an indelible impression on the visitor.

Gateway to the East’, commercial hub of India’s eastern region, West Bengal is a land steeped in history, heritage and visual delights. With a number of hill stations, dense woods packed with exotic wild lives, scenic beaches, seat of cultures and historical monuments as well as religious sites, the state represents a panorama of in West Bengal. It is a popular tourist destination for its cultural and natural beauty. Darjeeling, one of the most attractive hill station in this state is famous for its fine tea and splendid views of the snowcapped Himalayas and of the Kanchenjunga Peak. There is much to see and do here.

West Bengal, an epicenter of the Bengali culture, is an eminent tourist destination. The state is also replete with some remarkable architectural edifices of the likes of Fort William and Victoria Memorial. Fort William is a rather impressive testimony of the British Raj’s military acumen.

It is interesting to note that the state is the proud owner of two Fort William’s, which served as a stronghold of the Indian army in East India. The imposing edifice was built under the able supervision of mastermind architects Sir Charles Eyre and John Beard.

The construction of the Government House, located within the rambling acres of Fort William, was started in the year 1702 and was completed in 1706. This edifice was christened after William II, King of England. However, the entire compound took a longer time to be completed and came into existence only in the year 1781. The whole idea was that Fort William was an impenetrable fort of the Indian Army. Currently, however, Fort William serves as the Military Head quarters of the Eastern Command and can hold a garrison up to strength of 10,000 troops.

The brick-and-mortar complex located in the heart of the city breathes in the freshness of greenery into the polluted and congested metropolis of Kolkata. Three sides of the building face the River Hoogly and the structure is surrounded by a moat 9 m deep and 15m broad. The building has six massive gates that open onto Chowringhee, Plassey Calcutta, Water Gate, St Georges and Treasury Gate. The current military head quarters houses a swimming pool, cinema hall, restaurant, telephone office, recreation club and canteen for the entertainment of the military officials. Tourists too can be enlightened by the wonders at Fort William’s museum that houses arms, weapons, armors, swords, machine guns and muskets. There are also photographs that vividly illustrate the Burma campaign and the Bangladesh Liberation War. However, prior permission has to be obtained from the Commanding Officer in order to visit the secure premises of the arsenal.

The undisputed monarch of the architectural edifices and tourist attractions that Kolkata abounds is undoubtedly the stately Victoria Memorial. Resplendent in pristine white, the building, built towards the end of the British Raj’s tenure in India, highlights architectural splendor at its zenith.

The proposal for the building and the classical architecture style was Lord Curzon’s brainchild but the mastermind architect Sir William Emerson was responsible for the blueprint of the basic design and layout. The building represents the ornate English architecture with a slight Indian tinge that was very common in the buildings of London in those days. The architect’s creative genius was inspired by the layout of the Belfast City Hall.

As the name signifies, Victoria Memorial was built as a tribute to Queen Victoria, the then “Empress of India”, to mark her death. Victoria Memorial, all dressed up in its imperial grandeur, is one of the majestic landmarks that draw myriads of locals and tourists for sightseeing.

The erstwhile princes of the various states in India provided the funds for this impressive edifice. Victoria Memorial houses a grand museum that showcases the portraits of those who played a monumental role in shaping India’s future. The building is located amidst sprawling acres of well-tended lawns and gardens. It also contains a sparkling lake that gleams like a mirage of quicksilver under the saffron sunbeams.

Victoria Memorial is a popular haunt for morning walkers, families as well young couples looking for a safe refuge. Another attraction of visiting the majestic edifice is the quaint horse drawn carriages that take tourists reminiscent of the days of the Raj.

One of the important landmark of Kolkata, the Birla Planetarium of West Bengal attracts many tourists all through the year. Founded by the educational trust of the Birla group of companies in 1962, the Birla Planetarium of West Bengal boasts to be one of the biggest astronomical observatories of the world.

The Birla Planetarium offers the visitors with an excellent opportunity to explore the cosmos and its activities. The planetarium caters to several shows in a day that enlightens the spectators with the zodiac systems, solar systems, the important stars and planets. The Birla Planetarium performs the dual function of providing a comprehensive and cohesive knowledge about the various geographical and astronomical systems of the cosmos and entertaining the viewers as well.

The Birla Planetarium conducts the shows in three different languages of English, Hindi and Bengali for the convenience of the spectators. The different shows enhance and enrich the level of knowledge of the spectators. Equipped with all the necessary technical support systems, the Birla Planetarium offers the spectators with a wonderful show that satisfies the intellectual appetite of the viewers.

Amidst the busy streets of central Kolkata, the white building of Birla Planetarium stands Tall with it’s over imposing structure that adds to the glory of the city. The luxuriant gardens of the Birla Planetarium make it an ideal spot for the tourists who are absolutely thrilled with the spectacular presentation of the solar systems of the cosmos.

The astronomical observatory of the Birla Planetarium is one of the most sought after tourist destination of West Bengal that reflects the engineering skills of the people of West Bengal.

Mani Square is on the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass of Kolkata.  It is the next generation shopping and entertainment destination.  It has the Kolkata’s first IMAX theater, a 3-screen multiplex, Scary House, Spencer’s Hypermart, Westside, McDonald’s, a 25,000 square foot food court, 50,000 square feet of fine dining space, top brand stores, state-of-the art amenities and facilities to help you.  There is a large space for car parking.  About 1500 vehicles can park there!  Isn’t it amazing?

The Mani Square has good customer service.  They are as follows:

1.    Customer Relation Officers.
2.    First Aid.
3.    Lost and Found Assistance.
4.    Comfort Zone.
5.    Car Wash Service.
6.    Valet Parking.
7.    Mobile phone recharging.
8.    Internet connection/WiFi.
9.    Fax and business Center Service.
10.  Wheelchairs.
11.  Children’s Day Care Center.
12.   ATM Counters.

If you fall sick or any medical aid, you just call any staff, they are going to help you.  The lost and found assistance is at the ground floor.  The atrium and sofas are all over the mall that helps you regroup and energize yourself.  While you are shopping, you can cleanse your car.  So the car wash service is available.  There is valet parking.  The pick up point is on the south side of the mall.  There are 2 tiers of service:  Gold and Platinum.  If your mobile phone is not recharged, you can recharge them at the customer service desk.  You can surf the net free of cost at WiFi hotspots.  Here you can get fast, reliable, wirefree internet connection.  You can send faxes wherever you want by just coming at the customer service desk!  There are wheelchairs for the disabled people.  The staff is eager to help you.  There is a crèche where your child can play while you shop.  There are baby strollers, which will help the mother and father of the kids.  It can be rented on an hourly basis.  The ATM counter point gives you tension free shopping.

We get a large number of shops under one roof.  A number of reputed brands and companies have opened their outlets here at Mani Square making it the hottest destination for shopping!!! For books and stationery, there are Luxor Parker, Starmark, Westside, and Write Site. For cards and gifts, there are Archies, Ariana, Exclusive Lines, Infinity, Presto stamps, Nik-Nish, Starmark, Westside and Wonderland. For kidswear, there are Barbie, Catmoss, Lilliput, Little Shop, OVO, Oyo, Paridhan, Scram, Westside, and Zapp. For confectionary and icecream parlour, there are Baskin and Robbins, Biscotti, Cookieman, Just Desserts, Mama Mia, New Zealand Naturals. The department stores are My Dollar Store, Spencers, and Westside. For electronic, computer, and Communication, there are Ezone, Planet M, The Mobile Store. For footwear, there are Addidas, Liberty, Magnet, M&B footwear, Nike, Puma, Reebok, Westside, Woodland.

So visit this place, enjoy the right shopping ambience and shop till you drop!!!

Indian Museum in Kolkata is the largest museum in India. It is the ninth oldest regular museum of the world and oldest institution of its kind in Asia Pacific region. Indian Museum is a multipurpose and multi disciplinary institution of national importance. The museum was established at the Asiatic Society, the earliest learned body in the country on 2nd February 1814. Dr. Nathaniel Wallich, a Danish botanist, was the founder curator of the museum.
Indian Museum was transferred to the present building in 1878 with two galleries. Today, the museum has over sixty galleries of Art, Archaeology, Anthropology, Geology, Zoology and Botany sections, spreading over ten thousand square feet area. Many rare specimens of both Indian and Trans-Indian origin relating to Humanities and Natural Science are preserved and displayed in
museum.

Spread on the Ist and II floor, the Art collection of the Indian Museum comprises of miniature paintings, textiles, decorative art objects from Asian countries — China, Japan, Nepal, Tibet, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Java and Kampuchea. Muslin and Jamdani from Dhaka, Baluchari textile of Murshidabad, Phulkari of Punjab, Chamba rumal, Persian carpets, Kanthas of Bengal, ritual robes, wood carving, metal images, ivory, lacquerware, bronze, ornaments; Persian, Mughal, Rajasthani, Pahari, Deccani miniature paintings, manuscript illustrations of Western and Eastern India, Bengal school paintings, Nepalese and Tibetan temple banners.

The South East Asian gallery in the Art section has three separate galleries for artifacts from China-Japan, Burma and Nepal-Tibet. In the gallery of the China-Japan, there are coloured porcelains, wine cups, ivory and rhinoceros horn carved articles, paintings etc.
 

The National Library in Kolkata is the largest library in India. It is an institution of National importance under the Department of Culture, Ministry of Tourism & Culture, Government of India. National Library is situated on a scenic 30 acres Belvedere Estate, in Kolkata. The library is designated to collect, disseminate and preserve the printed material produced in the country.

The origins of the National Library can be traced back to 1836 when the Calcutta Public Library was established. The then Governor General, Lord Metcalf transferred 4,675 volumes from the library of the College of Fort William to the Calcutta Public Library. In 1891, the Imperial Library was formed by combining a number of Secretariat libraries. Lord Curzon, the then Governor General of India, conceived the idea of opening a library for the use of the public. He amalgamated Calcutta Public Library with the Imperial Library. The library was formally opened to the public on 30th January 1903 at Metcalf Hall, Kolkata. After independence, the library was renamed as the National Library.