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Built between
1906 and 1921, this dream structure of white marble is architecturally an
exquisite blending of the Oriental and Occidental. The Taj Mahal
in Agra and
St. Paul's Cathedral in London. This is still one of India's most
beautiful monumental legacies of the Raj. The memorial was the
brain-child of Lord Curzon, who in 1901, felt that the late
Empress deserved a suitable monument to her
memory. It took 20 years to be built and cost 10 million rupees.
It was formally inaugurated by the Prince of Wales in 1921. It is
surrounded by a beautiful garden. Inside the Victoria Memorial,
there is a large
bronze statue of the Empress. There is also a moving angel. The memorial faces the Calcutta Maidan. It houses paintings,
manuscripts, and other objects of historic value in its Museum and
Art Gallery. 'Light and Sound' shows are held in the evening
regularly. It is closed on Mondays. It is situated at the cultural
centre of the city. The Birla Planetarium, the St.
Paul's Cathedral, Academy of Fine Arts, Rabindra Sadan with its superb
auditorium and fountains and the adjacent Nandan Complex stand in
the vicinity of the Victoria Memorial.
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