The foundation stone of the Victoria Memorial Hall in Kolkata was laid on January 4, 1906.
Key Facts of the 1906 Foundation Ceremony
·
Officiating
Official: The stone
was laid by the Prince of Wales, who later became King
George V.
·
Location: The ceremony took place on the Maidan in
central Calcutta (now Kolkata), where the monument stands today.
·
Conception: The memorial was the brainchild
of Lord Curzon, the then Viceroy of India, who proposed it in 1901
following the death of Queen Victoria.
·
Architect: Sir William Emerson, then
President of the Royal Institute of British Architects, designed the structure
in an Indo-Saracenic revivalist style.
· Timeline: While the foundation stone was laid in 1906, construction continued for 15 years, and the building was formally opened to the public on December 28, 1921.
Building Specifications
·
Material: The hall is constructed of white Makrana
marble from Rajasthan, the same material used for the Taj Mahal.
·
Dimensions: The building is approximately 338 feet
by 228 feet and reaches a height of 184 feet.
·
Cost: It was built at a cost of
approximately Rs. 1.05 crore, funded entirely through voluntary
subscriptions from Indian princes and the public.
