Victoria Memorial, Kolkata, India

Victoria Memorial, Kolkata

One of the landmarks of Kolkata, India, Victoria Memorial is constructed of white marble and dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. Built in the Indo-Saracenic revivalist style, using a mix of British and Mughal elements, the monument is influenced by Islamic, Venetian, Egyptian and Deccani styles. Britain's King George V, the then Prince of Wales, laid the foundation stone in 1906 and it was formally opened to the public in 1921.

Today, the building has been turned into a museum that has 25 galleries. It is surrounded by a lush green and well-maintained garden, which spreads over 26 hectares and has many statues and sculptures in it. Standing on the banks of the Hooghly River, the monument is illuminated at night when visitors can watch light-and-sound shows.