The Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata (VMH), was founded principally through the efforts of Viceroy Lord Curzon, in 1921 as a period museum in memory of Queen Victoria with particular emphasis on Indo-British history. The VMH was declared an institution of national importance by the Government of India Act of 1935.
It is the premier period museum in India on Indo-British history in the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It also functions as the premier art gallery, museum, research library, and cultural space in Kolkata. It has been widely hailed as the finest specimen of Indo-British architecture in India, and called the ‘Taj of the Raj.’ In 2017, the VMH has been recognized by TripAdvisor- the world’s largest travel and tourism-related website - as the no. 1 museum in India and the no. 9 museum in Asia. It’s rapidly rising global stature as a top tourist destination in India is also indicated by the award of Lonely Planet ‘Top Choice’ and ‘Fodor’s Choice’ ratings. The VMH is currently by far the most- visited museum in India and one of the top museums in the world in terms of footfall. In 2015 it was also named as the ‘Cleanest Monument in India,’ for which it bagged the India Today Safaigiri Award.
As a museum, the VMH collection has 28,394 artefacts displayed in nine galleries that encapsulate the history of the country extending over three centuries beginning from 1650 A.D. The collection includes paintings in oil and watercolour, sketches and drawings, aquatints, lithographs, photographs, rare books and manuscripts, stamps and postal stationery, coins and medals, arms and The Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata (VMH), was founded principally through the efforts of Viceroy Lord Curzon, in 1921 as a period museum in memory of Queen Victoria with particular emphasis on Indo-British history. The VMH was declared an institution of national importance by the Government of India Act of 1935.
It is the premier period museum in India on Indo-British history in the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It also functions as the premier art gallery, museum, research library, and cultural space in Kolkata. It has been widely hailed as the finest specimen of Indo-British architecture in India, and called the ‘Taj of the Raj.’ In 2017, the VMH has been recognized by TripAdvisor- the world’s largest travel and tourism-related website - as the no. 1 museum in India and the no. 9 museums in Asia. It’s rapidly rising global stature as a top tourist destination in India is also indicated by the award of Lonely Planet ‘Top Choice’ and ‘Fodor’s Choice’ ratings. The VMH is currently by far the most- visited museum in India and one of the top museums in the world in terms of footfall. In 2015 it was also named as the ‘Cleanest Monument in India,’ for which it bagged the India Today Safaigiri Award.
As a museum, the VMH collection has 28,394 artefacts displayed in nine galleries that encapsulate the history of the country extending over three centuries beginning from 1650 A.D. The collection includes paintings in oil and watercolour, sketches and drawings, aquatints, lithographs, photographs, rare books and manuscripts, stamps and postal stationery, coins and medals, arms and