Victoria Memorial

The Victoria Memorial is Kolkata's most iconic landmark — a majestic domed palace of white Makrana marble, built in the early 20th century and set within manicured gardens on the edge of the vast Maidan. Part memorial, part museum, it's a serene and stately symbol of the city.

Inside, galleries trace the history of Kolkata and the colonial era through paintings, sculptures, manuscripts and artefacts. The building, floodlit at night and mirrored in its reflecting pools, is genuinely beautiful — and the gardens are a favourite local escape.

• ›The marble memorial and its dome, especially floodlit at dusk.
• ›The history and art galleries inside.
• ›The gardens and reflecting pools, and the evening light-and-sound show.

The museum is closed on Mondays; the gardens open earlier and are lovely for a stroll. Combine with St Paul's Cathedral and the Maidan nearby.