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Monuments of Colonial India

By Shruthi

India was a colony that belonged to the never-setting sun of the British Raj. When the British arrived in 1615 ovethrowing the mighty Mughals, they were not mere visitors. They had come with a mission to change the Indian ways and stayed here for a good three hundred years.

How do you change the Indian ways? Get into their everyday lives. Change their sense of the aesthetic and introduce something of your own. Today, the British might have quit India. But their legacy remains in the streets they walked and the places they stayed.

The major British colonies were Madras, Calcutta, Delhi, and Bombay among others. These are the very places that reflect everything that is British and elegant through the buildings and the window panes. Let's take a close look at some of the many buildings that have been raised to the level of monuments belonging to Colonial India.

Gateway of India

Gateway of India

Overlooking the Arabian Sea, the Gateway of India is one of the important structures of British India. This marvellous structure was the first sight of India for visitors who took the sea route. The writing on the Gateway of India clearly states its purpose as, "Erected to commemorate the landing in India of their Imperial Majesties King George V and Queen Mary on the Second of December MCMXI"

Photo Courtesy: Vijay Sharma

India Gate

India Gate

Built to commemorate the loss of 70,000 Indian soldiers fighting for the British Army during World War I, the India Gate is a national monument. Situated in New Delhi, the India Gate was dedicated to the nation of India by the then viceroy Lord Irwin in the year 1931 - ten years after it was built.

Photo Courtesy: Balaji.B

Rashtrapati Bhavan

Rashtrapati Bhavan

The official Presidential Residence of India, the Rashtrapati Bhavan is a 340-room main building. It is a 320 acre estate that includes mughal gardens among other guest rooms and offices. The main building was formerly known as Viceroy's House. It was built for the British viceroy when the Capital was shifted from Calcutta to Delhi.

Photo Courtesy: Priyanka0307

Victoria memorial

Victoria memorial

Dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria, this marble marvel called the Victoria memorial lies in Kolkata, West Bengal on the banks of River Hooghly. The Ministry of culture has taken over the building and turned it into a beautiful museum. The building showcases elements of Mughal, Venetian, Egyptian, Deccani, Islamic and not to forget British style of architecture.

Photo Courtesy: Naman Totala

Victoria terminus

Victoria terminus

A Railway Station. That is what the Victoria Terminus is. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Situated in Mumbai, and presently known as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, it is a fine presentation of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture. Bombay was symbolic of the Gothic City of India thanks to this terminus designed by S.W. Stevens.

Photo Courtesy: Nomad Tales

Writer's Building

Writer's Building

The Writer's Building is the secretariat building of the State Govt of West Bengal. It housed the office of the Chief Minister of West Bengal till 4th of October, 2013. The building got its name because it originally served as the office for writers of the British East India Company. The statue of Minerva is at the centre and many statues are placed on the terrace. Famous among them are the four captioned Justice, Science, Commerce and Agriculture adorning their respective Greek Gods and Goddesses.

Photo Courtesy: Rangan Datta Wiki

Cellular Jail

Cellular Jail

Also known as Kala Pani, the Cellular Jail was a colonial jail situated in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Many noted political prisoners were imprisoned here during the independence struggle of India. It is now a big hospital with 40 doctors serving the local population.

Photo Courtesy: Jomesh

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