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The pride of Kolkata

August 3, 2006
Often called Kolkata's Taj Mahal, the Victoria Memorial has a passing resemblance to Agra's awesome edifice.

Like Emperor Shah Jahan, Lord Curzon conceived the structure as a memorial to an empress.

Sources say the white marble used for both structures was brought from the quarries in Makrana, Rajasthan.

Earlier Slide Show: Colour me beautiful

The Kolkata memorial's great dome, clustered with four subsidiary, octagonal domes, high portals, a terrace and domed corner towers draw comparisons with Shah Jahan's magnificent mausoleum.

The Taj took about 22 years to build; the Victoria Memorial was finished in 16 (20 if you count from conception to construction).

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