Marble Palace is a palatial mansion located at 46, Muktaram Babu Street
(Chorbagan) of North Kolkata. One of the best-preserved, it is a perfect
example of 19th century colonial architecture of Calcutta. It's designs
and beauty will mesmerize everyone at the first glimpse. Many Tollywood
films have been shot here also.
It was built by Raja Rajendranath Mullick in the year
1835, one of the Bengal’s richest landlord. Rajendranath was the
adopted son of Babu Nilmoni Mullick, who built Jagannath temple in the
adjoining garden. The temple is only accessible to members of the family.
Situated very near to Rabindra Natha Tagore’s residence, Mullick
family still reside in a part of this mansion and the rest has been converted
into a museum. It's name ' Marble Palace' was given by Lord Minto, after
a visit because its floor, staircases and walls was built using 126 varieties
of marbles from various places of India.
Apart from Indian architects there were many European
architects who were involved in designing this ivory masterpiece. The
architecture is a mixture of neoclassical, gothic, and traditional Bengali.
It has a traditional Bengali style interior courtyard at the centre, surrounded
by four wings of rooms in two floors. The mansion is situated amidst an
artistically garden. The lush green lawns and marble statues of Hindu
Gods, The Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ, Christopher Columbus, Lord Buddha
and some lions enhance the beauty of this magnificent garden.
The Marble Palace is a three-storey building with impressive
tall Corinthian pillar. Decorated with openwork balconies and pitched
roofs, built in the style of a Chinese pavilion, it has a sequence of
large halls. It's interiors are decorated with Western sculpture and Victorian
furniture and antique urns. It is said that these were collected from
90 countries around the world.
The mansion is hung with imposing beautiful paintings
by European and Indian artists among which two are by Reubens (The Marriage
of St. Catherine and The Martyrdom of St. Sebastian). Apart from these
decorative objects include, 82 varieties of exquisitely decorated antique
clocks, large chandeliers, wooden statue of Queen Victoria (carved out
of a single tree stump).
There’s a Marble Palace Zoo, near to this mansion
which boasts birds and non-carnivorous animals includes peacocks, toucans,
storks, cranes etc.
Time to visit: 10 am to 4 pm. (Tuesday,
Wednesday, Friday and Sunday). Admission Fee: Nil (Prior
permission is required from West Bengal Tourism Department).
Photography strictly prohibited.
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Monuments 
