Monument - The Victoria Memorial is a large marble building in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, which was built between 1906 and 1921. It is dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria (1809–1901) and is now a museum and tourist destination under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture. The memorial lies on the Maidan (grounds) by the bank of the Hooghly River, near Jawaharlal Nehru Road (better known as Chowringhee Road). Every year thousands of people come to visit this museum. The Prince of Wales, later King George V, laid the foundation stone on 4 January 1906, and it was formally opened to the public in 1921. The Victoria Memorial's architect was William Emerson (1843–1924), president of the Royal Institute of British Architects. The design is in the Indo-Saracenic revivalist style which uses a mixture of British and Mughal elements with Venetian, Egyptian, Deccani and Islamic architectural influences. The building is 338 feet (103 m) by 228 feet (69 m) and rises to a height of 184 feet (56 m). It is constructed of white Makrana marble. The gardens of the Victoria Memorial were designed by Lord Redesdale and David Prain. Emerson's assistant, Vincent Jerome Esch, designed the bridge of the north aspect and the garden gates.
Monument - Thirumalai Nayak Palace built in 1636 also in the center of Madurai. The palace is famous for its grand white columns each with a 4m diameter, the impressive stucco-work on its domes and arches and the Sorga Vilasam (Celestial Pavilion) which is a large hall built without the support of a single rafter or girder. Though Thirumalai Nayak's grandson selfishly ransacked most of the palace to build his own which he finally never did, the palace was restored partially by Lord Napier between 1866-72.
Temple - India is ancient. The Sun Temple at Modhera was built almost 1000 years ago, and while no record exists of the life that teemed this complex it is easy to sit on the steps and imagine it all. I sat there wondering how to catch the soaring beauty of this place on camera when I saw birds circling the monument. I waited until they were in frame and here it is. The Soaring Sun Temple of Modhera.
