Marble Palace Mansion, Kolkata - Timings, History, Best Time to Visit

At a distance of 4 km from Kolkata Railway Station, Marble Palace is a 19th-century palatial mansion located in Kolkata, West Bengal. Situated near Tagore House, it is one of the famous historical places in West Bengal and among the most visited Tourist Places in Kolkata.

Famous for its marble walls, floors, and sculptures, the palace is often referred to as one of the best-conserved and most graceful houses of 19th Century Kolkata. According to history, Marble Palace was built in 1835 by Raja Rajendra Mullick, a rich Bengali merchant with a passion for collecting works of art. He was the adopted son of Nilmoni Mullick, who erected a Jagannath temple which predates Marble Palace, and still stands within the premises, but is only accessible to members of the family. The house continues to be a residence for his descendants.

The structure of the mansion is originally Neoclassical in style and it merges with traditional Bengali style of architecture with open courtyards. It is a three-storied building and features tall fluted Corinthian Pillars. The mansion is admired with ornamented balconies, featuring sloping roofs and fretwork, which drew influence from the style of a Chinese pavilion. It is believed that the marbles used to build this place include 126 different types of colorful Italian Marble, and hence the house was named 'Marble Palace'. The Marble Palace houses an exquisite range of Western sculptures and amazing Victorian furniture, beautiful paintings by eminent Indian and European artists. Decorative items include clocks, huge chandeliers, floor to ceiling mirrors, urns and busts of kings and queens. The mansion also preserves two mesmeric paintings of Rubens - The Marriage of St. Catherine and The martyrdom of St. Sebastian.

The premises of the mansion also include a beautiful garden with lawn, a rock garden, a lake, and a small zoo. The sprawling lawn around the palace has a number of statues of Hindu Gods, Jesus Christ, The Virgin Mary, Lord Buddha, the great explorer Christopher Columbus and some lions. It also has marble fountains and a dramatic statue of 'Leda and the Swan.' Adjacent to the courtyard, there is a Thakur-dalan or place of worship for members of the family. Marble Palace Zoo, adjacent to the palace is acknowledged as the first zoo opened in India by Raja Rajendra Mullick. However, it has now primarily become an aviary and shelters for hornbills, peacocks, storks, pelicans, and cranes.

Entry is free to the palace, but a permit must be acquired from the West Bengal Tourism Information Bureau at BBD Bag, Kolkata, at least a day before the intended day of visit. Since Marble Palace remains a private residence, photography is not allowed.

Timings: 10 AM - 3 PM, Closed on Mondays & Thursdays