#ashokasays Did you know 236:
Marble Palace nineteenth century mansion in North Kolkata.
The palace was built by Raja Rajendra Mullick in 1835 on the site of a Jagannath temple which was built by his father. A lover of lavish architecture, Mullick constructed the main building in a Neoclassical style with Corinthian columns and bas reliefs, while the grounds and courtyards maintained a more traditional Bengali design. The name Marble palace sounds more apt when you come know that 126 different types of imported Italian marbles were used to build the mansion, its floors and the walls. The spacious grounds also contain everything from a lake, to a rock garden. The Marble palace also boasts of housing the first zoo in India (private) started by Raja Rajendra Mullick but sadly nothing of the zoo now remains. Only the aviary containing few exotic birds brought from all over the world like – Toucan, pelican, Hornbills, peacock, pheasants etc. is still there. There is also a dilapidated rock garden beside the zoo.There is also one private Jagganath Temple inside.
Inside the gorgeous palace walls Mullick's art collections give the palace the rightful feeling of a hoarders museum. Containing everything from Victorian furniture to priceless sculpture to kitschy knick-knacks, the palace is decorated with an eye towards whatever Mullick happened to want in the moment. As you enter the subsequent rooms, the sheer number of artifacts, statues, furniture and paintings will make you overwhelmed; considering the fact that all these are part of personal collection.
The large halls, corridors are heaving with busts of historical and mythological figures and a lavish collection of Chinese and Japanese porcelain vases is spread out here and there. There are some full wall sized mirrors in some of the rooms and many other original Belgian glass mirrors- baroquely enclosed in gold polished frame. The Marble palace contains a collection of some rare original paintings of the European stalwarts like Rubens, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Titian, Murillo, and John Opie etc. Please make it a point to visit the Nach Ghar or the dance room which once used to be fully carpeted with upholstered sitting arrangements around the center. From the high ornate ceilings hangs beautiful large chandeliers reckoning to its glorious past when the room used to be alight with music and rhythms.
The Marble Palace is still a rich private residence, although tours are available. No matter the cultural consideration of Calcutta as a crowded metropolis, this palace recalls the city's more regal history.
INCREDIBLE BHARATHA
Marble Palace nineteenth century mansion in North Kolkata.
The palace was built by Raja Rajendra Mullick in 1835 on the site of a Jagannath temple which was built by his father. A lover of lavish architecture, Mullick constructed the main building in a Neoclassical style with Corinthian columns and bas reliefs, while the grounds and courtyards maintained a more traditional Bengali design. The name Marble palace sounds more apt when you come know that 126 different types of imported Italian marbles were used to build the mansion, its floors and the walls. The spacious grounds also contain everything from a lake, to a rock garden. The Marble palace also boasts of housing the first zoo in India (private) started by Raja Rajendra Mullick but sadly nothing of the zoo now remains. Only the aviary containing few exotic birds brought from all over the world like – Toucan, pelican, Hornbills, peacock, pheasants etc. is still there. There is also a dilapidated rock garden beside the zoo.There is also one private Jagganath Temple inside.
Inside the gorgeous palace walls Mullick's art collections give the palace the rightful feeling of a hoarders museum. Containing everything from Victorian furniture to priceless sculpture to kitschy knick-knacks, the palace is decorated with an eye towards whatever Mullick happened to want in the moment. As you enter the subsequent rooms, the sheer number of artifacts, statues, furniture and paintings will make you overwhelmed; considering the fact that all these are part of personal collection.
The large halls, corridors are heaving with busts of historical and mythological figures and a lavish collection of Chinese and Japanese porcelain vases is spread out here and there. There are some full wall sized mirrors in some of the rooms and many other original Belgian glass mirrors- baroquely enclosed in gold polished frame. The Marble palace contains a collection of some rare original paintings of the European stalwarts like Rubens, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Titian, Murillo, and John Opie etc. Please make it a point to visit the Nach Ghar or the dance room which once used to be fully carpeted with upholstered sitting arrangements around the center. From the high ornate ceilings hangs beautiful large chandeliers reckoning to its glorious past when the room used to be alight with music and rhythms.
The Marble Palace is still a rich private residence, although tours are available. No matter the cultural consideration of Calcutta as a crowded metropolis, this palace recalls the city's more regal history.
INCREDIBLE BHARATHA
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