Victoria Memorial Hall, Karnal

The Victoria Memorial Hall is situated in Karnal city of Haryana, India. It stands near the city's Committee Chowk, Karnal, OLD National Highway 1 of India. The monument is located in the main market of Karnal City. This monument is listed as "State Protected Monuments" by the Department of Archaeology and Museums, Haryana.[1].

Victoria Memorial Hall, Karnal
LocationG.T. Road, Karnal, Haryana -132001
CountryIndia
History
Founded1906
Administration
DistrictKarnal

History

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It is a historical colonial building was built in 19th century AD (1906) on the occasion of Queen Victoria's visit to Karnal. The name of Victoria Memorial Hall was changed to Gandhi Memorial  Hall  as the first condolence meeting was held there after Gandhiji's assassination in 1948.[2][3]

Architecture

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Victoria Memorial Hall is a fine example of Indo-British Architecture. This Hall is a unique monument that features a fine combination of three architectural styles -  Indian,  Islamic and European. This monument is surrounded by a pillared Verandah. Verandah's arches are good example of Islamic architecture. There are four porticos on all the sides of building and outside of the pillared verandah. Though, it is a single story building but gives look of a double storeyed structure from the outside.[4]

Administration

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As the up-keep was not good, the Punjab and Haryana High Court, in 2013, asked the state government to take up the restoration work of the building under the ASI as the building was slowly crumbling due to neglect. The Archaeological Survey of India built a compound wall and a gate for entry. The important artefacts in the old building were removed and sent to the museums.[5]

Victoria Memorial Hall is to be a part of a Heritage corridor to be developed in Karnal[6] Proposal are being made for the renovation of the heritage value of this structure.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "State Protected Sites/Monuments | Directorate of Archaeology & Museums, Government of Haryana". archaeologyharyana.nic.in. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  2. ^ "HC directs state govt to restore Victoria Memorial Hall in Karnal". Hindustan Times. 3 July 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  3. ^ "Court directs state govt to restore Victoria Memorial Hall in Karnal". Hindustan Times (Amritsar). 4 July 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2023 – via PressReader.
  4. ^ "VICTORIA MEMORIAL HALL, KARNAL" (PDF). archaeologyharyana.
  5. ^ Service, Tribune News. "State-protected 109-year-old Karnal building awaits restoration". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  6. ^ "Heritage corridor to be developed in Karnal". Hindustan Times. 5 December 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  7. ^ "सौंदर्यीकरण: महारानी विक्टाेरिया मेमोरियल हाॅल को मिलेगा नया लुक, पुरातत्व विभाग अधिकारी व डीसी एवं स्मार्ट सिटी के सीईओ ने किया विमर्श". Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). 20 January 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.