Everybody in Bengal seems to have a story about the Marble Palace and the Bengali trading family who built and continue to own it, members of which once traveled around Calcutta in a carriage pulled by zebras. The palace was built in 1835 by Raja Rajendra Mullick. Legend has it that he once bought an entire trading ship’s consignment of antiquities when it docked in the city. The palace is packed with sculptures (some in duplicate) of Greek gods in marble and bronze, grand pianos, billiards tables, Belgian glass and Chinese Ming vases. The 19th-century floor of the music room and dance hall is particularly exquisite.
If you’re walking to the Marble Palace along Muktaram Babu St from Mahatma Gandhi Road Metro station, don't mistake the first large columned building you come to as the palace. This is just Siddhivinayak Temple, humble by comparison. In theory, you are required to first obtain a permit from the West Bengal Tourism office in BBD Bagh to enter the Marble Palace, but baksheesh still worked at the time of research: pay the gate guard on arrival and also to anybody mandatorily assigned to show you around the interior of the palace. Around ₹100 to ₹200 each should suffice.
On entering the Marble Palace grounds, you’ll be directed to follow the path past the extravagant fountain first, then away from the palace's west side to a small aviary and menagerie, which only adds to the absurdity. Finally, circle back to the palace for a guided tour of the interior.
Photography is not allowed within the palace premises. The palace is closed on Mondays and Thursdays.
