The Marble Palace is a lavish 19th-century mansion in north Kolkata, built in 1835 by the wealthy merchant Raja Rajendra Mullick. Named for the many varieties of marble that line its floors and walls, it houses an eclectic collection of European sculpture, Victorian furniture, chandeliers and paintings said to include works by Rubens and Reynolds. Still home to the founder’s descendants, it can be visited with a permit or ticket, and its grounds even shelter a small aviary.