Housed in the former residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal popularly known as Belvedere Estate, The Calcutta public library and Imperial Library amalgamated in 1903 to become National Library, which is supposed to be India's largest library.
The erstwhile sprawling residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal, at Belvedere, is a depiction of the Italian Renaissance style. The building that houses the National Library was originally constructed as the Vice regal House around 1700. Meant as a symbol of imperial power, it was built on a grand scale with a high arched gateway, sprawling lawns and ornate halls.