MURSHIDABAD
The last capital city of independent Bengal before British rule was named after Nawab Murshid Quli Khan, the Dewan of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. Situated on the banks of the Bhagirathi, it is a city of splendours and is famous for its silk. It was made the capital of Bengal in 1717. The British shifted the capital to Kolkata in 1773. Plassey (Palashi), where the historic battle was fought in 1757 between Nawab Siraj-ud-Doula and Lord Clive of the East India Company, is only 40 km south of Murshidabad.
Hazarduari Palace
Hazarduari Palace , earlier known as the Bara Kothi, is located in the campus of Kila Nizamat in Murshidabad, in the Indian state of West Bengal. It was built in the nineteenth century by architect Duncan Macleod, under the reign of Nawab Nazim Humayun Jah of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa (1824–1838).
The foundation stone of the palace was laid on August 9, 1829, and that very day the construction work was started. William Cavendish was the then Governor-General. Now, Hazarduari Palace is the most conspicuous building in Murshidabad.
In 1985, the palace was handed over to the Archaeological Survey of India for better preservation.
The enclosure where the palace is situated is known as Kila Nizamat or Nizamat Kila. The campus except this palace, has in addition the Nizamat Imambara, Wasif Manzil, the Bachhawali Tope, Murshidabad Clock Tower, three mosques out of which one is the Madina Mosque, and the Nawab Bahadur's Institution. Other buildings include residential quarters. It is situated on the east bank of the Bhagirathi River, which flows just beside it. The gap between the Bhagirathi's banks and the palace is just 40 feet (12 m); however, the foundations are laid very deep, which protect the palace. The palace is rectangular in plan (130 meters long and 61 meters broad) and is a good example of Indo-European architecture. The front facade of the palace, which has the grand staircase, faces north. This staircase is perhaps the biggest one in India.
The palace has 1000 doors, of which100 are false, and a total of 114 rooms.
The wooden Nizamat Imambara built by Siraj ud-Daulah caught fire in 1846, so the present building was rebuilt within a year in 1848 by Nawab Nazim Feradun Jah of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. This Imambara is the biggest one in India. More than ₹6 lacs were spent for its construction.
The Madina Mosque is kept open for a look at the Muharram festival by the general public but is kept closed throughout the year.
The Bacchawali Tope which lies in the campus of Kila Nizamat was brought by Murshid Quli Khan. This cannon has been placed on high altar and its mouth has been covered up with an iron plate. It is said that when used it made such a huge noise that it forced pregnant women to give birth to babies at that very time.
The palace was used to hold durbars (official or royal meetings) and official works between the Nawabs and the Britishers and also used as a residence for high-ranking British officers. It has now been transformed into a museum which houses collection from the Nawabs like priceless paintings, furniture, antiques.
A grand flight of stairs of 37 steps of stone, the lowermost one of which is 108 feet (33 m) long, leads up to the palace's upper portico. Perhaps it is the largest one in India. The pediment of the palace is supported by 7 huge pillars, each being 18 feet (5.5 m) at the base. There is also the Nawabi Coat of Arms depicted on the pediment. This grand staircase is perhaps the biggest one in India.
On either side at the beginning of the grand staircase are two statues of two seated masonry Victorian lions with stone slabs embedded in the wall behind them.
There are several large gates used as an entrance to the palace some which bear names like the Imambara, Chawk and Dakshin Darwaza (south gate). The main gates have Naubat Khanas (musicians' galleries) over them and are large enough that an elephant may pass with a howdah on its back.
Hazarduari Palace , earlier known as the Bara Kothi, is located in the campus of Kila Nizamat in Murshidabad, in the Indian state of West Bengal. It was built in the nineteenth century by architect Duncan Macleod, under the reign of Nawab Nazim Humayun Jah of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa (1824–1838).
The foundation stone of the palace was laid on August 9, 1829, and that very day the construction work was started. William Cavendish was the then Governor-General. Now, Hazarduari Palace is the most conspicuous building in Murshidabad.
In 1985, the palace was handed over to the Archaeological Survey of India for better preservation.
The enclosure where the palace is situated is known as Kila Nizamat or Nizamat Kila. The campus except this palace, has in addition the Nizamat Imambara, Wasif Manzil, the Bachhawali Tope, Murshidabad Clock Tower, three mosques out of which one is the Madina Mosque, and the Nawab Bahadur's Institution. Other buildings include residential quarters. It is situated on the east bank of the Bhagirathi River, which flows just beside it. The gap between the Bhagirathi's banks and the palace is just 40 feet (12 m); however, the foundations are laid very deep, which protect the palace. The palace is rectangular in plan (130 meters long and 61 meters broad) and is a good example of Indo-European architecture. The front facade of the palace, which has the grand staircase, faces north. This staircase is perhaps the biggest one in India.
The palace has 1000 doors, of which100 are false, and a total of 114 rooms.
The wooden Nizamat Imambara built by Siraj ud-Daulah caught fire in 1846, so the present building was rebuilt within a year in 1848 by Nawab Nazim Feradun Jah of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. This Imambara is the biggest one in India. More than ₹6 lacs were spent for its construction.
The Madina Mosque is kept open for a look at the Muharram festival by the general public but is kept closed throughout the year.
The Bacchawali Tope which lies in the campus of Kila Nizamat was brought by Murshid Quli Khan. This cannon has been placed on high altar and its mouth has been covered up with an iron plate. It is said that when used it made such a huge noise that it forced pregnant women to give birth to babies at that very time.
The palace was used to hold durbars (official or royal meetings) and official works between the Nawabs and the Britishers and also used as a residence for high-ranking British officers. It has now been transformed into a museum which houses collection from the Nawabs like priceless paintings, furniture, antiques.
A grand flight of stairs of 37 steps of stone, the lowermost one of which is 108 feet (33 m) long, leads up to the palace's upper portico. Perhaps it is the largest one in India. The pediment of the palace is supported by 7 huge pillars, each being 18 feet (5.5 m) at the base. There is also the Nawabi Coat of Arms depicted on the pediment. This grand staircase is perhaps the biggest one in India.
On either side at the beginning of the grand staircase are two statues of two seated masonry Victorian lions with stone slabs embedded in the wall behind them.
There are several large gates used as an entrance to the palace some which bear names like the Imambara, Chawk and Dakshin Darwaza (south gate). The main gates have Naubat Khanas (musicians' galleries) over them and are large enough that an elephant may pass with a howdah on its back.
Nizamat Imambara
Nizamat Imambara stands parallel to the north face of the Hazarduari Palace. Built in 1847 AD by Nawab Nazim Mansoor Ali Khan Feradun Jah, it is the largest Imambara in Bengal and is perhaps the largest in India.
Nizamat Imambara stands parallel to the north face of the Hazarduari Palace. Built in 1847 AD by Nawab Nazim Mansoor Ali Khan Feradun Jah, it is the largest Imambara in Bengal and is perhaps the largest in India.
Motijheel Park
Motijheel Park is the only total tourist spot of Murshidabad catering to the tourism needs of all age groups. It is basically a humble attempt to promote tourism in historically famous heritage town Murshidabad, by adding another tourist spot to the number of many other heritage or historical tourist spots that already exist here.
This tourist spot, however is a modern and contemporary one designed to satiate the diverse tastes and flavors of tourism, of the tourists at a very competitive and affordable cost.
The exclusivity of Motijheel Park is in its unique blend of vividly green eco-friendly ambiance with a fine flavor of Murshidabad's Nawabi History and a smooth touch of amusement items like Boating, Toy Train, SeeSaws, Swings etc.
Motijheel Park is the only total tourist spot of Murshidabad catering to the tourism needs of all age groups. It is basically a humble attempt to promote tourism in historically famous heritage town Murshidabad, by adding another tourist spot to the number of many other heritage or historical tourist spots that already exist here.
This tourist spot, however is a modern and contemporary one designed to satiate the diverse tastes and flavors of tourism, of the tourists at a very competitive and affordable cost.
The exclusivity of Motijheel Park is in its unique blend of vividly green eco-friendly ambiance with a fine flavor of Murshidabad's Nawabi History and a smooth touch of amusement items like Boating, Toy Train, SeeSaws, Swings etc.
Katra Masjid
Katra Mosque, on the Berhampur-Lalgola Road, which was built by Nawab Murshid Quli Khan in 1723-24, is a gorgeous building with its huge domes and high minarets. A simple cemetery of the Nawab can be found below the front staircase.
Katra Mosque, on the Berhampur-Lalgola Road, which was built by Nawab Murshid Quli Khan in 1723-24, is a gorgeous building with its huge domes and high minarets. A simple cemetery of the Nawab can be found below the front staircase.
Nashipur Rajbari
Nashipur Rajbari (also known as Nashipur Rajbati) was the palace of the Nashipur Raj Family. The grand palace is situated in Nashipur just adjacent to the palace built by Raja Debi Singha. The current palace was built by Raja Kirti Chandra Singha Bahadur in 1865.
Nashipur Rajbari (also known as Nashipur Rajbati) was the palace of the Nashipur Raj Family. The grand palace is situated in Nashipur just adjacent to the palace built by Raja Debi Singha. The current palace was built by Raja Kirti Chandra Singha Bahadur in 1865.
Namak Haram Deorhi
Namak Haram Deorhi (also known as the Traitor's Gate, Jafarganj Deorhi or Jufarganj Palace) was the palace of Mir Jafar.It is located just opposite to the Jafarganj Cemetery in the Lalbagh area of the town of Murshidabad and near Mahimapur in the Indian state of West Bengal. Namak Haram Deorhi refers to both the place of Mir Jafar and the main gate which leads to the palace. This building was used as the residence of Mir Jafar, before he ascended the musnad of Bengal or when he was the Commander-in-Chief of the subha.
Namak Haram Deorhi (also known as the Traitor's Gate, Jafarganj Deorhi or Jufarganj Palace) was the palace of Mir Jafar.It is located just opposite to the Jafarganj Cemetery in the Lalbagh area of the town of Murshidabad and near Mahimapur in the Indian state of West Bengal. Namak Haram Deorhi refers to both the place of Mir Jafar and the main gate which leads to the palace. This building was used as the residence of Mir Jafar, before he ascended the musnad of Bengal or when he was the Commander-in-Chief of the subha.