Murshidabad
Murshidabad, the last capital city of independent Bengal was named
after Nawab Murshid Quli Khan, the Dewan of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
It is situated on the banks of the Bhagirathi. A city of splendors
& famous for its silk, was made capital of Bengal in 1717. The
British shifted the capital to Kolkata in 1773. Plassey, where the
historic battle was fought in 1757 between Nawab Siraj-Ud-Daula
and lord Clive, of East India Company, is only 40 Km. South of Murshidabad.
Murshidabad, a town resonating with history, a town of Nawabs and
Dewans, a town on the edge of the battlegrounds of Plassey where
the history of India changed course. Murshidabad is a town so steeply
entrenched in history that you can almost hear the tinkle of bells
on the feet of dancing girls, the clink of wine glasses, the swish
of houseboats sailing down the Bhagirathi, the rumble of cannons
and the thumping of feet running down the ramparts of the palace.
Excursion
Imambara
Parallel to the north face of the Hazarduari Palace, stands the
Nizamat Imambara, built in 1847 AD. by Nawab Nazim Mansoor Ali Khan
Feradun Jah, son of Humayun Jah, at a cost of more than 6 lacs,
after the Imambara built by Siraj-ud-Doula had been destroyed by
fire. It took only eleven months to construct this Imambara. The
Imambara, which is the largest in Bengal, is perhaps the largest
in India.
Wasef Manzil
This Palace was built by Sir Wasef Ali Mirza, Nawab of Murshidabad.
This beautiful Palace was also the residence of Nawab Wasef Ali
Mirza. This palace is very near to the Hazarduari Palace and is
near the South Gate. The staircases made of marble and beautiful
statues of this Palace are worth seeing. The entry fee is Rupee
1 (Indian currency) for Indian nationals.
Katra Mosque
Katra Mosque is about one and a half km from Murshidabad Railway
Station on the Berhampore-Lalgola
Road. This imposing structure was built by Nawab Murshid Quli Khan
in 1723-24 and it remains one of the most important tourist attractions.
The gorgeous building with its huge domes and high minarets has
a simple cemetery of the Nawab below the front staircase.
Jahan Kosha Cannon
Jahan Kosha, a huge cannon, is about 1 km of Katra. It was built
in the early 17th century by craftsman Janardan Karmakar of Dhaka.
Kadam Sarif is a beautiful mosque near Jahan Kosha said to contain
a replica of the footprint of Hazrat Mohammad, the prophet. The
canon is 17.5 ft long and weighs 16,880 lb., with a girth of 5 feet
at the touch hole end. The diameter of the touch hole is one and
a half inches, and that of the orifice
is 6 inches.
Jafarganj Cemetery
About half a mile from the Hazarduari Palace is Jafarganj the ruined
palace of Mir Jafar. The Cemetery contains the tombs of the Nawab's
Nazim, from Mir Jafar to Humayun Jah. Mir Jafar's father Syud Ahmed
Nazafi, Alivardi Khan's sister, Shahkhanum, Mir Jafar's widows,
Munni Begam and Babbu Begam, Mohamed Ali Khan, the brother and Ismail
Ali Khan and Asraf Ali Khan, the sons-in-law of Mir Jafar, lie buried
here. This cemetery was built by Mir Jafar, over an area of 3.51
acres.
Khosh Bagh
Khosh Bagh lies on the opposite banks of Bhagirathi. The grave of
Nawab Alivardi Khan, Alivardi's Mother, Siraj-ud-Doula and his wife
Lutfannesha and other members of the Nawab family lie here. The
Khosh Bagh cemetery is built over 7.65 acres of land.
Katgola
Mahimapur is half a km North of the Nasipur Palace. Here, the palace
of Jagat Seth and the once famous Pareshnath Temple are now in ruins.
Katgola, the palace garden of Raja Dhanpat Singh Dugar and Lakshmipat
Singh Dugar and their famous Adinath Temple were built in 1873,
by Harreck Chand. The walls of this temple are also intricately
designed. A typically Jain style of ornamentation lends a unique
beauty to this Jain temple. It is about half a km South-East of
Mahimapur. Though some of its glory has been lost, it still remains
a major tourist attraction, chiefly because of the beautiful temple
with an admirable work of stucco.
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Weather
Temperature
Maximum 38.6 OC
Minimum 7.8 OC
Annual Rainfall : 1593.10 mm
Best time to Visit
The best time to visit Murshidabad is in winter, between October
and April, when the weather is pleasant enough for you to spend
the day sight seeing. Carry cotton clothes for the day and a light
woollen in case it is cool at night. Mosquito repellent and sunscreen
are always handy.
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General Information & Accomdation info on Murshidabad city of
West Bengal - India
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