Murshidabad Tourist Places list
Site Name: Murshidabad.
Site Type: Temples.
Location: Murshidabad (bengali মুর্শিদাবাদ) is a city in Murshidabad district of West Bengal state in India.
Nearest Railway
Station: Murshidabad.
Nearest
Airport: Kolkata.
How to Reach: Local
and express trains are available from Sealdah and Kolkata Stations. It will be
better to avail researved seats in trains that have this facility. Destination
will be either Berhampore Court or Murshidabad.
Around in Murshidabad:
By auto rickshaw. Cars are also available for hire.
Hotel:
Hotel Manjusha on the bank of Bhagirathi and very close to Hazarduary, Rs.
350-500, Hotel Indrajit +91 9836381994 AC NON AC Rooms * Bar Cum Resturant
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The
district of Murshidabad - 2,062 sq mi (5,341 km²), population 5.863m (2001
census) - has its district headquarters at Baharampur. The district comprises
two distinct regions separated by the Bhagirathi River. To the west lies the
Rarh region, a high, undulating continuation of the Chota Nagpur plateau. The
eastern portion, the Bagri, is a fertile, low-lying alluvial tract, part of the
Ganges Delta. The district is drained by the Bhagirathi and Jalangi rivers and
their tributaries. Rice, jute, legumes, oilseeds, wheat, barley, and mangoes
are the chief crops in the east; extensive mulberry cultivation is carried out
in the west. The district became part of the Gaur kingdom in 1197 and passed to
the British East India Company in the 18th century.
In
1704, Murshid Quli Khan, the Diwan of Bengal under Aurangzeb transferred the
capital from Dacca (now Dhaka in Bangladesh), and renamed the city Murshidabad.
In 1716, he attained the title of Nawab (ruler) of the Subah (province) of
Bengal, and Murshidabad became his capital. It continued to be the capital
under a succession of Nawabs, and also under the British until 1790. It was
constituted as a municipality in 1869, which remains to the present day.
While
it features extensively in history books, the large potential for heritage
tourism has been somewhat neglected. Of historic interest are Nizamat Kila (the
Fortress of the Nawabs), also known as the Hazaarduari Palace (Palace of a
Thousand Doors), built by Duncan McLeod of the Bengal Engineers in 1837, in the
Italianate style, the Moti Jhil (Pearl Lake) just to the south of the palace,
the Muradbagh Palace and the Khushbagh Cemetery, where the remains of Ali Vardi
Khan and Siraj Ud Daulah are interred.
The
city today is a center for agriculture, handicrafts and sericulture. The famous
Murshidabad Silk, much in demand for making saris and scarves, is produced in
the like-named city in Uttar Pradesh.
History: Murshidabad
was a town and district of British India, in the Bengal Presidency. In the
Mughal period it was the capital of Bengal. Now The administrative headquarters
of the district are at Baharampur. 
The town of Murshidabad is on the left bank
of the Bhāgirathi-Hooghly or main sacred channel of the Ganges. Pop. (1901),
15,168. The city of Murshidabad was the last capital of Bengal before the
British era. In 1704 the nawab Murshid Quli Khan changed the seat of government
from Dhaka to Maksudabad, which he renamed after his own name. The family of
Jagat Seth maintained their position as state bankers at Murshidabad from
generation to generation. Even after the conquest of Bengal by the British,
Murshidabad remained for some time the seat of administration. Warren
Hastings
removed the supreme civil and criminal courts to Calcutta in 1772, but in 1775
the latter court was brought back to Murshidabad again. In 1790, under Lord
Cornwallis, the entire revenue and judicial staffs were moved to Calcutta. The
town is still the residence of the nawab, who ranks as the first nobleman of
theprovince with the style of Nawab Bahadur of Murshidabad, instead of Nawab
Nazim of Bengal. The Hazarduari Palace, dating from 1837, is a magnificent
building. The city still bears memories of Nawabs with 
other palaces, mosques,
tombs, and gardens, and retains such industries as carving in ivory, gold and
silver embroidery, and silk-weaving. An educational institution is named after
Nawab family. Rao Jogendra Narayan Roy king of lalgola is remembered for his
philanthropic work and charity
The
District Of Murshidabad has an area of 2143 sq. m. It is divided into two
nearly equal portions by the Bhagirathi, the ancient channel of the Ganges. The
tract to the west, known as the Rarh, consists of hard clay and nodular
limestone. The general level is high, but interspersed with marshes and seamed
by hill torrents. The Bagri or eastern half belongs to alluvial plains of
eastern Bengal. There are few permanent swamps; but 
the whole country is
low-lying, and liable to annual inundation. In the north-west are a few small
detached hillocks, said to be of basaltic formation. Pop. (1901), 1,333,184,
showing an 
increase of 6.6% in the decade. The major industry is that of silk,
formerly of much importance, and now revived with government assistance. The
city is also famous for producing exotic mango and litchi. A narrow-gauge
railway crosses the district, from the East Indian line at Nalhati to Azimganj
on the Bhagirathi, the home of many rich Jain merchants; a branch of the
Eastern Bengal railway has been opened. Baharampur, the capital of Murshidabad,
has grown in importance, population & size; as of 2011 it is the 7th
largest city in West Bengal.
the whole country is
low-lying, and liable to annual inundation. In the north-west are a few small
detached hillocks, said to be of basaltic formation. Pop. (1901), 1,333,184,
showing an increase of 6.6% in the decade. The major industry is that of silk,
formerly of much importance, and now revived with government assistance. The
city is also famous for producing exotic mango and litchi. A narrow-gauge
railway crosses the district, from the East Indian line at Nalhati to Azimganj
on the Bhagirathi, the home of many rich Jain merchants; a branch of the
Eastern Bengal railway has been opened. Baharampur, the capital of Murshidabad,
has grown in importance, population & size; as of 2011 it is the 7th
largest city in West Bengal.
Place of Interest:
- Hazar Duari Palace A palace of 1000 doors - real and fake. The palace was constructed by Duncan Macleod in 1837 on the orders of the Nawab. It has a typicaI European style of architecture. This has now been converted into a museum.
- Bara Imambara The mosque is situated just opposite the palace. Both are on the side of the river Bhagirathi.
- Nasipur Palace The palace was built by King Kirtichand Bahadur in late 19th century. Within the palace compound are temples: the Ramachandra temple and the Lakshmi-Narayana temple. Closely situated is the Ashram of Mohandas and Jafraganj Deuri. The two cannons present here are said to be gifted to Mir Jafar by Clive.
- 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 SyudAhmed 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.
- Moti jheel This beautiful horseshoe shaped
lake was excavated by Nawazesh Mohammad, the husband of the famous Ghasseti
Begum. In the palace adjoining it (now in ruins) Lord Clive celebrated the
acquisition of the Dewani of Sube Bangla (Bengal, Bihar & Odisha) in 1765.
Moti Jheel was the home of Warren Hastings when he became the Political
President at the Durbar of the Nawab Nazim ( 1771 - 73 AD ). Sir John Shore,
afterwards Lord Teinmouth, also lived here. Moti Jheel is also known as the
"Company Bagh", due to the fact of it having been in the occupation
of the East India Company. The only old building existing is the Mosque of
Shahamat Jang - Kath-gola 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.
- The above as well as many others e.g. Well maintained Katra Masjid built by Murshid Kuli Khan that has interesting past and recent history, Nasipur Akhra of Ramanuj followers, Radhamadhab Mandir on the eastern side of Motijheel, etc are scattered within 2 km radius of Murshidabad Station. There are many other items worth seeing in whole Murshidabad district, particularly for those who are interested in archeology, art and culture.
Shop: Baluchari
Sarees - They are figured silk saree produced in the town of Baluchar in
Murshidabad
district. Baluchar sarees essentially have a silk base with silk
brocaded designs with respect to their colours, where inspite of a rich
composition, the Baluchar bootidars almost avoid strong contrasts. Each pattern
is treated in a colour which harmonises with the ground on which it is laid.
The most popular colours used are red, blue, yellow, green and scarlet. The
Baluchari sarees have large floral motifs interspersed with flowering shrubs.
Traditionally the Muslim community was also known to produce these Baluchars
with figured patterns depicting court scenes, horse with a rider, women smoking
hookah. The Kalka design or the cone 
motif is often surrounded with floral
borders.
district. Baluchar sarees essentially have a silk base with silk
brocaded designs with respect to their colours, where inspite of a rich
composition, the Baluchar bootidars almost avoid strong contrasts. Each pattern
is treated in a colour which harmonises with the ground on which it is laid.
The most popular colours used are red, blue, yellow, green and scarlet. The
Baluchari sarees have large floral motifs interspersed with flowering shrubs.
Traditionally the Muslim community was also known to produce these Baluchars
with figured patterns depicting court scenes, horse with a rider, women smoking
hookah. The Kalka design or the cone 
motif is often surrounded with floral
borders.
Most
Baluchar artisans have long migrated to Bankura. Hence Murshidabad is no more
famous for Baluchari Saree. Rather one can purchase Murshidabad Silk Kora Saree
than particularly for different types of embroidery works in Kolkata. These
thans are available in most Khadi shops in Berhampore and Khagra. But purchase
it if they provide a rebate of 20% on its printed price. Most of them give it
throughout the year even when Govt subsidy is not available. Other things
include Shola art, brass, copper and Kansha items.
Food: Nothing
special in Murshidabad particularly for Kolkatans. Nawabi Ghee-e bhaja
chhanabora has been replaced by Dalda-bhaja one. Still Kolkatans can relish
sweets and curd of Murshidabad because 
those are much cheaper here.
those are much cheaper here.
If
you sit for lunch in a roadside ordinary hotel near Hazarduary, first ask
whether the menu follows meal-system or a-la-carte and the rate. Else you may
feel cheated after the lunch is over.
Drink:
Remember that the ground water here is contaminated with arsenic. So better
drink municipal supply of surface water or bottled drinking water of reputed
company, not of ordinary company, here and there in Murshidabad district, even
if those are cheaper by Rs.2 per litre.
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