Murshidabad Travel Guide
Murshidabad is a town in Murshidabad district of North Bengal and is located on the southern banks of the river Bhagirathi. The per-colonial history of Bengal is thoroughly linked with the rise, development and decay of the city of Murshidabad. It had oversaw all the proceedings of the 18th century eastern India and provided the podium from which the colonial benefits had launched themselves and later became an Imperial power in 1857.
In early 17th century Emperor Aurangzeb sent his Diwan Kartalab Khan at Murshidabad for collection of revenue during his regime. A huge amount of money pleased Emperor and he named Kartalab as Murshid Kuli Khan.Later, in a cunning strategical move, Murshid Kuli shifted the executive power centre of Bengal to the city of Murshidabad- the prime life force of North India and almost in the geographic centre of the Province in 1701. After Murshid Kuli, his son in law Suja-ud-Daulla reigned the city till 1739. In 1740, the Nawab Nazim of Bihar, Aliwardi Khan defeated descendants of Suja in the Battle of Giriya and occupied Murshidabad. Henceforth the power shifted from the hands of the dynasty of Murshid Kuli to that of Aliwardi. Since Aliwardi had no son, he chose his grandson Siraj-ud-Daulla to sit on the thrones of Murshidabad, thus initiating the fall of the empire.
The rule of Siraj-ud-Daulla is perhaps the most prominent in the history of Bengal. The rift with the British Raj that started from the time of Murshid Kuli, widened during the reign of Siraj and ultimately culminated in the Battle of Plassey (1757) which saw the death of Siraj-ud-Daulla as a result of betrayal by Mir Jafar and his associates.
The city which was once a power hub of Bengal, even now is carrying the legacy of the royalty with innumerable memorials and mausoleums. A visit to Murshidabad will definitely transport you to the golden age of Bengal’s prosperity and will bring the history alive!
How to Reach Murshidabad
- By Air – Reach Kolkata by flight. It is 204 km away from Murshidabad. You can hire a private car and head off for Murshidabad.
- By Rail – Berhampore Court is the main station which is connected with Sealdah Station at Kolkata. The Bhagirathi Express & the Lalgola Passenger from Sealdah reach Berhampore Court Railway Station in 5 to 6 hours.
- By Road – Murshidabad is very well connected from Kolkata by road. The distance of Berhampore, the District capital town of Murshidabad is 195 Km from Kolkata. Tourist taxi, hired car, auto-rickshaw are available from Berhampore to visit the tourist spots at Murshidabad town.
Distance of Murshidabad from Below Places:
| Place | Distance (KM) |
|---|---|
|
Kolkata |
204 |
|
Berhampore |
11 |
Weather
Murshidabad Temperature:
- Summer (Mar to Jun) — Temperatures are hot and range between (24°C) to (38°C)
- Monsoon (Jul to Sep) — Regular rainfall happens. Not a good season for tourists
- Winter (Oct to Feb) — Temperatures are moderate and range between (9°C) to (24°C)
- Best Season to Visit — Oct to Feb is the best season for tourism
What to See in Murshidabad
The Hazarduari Palace or the palace with a thousand doors is the principal tourist attraction of Murshidabad. This three-storey magnificent edifice was built in 1837 by Duncan McLeod for the Nawab Nazim Humaun Jah, descendent of Mir Zafar. It has thousand doors and 114 rooms and 8 galleries, built in European architectural style in the area of 41 acres. It is now a museum and has an exquisite collection of armoury, paintings, various works of art including beautiful works of ivory and many other valuables.
The Armoury has 2700 arms in its collections of which only few are displayed. Swords used by Siraj-ud-Daulla and his grandfather, Nawab Aliwardi Khan, can be seen here. The other attractions in this floor are Vintage Cars and Fittan Cars used by the Nawab and their families. The library containing rare collections is not accessible to the public unless special permission is obtained
Char Bangla Temple is a famous tourist spot of Murshidabad, located at the old towns of Azimgunj. Azimgunj is a famous town on the heart of Murshidabad. This old sacred temple is actually sheltered by the Baranagar town which means the ‘Big City’ in Bengali and describes how stretched the complete area is for making business.
Rani (Queen) Bhabani made this wonderful monument in memory of his dead husband after returning back from Nator. Queen Bhabani was a loyal follower of Lord Siva and made this temple to earn virtues from him and patronized all the temples dedicating to him. But sadly few among them are only left now. Tourists take huge interests on making short trips to Char Bangla Temple, not to earn divine virtues only but to witness the arts on walls also. The town of Baranagar started gaining enormous popularity for producing the magnificent ‘Terracotta’ arts and crafts among the world traders. The piece of ‘Terracotta’ arts is found on the walls of the Char Bangla Temple which are real delight for all the tourists
Khosh Bagh is a nice place and worth tourist visits from both the historical and architectural point of views. Khosh Bagh has earned a huge amount of goodwill in recent past and the number of tourists gathering has been increased over the years. This place is actually a cemetery which is stretched up over an area of around 8 acres. Khosh Bagh was built right on the opposite banks of the River Bhagirathi. The souls of the famous Nawab family of Bengal starting from Nawab Alivardi Khan, his mother, his daughter to his grandson Siraj-ud-Doula and his wife Lutfannesha and many other members are resting in peace beneath the graves here. Tourists take special interests in visiting this place.
Khosh Bagh offers the delight of listening to many unheard stories from the history of Bengal from the local guides and inhabitants. Besides seeking the historical anecdotes tourists can also arrange beautiful habitats there near the banks of River Bhagirathi with their friends, relatives and loved ones. Local people often arrange beautiful camp activities for the tourists which are highly enjoyed by everyone. Tourists from all over Bengal and even from the other states of India prefer to visit this place
Jahan Kosha Cannon is a nice sight and a wonderful piece of history of Bengal. It is located proudly at Katra of Murshidabad district and still an iconic symbol of warfare in Bengal. Jahan Kosha Cannon was built by the famous gunsmith of that time; named Janardan Karmakar in the year of 1637 AD and in the town of Dhaka during the rule of the great Mughal King Shah Jahan. It was built to pay homage to him when Islam Khan used to be the Subahdar of Bengal.
The wholesome construction of this canon took place under the prior instructions of Daroga Shree Muhammad and the supervision of Shri Hara Ballav Das. The literal meaning of the name of Jahan Kosha Cannon is ‘The World Destroyer’ and known for its strong external looks by the visitors and the locals. Jahan Kosha Cannon measures around 17.5 feet in length and 3 feet in width. It weighs around 16,880 lb as a whole. Tourists always prefer to make their visits to this place and also enjoy the beauty of the historical mosque of Kadam Sharif which is constructed right adjacent to the Jahan Kosha Cannon
It is actually a famous branch of the River Ganges and flows between the districts of Nadia and Murshidabad. It is a old river and have proud references in the mythological stories. Tourists prefer to visit this place because of its natural bliss and climatic behavior. Tourists often take interests in visiting the beautiful place of Ghurni which is located at a bank of Jalangi River and considered as the center of clay doll making. It is very closely located from Krishnanagar town which shares strong evidences in the cultural history of Bengal. Krishnanagar is always famous for producing clay dolls which are highly exported to almost every corners of the country.
The art of making dolls in Ghurni attract thousands of tourists from everywhere. The famous town of Mayapur where Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was born is located on the other confluence of Jalangi and tourists can take boat rides to this place. The changing color of the water in Jalangi River is a marvelous sight for any tourist and they like to enjoy it during the daytime from the beautiful and small family boats. Tourists can also opt for the public boats in minimum fares.
Parallel to the north facade of the Hazarduari, stands the Nizamat Imambara, built in 1847 AD by Nawab Nazim Mansoor Ali Khan Feradun Jah, son of Humaun Jah, 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. It is divided in three large quadrangles. There are massive pillars, floor decorated with Chinese tiles, fountains etc. There is also a shrine inside the Imambara. The top of the arches and pillars also contain extracts from Koran Sharif.
This magnificent building is about one and a half km from Murshidabad Railway Station on the Berhampore-Lalgola Road. This imposing structure was built by Nawab Murshid Kuli Khan in 1723-24 and it remains one of the most significant tourist attractions. The stunning structure with its enormous cupolas and tall minarets has a humble cemetery of the Nawab below the front staircase. This brick-built mosque is surrounded by a row of double storied domed cells which form a cloister to the courtyard
It is a miniature replica of Hazarduari palace. It was built in 1900 by Raja Kirti Chandra Sinha Bahadur and it still stands as a mystic beauty with its varied depictions of Hindu iconography
At Mahimapur, a few yards from Nashipur Palace, there are the ruins of the old banking office of the famous Jagat Seth. It is an ornate four story palatial mansion with a beautiful garden. The interior is created with imported materials and with extreme precision. The Kathgola complex also contains 18th century Adinath Temple. A typically Jain style ornamentation is found here as the Seths were Jain by religion
This is a horse-shoe shaped lake which once had been a part of Bhagirathi, says history. Within the bend of the lake, there was a beautiful palace and a mosque made by son-in-law of Nawab Aliwardi Khan. After his death, his widow Ghaseti Begum lived here until the conquest by Siraj-ud-Daulla who not only took over the palace but looted a huge amount of treasures
Other Details
What to Do
- Sightseeing would take up the entire day and would be a pretty hectic one. So evenings can be left for relaxing. You can sit beside the river and enjoy the breeze with some local sweets.
- You can enjoy boating in Moti Jheel Lake.
Where to Eat
- There are numerous hotels and guest houses in Murshidabad where you can enjoy your daily meal. The local restaurants generally serve authentic Bengali cuisine. Restaurant are neat and well equipped with clean cutlery and sitting arrangements. Food is generally tasty. They serve bottled beverages as well. Foreign liquor can be obtained from Berhampore.
- If you sit for lunch in a roadside eatery near Hazarduary, first ask if the menu follows meal-system or a-la-carte and the rate. Else you may feel cheated after the lunch is over.
- The sweets and curd of Murshidabad is pretty well known. One must try the Chhanabora and Mishti Doi available at a very affordable price
What to Buy
- There are numerous shops selling souvenirs, copper utensils, chatai, shola work and many such handicrafts.
- Murshidabadi silk and Baluchari sarees are world famous. You can take your pick and even visit one or two artisan’s house.
Get Around
- Tanga or Horse Carts are one of the major attractions of the historical city. Although they are reducing in number day by day and thus charging a very high rate for a short distance, you can once try out these for the feel of an era bygone.
- Auto Rickshaws are ample. Do not forget to bargain before you fix the destination. Hiring a car from the hotel is also a safe option
Top Destinations - West Bengal
– Bakkhali
– Bindu
– Bishnupur
– Buxa Tiger Reserve
– Chapramari
– Chilapata
– Darjeeling
– Digha
– Jhalong
– Lataguri
– Jairambati
– Jaldapara
– Jayanti
– Kalimpong
– Kamarpukur
– Lava
– Lolegaon
– Mandarmani
– Murti
– Murshidabad
– Rishop
– Samsing-Suntalekhola
– Santiniketan
– Sundarbans
– Tajpur
– Tarapith
Popular Tour Plans - West Bengal
1-3 Days
1. Murshidabad (2N/3D)
2. Digha (2N/3D)
3. Tajpur (2N/3D)
4. Bakkhali (2N/3D)
5. Sundarbans (2N/3D)
6. Kamarpukur-Jairambati-Bishnupur (3N/4D)
4-6 Days
1. Bakreshwar-Tarapith-Santiniketan (4N/5D)
2. Mandarmani-Digha (4N/5D)
3. Jaldapara-Chilapata-Buxa Tiger Reserve-Jayanti (5N/6D)
4. Lava-Lolegaon-Rishop (6N/7D)
5. Darjeeling-Gangtok (6N/7D)
7-10 Days
1. Jaldapara-Lataguri-Murti-Chapramari-Jhalong-Bindu-Suntanekhola (8N/9D)
2. Darjeeling-Kalimpong-Pelling-Gangtok (9N/10D)
3. Darjeeling-Gangtok-Lachen-Lachung (9N/10D)
4. Darjeeling-Pelling-Gangtok (8N/9D)
>10 Days
1. Darjeeling-Gangtok-Lachen-Lachung-Pelling (11N/12D)