Murshidabad : Beauty of History
- How to Get There
- Hazarduari Palace Museum
- Imambara
- Nasipur Palace
- Katra Mosque
Murshidabad
Murshidabad : Beauty of History
The wonderful city of Murshidabad lies rather languidly on the banks of the River Bhagirathi. Being a former capital city, the place is filled with relics of the past which both intriguing and mesmerizing.
Under the Mughal Rule, Murshidabad was the capital of the Bengal region. The city still has a charm of the former regal age hanging over it. Modernity has been embraced but you will still feel a twinge of nostalgic recall of the earlier periods of glory through the old buildings with the incredible architecture. The heritage of the city lies in its treasure trove of culture. The grandeur of the monuments has not yet been lost.
How to Get There
By Air :
The nearest airport to Murshidabad is Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International, Kolkata, located at a distance of 195 km from city.
By Rail :
Murshidabad has its own Railway Station named as Murshidabad Railway Station which is connected to the major cities like New Delhi, Bangalore, Mysore, Lucknow, Siliguri, Suri, Asansol, Dhubri, Patna and Gaya via Lalgola Fast Passenger, Lalgola Passenger, Bhagirathi Express and Hazarduari Express.
By Road :
Murshidabad is connected to the state capital, Kolkata, by road. It’s 211 km from Kolkata, and frequent buses ply between Kolkata and Murshidabad.
Hazarduari Palace Museum
The palace does have a thousand doors, which has allowed it to be anointed with the name of Hazarduari which means ‘a thousand doorways’. Rather interestingly, not all of the doors are real. Some of them are false facades. Be that as it may, the doors are still fascinating. Inside the magnificent palace, you will find eight galleries and, incredibly, 114 doors. Built in the European style, the palace served as the royal home of the Bengal Nawabs. The palace is now a museum which contains an amazing assortment of artifacts and antiquities which date back to the 18th and the 19th centuries.
Imambara
Built in the year 1847, the Imambara in Murshidabad is considered to be one of the biggest in India. It was built by the then Nawab of Bengal, Nazim Mansoor Ali Khan. The long white walls of the Imambara look astonishing against the blue skies. This spectacular place is situated inside a verdant park which adds to its beauty.
Nasipur Palace
Locally known as the Nasipur Rajbari, the grand palace is a magnificent sight to behold. The current structure was built in the year 1865. Often compared to the more glamorous Hazarduari Palace, the Nasipur Palace is, nonetheless, quite fascinating. Inside the building you will be mesmerized with the huge hall which was once used to entertain members of the royalty. The palace is still the home to the royal Nasipur family.
Katra Mosque
The incredible Katra Mosque is a holy place for the local Muslim population. However, it is the tomb here which can be of more interest than the mosque. The Nawab of Bengal during that time, Murshid Quli Khan had built the mosque and the tomb between the years of 1723 and 1724. It is he who now lies interred within that same tomb. The Nawab is buried underneath the staircase at the entrance. The mosque itself looks spectacular. There are two immense towers here in the corners. The main mosque is adorned with high minarets and domes.