Murshidabad Between Palaces, History and Silk

Murshidabad combines historic buildings and burial sites with a thriving silk-weaving industry. At the Nizamat Imambara, the palaces and the cemeteries, you can encounter different chapters of regional history; there is also a lakeside temple and places connected with crafts and trade. To plan your trip, it is worth deciding on your priorities in advance: architecture, historical figures, religious buildings, or travel by train and bus.

Palaces and Buildings from Different Periods

The present-day Nizamat Imambara was built in 1847 by Nawab Mansur Ali Khan. It is considered the largest Imambara in India and Bengal. Hazarduari Palace was built in 1837 by Duncan McLeod for Nawab Nazim Humayun Jah. The two buildings offer different historical points of reference for your visit, without needing to group them together as a single complex.

The palaces also each have their own distinct character. The four-storey Kathgola Palace is set in the Kathgola Gardens. Nashipur Palace has been converted into the Nashipur Rajbari Museum; its collection includes personal belongings of the Nashipur royal family, farmans, legal documents relating to tax collection at the time, and other objects. The Cossimbazar Rajbari of the Roy family is considered an outstanding example of European and Indian architecture and has been lovingly restored to its former splendour. Banwaribad Raj Bari is a palace in Sonarundi and Bonwaribad.

The Jahan-Kosha Cannon offers a different kind of historical landmark. It stands in Topekhana, a quarter of a mile southeast of the Katra Mosque in the city of Murshidabad. In Karnasubarna, which was the capital of the Gauda Kingdom during the reign of Shashanka, the focus is instead on the history of an earlier centre of power.

Cemeteries, Religious Sites and Historical Connections

The Jafarganj Cemetery offers a clear dynastic context for understanding the history of the Nawabs. Mir Jafar established the cemetery on an area of 3.51 acres within a walled enclosure. It contains the graves of the later Nawabs of Bengal from the Najafi dynasty, beginning with Mir Jafar, as well as those of their family members. Khushbagh represents a different connection: the Nawabs of Bengal from the Afshar dynasty and their family members are buried there. The Jafarganj Cemetery is currently managed and maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.

In the garden at the tomb of Siraj-ud-daulah, the graves of Siraj ud-Daulah and Alivardi Khan lie in a square mausoleum with a flat roof and a surrounding arcaded verandah. The tomb of Azimunnisa Begum is beside a ruined mosque built by Azimunnisa, also known as Jinnatunnisa Begum. The Armenian Church in Saidabad, Berhampore, was founded in 1757 and is considered the oldest Armenian church in eastern India. These places differ not only in their architectural forms but also in the historical and religious contexts to which their names refer.

The Dutch Cemetery is beside Cossimbazar railway station in Kalkapur. Dutch factories were established in Kalkapur in 1666. The name “House of Jagat Seth” refers to a Bengali Jain banking family and also to the title of the family’s eldest son. In this way, a look at tombs and churches also leads to the region’s history of trade.

Silk Weaving, Lakeside Sites and Events

Silk weaving is considered Murshidabad’s most important cottage industry. For another aspect of the local landscape, Bishnupur Kalibari stands on the shore of Bishnupur jheel. Moti Jhil (Pearl Lake) is one of Murshidabad’s places of historical interest.

The Bera Utsav is associated with Lalbagh, on the bank of the Bhagirathi near the Nawabs’ palace. Traditional dance and music, as well as fireworks on the riverbank, are part of the Bera Utsav. The Hazarduari Mela is held on the open-air stage in front of Hazarduari Palace. If you would like to plan your trip around either event, check the specific dates in advance.

Getting There and Planning Your Stay

Murshidabad and Berhampore Court railway stations are relevant for your journey; trains connect them with Howrah, Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad and other Indian cities. State-run buses regularly connect Murshidabad with Kolkata, Burdwan, Rampurhat, Suri, Bolpur, Malda, Krishnagar and Durgapur. Check the relevant departures and connections for your travel dates.

When planning a hotel stay, you can first decide whether palaces and historic buildings, burial sites, religious places or silk weaving will be your main focus. Then coordinate your travel with your dates. This makes it possible to explore Murshidabad around the interests that are most important to your trip.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Gokarna, Madhurkul, South 24 Parganas, Birbhum, Bardhaman, Howrah, Kalkuta, Bankura.

For the broader travel overview: West Bengal.