In this blog post, I am going to list down places to visit around Murshidabad. I will not create one mega blog post covering all the places instead will create posts in sections that you can visit. The first post will cover places around central Murshidabad town.
After covering Malda it was obvious for me to cover Murshidabad as this would complete the entire tourist trail with the Islamic history of Bengal and its Nawabs. I am not going into the historical details of these places as most of the information is already available on the net. I have listed down places that you can visit one after the other along with a small brief history of the place.
How To Reach Murshidabad
You can take a train to Murshidabad or drive down in your car. The journey time in the car would vary between 6 to 7 hours in my opinion. So, the best comfortable and cheapest would be to take a train. If you are taking the train then the nearest railhead is Murshidabad.
Where To Stay in Murshidabad
There are many hotels in Murshidabad town itself, however, some also prefer to stay at Berhampore. In that case, you need to get down a few stations before Murshidabad at Berhampore Court. I would suggest Murshidabad as that will reduce your cost of local transportation during sightseeing.
How To Travel Around Murshidabad
If you have got your vehicle then you can always use that but do keep in mind that some places will have parking restrictions due to narrow roads. The best would be to hire a Toto (e-rickshaw) that would charge around 600 – 700 Rupees to take you all the places around Murshidabad. There are no time restrictions and you can take your sweet time going around places.
Mind it that they will cover only this part of the town and will not cross the river for tourist places on the other side of Bhagirathi River. For that, you need to book for one more day costing almost the same covering that part of the district.
Guides at Murshidabad
Trust me when I say this you will find guides at every tourist site here. Some would politely ask you while some will pester on making you believe that without him you will understand nothing. I am not against guides and they mostly will charge around 30 to 50 Rupees for their service. However, I was annoyed when I overheard a so-called tourist guide giving complete fictional stories to tourists.
Places to Visit Around Murshidabad:-
Kathgola Palace
This is located in the northernmost part of the town and would be your first stop. This place requires a ticket for entry as well as for photography. This is a very large property that consists of a palatial home which one can see with the pond in front. Apart from this the property also houses a Jain temple, Hanuman temple, and also a mini zoo.
If you come during the flowering season then you can enjoy the view of the gardens in their full bloom.
You are allowed to visit around the ground floor of the main building which had been converted into a museum but photography inside the building is not allowed. There are various rooms like a billiards room, library, drawing room, and bedroom all decorated in their former glory. This building was built around 1873.
Murshidabad was once the hub for Marwari Jain businessmen who had settled in and around this place seeing the opportunity to trade with the Muslim nawabs as well as the British in later years. Kathgola Palace belongs to the Dugar family belonging to this community of businessmen.
Vlog of Kathgola Palace
House of Jagat Seth
One who has read the history of Bengal will surely know about Jagat Seth. He was a person so rich during his times that even the British (East India Company) took loans from him. The reason he was called Jagat Seth coz it literarily meant that he was the Merchant of the World.
He was also infamously connected with the conspiracy of Mir Jaffar with East India Company for the murder of Siraj ud-Daulah.
The house has now been converted into a museum. You can visit the multiple underground chambers and see different exhibits. This is also a ticketed place and photography inside the museum (house) is not allowed.
Vlog of House of Jagat Seth
Nashipur Rajbari
The next stop is Nashipur Rajbari which looks like a miniature version of Hazarduari Palace. This was built in 1865 by Kirti Chandra Singha Bahadur. You need to buy a ticket to enter this building, any kind of photography with a camera is not allowed however, you can use your mobile phone for photography and videography.
Only the front portion facing the street has been restored and is now converted into a museum. The back portion which comprises the old palace is in ruins.
Vlog of Nashipur Rajbari
Nashipur Akhra and Raghunath Temple
I hugely underestimated this place honestly. As you buy the entrance ticket and enter this place what you see is just an old building that was once occupied by the head of the akhara. But what most people miss is the Raghunath Temple which needs to be accessed through a small doorway. The architecture is simply splendid.
Vlog of Nashipur Akhra and Raghunath Temple
Namak Haram Deorhi
As the name suggests it has everything to do with Mir Jafar. This was once the palace of Mir Jafar but sadly what now remains are just the remains of this grand doorway and some portions of the outer wall. Even though this is a prime tourist attraction it’s still private property so it’s best suggested to see it from the outside and not venture inside.
This place got its name Namak Haram (traitor) since Mir Jafar had betrayed Siraj ud-Daulah by getting him murdered so people started referring to the palace gate as the gateway of the traitor.
Vlog of Namak Haram Deorhi
Jafarganj Cemetery
This is the very cemetery where Mir Jafar is buried and this is also the cemetery that was Mir Jafar himself for his family and dynasty of nawabs from his generations forward. This was more like a family burial ground with many of the next nawabs after Mir Jafar and their wives including immediate family members buried here.
This is an active cemetery and don’t be surprised to see new tombs as recent as a few months.
Vlog of Jafarganj Cemetery
Tomb Of Azimunnisa Begum
Built-in 1734 A.D. by Azimunissa Begum, she was the daughter of Murshid Quili Khan. She was married to Shuja Ud Daula. Nothing much remains of the original mosque except for a portion of the western wall and the raised platform. After her death, she was buried out here and the grave can be seen located below the staircase leading to the raised mosque floor. Approach the site from the left doorway and you can see the grave located below the staircase. This was done in the belief that people will use the staircase and pray for her afterlife.
Vlog of Tomb Of Azimunnisa Begum
Hazarduari Palace
This is the grandest structure in Murshidabad. It’s massive and as the name suggests the building on all sides and even in between has these massive doorways. Built by Nawab Nazim Humayun Jah between 1829 – 1837. This place has now been converted into a museum under the Archaeological Survey0059a30059a3 of India. The museum house various artifacts from the reign of the Nawabs. You can also see the grand durbar halls and other grand rooms.
This is a ticketed monument and photography is not allowed inside the building. Next to the ticket counter, there are lockers where you need to store your bags to visit the museum.
Right opposite Hazarduari Palace is the Nizamat Imambara. Apart from this, there are other structures within the compound like Clock Tower, Bachhawali Tope, and Madina Masjid. On the western side right outside the Hazarduari Palace compound is the Zurud Masjid (Yellow Mosque).
Vlog of Hazarduari Palace
Nizamat Imambara
Located on the same premise as Hazarduari Palace the Nizamat Imambara was originally built by Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah in 1740 A.D. and later it was rebuilt by Nawab Mansur Ali Khan in 1847 after the original structure was destroyed by a fire. This place is out of bound for tourists however one can enter when it’s thrown open to the public during Muharram.
Zurud Masjid (Yellow Mosque)
Popularly known as the yellow mosque is located on the western side of Hazarduari Palace. This is a functioning mosque and entry inside is restricted to anyone else other than Namazi (person coming to offer Namaz).
Tripolia Gate
This grand three-arched gateway was built by Nawab Shuja Khan between 1725 – 1739. It is a single-storied building that has a Nahabat Khana with four minarets on four corners.
Chawk Masjid
This is another functioning mosque where the tourists are restricted. This mosque was founded by Munny Begum the wife of Mir Jafar in 1767 A.D.
Vlog of Tripolia Gate & Chawk Masjid
Dakhin Darwaza
This is a smaller gate than the Tripolia Gate. As the name suggests this is the south gate of what was once the Kila Nizamat.
Ghari Ghanta
This is located next to Dakhin Darwaza and the bell can still be seen hanging. Locals say that the bell used to rung to demarcate clock hours.
Vlog of Dakhin Darwaza & Ghari Ghanta
Safaid Masjid
This is another small mosque similar to that of Zurud Masjid (Yellow Mosque) located right next to the river bank.
Wasif Manzil
The original palace was destroyed during the earthquake of 1897 and was rebuilt. The original structure was built by Nawab Wasif Ali Mirza Khan. The palace has a garden in front with a non-functioning fountain and marble statues.
Vlog of Wasif Manzil & Safaid Masjid
Fauti Masjid
To reach this place we have to travel towards Katara Masjid and we need to cross the railway line. Right after crossing the railway tracks this mosque which now is in ruins can be seen on the left. It was built in the year 1740 A.D. by Nawab Sarfaraz Khan. The legend goes that this mosque was built overnight. The nawab could not however see the completion as he was killed in the battle with Nawab Alvardi Khan. The mosque is in a state which looks incomplete. Since the death of the Nawab, the mosque is called “Faut” signifying a death in battle.
Vlog of Fauti Masjid
Katra Masjid
This is indeed a grand structure and it has its charm and architectural beauty. This grand mosque was built in 1723 by Nawab Murshid Kuli Khan from whom the town gets its name Murshidabad. The Nawab himself is buried here and his tomb can be found under the staircase on the eastern side.
Vlog of Katra Masjid
Jahan Kosha Cannon
When translated this means the “Destroyer of the World” Cannon. Originally this cannon was placed on a carriage with wheels but those have disappeared over time but the cannon remains as it is. Weighing more than 7 tons this cannon was set to have been built by Subadar Islam Khan during the reign of Shah Jahan in 1637 A.D.
Vlog of Jahan Kosha Cannon
Motijheel Masjid
This is another functional mosque located right next to the entrance of Motijheel Park. Built-in 1750 by Nawab Nawaei Muhammad Khan. The nawab himself is buried in the mosque compound along with his adopted son Ekramulla. Ekramulla was the biological son of Amina Begum thus he was the own brother of Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah.
Motijhil Park
Historically Motijhil was an artificial lake built by Nawazish Muhammad Khan. Water from Bhagirathi was diverted to feed the lake. The lake was built like a horseshoe and had a palatial building in the center. Nothing of that remains, now it has been developed as a park. In the evening you get to see light and sound shows depicting the life of Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah.
This is a ticketed park with restrictions on video photography but still, photographs are allowed. Apart from gardens, you can also enjoy boating in the artificial lakes.
Usually, Toto drivers will cover these places in one day as per the day-wise trip. There are other tourist places in Cossimbazar and on the other side of Bhagirathi River comprising Koshbagh (Khushbagh) which is the last resting place of Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah and Nawab Aliverdi Khan etc., Rosnaiganj which has the Tomb of Nawab Shuja Uddin Khan and temples of Baranagar.
There will be two separate tours one covering Cossimbazar and the other covering the other side of the river. The above-mentioned tourist places and Cossimbazar can be done in a single day and the next day covering the tourist places on the other side of the river.
Koshbagh
This is located on the other side of the Bhagirathi River and if you are covering this place with a Toto then they will cross the river on motorized country boats. Two large wooden boats are joined together with bamboo and humans and small vehicles like Toto and motorcycles directly get up on these makeshift bamboo platforms and take the 2 to 3-minute journey across the river. You need to pay for the river crossing (both ways for the toto).
Koshbagh is the last resting place of Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah, Nawab Aliverdi Khan, and other family members of that dynasty.
As you enter the first raised platform you will find the last resting place of the tomb of Amina Begum, mother of Siraj ud-Daulah, and the tomb of Ghaseti Begum, the eldest daughter of Alivardi Khan. The covered building after that houses the tomb of Nawab Alivardi Khan in the center, on the right is the tomb of Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah and just below his tomb is the tomb of Lutfunnisa Begum, wife of Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah.
Vlog of Koshbagh
Rosnaiganj
This place had the tomb of Shuja Uddin Khan. He was the son-in-law of Murshid Quli Khan. He had married two of his daughters and became the Nawab after the death of Murshid Quli Khan.
Vlog of Rosnaiganj
Location Of These Places on Map
Other Blogs on Murshidabad
Places to visit around Cossimbazar
Terracotta Temples of Baranagar