Historical hotness : Murshidabad

Photo of Historical hotness : Murshidabad 3/14 by Sagnik Basu — Hazarduari, 1000 doors

Photo of Historical hotness : Murshidabad 4/14 by Sagnik Basu

Photo of Historical hotness : Murshidabad 5/14 by Sagnik Basu — Tiny tourist

Photo of Historical hotness : Murshidabad 6/14 by Sagnik Basu

Photo of Historical hotness : Murshidabad 7/14 by Sagnik Basu

Photo of Historical hotness : Murshidabad 8/14 by Sagnik Basu

Photo of Historical hotness : Murshidabad 9/14 by Sagnik Basu — Hazaduari.

Photo of Historical hotness : Murshidabad 10/14 by Sagnik Basu — Katra Masjid

Photo of Historical hotness : Murshidabad 11/14 by Sagnik Basu

Photo of Historical hotness : Murshidabad 12/14 by Sagnik Basu — Imambara. The Largest of India.

Photo of Historical hotness : Murshidabad 13/14 by Sagnik Basu

Photo of Historical hotness : Murshidabad 14/14 by Sagnik Basu — Intricate.

' Betrayed by his own uncle Mir Jafar, then commander of Bengal's army, Siraj lost the Battle of Plassey on 23 June 1757. The forces of the East India Company under Robert Clive triumphed and the administration of Bengal fell into the hands of the Company.'

The prologue of Murshidabad and the epilogue of Shiraj ud Daulah can be felt even today at every corner of Murshidabad. This fertile land has witnessed numerous expansions, betrayals and battles. After years of seizing and oppression Murshidabad freed itself along with the rest of the nation, prizing itself with an entire chapter of historical evidence.

Rediscover the moments of the Nawabs and the East India Company in this antique district and let the place speak for itself.

Murshidabad, best served during winter with a guide!

Hazarduari

The name of the palace owes to more than thousand real and false doors, vast corridors in it. In 1985, the palace was handed over to the Archaeological Survey of India for better preservation. The museum is regarded as the biggest site museum of Archaeological Survey of India. This three-storey palace was built in 1837 by Duncan McLeod for the Nawab Najim Humaun Jah, descendent of Mir Zafar. The total area of Hazarduari Palace is 41 acres.

Nizamat Imambara

To the north of the Hazarduari Palace, stands the Nizamat Imambara, built in 1847 AD. by Nawab Nazim Mansoor Ali Khan Feradun Jah, son of Humayun Jah, at a cost of more than 6 lacs, 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.

Katra Masjid

Built in 1724, its importance lies not only as a great centre of Islamic learning but also for the tomb of Murshid Quli Khan, who is buried under the entrance staircase. The most striking feature is the two large corner towers having loopholes for musketry. At present it is maintained and protected by the Archaeological Survey of India and the Government of West Bengal. It is a brick built mosque and is surrounded by double storied domed cells, which were built for those who read the Holy Quran in those days, they can also be called a Madrasa. All the rooms can in all accommodate 700 Quran readers. These rooms from a cloister to the huge courtyard in front of these rooms. At real beauty.

Mosque

The mosque has a good setting placed in a small garden and burials in front. In front of all this is a huge lake excavated during the time of the Nawabs and provides a great setting all throughout the year. Unfortunately this is yet to be taken over by ASI and not maintained well. The Motijheel Mosque and cemetery has a very important place in the history of Murshidabad. Mawazesh Md. Khan, son-in-law of Nawab Ali Vardi Khan and subedar of then Bengal, Bihar and Odisha, and Ekramoddulla, younger brother of Nawab Sirajuddullah, are buried here. Motijheel is a horse-shoe shaped lake. And in a palace adjoining it, which now lie in ruins, was the home of Warren Hastings when he became the political president at the Durbar of the Nawab Nazim. The tombs lie to the east of the mosque.