Murshidabad – Land of Nawabs

Located along the banks of River Bhagirathi, this historic town stands witness to the advent of British Imperialists in the land of Bengal that changed the destiny of India for the next 200 years. It was here that the great Battle of Plassey was fought in 1757 between Lord Clive and Siraj-Ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal. The town is most noted for its palace and other adjoining architectures surrounding it. The Hazarduari palace was built in 19th century under the reign of Nawab Nazim Humayun Jah. The architect was Dencan Macleod of the Bengal Corps Engineers.

The palace was built in Indo-European styled architecture. The name of the palace means a palace with 1000 doors of which 900 are false doors in reality. This was a trick used for the purpose of security of the palace. The palace has 114 rooms. The palace has now been converted into a museum under the Archaeological Survey of India and is open for public viewing. There are around 20 galleries displaying 4742 antiquities that includes various weapons, gold and silver statues, marble statues, oil paintings of Dutch, French and Italian artists, manuscripts, palanquins of the 18th and 19th centuries, iron cannons and the famous dagger by which Siraj-Ud-Daulah was assassinated. The palace also adorns a beautiful glass chandelier that was gifted to the Nawab by Queen Victoria of England.

Other important places of visit in Murshidabad are the Battle site of Plassey on the way to the palace, Murshidabad Clock Tower, Imambara, Madina Mosque, Zafri palace, Chawk Masjid, Motijheel and Kathgola etc. The town of Murshidabad is very verdant with fresh air and one can enjoy quite walks along the banks of the calm Bhagirathi.