West Bengal - Holiday Hotspot

Jain Temples of Azimganj, Murshidabad

Posted on August 22, 2014 | by indispottravel | 1 Comment

Azimganj small town in Murshidabad is home to 7 Jain temples of immense historical, architectural and spiritual value are located. They are:

Sri Neminathji Temple, Azimganj was built in Samvat 1943 by Shree Singh covering an area of 2933, 2616 Sq. Mt.

Sri Padam Prabhuji Temple, Azimganj was constructed in 1880 AD by Yati Bijay Chandji Khattargachhit covering an area of 764.0173 Sq. Mt. The idols are 500 years old.

Sri Sumatinathji Temple, Azimganj was built in 1856 AD by Uttam CHandji Nahar and was rebuilt by Setab Chandji Nahar in 1897 AD. This temple covers an area of 421.8674 Sq. Mt.

Sri Sambhavnathji Temple, Azimganj was founded in 1886 AD by Rai Dhanpat Singhji Dugar and covers an area of 3665.6731 Sq. Mt. This temple is home to the larges idol of Jain Swtambaras in Eastern India.

Sri Chintamani Parasnathji Temple, Azimganj was built in 1888 AD by Manhot family and the idols are 500 years old.

Sri Shantinathji Temple, Azimganj was constructed in 1873 AD by Gulab Kumari Bibi and one of the idols belongs to Samvat 1510.

Ram Bagh Samalia Parasnath Mandir and Dadabari, Azimganj was built in 1870 AD by Shree Singh. This temple complex is also home to temples from Jangipur, Kiaganj, Cossimbazar which were rebuilt here.

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Cossimbazar Kuthi, Murshidabad

Posted on August 22, 2014 | by indispottravel

Cossimbazar Kuthi is a relatively less popular tourist spot in Murshidabad. The bazaar area used to be famous due to its silk production which has reduced these days. However, the Cossimbazar Kuthi stall stands at present. During its heyday Cossimbazar Kuthi used to be the residence of Babu Jagabandhu Roy, who was a high class Kulin during the Nawab’s time. He also became the chief of the Cossimbazar Silk Factory in 1760AD. It is also known that Job Charnock had worked in the capacity of assistant in this Kuthi for INR 300.

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Dutch Cemetery in Murshidabad

Posted on August 21, 2014 | by indispottravel | 2 Comments

The Dutch Cemetery is located next to the Cossimbazar railway station at Kalkapur where the Dutch owned huge factories in the year 1666 AD were based. The grandeur of the Dutch has been ruined and small tombs of 43 in number remain to this day. Most of the monuments were built between 1721 and 1792 AD. The oldest monument at the Dutch cemetery belongs to Daniel van der Muyl who died in 1721. Most of the monuments are pyramidal in shape with cenotaphs mentioning the names. Some of the popular and relatively less ruined ones include Gregorius Herklots, Matthias Arnoldus Brahe, tamerus Cantes Vischer. The cemetery is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.

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Jafarganj Muqbara near Hazarduari Palace, Murshidabad

Posted on August 21, 2014 | by indispottravel

Jafarganj Muqbara or cemetery was built on an area of 3.51 acres by Mir Jafar. It is located approximately half a mile north to the Hazarduari Palace premises inside the bigger campus of Namak Haram Deuri. The cemetery is enclosed within waved walls and is the final resting place of the Nawabs belonging to the Najafi dynasty from Nawab Nazim to Humayun Jah. Nawab Nazim Syud Ahmed Najafi’s tomb was later shifted to Karbala in Arab. It is also home to the graves of Syud Ahmed Najafi (Mir Jafar’s father), Shan Khanum Begum (Alivardi Khan’s sister), Munny and Babbu Begum (Mir Jafar’s widows), Muhammad Ali Khan (Mir Jafar’s brother), Ashraf Ali Khan and Ismail Ali Khan (Mir Jafar’s brother-in-laws). This cemetery is now maintained and administered by the Archaeological Survey of India and the entry fee is 3 INR only.

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Ghari Minar – Hazarduari, Murshidabad

Posted on August 21, 2014 | by indispottravel

The Ghari Minar or the Clock Tower of Murshidabad, West Bengal is located on coordinates 24°11′15″N 88°16′10″E / 24.187381°N 88.269315°E is a famous tourists spot. It is located to the south of Hazarduari Palace in the Nizamat Fort premises. It was erected in the garden area of Nizamat Fort probably for passengers traveling by boat and sailors. The Ghari Minar comprises of a heavy bell, the dial of a clock facing east towards Bhagirathi River and 4 masonry shields on 4 corners on the ground supported by 4 masonry lions. It is also known as the ‘Big Ben of Murshidabad’, the handles and figures of the clock being visible from the opposite bank. It was designed by Sagore Mistri, the same person who constructed Hazarduari Palace. He was the assistant to Colonel Duncan MacLeod.

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Footi Mosque, Murshidabad

Posted on August 16, 2014 | by indispottravel

Footi Mosque or masjid as it called in Urdu is an unfinished work of Nawab Sarafaraz Khan. It is located at a distance of a mile from Hazarduari Palace. Though unfinished the mosque has some unique architectural features that attract tourists to this spot. It is said that Sarafaraz Khan built this structure in one night.

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Kathgola Palace, Murshidabad

Posted on August 16, 2014 | by indispottravel | 1 Comment

The Kathgola Palace built in the garden premises of Raja Dhanpat Singh Dugar and Lakshmipath Singh Dugar is located in half a km South-East part of Mahimapur (modern Nashipur) town in Murshidabad. It is an impressive structure constituting a central drawing room, a library, billiard room, bedroom and dining room. Built during 1870s as a rest house amidst the garden it has porches on all 4 sides. The pool sides are beautiful providing natural ventilation. The fantastic view of the countryside from the second floor will mesmerize you. Also there is the Adinath Temple which is of immense importance to the Jains.

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Image Source: Flickr

Nasipur Palace - Nasipur Raj Bari, Murshidabad

Nasipur Palace, Murshidabad

Posted on August 16, 2014 | by indispottravel

According to Holiday HotSpot, Nasipur Palace, old name Mahimapur Raj Bari is one of the primary attractions of Murshidabad which generally brims with visitors. Constructed in 1723-24 by Murshi Quli Khan this imposing structure has high minarets, huge domes and also a cemetery of the Nawab just below the staircase. Ramachandra Temple, one of the largest temples in Murshidabad is inside the palace compound. The Nasipur Palace is only 1.5kilometers from the Railway station on the Berhampore-Lalgola route.

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Image Source: Flickr

Nimak Haram Deori Inner Side, Murshidabad

Nimak Haram Deori, Murshidabad

Posted on August 16, 2014 | by indispottravel

Nimak Haram Deori is the main gate leading to Mir Jafar, the traitor’s palace Jafargunj. It is located at a distance of only 1 kilometer north from the magnificent Hazarduari. Visitors cannot enter into the palace as it is well guarded. This palace stands as the memorial of the darkest hour in the history of Bengal as Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah was killed here in an act of the betrayal. This assassination was decisive in the colonization of Bengal and India.

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Photo Courtesy: Tarun Pradhan, Flickr/Rajib Kumar Bhattacharya

War Memorial at the Battle of Plassey Ground, Murshidabad

Posted on August 16, 2014 | by indispottravel

The battle ground of Plassey lying on the banks of the Bhagirathi River holds lot of historical significance. The British East India Company defeated the last independent Nawab of Bengal Siraj-ud-Daulah in the Battle of Plassey on 23 June 1757 which decided the fate of Calcutta and India. The British built the war memorial in the same year and the statue of The Nawab was erected by West Bengal government in the recent times. Mir Jafar, the commander-in-chief of the Nawab’s army betrayed him by accepting bribe from Lord Clive sealing the fate of slavery for Indians for the next 200 years.

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Image Source: Flickr