Murshidabad And Its Attractions

A great centre of trade in the Mughal era, Murshidabad is closely associated with events that ultimately changed the course of modern Indian history. Once the seat of government of the Nawabs of Bengal, this historical place is located on the southern banks of the Bhagirathi in West Bengal.

The Bengal Nawab Siraj-ud-daula was defeated by Robert Clive, the architect of the British power in India, in the Battle of Plassey (now Palashi) in Murshidabad in 1757, laying the foundation of the British Empire in India.

Today known more for its silk, Murshidabad is a district town that seems to exist suspended in time somewhere between the medieval and the modern.

Named after Murshid Quli Khan, the Diwan of Bengal under Aurangzeb, Murshidabad came to the forefront of attention in 1704 when he transferred his capital from Dacca to this place and renamed it Murshidabad. Murshid Quli Khan was the first Nawab of Bengal and the founder of the Nasiri dynasty which ruled Bengal from 1717 until 1740.

Watercolour painting of Murshidabad in West Bengal by Robert Smith circa 1814-1815 | British Library

Places of Interest in Murshidabad

Hazar Duari

Hazarduari Palace at Murshidabad / Image Credit

The famous landmark of Murshidabad, Hazarduari Palace is known for its 1000 real and false doors. Built during the reign of Nawab Humayun Sah (1824–1838), the three-storey, 114-room palace, has a rich collection of antiquities and antiques including armory, paintings, art works, stucco statues and other valuables. The palace was designed by British architect Colonel McLeod Duncan.

Nimak Haram Deohri (Traitor’s Gate)

Namak Haram Deorhi / Image Credit

Presently in ruins, Nimak Haram Deohri or the Traitor's Gate is the gate to the residence of Mir Jafar who was the general of Siraj-ud-doula. It was Mir Jafar’s treacherous advice to Siraj-ud-doula to suspend the battle after the death of latter's trusted officer Mir Madan Khan lost the day for Siraj-ud-doula in the Battle of Plassey.

Fauti or Phuti Masjid

Phuti Masjid / Image Source

Phuti Masjid is a mosque built by Sarfaraz Khan who had held the role of Nawab of Bengal for only one year (1739- 1740.)

Sarfaraz Khan had succeeded his father Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan who had become Bengal Nawab after the death of latter's father-in-law Murshid Quli Khan.

Chowk Mosque

Chowk Mosque – Murshidabad / Image Credit

Built in 1767 AD by Munni Begum (the second wife of Mir Jafar, the Bengal Nawab from 1757 to 1760 and 1763 to 1765) the Chowk Mosque in Murshidabad is now under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Motijheel or Pearl Lake is an oxbow lake in Murshidabad. This horse-shoe shaped lake broke away from the meandering River Bhagirathi centuries ago. Located at the bend of this lake is a beautiful palace named Sang-i-Dalan (Stone Palace), a towering gateway and a three-domed mosque and some other structures erected by Nawazish Muhammad Khan, nephew and son-in-law of Alivardi Khan (the Bengal Nawab after whose death his grandson Siraj ud Daula became the Nawab of Bengal).

Muhammad Shah Rangila

Aurangzeb, the last great Mughal emperor, died in 1707. Muhammad Shah became Mughal emperor in 1719. During the interregnum, Bahadur Shah I , JahandarShah , Farrukhsiyar r, Rafi-ud-Darajat and Rafi-ud-Daula ascended the Mughal throne. Jahandar Shah was murdered on the orders of Farrukhsiyar who had the support of the two powerful Mughal nobles Sayyid Abdullah and his brother Sayyid Husain Ali at that time. They are famous in history as Sayyid brothers, the King-makers. In 1719, Farrukhsiyar were murdered in utter disregard of a Mughal emperor by Sayyid brothers. Rafi-ud-Darajat died of consumption in a few months. Rafi-ud-Daula was addicted to opium and died in 4 months. Sayyid brothers now chose Raushan Akhtar, a son of Jahan Shah (the fourth son of Bahadur Shah I), to be the emperor. Raushan Akhtar ascended the throne under the title of Muhamamd Shah in September 1719. In the beginning Muhammad Shah was a puppet in the hands of Sayyid brothers who soon began to lose their...

Ghaseti Begum: The Begum of Motijheel

Clive meeting Mir Jafar after the Battle of Plassey, (By Francis Hayman) Ghaseti Begum, originally named Mehar un-Nisa, was the eldest daughter of Alivardi Khan, the Nawab of Bengal. She was married to Nawazish Muhammad Khan. Ghaseti Begum went all out to conspire against her nephew Siraj-ud-Daula who was the last independent Nawab of Bengal. Siraj-ud-Daula was defeated by the British under Lord Clive in the Battle of Plassey in 1757 and was killed on the orders of Miran, the son of Mir Jafar who was now made the Nawab of Bengal by the British. Ghaseti Begum was called the Begum of Motijheel due to her residence at the bend of this reservoir in Murshidabad. Motijheel or Pearl Lake is an oxbow lake in Murshidabad. The lake was created by her husband Nawazish Muhammad Khan. Nawazish Muhammad Khan died of grief when his adopted son Ekram-ud-Daulah succumbed to smallpox at a yo...

Chauth and sardeshmukhi: Two important taxes in the Maratha taxation system

Chauth and sardeshmukhi were the two most important taxes in the taxation system of the powerful Maratha state founded by brilliant Maratha leader Shivaji (1627-1680). According to Mahadev Govind Ranade , a famous Indian scholar and freedom fighter, chauth was a military tribute that was levied as a quid pro quo for protection against the invasion of a third power. But eminent historian Jadunath Sarkar does not ascribe to this view. According to him, chauth, 25% tax on revenue or produce, was realized from the alien territories to save themselves from the unwelcome presence of the Maratha soldiers and civil underlings. Shivaji was not under obligation to guard the territory from foreign invasion or internal disorder. According to another authority S. G Sardesai , chauth was a military tribute paid by the conquered or hostile territories. Since Shivaji was the hereditary sardeshmukh (Chief Headmand) of Maharashtra, he demanded an additional levy of 10 percent know...

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