Top 10 Tourist Places of Murshidabad

Murshidabad is a quaint hamlet situated along the banks of the Bhagirathi River in the Murshidabad District of West Bengal, India. Approximately 200 km from Kolkata and 13 km from the district capital, Berhampore, this place is a testament to the history, art, and culture of the Mughal reign in Bengal. It was once the capital of Bengal during the Mughal era, proclaimed by Murshid Quli Khan, who shifted the capital from Dhaka—then a part of Bengal, now in Bangladesh.

HAZARDUARI PLACE: Hazarduari, meaning ‘a thousand doors,’ is the foremost attraction among Murshidabad’s tourist sites and the most frequented location. Constructed by Duncan McLeod in 1837 during the reign of Nawab Najim Humayun Jah, it served as a meeting place and residence for high-ranking British officers of the East India Company. Now transformed into a museum, this three-story building houses various artefacts from India’s Mughal and British periods, including ornaments, ancient weapons, traditional attire, vintage furniture, oil paintings, and more. Within Hazarduari are 114 rooms and 8 galleries, featuring 1000 doors, some of which are real, while others merely resemble doors.

NIZAMAT IMAMBARA: The largest Imambara in Bengal was constructed in 1847 by Nawab Nazim Mansoor Ali Khan Feradun Jah. Situated directly opposite the Hazarduari Palace, the compound also houses the Yellow Mosque and the Madina Mosque.

MOTIJHEEL PARK: The park, encircling a horseshoe-shaped lake, is beautifully maintained, offering a perfect setting for quality time with friends and family. In the evenings, a captivating light show unfolds, illuminating the history of Murshidabad through a vibrant display.

KIRITESHWARI KALI TEMPLE: This is one of the Shaktipiths among the 51 Shakti Piths, located on the other side of the River Bhagirathi and very popular among the locals as a Shakti Pith.

HOUSE OF JAGAT SETH: Jagat Seth was among the wealthiest businessmen in Bengal during the Mughal era. His house, situated in Nashipur and constructed in the Indo-English architectural style, was transformed into a museum in 1980.

KATHGOLA PALACE: This building in Jiaganj belongs to the Durga family. It is a beautiful structure that has been converted into a museum. Within its compound, there are numerous temples crafted from sandstone, a small zoo, and gardens featuring a diverse array of flowers and roses, which is why it is locally known as Kathgolap. The largest temple here is the Adinath or Paresh Nath Mandir, dedicated to Bhagawan Adishvar. This place is an exceptional spot for photography.

KATRA MASJID: Built in the 18th century this is the tomb of Nawab Murshid Quli Khan, and one of the largest caravanserais in the India.

SIRAJ UD-DAULAH TOMB: Mir Syed Jafar Ali Khan Mirza Muhammad, commonly known as Siraj-ud-Daulah, was the last independent Nawab of Bengal before the East India Company’s takeover. Born in 1733, he met his end in 1757 at the age of 24, following his defeat in the Battle of Plassey on June 23, 1757, by the British, due to the betrayal by his commander, Mir Jafar.

DAHAPARA DHAM: This temple and ashram are nestled within a vast garden in Dahapara, Lalbagh, on the opposite bank of the river Bhagirathi. It’s an ideal spot to spend time with family, enjoying the quiet and serene atmosphere amidst mango and other fruit trees.

MIRJAZAR TOMB & HOUSE / JAFARGANJ CEMETERY: Mir Syed Jafar Ali Khan Bahadur, commonly known as Mir Jafar, served as the advisor and commander for the Sultan of Bengal. He passed away on February 5, 1765, at the age of 74 and was interred at the Jafarganj Cemetery in Murshidabad, close to the residence where he lived.

• GUPTO TEMPLE
• FOOTI MASJID
• WASIF MANZIL
• NASHIPUR RAJBARI
• JAFARGUNG DATABBO PROTHISTAN
• AZIMUNNISA BEGAM TOMB
• JAHAN KOSHA CANNON
• KHOSH BAGH
• SUJAUDDIN KHAN TOMB

By Rail: Murshidabad is well connected with the Rail network, from Kolkata and other parts of Bengal, few notable trains as below:

• Hazarduari Express: Starts from Kolkata Station (KOAA) at 6:50 AM and reaches Murshidabad(MBB) at 10:22 AM.
• Sealdah Lalgola Pgr: Starts from Sealdah Station (SDAH) at 12:40 PM and reaches Murshidabad(MBB) at 5:20 PM.
• Bhagirathi Express: Starts from Sealdah Station (SDAH) at 6:20 PM and reaches Murshidabad(MBB) at 9:59 PM.
• Sealdah Lalgola Pgr: Starts from Sealdah Station (SDAH) at 11:30 PM and reaches Murshidabad(MBB) at 4:08 AM.

By Road: Murshidabad boasts excellent road connectivity throughout India. It is 216 kilometres from Kolkata, just 11 kilometres from Behrampur, and 51 kilometres from Rampurhat. Additionally, Rampurhat in Bolpur is well-connected by railway, with many express trains making stops there.