Murshidabad Travel Guide

Murshidabad tour is definitely for history buffs who want to get acquainted with the last days of the Mughal rule in India before it became part of the British Empire. Murshidabad was established by Nawab Murshid Quli Khan and was once the last capital of independent Bengal. Murshidabad is filled with many beautiful 18th century monuments. Impressed, Lord Clive once called Murshidabad the eastern equivalent of London. No doubt he was impressed by the several palaces and over 700 mosques in Murshidabad at that point in time.

Murshidabad's enduring traditions are sure to capture your fancy. You will definitely come away more knowledgeable about Indian history.
The city of Murshidabad is famous for its several palaces, mosques, tombs, gardens, raw silk and silk products, and of course for producing delicious mangoes and litchi. Too much for a small town!

How to Reach Murshidabad by Air The nearest airport to Murshidabad is Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International, Kolkata, located at a distance of 195 km from Berhampore. There are regular flights that connect the airport to other cities in India and abroad. After reaching Kolkata, Murshidabad can be reached with the help of roadways or railways.

How to Reach Murshidabad by Rail Berhampore (12 km from Murshidabad) is the nearest major railhead, with connecting trains to Kolkata; and Khagraghat station, on the opposite bank of the Bhagirathi river (beside which Murshidabad is located) also receives trains from Kolkata and other towns in the state. If you're coming from further afield- which includes towns outside West Bengal, the Farraka station (98 km from Murshidabad) is your best bet: it has trains linking it to cities as distant as Delhi, Darjeeling and Guwahati.

How to Reach Murshidabad by Bus Murshidabad is connected to the state capital, Kolkata, by road. It's 211 km from Kolkata, and frequent buses ply between Kolkata and Murshidabad; in addition to that, there are also buses to and from other major towns in West Bengal, including Burdwan, Malda, Durgapur and Berhampore.

Getting Around Murshidabad Getting around Murshidabad, unless you're keen on using your legs, is limited to cycle rickshaws: they're the only mode of public transport available here. Murshidabad things to do list centers around the historical, so be sure to visit the monuments that have survived the onslaught of time. A prominent landmark in Murshidabad is the Hazaar Dwari Palace, now a museum, which boasts of a fantastic collection of paintings, curios, china and weapons, including the swords of Ali Wardi Khan and Siraj-ud-Daulah and the cannon fired by Murshid Quli Khan. The skill of gifted craftsmen is still on display at the Khagra Bazaar in Murshidabad, but ivory carving has given way to sandalwood etching. Also interesting are the Khush Baag on the banks of the river in Murshidabad where lie the tombs of many Mughal nawabs. Other notable monuments in Murshidabad are the Imambara, the Kaath Golar Bagaan estate, and the five-domed Katra Masjid, a mosque where 2000 people could read the Quran together. Murshidabad is where time seems to have stood still. Sightseeing in Murshidabad Although there are limited places to see in Murshidabad, the history buffs will surely enjoy their visit to its well known palace. More Shopping in Murshidabad Shopaholics have a chance to do a lot of shopping in Murshidabad. This place is famous for brass and bell metal ware, for traditional Bengali muslin and silk weaves, brocades and Jamdanis. More Activities in Murshidabad There is almost nothing to be added to the list of activities in Murshidabad. You can just take a historical trail in the famous Hazarduari Palace with nine thousand doors. More NearBy Places in Murshidabad There are not many tourist places near Murshidabad. You can just head up to Berhampore that is 12 Kms away and was the scene of the first major battle of 1857 when the Indian Mutiny took place. More Eating Out in Murshidabad Murshidabad food is known for its richness of spices and flavours. Dig into the traditional Bengali cuisine that imbibed a lot of changes because of its Mughal rulers. More Festivals & Events in Murshidabad The main festivals in Murshidabad include Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha (Bakri-eid, locally). The eateries and the bus stands wear a deserted look during Ramadan, the month long festival of Muslims.