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{{Short description|City in West Bengal}}
{{Short description|City in West Bengal}}


{{About|the town in [[Murshidabad district]]|its namesake|Murshidabad District}}
{{About|the town in West Bengal, India |its namesake|Murshidabad District}}
{{More citations needed|date=November 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
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| native_name            =  
| native_name            =  
| native_name_lang      =  
| native_name_lang      =  
| settlement_type        = City
| other_name            = Makhsudabad<ref>{{Cite web |title=Murshidabad {{!}} India, Map, & Population {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Murshidabad |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> <br/> Lal Bagh
| image_skyline          = Murshidabad montage.png
| settlement_type        = [[Town]]
| image_caption          = Clockwise from top: [[Hazarduari Palace]], [[Katra Masjid|Caravanserai of Murshidabad]], [[Jahan Kosha Cannon]], [[Kathgola]], [[Murshidabad Clock Tower]]
| image_skyline          = {{multiple image
| border      = infobox
| total_width = 300
| image_style =
| perrow      = 2/2/2/2
| caption_align = center
| image1      = Nizamat Imambara 2, Murshidabad.jpg
| caption1    = [[Nizamat Imambara]]
| image2    = Wasif Manzil, Murshidabad.jpg
| caption2    = [[Wasif Manzil]]
| image3      = Jahankosha Kaman Murshidabad.jpg
| caption3    = [[Jahan Kosha Cannon]]
}}
| image_caption          =
| image_map          =
| pushpin_map            = India West Bengal#India3
| pushpin_map            = India West Bengal#India3
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_label_position = right
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| established_date      =
| established_date      =
| founder                =
| founder                =
| government_type        = [[Municipal Corporations in India|Municipality]]
| government_type        = [[Municipal council (India)|Municipality]]
| governing_body        = Murshidabad Municipality
| governing_body        = Murshidabad Municipality
| leader_title          = Chairperson
| leader_name            = Lalita Das Nandi
| leader_party          = [[Trinamool Congress|AITC]]
| leader_title2          = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|Lok Sabha MP]]
| leader_name2          = [[Abu Taher Khan]] ([[Trinamool Congress|AITC]])
| leader_title3          = [[West Bengal Legislative Assembly|MLA]]
| leader_name3          = [[Gouri Shankar Ghosh]] ([[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]])
| unit_pref              = Metric
| unit_pref              = Metric
| area_footnotes        = <ref>{{cite web|title=Welcome to Murshidabad Municipality|url=http://www.murshidabadmunicipality.org/|access-date=25 November 2020}}</ref>
| area_footnotes        = <ref>{{cite web|title=Welcome to Murshidabad Municipality|url=http://www.murshidabadmunicipality.org/|access-date=25 November 2020}}</ref>
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}}
}}


'''Murshidabad''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|ʊə|ʃ|ɪ|d|ə|ˌ|b|ɑ:|d}}, {{IPAc-en|-|b|æ|d}} or {{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|ɜ:|-}}){{efn|Earlier European spellings include Muxadavad, Murshedabud, Murshedabad, Murshedebad, Murshidabud, Murshidabad, Murshidebad, Mursedabad, Mursidabud, Mursidabad, Moorshedabud, Moorshedabad, Moorshedebad, Moorshidabad, Moorsedabad, Moorsidabad, Mourshedabad, Mourshedebad, Mourshidabad, Murschidabad, Murschedabad, Moorschedabad, and Moorschidabad, among others.{{citation needed|date=November 2013}} }} is a historical city in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[West Bengal]]. It is located on the eastern bank of the [[Hooghly river|Bhagirathi River]], a distributary of the [[Ganges]]. It forms part of the [[Murshidabad district]].
'''Murshidabad''' ({{IPA|bn|murʃidabad}}) is a town in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[West Bengal]]. This town is the headquarters of [[Lalbag subdivision]] of [[Murshidabad district]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Subdivision and Blocks {{!}} District Murshidabad {{!}} India |url=https://murshidabad.gov.in/subdivision-blocks/ |access-date=2025-04-22 |language=en-US}}</ref> It is located on the eastern bank of the [[Hooghly river|Bhagirathi River]]. During the 18th century, Murshidabad was a prosperous and cosmopolitan town.<ref name="Dalrymple2019">{{cite book|author=William Dalrymple|title=The Anarchy: The East India Company, Corporate Violence, and the Pillage of an Empire|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=42aYvgEACAAJ|date=10 September 2019|publisher=Bloomsbury USA|isbn=978-1-63557-395-4}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/op-ed/politics/which-india-claiming-have-been-colonised-119284|title = Which India is claiming to have been colonised?|date = 31 July 2015}}</ref> Murshidabad was the capital of the [[Bengal Subah]] for seventy years. This town was the home of wealthy banking and merchant families from different parts of the [[Indian subcontinent]] and wider [[Eurasia]]. European companies, including the [[British East India Company]], the [[French Indies Company|French East India Company]], the [[Dutch East India Company]] and the [[Danish East India Company]], conducted business and operated factories around the city. The town was also a centre of art and culture.<ref>{{Citation |title=Darbar of Alivardi Khan at Murshidabad's Court |date=c. 1753 |url=https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/781858 |access-date=2025-04-19}}</ref>
 
During the 18th century, Murshidabad was a prosperous city.<ref name="Dalrymple2019">{{cite book|author=William Dalrymple|title=The Anarchy: The East India Company, Corporate Violence, and the Pillage of an Empire|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=42aYvgEACAAJ|date=10 September 2019|publisher=Bloomsbury USA|isbn=978-1-63557-395-4}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/op-ed/politics/which-india-claiming-have-been-colonised-119284|title = Which India is claiming to have been colonised?|date = 31 July 2015}}</ref> It was the capital of the [[Bengal Subah]] in the [[Mughal Empire]] for seventy years, with a jurisdiction covering modern-day [[Bangladesh]] and the Indian states of West Bengal, [[Bihar]] and [[Orissa]]. It was the seat of the hereditary [[Nawab of Bengal]] and the state's treasury, revenue office and judiciary. Bengal was the richest Mughal province. Murshidabad was a cosmopolitan city. Its population peaked at 100,000 in the 1750s. It was home to wealthy banking and merchant families from different parts of the [[Indian subcontinent]] and wider [[Eurasia]], including the [[Jagat Seth]] and [[Armenians in India|Armenians]].
 
European companies, including the [[British East India Company]], the [[French East India Company]], the [[Dutch East India Company]] and the [[Danish East India Company]], conducted business and operated factories around the city. [[Silk]] was a major product of Murshidabad. The city was also a center of art and culture, including ivory sculptors, [[Hindustani classical music]] and the Murshidabad style of [[Mughal painting]].


The city's decline began with the defeat of the last independent Nawab of Bengal [[Siraj-ud-Daulah]] at the [[Battle of Plassey]] in 1757. The Nawab was demoted to the status of a [[zamindar]] known as the [[Nawab of Murshidabad]]. The British shifted the treasury, courts and revenue office to [[Calcutta]]. In the 19th century, the population was estimated to be 46,000. Murshidabad became a district headquarters of the [[Bengal Presidency]]. It was declared as a municipality in 1869.
The city's decline began with the defeat of the last independent Nawab of Bengal [[Siraj-ud-Daulah]] at the [[Battle of Plassey]] in 1757. The Nawab was demoted to the status of a [[zamindar]] known as the [[Nawab of Murshidabad]]. The British shifted the treasury, courts and revenue office to [[Calcutta]]. In the 19th century, the population was estimated to be 46,000. Murshidabad became a district headquarters of the [[Bengal Presidency]]. It was declared as a municipality in 1869.
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Murshidabad is located at {{coord|24.18|88.27|display=inline}}.
Murshidabad is located at {{coord|24.18|88.27|display=inline}}.


[[Hazarduari Palace]] and its associated sites in the Kila Nizamat area (forming the central area in the map alongside) is the centre of attraction in Murshidabad. Just a little away are [[Katra Masjid]], [[Fauti Mosque]], [[Jama Masjid, Motijheel|Jama Masjid]] and the [[Motijhil]] area. There is a group of attractions in the northern part of the town (as can be seen in the map alongside). Some attractions such as [[Khushbagh]], [[Rosnaiganj]], [[Baranagar, Murshidabad|Baranagar]], [[Kiriteswari Temple]], [[Karnasuvarna]] and others are on the other side of the river and there are attractions in the neighbouring [[Berhampore]] area also (not shown in the map).<ref>{{cite web | url =  https://offbeatweekend.com/mushidabad/ | title =  Offbeat Weekend in Murshidabad | work = Outskirts of Killa Nizamat (Northern part) | publisher = Offbeat Weekend  | accessdate = 20 July 2021}}</ref>
[[Hazarduari Palace]] and its associated sites in the Kila Nizamat area (forming the central area in the map alongside) is the centre of attraction in Murshidabad. Just a little away are [[Katra Masjid]], [[Fauti Mosque]], [[Jama Masjid, Motijheel|Jama Masjid]], and the [[Motijhil]] area. There is a group of attractions in the northern part of the town (as can be seen in the map alongside). Some attractions such as [[Khushbagh]], [[Rosnaiganj]], [[Baranagar, Murshidabad|Baranagar]], [[Kiriteswari Temple]], [[Karnasuvarna]] and others are on the other side of the river and there are attractions in the neighbouring [[Berhampore]] area also (not shown in the map).<ref>{{cite web | url =  https://offbeatweekend.com/mushidabad/ | title =  Offbeat Weekend in Murshidabad | work = Outskirts of Killa Nizamat (Northern part) | publisher = Offbeat Weekend  | accessdate = 20 July 2021}}</ref>


<small>Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in Murshidabad city. Most of the places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map. A few, without pages yet, remain unmarked. The map has a scale. It will help viewers to find out the distances.</small>
<small>Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in Murshidabad city. Most of the places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map. A few, without pages yet, remain unmarked. The map has a scale. It will help viewers to find out the distances.</small>
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==History==
==History==
[[File:Moti Jheel Palace 2.jpg|thumb|right|Painting of the garden, mosque and prince's pavilions in [[Motijhil]] (pearl lake)]]  
[[File:Moti Jheel Palace 2.jpg|thumb|right|Painting of the garden, mosque and prince's pavilions in [[Motijhil]] (pearl lake)]]  
[[File:'ALIVARDI KHAN AND A COURTIER.jpg|thumb|right|Nawab [[Alivardi Khan]] with a courtier, painted in the [[Company style|Company Style]], where it first emerged in Murshidabad<ref>{{Cite web |title=Company school {{!}} Indian art {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/art/Company-school |access-date=2022-08-29 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>]]
[[File:'ALIVARDI KHAN AND A COURTIER.jpg|thumb|upright|Nawab [[Alivardi Khan]] with a courtier, painted in the [[Company style|Company Style]], where it first emerged in Murshidabad<ref>{{Cite web |title=Company school {{!}} Indian art {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/art/Company-school |access-date=2022-08-29 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>]]
[[File:Katgola Palace at night 2.jpg|thumb|220px|Illuminated Katgola Palace at night]]
[[File:Katgola Palace at night 2.jpg|thumb|Illuminated Katgola Palace at night]]
[[File:The Nawab of Murshidabad's boats on the Ganga (6125141004).jpg|thumb|left|The Nawab's boats on a river]]
[[File:The Nawab of Murshidabad's boats on the Ganga (6125141004).jpg|thumb|left|The Nawab's boats on a river]]
[[File:JAGATSETH HOUSE TEMPLE - panoramio.jpg|thumb|left|A [[Jain]] temple in the mansion of [[Jagat Seth]], a historically prominent banking family of Murshidabad]]
[[File:JAGATSETH HOUSE TEMPLE - panoramio.jpg|thumb|left|A [[Jain]] temple in the mansion of [[Jagat Seth]], a historically prominent banking family of Murshidabad]]
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In the early 18th-century, [[Murshid Quli Khan]], the prime minister of Bengal Subah, had a bitter rivalry with Prince [[Azim-ush-Shan]], the viceroy of Bengal. The latter even attempted to have Khan killed.<ref name="Banglapedia"/> The Mughal court in [[Delhi]] was also rapidly losing authority in much of the subcontinent. Amid the decline of the central government, the [[Mughal Emperor]] [[Farrukhsiyar]] promoted Khan to the status of a princely [[Nawab]]. As Nawab, Khan was given the opportunity to create a princely dynasty as part of the Mughal aristocracy.
In the early 18th-century, [[Murshid Quli Khan]], the prime minister of Bengal Subah, had a bitter rivalry with Prince [[Azim-ush-Shan]], the viceroy of Bengal. The latter even attempted to have Khan killed.<ref name="Banglapedia"/> The Mughal court in [[Delhi]] was also rapidly losing authority in much of the subcontinent. Amid the decline of the central government, the [[Mughal Emperor]] [[Farrukhsiyar]] promoted Khan to the status of a princely [[Nawab]]. As Nawab, Khan was given the opportunity to create a princely dynasty as part of the Mughal aristocracy.


Murshid Quli Khan shifted the capital of Bengal from [[Dhaka]], which lost its strategic importance after the expulsion of the [[Arakan]]ese and [[Portuguese Chittagong|Portuguese]] from [[Chittagong]].<ref name="Banglapedia"/> He founded the city of Murshidabad and named the city after himself. It became the center of political, economic and cultural life in Bengal. The jurisdiction of the Nawab included not only Bengal, but also Bihar and Orissa.<ref name="Scroll">{{cite news |last1=Silliman |first1=Jael |title=Murshidabad can teach the rest of India how to restore heritage and market the past |url=https://scroll.in/magazine/862281/murshidabad-can-teach-the-rest-of-india-a-lot-on-how-to-restore-heritage-and-market-the-past |access-date=26 August 2019 |work=[[Scroll.in]] |date=28 December 2017}}</ref> Murshidabad was also located centrally in the expanded jurisdiction of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
Murshid Quli Khan shifted the capital of Bengal from [[Dhaka]], which lost its strategic importance after the expulsion of the [[Arakan]]ese and [[Portuguese Chittagong|Portuguese]] from [[Chittagong]].<ref name="Banglapedia"/> He founded the city of Murshidabad and named the city after himself. It became the centre of political, economic and cultural life in Bengal. The jurisdiction of the Nawab included not only Bengal, but also Bihar and Orissa.<ref name="Scroll">{{cite news |last1=Silliman |first1=Jael |title=Murshidabad can teach the rest of India how to restore heritage and market the past |url=https://scroll.in/magazine/862281/murshidabad-can-teach-the-rest-of-india-a-lot-on-how-to-restore-heritage-and-market-the-past |access-date=26 August 2019 |work=[[Scroll.in]] |date=28 December 2017}}</ref> Murshidabad was also located centrally in the expanded jurisdiction of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.


The presence of the princely court, the [[Mughal Army]], [[artisan]]s and multiethnic merchants increased the wealth of Murshidabad. Wealthy families and companies established their head offices in the city. The Murshidabad [[Mint (facility)|mint]] became the largest in Bengal, with a value amounting to two percent of the minted currency. The city witnessed the construction of administrative buildings, gardens, palaces, mosques, temples and mansions. European companies operated factories in the city's outskirts. The city was full of brokers, workers, peons, naibs, wakils, and ordinary traders.<ref name="Banglapedia"/>
The presence of the princely court, the [[Mughal Army]], [[artisan]]s and multiethnic merchants increased the wealth of Murshidabad. Wealthy families and companies established their head offices in the city. The Murshidabad [[Mint (facility)|mint]] became the largest in Bengal, with a value amounting to two percent of the minted currency. The city witnessed the construction of administrative buildings, gardens, palaces, mosques, temples and mansions. European companies operated factories in the city's outskirts. The city was full of brokers, workers, peons, naibs, wakils, and ordinary traders.<ref name="Banglapedia"/>
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Murshid Quli Khan transformed Murshidabad into a [[capital city]] with an efficient administrative machinery for his successors. He built a palace and a [[caravanserai]] with a grand mosque, known as the [[Katra Masjid]]. The main military base was located near the mosque and formed the city's eastern gateway. The third Nawab [[Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan]] patronized the construction of another palace and military base, a new gateway, the revenue office, a public audience hall ([[durbar (court)|durbar]]), a private chamber, the treasury and a mosque in an extensive compound called Farrabagh (Garden of Joy) which included canals, [[fountain]]s, flowers, and fruit trees.<ref name="Banglapedia"/>
Murshid Quli Khan transformed Murshidabad into a [[capital city]] with an efficient administrative machinery for his successors. He built a palace and a [[caravanserai]] with a grand mosque, known as the [[Katra Masjid]]. The main military base was located near the mosque and formed the city's eastern gateway. The third Nawab [[Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan]] patronized the construction of another palace and military base, a new gateway, the revenue office, a public audience hall ([[durbar (court)|durbar]]), a private chamber, the treasury and a mosque in an extensive compound called Farrabagh (Garden of Joy) which included canals, [[fountain]]s, flowers, and fruit trees.<ref name="Banglapedia"/>


Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah established a palace near the [[Motijhil]] (Pearl Lake). The [[Nizamat Imambara]] was built for [[Shia Muslims]]. The palace complex was fortified and known as the Nizamat Fort. The main entrances of the Nizamat Fort had musicians' galleries. The gates were high, imposing and tall enough for an elephant to pass through. The Khoshbagh garden was the burial place of the Nawabs.<ref name="Banglapedia"/> The city had a [[Bengali people|Bengali]] majority population, including [[Bengali Muslims]] and [[Bengali Hindus]]. There was an influential [[Jain]] community involved in trade and commerce.<ref name="Scroll"/> An [[Armenians|Armenian]] community also settled and became financiers for the Nawab. The [[Jagat Seth]] were one of the prominent banking families of Murshidabad. They controlled [[money lending]] activities and served as financiers for administrators, merchants, traders, the Nawabs, the Zamindars, as well as the British, French, Armenians and Dutch. The merchants built many mansions, including the Azimganj Rajbati, [[Kathgola]] house and [[Nashipur]] house.
Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah established a palace near the [[Motijhil]] (Pearl Lake). The [[Nizamat Imambara]] was built for [[Shia Muslims]]. The palace complex was fortified and known as the Nizamat Fort. The main entrances of the Nizamat Fort had musicians' galleries. The gates were high, imposing and tall enough for an elephant to pass through. The Khoshbagh garden was the burial place of the Nawabs.<ref name="Banglapedia"/> The city had a [[Bengali people|Bengali]] majority population, including [[Bengali Muslims]] and [[Bengali Hindus]]. There was an influential [[Jain]] community involved in trade and commerce.<ref name="Scroll"/> An [[Armenians|Armenian]] community also settled and became financiers for the Nawab. The [[Jagat Seth]] family was one of the prominent banking families of Murshidabad. They controlled [[money lending]] activities and served as financiers for administrators, merchants, traders, the Nawabs, the Zamindars, as well as the British, French, Armenians and Dutch. The merchants built many mansions, including the Azimganj Rajbati, [[Kathgola]] house and [[Nashipur]] house.


The Nawabs of Bengal entered into agreements with numerous European trading companies allowing them to establish bases in the region. The French East India Company operated factories in Murshidabad and Dhaka. The British East India Company was based in [[Fort William, India|Fort William]]. Murshidabad was a part of the [[Dutch Bengal]] Department. The [[Ostend Company]] of [[Austria]] established a base near Murshidabad. The Danish East India Company also set up trading posts in the Bengal Subah.
The Nawabs of Bengal entered into agreements with numerous European trading companies allowing them to establish bases in the region. The French East India Company operated factories in Murshidabad and Dhaka. The British East India Company was based in [[Fort William, India|Fort William]]. Murshidabad was a part of the [[Dutch Bengal]] Department. The [[Ostend Company]] of [[Austria]] established a base near Murshidabad. The Danish East India Company also set up trading posts in the Bengal Subah.


The last independent Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah was overthrown in 1757. Despite receiving assurances of French support, the Nawab was betrayed by his commander [[Mir Jafar]]. The British installed Mir Jafar's family as a puppet dynasty and eventually reduced the Nawab to the status of a landlord (zamindar). The British continued to collect revenue from the area's factories. The merchant families continued to prosper under [[company rule in India]].<ref name="Scroll"/> In 1858, the British government gained direct control of India's administration.
The last independent Nawab, Siraj-ud-Daulah was defeated in the [[Battle of Plassey]] in 1757. Despite receiving assurances of French support, the Nawab was betrayed by his commander [[Mir Jafar]]. The British installed Mir Jafar's family as a puppet dynasty and eventually reduced the Nawab to the status of a landlord (zamindar). The British continued to collect revenue from the area's factories. The merchant families continued to prosper under [[company rule in India]].<ref name="Scroll"/> In 1858, the British government gained direct control of India's administration.
 
Murshidabad was very badly affected by the [[Great Bengal famine of 1770|Bengal Famine of 1770]].<ref name="Dalrymple2019" />


Murshidabad was a district city of the [[Bengal Presidency]]. [[Warren Hastings]] removed the supreme civil and criminal courts to [[Calcutta]] in 1772, but in 1775 the latter courts were brought back to Murshidabad again. In 1790, under [[Lord Cornwallis]], the entire revenue and judicial staffs were moved to Calcutta. The city was still the residence of the Nawab, who ranked as the first nobleman of the province with the style of [[Nawab Bahadur of Murshidabad]], instead of [[Nawab of Bengal|Nawab Nazim of Bengal]]. The [[Hazarduari Palace]] was built in 1837 as a residence for both the Nawab and British civil servants. Murshidabad became a [[municipality]] in 1869. The population in 1901 was 15,168. The silk industry was revived with assistance from the government. The area also became notable for [[mango]] and [[litchi]] production.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/mango-people-of-murshidabad/cid/1399401|title=Mango people of murshidabad|newspaper=The Telegraph | date=18 June 2015 | location=India|language=en|access-date=22 October 2018}}</ref>
Murshidabad was a district city of the [[Bengal Presidency]]. [[Warren Hastings]] removed the supreme civil and criminal courts to [[Calcutta]] in 1772, but in 1775 the latter courts were brought back to Murshidabad again. In 1790, under [[Lord Cornwallis]], the entire revenue and judicial staffs were moved to Calcutta. The city was still the residence of the Nawab, who ranked as the first nobleman of the province with the style of [[Nawab Bahadur of Murshidabad]], instead of [[Nawab of Bengal|Nawab Nazim of Bengal]]. The [[Hazarduari Palace]] was built in 1837 as a residence for both the Nawab and British civil servants. Murshidabad became a [[municipality]] in 1869. The population in 1901 was 15,168. The silk industry was revived with assistance from the government. The area also became notable for [[mango]] and [[litchi]] production.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/mango-people-of-murshidabad/cid/1399401|title=Mango people of murshidabad|newspaper=The Telegraph | date=18 June 2015 | location=India|language=en|access-date=22 October 2018}}</ref>


See also - [[Nawabs of Bengal and Murshidabad]]
See also - [[Nawabs of Bengal and Murshidabad]]
<gallery mode="packed" caption="Art of Murshidabad" style="font-size:88%; line-height:130%; border-bottom:1px #aaa solid;" heights="180">
<gallery mode="packed" caption="Art of Murshidabad" style="font-size:88%; line-height:130%; border-bottom:1px #aaa solid;" heights="160">
File:Bazrupmati.jpg|Two horsemen, Murshidabad style of painting
File:Bazrupmati.jpg|Two horsemen, Murshidabad style of painting
Gujjari Ragini.jpg|Woman playing the [[sitar]], Murshidabad style of painting
Gujjari Ragini.jpg|Woman playing the [[sitar]], Murshidabad style of painting
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==Economy==
==Economy==
[[File:One of the four Char Bangla Temple at Baronagar in Murshidabad District 01.jpg|thumb|Murshidabad District has several terracotta Bengali Hindu temples]]
[[File:One of the four Char Bangla Temple at Baronagar in Murshidabad District 01.jpg|thumb|Murshidabad District has several terracotta Bengali Hindu temples]]
The city today is a center for agriculture, handicrafts and [[sericulture]]. The famous ''[[Silk #History|Murshidabad Silk]]'', much in demand for making [[sari]]s and scarves, is produced here.{{citation needed|date=November 2013}}
[[File:Silver Rupee struck during the tenure of Bengal Nawab Alivardi Khan in Murshidabad mint, in the name of Mughal emperor Ahmad Shah Bahadur, photographed in West Bengal, India, September 18, 2024.jp.jpg|thumb|Silver Rupee struck during the tenure of Bengal Nawab [[Alivardi Khan]] in Murshidabad mint, in the name of Mughal emperor [[Ahmad Shah Bahadur]], with his regnal year 3 in Persian, AD 1751.]]
 
The city today is a centre for agriculture, handicrafts and [[sericulture]]. The famous [[Murshidabad silk]], much in demand for making [[sari]]s and scarves, is produced here.{{citation needed|date=November 2013}}


==Demographics==
==Demographics==
As of [[2011 Indian Census]], Murshidabad had a total population of 44,019, of which 22,177 were males and 21,842 were females. Population within the age group of 0 to 6 years was 4,414. The total number of literates in Murshidabad was 32,451, which constituted 73.7% of the population with male literacy of 77.3% and female literacy of 70.1%. The effective literacy rate of 7+ population of Murshidabad was 81.9%, of which male literacy rate was 86.0% and female literacy rate was 77.9%. The [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes]] population was 13,762 and 302 respectively. Murshidabad had 9829 households in 2011.According to 2011 census the religious make-up of Murshidabd city was: Hindus (75.09%), Muslims (23.86%) and others(1.05%)<ref name="Census2011Gov">{{cite web |title=Census of India: Murshidabad |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=355736 |website=www.censusindia.gov.in |access-date=20 November 2019}}</ref>
As of [[2011 Indian Census]], Murshidabad had a total population of 44,019, of which 22,177 were males and 21,842 were females. Population within the age group of 0 to 6 years was 4,414. The total number of literates in Murshidabad was 32,451, which constituted 73.7% of the population with male literacy of 77.3% and female literacy of 70.1%. The effective literacy rate of 7+ population of Murshidabad was 81.9%, of which male literacy rate was 86.0% and female literacy rate was 77.9%. The [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes]] population was 13,762 and 302 respectively. Murshidabad had 9829 households in 2011.According to 2011 census the religious make-up of Murshidabd city was: Hindus (75.09%), Muslims (23.86%) and others(1.05%)<ref name="Census2011Gov">{{cite web |title=Census of India: Murshidabad |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=355736 |website=www.censusindia.gov.in |access-date=20 November 2019}}</ref> However, during the [[Murshidabad violence]], many Hindus, including women and children, were displaced from the affected areas and took shelter in neighboring [[Malda district]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-15 |title=Bengal communal violence: ‘We have become refugees in our own land… We may never return’ |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/bengal-murshidabad-communal-violence-we-have-become-refugees-in-our-own-land-we-may-never-return-9944482/ |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>


== Educational institutes ==
== Educational institutes ==
<!--ONLY ADD THOSE INSTRUCTIONS WHICH HAVE ARTICLES ON WIKIPEDIA-->
<!--ONLY ADD THOSE INSTRUCTIONS WHICH HAVE ARTICLES ON Bharatpedia-->
===Schools===
===Schools===
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a school to this list if it already has its own article on the English Bharatpedia ♦♦♦--->
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order ♦♦♦--->
* [[Raghunathganj High School (10+2)]]
* [[Sargachi Ramakrishna Mission High School]]
* [[Srikantabati P.S.S. Sikshaniketan]]
* [[Srikantabati P.S.S. Sikshaniketan]]
* [[Sargachi Ramakrishna Mission High School]]


===Colleges===
===Colleges===
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a college to this list if it already has its own article on the English Bharatpedia ♦♦♦--->
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order ♦♦♦--->
[[File:Main gate 15.jpg|thumb|[[Government College of Engineering & Textile Technology, Berhampore]] ]]
* [[Berhampore College]]
* [[Berhampore Girls' College]]
* [[Bimal Chandra College of Law]]
* [[Dukhulal Nibaran Chandra College]]
* [[Dumkal Institute of Engineering & Technology]]
* [[Dumkal Institute of Engineering & Technology]]
* [[Government College of Engineering & Textile Technology, Berhampore]]
* [[Government College of Engineering & Textile Technology, Berhampore]]  
* [[Jakir Hossain Institute of Polytechnic]], [[Hafania]], [[Suti II]]
* [[Jakir Hossain Institute of Polytechnic]], [[Hafania]], [[Suti II]]
* [[Jangipur College]]
* [[Kandi Raj College]]
* [[Kandi Raj College]]
* [[Krishnath College]]
* [[Krishnath College]]  
* [[Management Development Institute Murshidabad]]
* [[Management Development Institute Murshidabad]]
* [[Murshidabad College of Engineering & Technology]]
* [[Murshidabad College of Engineering & Technology]]
* [[Murshidabad Institute of Technology]]
* [[Murshidabad Institute of Technology]]
* [[Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital]]
* [[Nur Mohammad Smriti Mahavidyalaya]]
* [[Prof. Syed Nurul Hasan College]]
* [[Rani Dhanya Kumari College]]
* [[Sripat Singh College]]
* [[Sripat Singh College]]
* [[Berhampore College]]
* [[Subhas Chandra Bose Centenary College]]
* [[Rani Dhanya Kumari College]]
* [[Berhampore Girls' College]]
* [[Bimal Chandra College of Law]]
* [[Murshidabad University]]
* [[Jangipur College]]
* [[Dukhulal Nibaran Chandra College]]
* [[Prof. Syed Nurul Hasan College]]
* [[Nur Mohammad Smriti Mahavidyalaya]]


===Medical schools===
*[[Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital]]
===Universities===
===Universities===
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a college to this list if it already has its own article on the English Bharatpedia ♦♦♦--->
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order ♦♦♦--->
*[[Aligarh Muslim University|Aligarh Muslim University Murshidabad Centre]]
*[[Murshidabad University]], [[Berhampore]]
*[[Murshidabad University]], [[Berhampore]]
*[[Aligarh Muslim University|Aligarh Muslim University Murshidabad Centre]]
==Places of interest==
[[File:Front of Prayer hall in Imambara.jpg|thumb|200 px|The grounds of the [[Nizamat Imambara]]]]
[[File:MosqueKhoshbagh.jpg|thumb|200 px|[[Khushbagh]] is the cemetery of the last independent rulers of Murshidabad]]
[[File:Katra Masjid panoramic view.jpg|thumb|200 px|Panoramic view of Katra Masjid]]
Of historic interest are ''Nizamat Kila'' (the Fortress of the Nawabs), also known as the ''Hazaarduari Palace'' (Palace of a Thousand Doors), built by Duncan McLeod of the [[Bengal Engineers]] in 1837, in the [[Italianate]] style, the ''Moti Jhil'' (Pearl Lake) just to the south of the palace, the ''Muradbagh Palace'' and the ''Khushbagh Cemetery'', where the remains of [[Ali Vardi Khan]] and [[Siraj Ud Daulah]] are interred.
[[Hazarduari Palace]] is located in the campus of Kila Nizamat of Murshidabad. It was built in the nineteenth century by architect Duncan Macleod, under the reign of Nawab Nazim Humayun Jah of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa (1824–1838). The foundation stone of the palace was laid on 9 August 1829, and that very day the construction work was started. William Cavendish was the then Governor-General. Now, Hazarduari Palace is the most conspicuous building in Murshidabad. In 1985, the palace was handed over to the Archaeological Survey of India for better preservation.{{citation needed|date=November 2013}}
The present [[Nizamat Imambara]] was built in 1847 by Nawab Nazim Mansoor Ali Khan Feradun Jah, who succeeded his father Nawab Nazim Humayun Jah in Murshidabad, India. It was built after the fires of 1842 and 1846 which burnt the wooden Imambara built by Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah. This Imambara is the largest one in India and Bengal.{{citation needed|date=November 2013}}
The Katra Masjid (also known as [[Katra Mosque]]) is a mosque and the tomb of Nawab Murshid Quli Khan built between 1723 and 1724. It is located in the north eastern side of the city. Its importance lies not only as a great centre of Islamic learning but also for the tomb of Murshid Quli Khan, who is buried under the entrance staircase. The most striking feature is the two large corner towers having loopholes for musketry. At present it is maintained and protected by the Archaeological Survey of India and the Government of West Bengal.{{citation needed|date=November 2013}}
[[Bacchawali Tope]] is a gun, rather cannon which lies in the Nizamat Fort Campus on the garden space between the Nizamat Imambara and the Hazarduari Palace and to the east of the old Madina Mosque. The cannon consists two pieces of different diameters. The cannon was made between the 12th and 14th century, probably by the Muslim rulers of Gaur. It originally lied on the sand banks of Ichaganj. However, it is unknown that how it came in Ichaganj. It was used to protect the city of Murshidabad from north-western attacks. After the 1846 fire of the Nizamat Imambara the Imambara was rebuilt, then after the completion of the new Imambara the cannon was shifted to its present site by Sadeq Ali Khan, the architect of the sacred Nizamat Imambara under the suggestion of Sir Henry Torrens, the then agent of the Governor General at Murshidabad.{{citation needed|date=November 2013}}


==Murshidabad Heritage Festival==
==Murshidabad Heritage Festival==
[[File:Murshidabad Day 2 Dance 2.jpg|thumb|Dance performance in [[Kathgola Palace|Kathgola]] gardens during the Murshidabad Heritage Festival]]
[[File:Murshidabad Day 2 Dance 2.jpg|thumb|Dance performance in [[Kathgola Palace|Kathgola]] gardens during the Murshidabad Heritage Festival]]
The Murshidabad Heritage Festival aims at reviving the tangible and intangible heritage of Murshidabad along with those nearby heritage tows of Azimganj, Jiaganj and Cossimbazar. The festival aims at preserving the past and integrating it with the present and to bring Murshidabad back in the tourism, cultural and heritage map of India. It is an initiative of Murshidabad Heritage Development Society (MHDS). The festival began in 2011 and has been celebrated ever since. There are no fixed days for the festival but it is celebrated during the winter season, especially during January or February. The festival is complete with cultural performances, heritage walks, cruise along the Bagirati River and exotic food. The Food served during the festival is purely vegetarian, with special emphasis on Sheherwali cuisine.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Datta |first1=Rangan |title=Murshidabad Heritage Festival 2023: A journey back to the days of the nawabs in Bengal |agency=The Telegraph |issue=My Kolkata |date=15 February 2023}}</ref>
The Murshidabad Heritage Festival aims at reviving the tangible and intangible heritage of Murshidabad along with those nearby heritage towns of Azimganj, Jiaganj and Cossimbazar. The festival aims at preserving the past and integrating it with the present and to bring Murshidabad back in the tourism, cultural and heritage map of India. It is an initiative of Murshidabad Heritage Development Society (MHDS). The festival began in 2011 and has been celebrated ever since. There are no fixed days for the festival but it is celebrated during the winter season, especially during January or February. The festival is complete with cultural performances, heritage walks, cruise along the Bagirati River and exotic food. The Food served during the festival is purely vegetarian, with special emphasis on Sheherwali cuisine.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Datta |first1=Rangan |title=Murshidabad Heritage Festival 2023: A journey back to the days of the nawabs in Bengal |agency=The Telegraph |issue=My Kolkata |date=15 February 2023}}</ref>


==Notable residents==
==Notable residents==
<!-- ONLY ADD A PERSON TO THIS LIST IF THEY ALREADY HAVE AN ARTICLE IN THE ENGLISH WIKIPEDIA-->{{Div col|colwidth=30em|content=* [[Abdul Alim (folk singer)|Abdul Alim]]
<!-- ONLY ADD A PERSON TO THIS LIST IF THEY ALREADY HAVE AN ARTICLE IN THE ENGLISH Bharatpedia-->{{Div col|colwidth=30em|content=* [[Abdul Alim (folk singer)|Abdul Alim]]
* [[Abul Barkat]]
* [[Abul Barkat]]
* [[Abul Hayat]]
* [[Abul Hayat]]
* [[Abul Bashar]]
* [[Abul Bashar]]
* [[Abul Hasan Quraishi]]
* [[Amiya Kumar Bagchi]]
* [[Amiya Kumar Bagchi]]
* [[Arijit Singh]]
* [[Arijit Singh]]
* [[Arup Chandra]]
* [[Arup Chandra]]
* [[Atiul islam]]
* [[Babar Ali (teacher)|Babar Ali]]
* [[Babar Ali (teacher)|Babar Ali]]
* [[Badshah Moitra]]
* [[Basu Bhattacharya]]
* [[Basu Bhattacharya]]
* [[Farida Yasmin (singer)|Farida Yasmin]]
* [[Farida Yasmin (singer)|Farida Yasmin]]
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==External links==
==External links==
 
{{Portal|India}}
 
{{Commons category}}
*  
* {{Wikivoyage-inline|Murshidabad}}
* [http://murshidabad.nic.in/ District website]
* [http://murshidabad.nic.in/ District website]


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[[Category:Cities and towns in Murshidabad district]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Murshidabad district]]
[[Category:Former capital cities in India]]
[[Category:Former capitals in India]]
[[Category:Capitals of Bengal]]
[[Category:Capitals of Bengal]]
[[Category:Murshidabad| ]]
[[Category:Murshidabad| ]]
[[Category:Cities in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Cities in West Bengal]]

Revision as of 04:27, 14 March 2026


This article is about the town in West Bengal, India. For its namesake, see Murshidabad District.
Murshidabad
Makhsudabad[1]
Lal Bagh
Town
Nizamat Imambara
Wasif Manzil
Jahan Kosha Cannon
Location in West Bengal, India
Murshidabad is located in India
Murshidabad
Murshidabad
Murshidabad (India)
Coordinates: 24°11′N 88°16′E / 24.18°N 88.27°E / 24.18; 88.27
Country India
StateWest Bengal
DistrictMurshidabad
Named forMurshid Quli Khan
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • BodyMurshidabad Municipality
 • ChairpersonLalita Das Nandi (AITC)
 • Lok Sabha MPAbu Taher Khan (AITC)
 • MLAGouri Shankar Ghosh (BJP)
Area
[2]
 • Total17.25 km2 (6.66 sq mi)
Elevation
[3]
10 m (30 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total44,019
 • Density2,600/km2 (6,600/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialBengali[4][5]
 • Additional officialEnglish[4]
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
742149
Telephone code91-3482-2xxxxx
Vehicle registrationWB-57, WB-58
Lok Sabha constituencyMurshidabad
Vidhan Sabha constituencyMurshidabad
Websitemurshidabad.nic.in

Murshidabad (bn) is a town in the Indian state of West Bengal. This town is the headquarters of Lalbag subdivision of Murshidabad district.[6] It is located on the eastern bank of the Bhagirathi River. During the 18th century, Murshidabad was a prosperous and cosmopolitan town.[7][8] Murshidabad was the capital of the Bengal Subah for seventy years. This town was the home of wealthy banking and merchant families from different parts of the Indian subcontinent and wider Eurasia. European companies, including the British East India Company, the French East India Company, the Dutch East India Company and the Danish East India Company, conducted business and operated factories around the city. The town was also a centre of art and culture.[9]

The city's decline began with the defeat of the last independent Nawab of Bengal Siraj-ud-Daulah at the Battle of Plassey in 1757. The Nawab was demoted to the status of a zamindar known as the Nawab of Murshidabad. The British shifted the treasury, courts and revenue office to Calcutta. In the 19th century, the population was estimated to be 46,000. Murshidabad became a district headquarters of the Bengal Presidency. It was declared as a municipality in 1869.

Etymology

Murshidabad was named after its founder, Nawab Murshid Quli Khan. Murshid is an Arabic term for a teacher or guide with integrity, sensibility, and maturity. The suffix -abad is derived from the Persian word abad, which referred to a cultivated place.

Geography

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Location

Murshidabad is located at 24°11′N 88°16′E / 24.18°N 88.27°E / 24.18; 88.27.

Hazarduari Palace and its associated sites in the Kila Nizamat area (forming the central area in the map alongside) is the centre of attraction in Murshidabad. Just a little away are Katra Masjid, Fauti Mosque, Jama Masjid, and the Motijhil area. There is a group of attractions in the northern part of the town (as can be seen in the map alongside). Some attractions such as Khushbagh, Rosnaiganj, Baranagar, Kiriteswari Temple, Karnasuvarna and others are on the other side of the river and there are attractions in the neighbouring Berhampore area also (not shown in the map).[10]

Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in Murshidabad city. Most of the places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map. A few, without pages yet, remain unmarked. The map has a scale. It will help viewers to find out the distances.

History

Painting of the garden, mosque and prince's pavilions in Motijhil (pearl lake)
Nawab Alivardi Khan with a courtier, painted in the Company Style, where it first emerged in Murshidabad[11]
Illuminated Katgola Palace at night
The Nawab's boats on a river
A Jain temple in the mansion of Jagat Seth, a historically prominent banking family of Murshidabad

The area was part of the Gauda Kingdom and Vanga Kingdom in ancient Bengal. The Riyaz-us-Salatin credited the initial development of the town to a merchant named Makhsus Khan. The merchant's role is also mentioned in the Ain-i-Akbari.[12]

During the 17th-century, the area was well known for sericulture. In 1621, English agents reported that large quantities of silk were available in the area. During the 1660s, it became a pargana of the Mughal administration, with jurisdiction over European companies in Cossimbazar.[12]

In the early 18th-century, Murshid Quli Khan, the prime minister of Bengal Subah, had a bitter rivalry with Prince Azim-ush-Shan, the viceroy of Bengal. The latter even attempted to have Khan killed.[12] The Mughal court in Delhi was also rapidly losing authority in much of the subcontinent. Amid the decline of the central government, the Mughal Emperor Farrukhsiyar promoted Khan to the status of a princely Nawab. As Nawab, Khan was given the opportunity to create a princely dynasty as part of the Mughal aristocracy.

Murshid Quli Khan shifted the capital of Bengal from Dhaka, which lost its strategic importance after the expulsion of the Arakanese and Portuguese from Chittagong.[12] He founded the city of Murshidabad and named the city after himself. It became the centre of political, economic and cultural life in Bengal. The jurisdiction of the Nawab included not only Bengal, but also Bihar and Orissa.[13] Murshidabad was also located centrally in the expanded jurisdiction of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.

The presence of the princely court, the Mughal Army, artisans and multiethnic merchants increased the wealth of Murshidabad. Wealthy families and companies established their head offices in the city. The Murshidabad mint became the largest in Bengal, with a value amounting to two percent of the minted currency. The city witnessed the construction of administrative buildings, gardens, palaces, mosques, temples and mansions. European companies operated factories in the city's outskirts. The city was full of brokers, workers, peons, naibs, wakils, and ordinary traders.[12]

Murshid Quli Khan transformed Murshidabad into a capital city with an efficient administrative machinery for his successors. He built a palace and a caravanserai with a grand mosque, known as the Katra Masjid. The main military base was located near the mosque and formed the city's eastern gateway. The third Nawab Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan patronized the construction of another palace and military base, a new gateway, the revenue office, a public audience hall (durbar), a private chamber, the treasury and a mosque in an extensive compound called Farrabagh (Garden of Joy) which included canals, fountains, flowers, and fruit trees.[12]

Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah established a palace near the Motijhil (Pearl Lake). The Nizamat Imambara was built for Shia Muslims. The palace complex was fortified and known as the Nizamat Fort. The main entrances of the Nizamat Fort had musicians' galleries. The gates were high, imposing and tall enough for an elephant to pass through. The Khoshbagh garden was the burial place of the Nawabs.[12] The city had a Bengali majority population, including Bengali Muslims and Bengali Hindus. There was an influential Jain community involved in trade and commerce.[13] An Armenian community also settled and became financiers for the Nawab. The Jagat Seth family was one of the prominent banking families of Murshidabad. They controlled money lending activities and served as financiers for administrators, merchants, traders, the Nawabs, the Zamindars, as well as the British, French, Armenians and Dutch. The merchants built many mansions, including the Azimganj Rajbati, Kathgola house and Nashipur house.

The Nawabs of Bengal entered into agreements with numerous European trading companies allowing them to establish bases in the region. The French East India Company operated factories in Murshidabad and Dhaka. The British East India Company was based in Fort William. Murshidabad was a part of the Dutch Bengal Department. The Ostend Company of Austria established a base near Murshidabad. The Danish East India Company also set up trading posts in the Bengal Subah.

The last independent Nawab, Siraj-ud-Daulah was defeated in the Battle of Plassey in 1757. Despite receiving assurances of French support, the Nawab was betrayed by his commander Mir Jafar. The British installed Mir Jafar's family as a puppet dynasty and eventually reduced the Nawab to the status of a landlord (zamindar). The British continued to collect revenue from the area's factories. The merchant families continued to prosper under company rule in India.[13] In 1858, the British government gained direct control of India's administration.

Murshidabad was very badly affected by the Bengal Famine of 1770.[7]

Murshidabad was a district city of the Bengal Presidency. Warren Hastings removed the supreme civil and criminal courts to Calcutta in 1772, but in 1775 the latter courts were brought back to Murshidabad again. In 1790, under Lord Cornwallis, the entire revenue and judicial staffs were moved to Calcutta. The city was still the residence of the Nawab, who ranked as the first nobleman of the province with the style of Nawab Bahadur of Murshidabad, instead of Nawab Nazim of Bengal. The Hazarduari Palace was built in 1837 as a residence for both the Nawab and British civil servants. Murshidabad became a municipality in 1869. The population in 1901 was 15,168. The silk industry was revived with assistance from the government. The area also became notable for mango and litchi production.[14]

See also - Nawabs of Bengal and Murshidabad

  • Art of Murshidabad
  • Two horsemen, Murshidabad style of painting
    Two horsemen, Murshidabad style of painting
  • Woman playing the sitar, Murshidabad style of painting
    Woman playing the sitar, Murshidabad style of painting
  • Ivory sculpture of a royal barge
    Ivory sculpture of a royal barge
  • Ivory sculpture of a royal barge
    Ivory sculpture of a royal barge
  • An elevated musicians' gallery where drums, flutes and Indian classical music would be played.
    An elevated musicians' gallery where drums, flutes and Indian classical music would be played.

Economy

Murshidabad District has several terracotta Bengali Hindu temples
Silver Rupee struck during the tenure of Bengal Nawab Alivardi Khan in Murshidabad mint, in the name of Mughal emperor Ahmad Shah Bahadur, with his regnal year 3 in Persian, AD 1751.

The city today is a centre for agriculture, handicrafts and sericulture. The famous Murshidabad silk, much in demand for making saris and scarves, is produced here.[citation needed]

Demographics

As of 2011 Indian Census, Murshidabad had a total population of 44,019, of which 22,177 were males and 21,842 were females. Population within the age group of 0 to 6 years was 4,414. The total number of literates in Murshidabad was 32,451, which constituted 73.7% of the population with male literacy of 77.3% and female literacy of 70.1%. The effective literacy rate of 7+ population of Murshidabad was 81.9%, of which male literacy rate was 86.0% and female literacy rate was 77.9%. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes population was 13,762 and 302 respectively. Murshidabad had 9829 households in 2011.According to 2011 census the religious make-up of Murshidabd city was: Hindus (75.09%), Muslims (23.86%) and others(1.05%)[3] However, during the Murshidabad violence, many Hindus, including women and children, were displaced from the affected areas and took shelter in neighboring Malda district.[15]

Educational institutes

Schools

Colleges

Government College of Engineering & Textile Technology, Berhampore

Universities

Murshidabad Heritage Festival

Dance performance in Kathgola gardens during the Murshidabad Heritage Festival

The Murshidabad Heritage Festival aims at reviving the tangible and intangible heritage of Murshidabad along with those nearby heritage towns of Azimganj, Jiaganj and Cossimbazar. The festival aims at preserving the past and integrating it with the present and to bring Murshidabad back in the tourism, cultural and heritage map of India. It is an initiative of Murshidabad Heritage Development Society (MHDS). The festival began in 2011 and has been celebrated ever since. There are no fixed days for the festival but it is celebrated during the winter season, especially during January or February. The festival is complete with cultural performances, heritage walks, cruise along the Bagirati River and exotic food. The Food served during the festival is purely vegetarian, with special emphasis on Sheherwali cuisine.[16]

Notable residents

Notes

References

  1. ↑ "Murshidabad | India, Map, & Population | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  2. ↑ "Welcome to Murshidabad Municipality". Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Census of India: Murshidabad". www.censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Fact and Figures". Wb.gov.in. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  5. ↑ "52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India" (PDF). Nclm.nic.in. Ministry of Minority Affairs. p. 85. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  6. ↑ "Subdivision and Blocks | District Murshidabad | India". Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 William Dalrymple (10 September 2019). The Anarchy: The East India Company, Corporate Violence, and the Pillage of an Empire. Bloomsbury USA. ISBN 978-1-63557-395-4.
  8. ↑ "Which India is claiming to have been colonised?". 31 July 2015.
  9. ↑ Darbar of Alivardi Khan at Murshidabad's Court, c. 1753, retrieved 19 April 2025
  10. ↑ "Offbeat Weekend in Murshidabad". Outskirts of Killa Nizamat (Northern part). Offbeat Weekend. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  11. ↑ "Company school | Indian art | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 "Murshidabad - Banglapedia". Banglapedia. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Silliman, Jael (28 December 2017). "Murshidabad can teach the rest of India how to restore heritage and market the past". Scroll.in. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  14. ↑ "Mango people of murshidabad". The Telegraph. India. 18 June 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  15. ↑ "Bengal communal violence: 'We have become refugees in our own land… We may never return'". The Indian Express. 15 April 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  16. ↑ Datta, Rangan (15 February 2023). "Murshidabad Heritage Festival 2023: A journey back to the days of the nawabs in Bengal". No. My Kolkata. The Telegraph.

External links


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