Hazarduari Palace

Hazarduari Palace
An ASI Listed Monument
The grand palace of Hazarduari illuminated at night
Show map of West Bengal Show map of India
Former names	Bara Kothi
Alternative names	Nizamat Kila
General information
Architectural style	Italian-style palace built in the 19th century and Greek (Doric) style
Location	Murshidabad district
Country	India
Coordinates	24.1864°N 88.2687°E / 24.1864; 88.2687
Groundbreaking	9 August 1829
Completed	December, 1837
Cost	16.50 Lacs Gold Coins.
Owner	Archaeological Survey of India
Height	80 feet
Dimensions
Other dimensions	Length: 130 meters and Breadth:61 meters
Technical details
Floor count	3
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Colonel Duncan MacLeod
Other information
Parking	available

Hazarduari Palace, earlier known as the Bara Kothi,[1] is located in the campus of Kila Nizamat in Murshidabad, in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is situated near the bank of river Ganges. It was built by Nawab Nazim Humayun Jah in the nineteenth century. He was the Nawab of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa (1824–1838).

In 1985, the palace was handed over to the Archaeological Survey of India for better preservation.[2][3]

According to the Archaeological Survey of India as mentioned in the List of Monuments of National Importance in West Bengal, the Hazarduari Palace and Imambara are ASI Listed Monuments.[4]

Kila Nizamat

Main article: Kila Nizamat

A painting of the Nizamat Fort Area (c. 1814–1815), kept in the British Library, by William Prinsep, showing the old and small Nizamat Fort

Kila Nizamat or Nizamat Kila or Nizamat Imambara(Nizamat Fort) was the site of the old fort of Murshidabad. It was located on the present site of the Hazarduari Palace, on the banks of the Bhagirathi river.[5]

Etymology

The name of the palace that is Hazarduari, in which Hazar means "thousand" and Duari means "the one with doors"; thus, the total sums up to "the one with a thousand doors".

The palace earlier known as Bara Kothi has been named so as the palace has in all 1000 doors, of which 100 are false. They were built so that if any thief or robber tried to steal something and escape, he would be confused between the false and real doors and by that time he would be caught by the Nawab's guards.[6]

Museum

The clock tower with the palace in the backdrop

Clock Tower at Hazarduari Palace Complex

The palace has now been transformed into a museum which houses collections from the Nawabs like priceless paintings, furniture, antiques and so on. The famous one is the mirror and the chandelier. In 1985, the palace was handed over to the Archaeological Survey of India for better preservation.[2][3]

Miniature

A miniature of the palace,[7] made by Sagore Mistri in ivory, along with portraits of His Highness and his son, among other presents, were sent to King William IV. He honoured the Nawab with a full-size portrait of His Majesty and an autographed letter, and conferred upon him the badge and insignia of the Royal Guelphic and Hanoverian order, which are still preserved in the Palace.

Map

A map of the full Nizamat Fort Campus (excluding Wasef Manzil, Dakshin Darwaza or the South Gate of the campus, Nawab Bahadur's Institution and the South Zurud Mosque) showing the Nizamat Imambara in yellow and other buildings surrounding it, like the Madina Mosque, the Hazarduari Palace, Chawk Masjid, Bacchawali Tope, Murshidabad Clock Tower, Shia Complex and the Zurud Mosque (North)

Gallery

• 
  Hazarduari Palace
• 
  Complex Garden
• 
  Hazarduari Palace from Backside
• 
  Photos from Hazarduari Palace with the palace's chandelier in the center. This chandelier is the second largest in the world after that in the Buckingham Palace

See also

• Chawk Masjid
• Murshidabad
• Nizamat Imambara
• Nawabs of Bengal and Murshidabad
• History of Bengal
• History of Bangladesh
• History of India

References

1. "History of Murshidabad". Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
2. "Palace handed ovet to ASI". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
3. "Handed over to ASI". Archived from the original on 7 May 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
4. "List of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains of West Bengal - Archaeological Survey of India". Item no. 122. ASI. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
5. "Nizamat Kila". Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
6. "Hazarduari Palace". Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
7. Palace's miniature Archived January 6, 2012, at the Wayback Machine

External links

• Hazarduari Palace travel guide from Wikivoyage
• "Wonders of India: Hazarduari Palace" on YouTube