Hazarduari Palace

Hazarduari Palace is located on the campus of Kila Nizamat in Murshidabad, West Bengal, India. It is located near River Ganga’s bank and was formerly known as the Bara Kothi. Architect Duncan Macleod designed it during the reign of Nawab Nazim Humayun Jah of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa (1824–1838). The palace’s foundation stone was set on August 9, 1829, and its construction began the next day. The governor-general at the time was William Cavendish.

Hazarduari Palace is now the most visible structure in Murshidabad. It has become a popular tourist destination in India. The palace was turned over to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in 1985 for better preservation.

The palace has a rich history. Mir Jafar and his dynasty commissioned General Duncan McLeod to design the palace. It was completed in 1837. The Hazarduari complex includes a Madina mosque, a Nizam Imambaara, a clock, and other structures. Usually, Indian palaces are named after their rulers. However, Hazarduari was named after its ‘thousand doorways’.

West Bengal’s Murshidabad is known as the world’s largest metropolis. It was the capital of the whole kingdom when Nawab Murshid-Quil-Khan ruled Bihar, Orissa, and Bengal. However, when the British arrived in India and began trading, they took over the entire country as a colony. They also designated Calcutta (now Kolkata) as the nation’s capital. Surprisingly, they even persuaded Mir Jafar to defraud Nawab and assist the Britishers in achieving their goals.

Hazarduari Palace’s Architectural Design

After taking down Nizamat Kila, the Murshidabad Hazarduari Palace was created. The design of the structure is amazing. It has 37 stones leading to the upper portico. There are also multiple massive entrances with various names.

The main entrance contained Naubat Khanas. These are galleries where musicians used to dwell and play music. The palace also includes seven massive pillars, 18 ft high with 5.5 m. 

Nawab Nazim Humayun Jah set the foundation stone to construct it as a true Nawabi Palace. However, the concrete bed was so deep that the Nawab had to use a ladder. He collapsed due to suffocation from the large crowds that had gathered to see the palace’s construction. 

The Nawab Palace is only around 40 feet from the Bhagirathi River. The Hazarduari Palace includes a north-facing stairway. The palace comprises 114 apartments, each with its own entrance. The designer’s major goal was to highlight the Indo-European architecture.

About the Hazarduari Palace

Hazarduari Palace is famous for having a thousand entrances. However, the palace only has 100 actual doors, with the remaining 900 being fake. This was done on purpose to protect the palace against attacks from enemies. The idea was to confuse intruders, giving the Nawab’s soldiers plenty of time to catch them.

The palace is built in the Greek (Doric) and Italian styles. It was finished in December 1837. The cost of building the palace was rumoured to amount to a stunning 16.50 lakh gold coins. The palace has a height of 80 ft, with a width of 130 m and a breadth of 61 m.

The Hazarduari Palace has three levels in total. The original location of Murshidabad’s fort was in Kila Nizamat. It is located where the current Hazarduari Palace is located, directly on the banks of the Bhagirathi River. The fort was destroyed to make way for the construction of the palace.

Kila Nizamat now refers to the campus that includes the Hazarduari Palace, Murshidabad Clock Tower, Nizamat Imambara, Madina Mosque, Bacchawali Tope, Chawk Masjid, Wasif Manzil, Shia Complex, and two Zurud Mosques. The Nawab Bahadur’s Institution also surrounds the Hazarduari Palace. The Hazarduari Palace is recognised on the List of Monuments of National Importance in West Bengal by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

The Murshidabad Hazarduari Palace Museum is the only museum in the Murshidabad area that preserves several culturally significant components that may be used for cultural and heritage tourism. Every year, several tourists from all over the globe visit. Thus, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and Central Government take particular measures to care for the wonderful museum, promoting Sustainable Cultural Heritage Tourism. The local municipality is also responsible for cleaning the area, and the local government should endeavour to create awareness about the importance of history and tourism.

Conclusion

Hazarduari Palace, known previously as the Bara Kothi, is located on the campus of Kila Nizamat in Murshidabad, West Bengal, India, near the bank of River Ganga. Named after its thousand doors, the palace is known for its beauty and splendour. The Hazarduari Palace only has 100 doors, with the other 900 ones being fake to throw off any intruders who may attack the palace’s residents. The palace is recognised by the Archeological Survey of India and has a place on the List of Monuments of National Importance in West Bengal.