Notes on Cooch Behar Palace

Cooch Behar Palace is a majestic palace that was erected in 1887 by the great Koch ruler Maharaja Nripendra Narayan in the traditional European style of the Italian Renaissance.

This double-story brick structure occupies an area of 4768 square metres and is raised on a 1.5-metre-high basement. It is 120 metres long from north to south and 90 metres long from east to west. The frontal façade is composed of a succession of arches supported by an alternate way of thin and broad piers with single and double Corinthian pilasters.

Famous Cooch Behar Palace

A porch is extended in the middle to serve as the principal building entrance via the Durbar Hall. The Durbar Hall is dodecagonal in design, sitting on four arches supported by enormous Corinthian pillars and protruding a lantern at the top, evoking the memory of St. Peter’s Church in Rome. The dome’s intrados are relieved in stepped patterns, and an exquisite little balcony flanks it with twelve window apertures at the base.

The royal symbol in pietra dura can be found on the marble floor in the centre of the Durbar Hall. The dancing hall, dressing rooms, bedrooms, kitchen, billiard room, dining hall, library, toshakhana, and ladies gallery are among the more than fifty rooms/halls of varying sizes. Certain rooms warrant special notice due to the exquisite ceiling and inner wall surface artwork.

Rajbari’s History

Maharaja Nripendra Narayan erected Rajbari, also known as the Cooch Behar Palace, in 1887. From 1841 until 1863, his father, Maharaja Narendra Narayan, reigned as a Maharaja. Shivenra Narayan, Narendra Narayan’s uncle, adopted him when his son died. Shivenra Narayan died soon after, leaving the kingdom to Narendra Narayan. The latter was not of the eligible age at the time and could reign Cooch Behar only after reaching the age of majority.

Nripendra Narayan and Jatindra Narayan were Narendra Narayan’s two sons.

Following his demise in 1863, his eldest son, Nripendra Narayan, ascended to the kingdom at around a year.

On the other hand, the administration was overseen by a commissioner nominated by the Governor.

The Commissioners modernised the administration, which was later maintained after Maharaja Nripendra Narayan reached the age of majority and assumed power as a sovereign. He got married to Smt. Sunity Devi was born in 1878, and the Cooch Behar Palace was erected in 1887. After their father died, their two sons, Rajendra Narayan and Jitendra Narayan took over the monarchy. Jitendra Narayan’s son was also the last Maharaja of Cooch Behar, in charge of the state government and the Victor Jubilee Palace.

Rajbari Architecture

The Rajbari, also known as the Cooch Behar Palace, is an outstanding monument built in the Italian Renaissance style. The whole monument spreads beautifully over 51,000 square feet; it is approximately 390 feet long and 296 feet broad and is composed of bricks. The monument is 125 feet tall and includes an entry on the ground level with a projecting porch leading to the Durbar Hall. The first level features a series of lovely arcaded verandas with piers alternately placed in double and single rows. There are about 50 rooms in the palace, including bedrooms, dressing rooms, a billiard room, a kitchen, a dining hall, a dancing hall, a library, a Tosha khana, and a women’s gallery.

Some Fascinating Facts Regarding West Bengal’s Cooch Behar Palace

• Cooch Behar has been the only organised town in North Bengal containing royal heritage relics.
• A large area of lovely gardens surrounds the Cooch Behar Palace.
• The Rajbari houses a fantastic collection of guns and weapons from the Koch Dynasty.
• The doors are composed of robust black mahogany wood with elaborate carvings and traditional craftsmanship.
• The gleaming silver dome atop the Cooch Behar Palace is an inspiring design from European Renaissance architecture that is rarely seen in other Indian historical monuments.
• The entire double-story brick-built tower stands tall and sturdy, with intricate and large terraces on both floors.
• The Cooch Behar Palace has been converted into a museum.
• It has antiquities, oil paintings, sandstone, arrows, clay figurines, and spade, among other things.
• The local life of tribal people is also shown in one of the palace museum’s exhibits.
• Maharani Gayatri Devi was born at the Rajbari Palace and was regarded as the most beautiful woman in the world.
• After her marriage, she departed Cooch Behar for the Pink City of Jaipur.
• Cooch Behar is not only known for its palace, but it also has a lot of beautiful temples.

Conclusion

The Cooch Behar Place demonstrates the Koch king’s embracing of European idealism without rejecting Indian tradition. Cooch Behar Palace is one of the top monuments of national importance, as per the Archaeological Survey of India.