22/12/2020
Murshidabad Rajbari
Way back in time, when Murshidabad was the capital of the Nawabs of Bengal, the place was a flourishing port on the Ganges, tucked inside a bend in the river. So it was here - around 1700 - that Ajodhya Ram Roy of Pirojpur village decided to settle down with his family. Ajodhya Ram Roy and his son Dinobandhu Roy traded in silk and built up a sizable business in silk export. But after the English East India Company defeated the Nawab of Murshidabad and subsequently decided to straighten out the course of Ganges to facilitate direct passage of boats between Murshidabad and Behrampore (now Baharampur), the place lost its strategic importance and dwindled away. The Roy family too began to look at other options. Since the 1700s, as new generations of the Roy family started to unfold, each member had their own things of interest and different hobbies. This lead to the rajbari bearing proof of their interests. Some were very keen on wrestling while others were keen on making a garden.
How To Reach
Murshidabad is well linked with Kolkata. The Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport is nearest to it. Berhampore, the headquarter town of Murshidabad is just 186 km by rail from Kolkata. Road - There are regular bus services between Kolkata and Murshidabad town (219 km By National Highway No 34). All North Bengal going buses take a halt at Berhampore Town.
Buses are also available on a regular basis to/from Rampurhat, Suri, Bolepur, Maldah, Krishnagar, and Durgapur to Berhampore. One can take a halt at Berhampore town where a lot of hotels are available and tour various spots of Murshidabad.
Murshidabad Railway Station stands on the Sealdah-Lalgola line of the Eastern Railway. The town of Berhampur is about 12 km from Murshidabad.