Hazarduari Palace Museum
| Place | Murshidabad |
|---|---|
| State | West Bengal |
| Virtual Museum | No |
| Year of Establishment | 1985 |
| Museum Type | Archaeological / Period Museum |
| National Importance Museum | Yes |
| Address | Siraj Ud Daulah Road, Hazarduari, Murshidabad, West Bengal 742149 |
| Visiting Time | 09:00 AM – 04:30 PM (Saturday–Thursday) Closed on Fridays. |
| Entry Fee | ₹25 (Indian Nationals) ₹300 (Foreign Nationals). Entry for children up to 15 years is free. |
Museum Introduction
The Hazarduari Palace & Museum, originally known as the Bara Kothi, is a grand 19th-century palace in Murshidabad, West Bengal. Commissioned by Nawab Nazim Humayun Jah of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa, it was constructed between 1824 and 1838. Designed by Scottish architect Colonel Duncan MacLeod in the Neoclassical Italianate style, the palace is situated on the banks of the Bhagirathi River within the Kila Nizamat campus. Its name, "Hazarduari," translates to "a palace with a thousand doors," a reference to its unique architecture featuring 900 real and 100 false doors designed to confuse intruders.
General Collections
The museum spans 20 galleries and houses over 4,700 artifacts, including royal oil paintings by Dutch, French, and Italian masters, vintage furniture, rare manuscripts, and exquisite silver and ivory carvings. The collection also features extensive natural history specimens, historical photographs, and various gifts presented to the Nawabs by the British East India Company.
Unique Historical Collections
The Dagger of Betrayal: The historical dagger used by Muhammadi Beg to assassinate Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah. Queen Victoria's Chandelier: A massive crystal chandelier in the Durbar Hall gifted by Queen Victoria, which originally held 1,001 candles. The Silver Throne: The ornate royal throne of the Nawabs located directly beneath the central chandelier. Ivory Palanquin: A beautifully crafted palanquin used by Zeb-un-Nissa, the daughter of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
Additional Information
| Archaeological Survey of India | Yes |
|---|---|
| Notes | The palace is 424 feet long and 80 feet high, characterized by a triangular pediment supported by 52 massive Doric columns. The museum library, located on the upper floor, contains over 12,000 rare books and 3,000 manuscripts in Arabic, Persian, and Urdu (accessible only to researchers with prior permission). |
| Artifacts | Swords and shields used in the Battle of Plassey; 18th-century "Toradar" (matchlock) guns; Royal farmans (decrees) from Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II; A collection of vintage carriages, including a camel carriage and Victorian coaches; Marble statues of Napoleon and Nelson; Miniature replicas of the Statue of Liberty. |
| Highly Descriptive | Yes |
| Contact Details | +91 3482 270278 |
| Email ID |
circlekol.asi@gmail.com hazarduari.museum@gmail.com |