The Murshidabad and Nadia districts of West Bengal play a crucial role in the history of Bengal.
Murshidabad (Bengali: মুর্শিদাবাদ Murśidābād) was the capital of Bengal during the Nawab rule, which has become one of the major tourist centres in West Bengal.
Nadia (Bengali: নদিয়া Nadiẏā) was once known as the "Oxford of Bengal" and has made many contributions to Indian philosophy, such as the Navya-Nyaya system of logic and is the birthplace of the Vaishnava saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Cities
Murshidabad
- 🌍 Baharampur — headquarters of Murshidabad district, fortified British cantonment with Dutch, French, Mughal and Portuguese architecture and reminiscences
- 🌍 Jangipur, Dhuliyan and Farakka — three towns in northern Murshidabad district
- 🌍 Murshidabad — former capital of Bengal under the Nawabs
Nadia
- 🌍 Krishnanagar — headquarters of Nadia district
Other destinations
- 🌍 Bethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary — wildlife centre
Get in
By train
The railway stations on the western side of the Bhagirathi River have more train options than the ones on the eastern side, the latter have trains from Kolkata only.
By car
NH 12 runs north-south in Murshidabad and Nadia and it is probably the best way to get into the region from Kolkata or North Bengal. The highway covers major cities like Ranaghat, Krishnanagar and Baharampur. SH 6, also known as STKK Road, is another way to get into the region via Nabadwip.
Get around
By train
There are local trains from Kolkata that connect several destinations in Murshidabad and Nadia along the eastern side of the Bhagirathi River.
See and do
The major attractions in the region include the Hazar Duari Palace in Murshidabad, the historic site of Palashi and Sri Maya Chandrodaya Mandir in Mayapur. Besides these attractions, you can take a boat ride across the Bhagirathi River. There are numerous ferry terminals on both banks of the river, where you can rejoice in the beauty of the river.
Eay and drink
The ground water is normally unsafe for drinking, as it might be contaminated with arsenic, fluoride, or both. So you are better off drinking from the municipal or panchayat (village administration) supply of surface water or bottled drinking water of reputed companies, not of ordinary companies, here and there in Central Bengal, even if those are cheaper by ₹2 per litre.