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Sightseeing
Highlights
The majestic Curzon Gate, now known as Vijay Toran, was erected in 1903 in Lord
Curzon’s honour. The Royal Palace
is situated one kilometre from the gate. Visit Golapbag, the garden of roses, which is dotted by pretty water
tanks. Hawa Mahal is another place
of tourist interest.
The tomb
of Sher Afghan, the last of the Afghan jagirdars in Bardhaman, is located
at Pir Beharam in Kanchannagar.
Ambika Kalna was the summer residence
of the Rajas of Bardhaman and is the unique meeting point of the Shakta and the
Vaishnava forms of worship. The temples at Kalna are built of bricks with
intricate terracotta designs. Unique among the temples are the ornate Palki Krishna
Chanraji Temple
and the Pratapeswar
Temple, a 108 temple
complex dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temples are divided into two circles with
black and white lingas. Not to be missed are the Lalji
Temples with 25 spires and the Ambika Temple
Bardhaman or Burdwan as it was called in
the British days, has been the district headquarters since the times of the
Moghuls and later the British. It is thus a city with a long and interesting
heritage. It is believed that the city was named as early as the sixth century
BC after Vardhaman Mahavira, spent some time here. Mention of this is made in the
Jain scripture of Kalpasutra. Bardhaman has a multi-cultural heritage: it has
deuls (temples) reflecting Buddhist architecture; various mosques and tombs built
by Muslim rulers; as well as Hindu temples belonging to the Sakta and Vaishnava
community. The famous Sufi Pir Baharam's tomb is also here.
Bardhaman has witnessed numerous violent invasions
by Mughal, Pashtun and Maratha rulers. It was visited by various famous people
from Raja Todarmal to Daud Karnani, Sher Afgan, Kutub-ud-din and Shah Jahan.
The tomb of Sher Afghan is witness to the celebrated love-story of Mehr-ul-Nissa
and Jahangir. Sher Afghan, was the first husband of Mehr-ul-Nissa, and perished
after she left him for the Mughal badshah. She later ruled India as
Jahangir's wife, but with a new name Noor Jahan. Today Bardhaman is a major communications
hub and the centre of rice and oilseed milling, hosiery, cutlery, and tool
manufacturing industries. |
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