Namak Haram Deorhi

Location: Murshidabad, West Bengal, India

Also known as: Jafarganj Deorhi, Traitor’s gate

The Namak Haram Deorhi is the royal mansion of Mir Jafar. The Palace is opposite to Jafarganj Cemetery this is in the area of Lalbagh in Murshidabad district which is near Mahimapur in West Bengal state. The Namak Haram Deorhi Palace is not only the mansion of Mir Jafar but it also refers to the main gate of the palace. The Palace was Mir Jafar’s residence till he was above the Bengal’s Musnad or till he was the Subha’s Commander-in-chief. Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah was assassinated at this place.

The Namak Haram Deorhi has been featured by turrets and towers. There were cannons around the palace to safeguard the palace from the attacks. At present there is only Deorhi which is the gate of the Palace, which has remained in the Palace.

History

The conference which was being conducted before Battle of Plassey which was held between Mir Jafar, his son Mir Miran and William Watts was the last conference that was held there. The chief of Kasimbazar also known as Cossimbazar was William Watts who was in the British east India Companies factory. He was from Bengal, and very proficient in certain languages like Hindustani, Persian and Bengali. In the Palace’s seraglio Watts was by Miran. The Living quarters which were used by the Muslim concubines and wives is known as a Seraglio.

Nawab Siraj ud-Daula on Mir Miran’s orders was killed by Muhammad-i-Beg in Deorhi’s campus as per Seir Mutaqherin in the year 1757, July 2 under a neem tree near the public road. Although he was killed in the Battle of Plassey where he tried to flee away in order to save his life.

The Quran was kept on Mir Jafar’s head along with the hand of Jafar on Miran’s head. Thereafter Mir Jafar took an oath that he would with loyalty perform what he would be asked to which was to defeat Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah in Battle of Plassey. It was supposed to be held later on the next day such that the aim was to dethrone him from the Nawab of Bengal and the victory of the British.

But he was observed to be killed inside the palace known as Mansurganj which is on the Bhagirathi River’s west bank and it lies to Deorhi’s opposite. In this palace Mir Miran was residing. When Nawab Siraj ud-Daula was killed, his body taken to the river and it was kept all the night at Jafarganj. Then the next day in the morning the body was paraded on the street kept on the Elephant in Murshidabad. It also passed through Siraj ud Daulah’s mother’s house, Amina Begum. And later on towards Khushbagh crossing the River.

Architecture

The building as it looks does not seem very beautiful but very ancient. Since it is a very old building therefore the architect was not known but the architectural style was that of the British era.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit the palace in Murshidabad is during the months of October, November and December when the weather of West Bengal makes the journey comfortable to travel.

How to Reach

It is a tourist place and West Bengal has many other places of attractions which make the place famous to travel. Although Murshidabad is a town in West Bengal yet it has nearby railway and bus stations along with the airports which makes easier for the visitor to travel and reach the palace. let’s discuss the means to reach by road, rail and air.

By Air

The nearest airport is in Kolkata the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport which has both the connectivity of domestic and international flights to various parts of the world. A taxi could be hired from the airport to reach the city which is easily available.

By Rail

Although Murshidabad is not having any railway station in its own town but there is a railway station Berhampur which is near Murshidabad at a distance of 650 km which has a regular train service connected to various cities across India.

By Road

The place has good connectivity and roads and there are good facilities of bus services which run on daily basis of all classes including private and state buses at affordable fares.

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