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5 Best Places to Visit in Malda, West Bengal

Malda is a charming historic city located on the banks of the river Mahananda in West Bengal.

The city is also known as English Bazar and is famous for the profound architectural remains that captivate all the visitors from all over Bengal as well as India.

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It served as the capital city of the Gour Pandua previously.

This city is also famous for its mangoes.

In this article, you will get to know about the following places to visit in Malda,

  1. Gour
  2. Firoz Minar
  3. Jahura Kali Temple
  4. Dakhil Darwaza
  5. Chamkati Masjid

Let’s see each of these places in detail…

1. Gour

Gour (Mainaksinghabarma, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Gour is one of the most beautiful and ancient tourist spots in Malda.

It is the oldest residential colony in Malda situated along the banks of the holy river Ganges.

Gour’s history can be dated back to 1198, which is roughly when Islam had acquired control of the state.

Even though the location is currently in ruins, tourists from all over the world still flock here because of its fascinating history and spectacular architecture.

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This town served as both the ancient Bengal capital and the central point for regional political and state activities.

Gour is a delight for historical enthusiasts because it is home to several other monuments too.

The Bada Darwaza is a massive building that is one of the charming attractions in Gour.

The most renowned monuments include Eunuchs’ Mosque, Tantipara Mosque, Dakhil Darwaza, Kadam Rasut Mosque, and Firoz Minar.

2. Firoz Minar

Firoz Minar (Ajit Kumar Majhi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

The Firoz Minar is located a kilometer away from the Dakhil Darwaza.

During the years 1485–1489, Sultan Saifuddin Feroze Shah constructed this popular ‘Minar’.

This five-story structure, which is similar to the Qutub Minar, is 26 meters tall and 19 meters wide.

The tower’s top two levels are spherical, while its first three floors each feature twelve neighboring faces.

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A spiraling set of 84 steps leads up to the tower’s summit.

The walls of Feroze Minar, which was constructed in the Tughlaq architectural style, are decorated with beautiful terracotta decorations.

The Chiragdani and Pir-Asha-Minar are other names for this structure. You must surely visit this spectacular location if you visit Malda.

3. Jahura Kali Temple

Jahura Kali Temple (Ishanmitra31, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Maa Jahura Temple is a historic Adishakti temple on the outskirts of Malda Town that dates back to 1200 A.D.

The temple was built by Raja Ballal Sen during 1159-1179.

The temple is flanked by lush greenery on one side and mango groves on the other side.

The three red faces of the Goddess Jahura are the principal deities in this shrine.

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The three faces on the temple’s facade are represented as the goddesses Mahakali, Mahalaxmi, and Maha Saraswati.

Devotees visit the temple to offer prayers Only on Tuesdays and Saturdays only. The temple remains closed on other days.

The temple premise is very tranquil and is surrounded by a divine atmosphere.

4. Dakhil Darwaza

Dakhil Darwaza (Amitabha Gupta, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Dakhil Darwaza, which is a significant landmark in Gaur, is part of a 15th-century castle ruin that still stands today with its ancient and charming glory.

The citadel of Lakhnauti, which is the Arabic or Islamic name of Gaur, was erected by Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah (1435-59 AD).

The Dakhil Darwaza, also known as the entrance gate of ancient fort Gour, is the largest building in Sultanate Bengal’s architectural history.

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The main gate is a massive red-colored wall near the fort’s southeast corner that surrounds the ancient remains of the fort.

The entranceway is one of the most sturdy and beautiful doorways ever built in Bengal.

Because cannons were once fired from it, the gate is also commonly referred to as Salaami Darwaza.

5. Chamkati Masjid

Chamkati Masjid (Ajit Kumar Majhi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Chamkati Mosque is another distinct attraction in Malda.

Sultan Yusuf Shah constructed the Chamkati mosque in 1475.

The name of this masjid is somewhat unusual.

It is known as the Chika Mosque because it is the home to many Chikas or bats.

The stunning Arabic engravings are still partially visible in the ruins.

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Despite being damaged, Chamkati Mosque in Malda is significant historically and architecturally.

Red color-coated bricks are used throughout to build the entire building.

Heat and light do not enter inside the mosque because of the sturdy and thick walls.

The mosque also served as a prison before it was a mosque.

These are some of the popular places to visit in Malda.

If you are interested in the history of Bengal you must surely visit some of these places.

The forts and mosques provide vivid insights into achievements and life in the sultanate period.

These architectural masterpieces are some of the popular attractions in West Bengal.

Cover Photo Credits: Ajit Kumar Majhi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons


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