Privérondleiding door Murshidabad vanuit Kolkata over het grote verraad

India is awash in history, much of which changed the world. However, there is so much history in India, it's often difficult to find a knowledgeable guide with whom to learn about and explore it. Enter Five Senses Tours. My goal in coming to Kolkata was to learn about the origins and the eventual engine of the British Raj, and to see first hand what colonialism meant from a ground-up perspective. Five Senses did not disappoint! Bratati, my guide was very knowledgeable about the history of the Raj and of Kolkata, and took me on a walking tour of the heart of Kolkata (which, if you haven't been, is stunningly like Georgian-Victorian era London, only with warmer, more humid weather). It was fascinating and enlightening. (And the chai was delicious.) But the best was yet to come. Bratati took us on a custom designed tour of the Plassey battlefield and Murshidabad, and the story of Robert Clive, Mir Jafar, the Jagath Seths, and the East India Company unfolded for me. It was, in a word, fascinating. I'm very happy that I went to Kolkata and Murshidabad, and I'm even happier that I went with Five Senses Tours!

This trip more than fulfilled what I wanted to experience with a trip to Murshidabad. My guide was full of knowledge of history, local culture, and customs. He was very accommodating and was willing to show me other places I requested within the given timeframe. I had a very enjoyable trip with a pleasant guide and driver. I could fault anything.

Murshidabad is the place where the history of Bengal changed itself amidst the bleeding and the power struggle that seems to rule the pages of history. Murshidabad is no different and the travel experience to the place gives you the feel of the legacy that is burdened with betrayal, defeat and sorrow running in the family of Nawabs of Bengal spanning over centuries. The idea of the history of Bengal from 16th to 18th century and its prosperity post Pala and Sena dynasty can be found in Murshidabad. That starts from the trade, palaces and the way the kingdom was ruled over the years. The invasions are there and so is the history of the fight against the Maratha Bargis and then the British which changed the destiny of India all starting from the very place Murshidabad. However, Murshidabad has more than mere historical palace which spreads across adjoining areas like CossimBazar palace. Not to forget that the adjoining areas such as Azimganj and Jiaganj has historical palaces as well as the district museum that is now being refurbished to accommodate more of the historical pieces which will create a sense of understanding that how Bengal evolved over time. The idea of the travel in Murshidabad is generally stuck around Hazarduari, Kathgola which are undoubtedly amazing. However there are amazing architectural marvels such as Char Bagh temple which are intricately designed for the pleasure and aesthetics in terms of viewing it. The master pieces of the terracotta temple which are amazing to look at in times of the intricacies. This is how the history of Murshidabad can be recreated from the way the prosperous regions of Bengal flourished. Time to take a dip in the stories of places such as Katra Mosque which is a masterpiece in terms of the design for a religious place as well as design in terms of the defence-oriented features against the Maratha bargis. The courtyard for prayers and the unique standing of the temple in the mosque itself is something which is amazing and historical as well as to look at. Indeed the precious stones are no more there which have been looted which reminds of the British colonial loot and may pain you. The idea of travelling to historical places like Murshidabad is to soak in as much history as you can. The journey through the roads surrounding the fields of mustard and long green field going around in non-polluting caddie rides known as Toto is surely a relief from the polluted city life. The movement across the river Bhagirathi would remind of the days when the nawabs used to travel in boats across the waterways. The cannons would surely remind of the industrial skills of Indians back in those time. The house of Jagat Seth which houses his unique collections of expensive crockery set, furniture and European paintings cannot be missed. The money lender from Rajasthan who only looked for his own profits surely by laundering money shows that we were experts in selling and trading at the cost of even greater good. The palace of Nasibpur also houses a lot of armoury and the amazing paintings of which pictures are not allowed to be taken. Although some of the maintenance in places such as Roshnibagh are quite questionable. The sound and light show at Motijheel park where once apparently pearls were farmed now turned into a leisure park is really pleasant and worth a visit to walk around. The same goes for entire Murshidabad with history spread around for an amazing visit.