The district of Malda houses places that are historic and some are still under excavation. It is like a treasured place for history buffs and historians who love to learn and discover things from an ending.
The place not only attracts people for the amazing mangoes that grow in the area but also for the things to see. Everything we witness is ages old when the region was under the king’s rule.
Setting your foot at the site is plainly like stepping into a historic era and living there for a few hours. Not just that, much more find their place in the beautiful district and town of Malda.
In this article, you will get to know about the following places to visit in Malda district,
Let’s see each of these places in detail.
1. Gour
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. Malda Museum
With a magnificent collection of stories and elements from the past, the Malda Museum is quite an archaeological museum. This structure was established in the year 1937.
In the beginning, the museum consisted of only the old artifacts that were excavated within the Malda district. Also, these pieces of history were placed in the Malda District Library Complex. Later, the museum was translocated to a new space and was then given the stature of a museum.
The Malda region was the ruling seat of Bengal since 7th century. Gour and Pandua were the capitals till the, and the rule lasted late 16th century. In recent times, the place is dotted with history; all attracting and fascinating the visitors and history guys.
As there existed such an incredible past, hence the museum thrives with discovered relics. There are distinctive figurines, terracotta plaques, wondrous sculptures, calligraphic inscription tablets, and varied other artifacts. All of these ancient items will sweep you to more than 1500 years ahead of these days.
Witness the anthropological and rich historical heritage through the relics sited in the museum. This is under the State Directory of Archaeology. To visit the museum, you will have to reach Subhankar Bandh Road, English Bazaar, Malda district.
3. Jahura Kali Temple
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. Ramkeli
While traveling towards Gour, you will come across a quaint village called as Ramkeli. This location is prominent as it was the home of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu for a brief period of time. Mahaprabhu was the spiritual reformer in the state of Bengal.
He spent a few days at Ramkeli en route to Vrindavan in 1515 AD. There is a bit of an anecdote to this. in the village, lived two brothers, who were affluent. They were so moved by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s religious lessons that they completely accepted Vaishnavism and were absorbed by it.
After this, Rup and Sanatan, the brothers, made eight Kundas (as Ramkli would face water scarcity during summers), namely Shyam Kund, Radha Kund, Rup Sagar, Lalita Kund, Visakha Kund, Ranjha Kund, Surabhi Kund, and lastly Indulekha kund. They also arranged a huge fair to acknowledge Prabhu’s visit to the village.
There is also a temple in Ramkeli called the Madan Mohan Temple. Two lofty Kadamba and Tamal trees are still present today which are 600 years old. At this place, Chaitanya Prabhu meditated during his stay. The shrine is extremely holy brimming with the essence of spirituality and goodness. More is there that you can actually see at the site from that time. Also, the Ramkeli Mela or fair is held every year in Ramkeli.
5. Adina Mosque
This is yet another attraction in Malda. Built by Sikandar Shah at the time of Bengal Sultanate, it is the largest of its kind in India. The royal Adina Mosque is located in Pandua in the Malda District.
The former mosque was designed in a way to show off the Sultanate Dynasty’s royal aspiration after two triumphs against the Sultanate of Delhi. The entire structure was built blending the Arab, Bengali, Persian, and Byzantine forms of architecture. Its planning close to that of the Umayyad Mosque, Damascus.
This age-old Adina mosque looks amazing. It has a number of domes, a rectangular hypostyle structure, a vast open courtyard, etc. The western wall reduces the regal form of pre–Islamic Sassanid Persia. There is a prayer hall that is five aisles deep. There are more structures and intricate works in the mosque.
One of the fascinating features that the mosque has is the ribbed barrel vault. Stone flowers find their place on the arches all throughout. You will also find motifs that were impelled by pre-Islamic Hindu as well as Buddhist edifices or monuments. Sultan Sikandar Shah’s burial chamber is also there facing Mecca’s direction. Many more details and ancient history lie inside that can be felt and witnessed. It is peaceful along with being truly a lovely place.
6. Jagjivanpur
Jagjivanpur or Jagajjivanpur is a place of great significance located in the Malda district. It is an archaeological site that covers a large area of the region. With an interesting terrain, the site is packed with tons of history, few are discovered and a lot more is yet to be done.
The first artifact discovered was a copper plate, on 13th March 1987. It was an inscription belonging to the Pala Emperor Mahendrapala. The entire place consists of several mounds, the Tulabhita is the tallest one with 5 meters in height.
Other important ones include Nimdanga, Nandagarh, Akhridanga, and Rajar Meyer Dhipi.
The excavation of the site has astonished all the visitors with its reveals. The tulabhita mount disclosed a portion of a burnt brick Vihara. Two monastic cells also came into light. There is a giant brick stupa with a hollow inside. You can see all these while exploring the place.
Following these, numerous remnants were found such as a bronze image of Marishi that reaches a height of 175 cm, a number of terracotta plaques, terracotta seals, sealings, semi-precious stone beads as well as decorated tiled bricks. A seated depiction of Buddha in Bhumisparshamudra was also found. It was made out of bronze. It is remarkable to observe such a part of the past in the present time.
These are some of the popular places to visit in Malda.
Well, so are you enthralled yet? Not only these, but Malda is also the bode to more spots, nature, and many fascinating things. Therefore, if you are among those who love exploring, get your things together and hit the road.
Book a nice stay and indulge in the journey of venturing through everything that comes the way. Learn as much as you want; also, photos are a must.
Cover Photo Credits: Ajit Kumar Majhi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Other places to visit in West Bengal
- Ramdhura (Kalimpong) – 5 Points You Must Know About
- Daragaon, Burmaik (Kalimpong) – 5 Points You Must Know About
- Ghurni – Exploring Krishnanagar’s Hidden Gem And Its Clay Dolls
- Mim Tea Garden (Darjeeling) – 5 Points You Must Know About
- Bandel Church (Hooghly) | The Basilica of the Holy Rosary
- Bethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary (West Bengal) – 5 Things To Know
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