Malda is a city which lies towards the north of West Bengal, India. A visit to Malda opens up the Pandora’s Box to an extensively rich culture heritage and to some exquisite architectural marvel. This district is a storehouse of opportunities and knowledge for historians, artists or for anyone who wishes to take a peek into the past. Apart from the opulent heritage, the city of Malda is also renowned for its wide array of products like mango, silk and jute. The town is popular for a particular variety of mangoes, named after the district itself. The Malda variety of mangoes is exported widely across the globe. A visit to Malda will prove to be fascinating for anyone who is interested in ancient and anthropological expeditions. The city is known to be the tourism centre to the two notable cities of Bengal-Pandua and Gaur. Here are six places to visit in Malda.
1. Qadam Rasul Mosque
Qadam-e-Rasul suggests a kind of veneration of Prophet Muhammad. Legend has it that whenever Muhammad stepped on a rock his footprint left a mark. A number of veneration sites and shrines have been built around these imprints. The Mosque in Malda is one such example. Devotees come to the Mosque in massive numbers to offer prayers and pay homage to the great prophet.
2. Dakhil Darwaza
Dakhil Darwaza, built in 1425, is a massive gateway made of terracotta work and small red bricks. This majestic structure is more than 34.5 m. Wide and 21 m. High. Its four corners are surrounded by five-storey towering structures. The gate was once used to as a spot to fire canons, and hence is also known as the Salaami Darwaza.
3. Firoz Minar
Firoz Minar is a magnanimous tower around 26 metres in height, situated outside the castle, on the southeast side of Dakhil Darwaza. The upper two rows are circular in shape while the lower ones are polygon-shaped. There are different conjectures which say that it was originally built as a minaret for a mosque, a monument for victory or a beacon. It is also said that the top was initially flat and was topped by a dome.
4. Eklakhi Mausoleum
Eklakhi Mausoleum is believed to be a tomb of Sultan Jalal ad-Din (d. 1431), who was the son of Raja Ghanesh. The Hindu king is known to have later converted to Islam. This bricked structure surmounted by a splendid dome, has delicate and intricate patterns on the four corner pillars. The mausoleum has cultural and historic relevance and attracts a number of historians and anthropologists.
5. Baroduari Mosque
Baroduari Mosque is a chronological structure made of stones and bricks. It is rectangular in shape and consists of 44 spires. These spires have intricate gold chikkan work carved on them and hence is also known as Bara Sona Masjid. Etymologically, Baroduari means twelve doors; however, the mosque actually has only eleven entrances. The construction of Baroduari Mosque was initially taken up by Allauddin Hussein Shah and was later completed by Nasiruddin Nusrat Shah, his son in 1526.
6. Malda Museum
Malda Museum is the repository of local anthropological samples and local architecture. The museum is run by West Bengal Directorate of Archaeology. It houses calligraphic inscriptions, ancient sculptures, terracotta items and porcelains. These items are believed to belong to the close-by regions of Gaur and Pandura and are estimated to be about 1500 years old. These antiques and ruins provide much information regarding some of the most important cities in ancient Bengal.
A visit to this place will be captivating for anyone who is enthralled by art and history. Situated at the convergence of the Kalindi and Mahanadi rivers, this city, adds to the opulence of West Bengal.
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