Rajmahal, situated on the banks of the Ganges, surrounded by the Rajmahal hills was once known for its royal affairs. The region was the capital of Bengal Subah also known as the Mughal Bengal, comprising present-day Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha, under the Mughal governor, Man Singh I.
During the reign of Man Singh, the Nawabs of Bengal built many mosques, palaces, baradari, etc which were an example of architectural perfection during ancient times. However, now Rajmajal is left with the ruins of such amazing monuments which reminds about the long-gone glorious days.
One such amazing monument is the ruins of Baradari standing high with pride in Rajmahal. Keep scrolling to know more.
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Location
Baradari is located in Nageswar Bagh, in the Rajmahal block of the Sahibganj district in the Indian state of Jharkhand, 39 KM from the town of Sahibganj and 402 KM from Ranchi.
What Is Baradari?
Baradari is a building that was considered as a social symbol among the South Asian Muslim royals. The buildings used to have twelve doors which is why it is called 'Baradari' as 'Bara' in 'Urdu' means 'twelve' and 'Dar' means 'Door'.
Square in shape, Baradari had three doorways on all its sides. It was mostly used to host religious congregations or live performances and private concerts by various musicians and poets in front of the ruling kings. Baradari, due to its many doors was known for circulating fresh air and therefore was also used by the kings to relax during the hot summers.
Facts About Rajmahal Baradari
According to the study some scholars believe that there was an ongoing dispute between the builders of the monument. Some attribute it was build by Fateh Jung Khan, rival of Raja Man Singh, whereas another group attributes it was built by Mir Kasim Ali, the Nawab of Bengal, prior to 1763 AD. It is also said that half of the structure was destroyed by Mughal governor, Man Singh.
The Architecture Of Rajmahal Baradari
Present-day Rajmahal has the ruins of Baradari, built on a high raised ground of 18.10 x 16.25 meters. The building consists of brick walls of about 9 meter height, however, the ruins of the walls measure only 5 meters. It has a gate at one of the corner with provision for the guardrooms.
The building has a common arched gallery surrounded by small open courts, running through the inner walls meant for women members of the royal family. Supposedly, there stood a square building in the center made of wood known as 'Rang Mahal' but at present, there is no traces of it inside the building.
Weather
Sahibganj district enjoys sub-tropical humid weather. Summers begins in the month of March and continues till June with the temperature ranging between 35 to 45-degree centigrade. The hottest months of the year are April and May.
The rainy season begins in the month of July and continues till the month of September. The winter season stretches between November to February with the temperature dropping as low as 10 to 15 degrees centigrades. December and January are the coldest months of the year.
Best Time To Visit
Baradari can be visited at any time of the year but it will be best to visit between the months of November to February as the weather remains pleasant during the winters.
How To Reach
By Rail
The nearest station is Rajmahal railway station (Station Code: RJL), located at a distance of 6 KM and the nearest railway junction is Sahibganj Junction (Station Code: SBG), located at a distance of 43 KM. Autos are available at both the station.
By Air
The nearest airport is Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata located at a distance of 329 KM.
There are no direct trains from Howrah Junction (Station Code: HWH), serving the city of Kolkata to Rajmahal. Direct trains are available from Howrah Junction to Sahibganj Junction (Station Code: SBG).
By Road
Sahibganj district is connected to Ranchi by National Highway 33 and to Kolkata by Badshahi Rd/Grand Trunk Rd. Bus service is available between Ranchi and Rajmahal. It is an approx 9 hours journey.
Buses service is not available between Kolkata and Rajmahal or Kolkata and Sahibganj but one can book a cab. However, the most convenient way to reach Rajmahal from Kolkata is by train.
Where To Stay
Hotels and Lodges are available at both Rajmahal and Sahibganj. Both have a lot of places to visit and therefore one can choose to stay in any of the towns.
Other Places To Visit Near Rajmahal Baradari
Frequently Asked Questions
Sahibganj is in which state?