Nizamat Imambara
Coordinates: 24°11′18″N 88°16′07″E / 24.188374°N 88.268623°E
| Nizamat Imambara | |
|---|---|
 Nizamat Imambara, the biggest Imambara in India and Bengal is situated just opposite the Hazarduari Palace and hardly a few feet away from the Bhagirathi River. | |
| General information | |
| Type | Imambara |
| Architectural style | Islamic architecture |
| Location | Murshidabad district |
| Town or city | Murshidabad |
| Country | India |
| Coordinates | 24°11′18″N 88°16′07″E / 24.188374°N 88.268623°E |
| Completed | Present building: 1846. |
| Renovated | Rebuilt in 1848 after the 1846 fire and at present, when needed, renovations are done by the Archaeological Survey of India. |
| Destroyed | Caught fire in 1842 and again in 1846. |
| Cost |
More than  6 lacs. |
| Owner | Archaeological Survey of India and the Government of West Bengal |
| Technical details | |
| Other dimensions | Present Building: 680 feet with varying breadths. |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Present Building: Sadeq Ali Khan |
| Website | |
| "Official Website". | |
The present Nizamat Imambara was built in 1847 AD by Nawab Nazim Mansoor Ali Khan Feradun Jah,[1][2][3] who succeeded his father Nawab Nazim Humayun Jah in Murshidabad, India. It was built after the fires of 1842 and 1846 which burnt the wooden Imambara built by Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah. This Imambara is the largest one in India and Bengal.[1][2][3][4]
Construction
Old Nizamat Imambara
The old Nizamat Imambara was built by Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah[1][3][4] in the Nizamat Fort Area. He bought bricks and mortar, and laid the foundation of the building in his own hands. The plot where this Imambara had been built was dug to a depth of 6 feet. It was refilled with the holy soil of Mecca so that the poor people of the Muslim community could experience the Holy pilgrimage of Mecca.
Destruction
The original Imambara which was made of wood caught fire[1][3][4] first in 1842 AD and was partly destroyed. Then again it was completely destroyed when a fire ragged the Imambara on December 23, 1846.[2] That day the Nawabs along with the Europeans threw a party to celebrate the weaning ceremony of five year old Hassan Ali Mirza. The Imambara caught fire at midnight due to the fireworks left off and completely burnt down. Nothing was saved except the Madina Mosque.
New Nizamat Imambara
The old Madina Mosque was left in its place where it stood in the old Imambara and a new one was constructed in the newly constructed Imambara. The old Madina Mosque can still be seen standing between the Imambara and the Hazarduari Palace near the Bacchawali Tope and the Clock Tower and is fondly known with its old name, Madina; this is the reason why many confuse this mosque with the new Madina inside the Imambara.
The new Imambara was built by in 1847 [1] AD by Nawab Nazim Mansoor Ali Khan Feradun Jah[1][2][3][4] under the supervision and direction of Sadeq Ali Khan just opposite the Hazarduari Palace at a cost of more than 6 lacs.[4] The main entrance just parallel to the north face of the Hazarduari Palace[1][3] faces south. The masons took only 11 months[1][4] to finish the construction as in addition to their wages they also received food which allowed them to work day and night. The present Imambara is 680 feet long, however the breadths vary. The central block that has the Madina is 300 feet long. It had been built slightly some feet away from the site of the old building in north. The Imambara stands just opposite to the Hazarduari Palace and is situated just on the banks of the Bhagirathi River. The gap between the shores of the river and the west wall of the Imambara may be a few feet.
This grand Imambara is the largest one in Bengal and India.[1][3][4] This Imambara has been divided into three large quadrangle as discussed below:
- The central quadrangle has the Madina Mosque and the Memberdalan.
- The eastern quadrangle has the Nowbat Khana.
- The western quadrangle has a two-storied Mosque. The mosque stands on the Mint Ghat and rises almost from the Bhagirathi River as the distance may be a few feet.
Madina Mosque
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The Madina Mosque was actually built by Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah and was saved in the 1846 fire. The foundations of the old mosque has the Holy soil of Mecca so that the poor people of the Muslim community could experience the Holy pilgrimage of Mecca. It was left in its place and a new one was built by Nawab Feradun Jah in 1847 AD under the supervision and direction of Sadeq Ali Khan inside the Imambara. It lies in the central quadrangle of the Imambara and has the soil of Karbala. The old one can be seen in the garden spaces between the Hazarduari Palace and the Imambara. The location of the old Madina which still exists is the proof of the fact that the new Nizamat Imambara had been built a little north of the former building.
Features
The Madina Mosque had been built on a raised platform decorated with ornamental China tiles. the mosque has massive pillars and arches all surmounted by a huge dome. The spaces between the pillars and the arches are moat shaped. Earlier fountains were provided which stood on the vat between the Memberdalan and the Madina mosque and encircled the Shrine of Madina which has been surmounted by the massive dome. The fountains had silver head pieces. The arches and the walls have been ornamented with texts from the Holy Quran. The rooms in the north and south of the mosque were used as storehouses and workshops. Hundreds of men were employed by the Nawab who worked here for the management of the lights during the annual festival of Muharram, the most awaited and celebrated festival for the Muslim community in Murshidabad, which included the Nawab. The second storey were decorated with screens on which the workmen painted several designs of flowers, people and even beasts with 1000s of cressets behind them.
Memberdalan
Memberdalan (literal translation: Hall for members) is a hall rather a corridor located on the eastern side of the central quadrangle and just beside the Madina Mosque. It has a pulpit and to recite an elegy. The hall also has a verandah. The hall, the verandah and its flooring, all had been built with marble. The hall also has a spacious room for the ladies. As discussed above the vat between this hall and the mosque had silver headed fountains. They worked after the singing of the elegies were over.
Nowbat Khana
Nowbat Khana is located in the eastern quadrangle of the Nizamat Imambara. The entrance of the Nawbat Khana is a huge gate built in Imamia style which is surrounded by this Nowbat Khana.
Mosque
The western quadrangle of the Imambara has a two storied mosque which stands on the Mint Ghat. It almost rises from the Bhagirathi River as the distance between the mosque and the shore of the river may hardly be a few feet. It has stately pillars and spacious marble floors. The mosque has several magnificent chandeliers, most of them gifted to the Nawabs by the East India Company and several other magnificent equipments.
Map
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 "Nizamat Imambara". Retrieved 31 March 2012.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Wonders of India:Nizamat Imambara". Retrieved 31 March 2012.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 "Murshidabad Tourist Attractions". Retrieved 31 March 2012.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 "Imambara". Retrieved 31 March 2012.
External links
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