Kolkata, Murshidabad, Malda, Shantiniketan, & Bishnupur ​Tour Package

Morning after breakfast transfer to Murshidabad (235 KM / 5.30 Hrs) through beautiful rural Bengal via Plassey, where the historic battle was fought in 1757 between Nawab Siraj-Ud-Daula and Lord Clive, of East India Company. En-route lunch at Local Restaurant. Murshidabad, the last capital city of independent Bengal was named after Nawab Murshid Quli Khan, the Dewan of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. It is situated on the banks of the Bhagirathi. A city of splendors & famous for its silk, was made capital of Bengal in 1717. The British shifted the capital to Kolkata in 1773. Check in at Murshidabad Hotel. Later visit local markets & Bhagirathi River. Evening free for individual activity. Overnight at Hotel.

Morning After breakfast proceed for a half day Murshidabad local sightseeing covering The Hazarduari Palace, or the palace with a thousand doors is the chief tourist attraction of Murshidabad. This three-storied palace was built in 1837 by Duncan McLeod for the Nawab Najim Humaun Jah, descendent of Mir Zafar. It has thousand doors (among which only 900 are real) and 114 rooms and 8 galleries, built in european architectural style. It is now a museum and has an exquisite collection of armoury, splendid paintings, exhaustive portraits of the Nawabs, various works of art including beautiful works of ivory (Murshidabad School) of China (European) and many other valuables. The armoury has 2700 arms in its collections of which only few are displayed. Between the palace and the Imambara is a small mosque, ‘Madina’, with colourful tiled verandahs. The mosque has an ornamented replica of Hazrat Muhammad’s tomb at Madina. Around the palace are other attractions like the Imambara, Wasef Manzil, Katra Mosque, Jahankosha Canon, Jafarganj Cemetery,Khosh Bagh, Katgola,Nasipur Palace, Footi Mosque, Moti Jheel, Nimak Haram Deori (The Traitor’s Gate).
After Lunch transfer to Malda (135 KM / 3 Hrs). Lying on the confluence of the Mahananda and Kalindri rivers the Malda town rose to prominence as the river port of the Hindu capital of Pandua. Malda is a base for visiting Gaur and Pandua. Gaur, capital to three dynasties of ancient Bengal – the Buddhist Palas, the Hindu Senas and the Muslim Nawabs – has seen three distinct eras of glory. Pandua, once the alternate seat of power to Gaur, has the third largest concentration of Muslim monuments in Bengal. Historical monuments include the mosque Jami’ Masjid (1566) and the landmark Nimasari tower across the river.
During the 18th century it was the seat of prosperous cotton and silk industries. Evening free for individual activity. Overnight at Hotel.

Morning after breakfast Half day Malda local sightseeing covering Gaur, 12 km south of Malda, right on the Indo-Bangladesh border is one of the most important Historical places of 14th and 15th century Bengal having immense value from the archeological point of view. The relics particularly worth seeing are the Bara Sona Mosque, Dakhil Darwajah (built in 1425), Qadam Rasul Mosque, Lattan Mosque and the ruins of the extensive fortification. There are colourful enamelled tiles on the Gomti Gate and Firoz Minar. Gol Ghar, Chika Masjid, Qutwali Gate and 12 gated Mosque.
Post Lunch proceed to Pandua, 18 km north of Malda, another important site of archeological importance has some impressive Muslim architecture including the vast Adina Mosque built by Sikander Shah in 1369. It is one of the largest mosques in India, built over a Hindu temple, and has 378 small domes.
Later transfer to Shantiniketan (198 KM / 4Hrs). Shantiniketan is a small town near Bolpur in the Birbhum district of West Bengal. It is famous due to Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, whose vision became what is now a University Town – Visva-Bharati University. The place now attracts thousands of visitors each year.
Shantiniketan was earlier called Bhubandanga (named after Bhuban Dakat, a local dacoit), and was owned by the Tagore family. In 1862, Maharishi Devendranath Tagore, the poet’s father, while on a boat journey to Raipur, came across a landscape with red soil and lush green paddy fields. He decided to plant more saplings and built a small house. He called his home Shantiniketan. He founded an ashram here in 1863 and became the initiator of the Bramho Samaj. Evening free for individual activity. Over night at Hotel.

Morning after breakfast half day Shantiniketan local sightseeing covering Uttaryan Complex (houses of Tagore- Udayan, Shyamali, Konarak, Udichi, Punashchha & Bichitra Museum), Viswa Bharati University Campus, Khoai, Kopai River, Saturday’s & Sunday’s Hut (handicrafts fair), Amar Kutir & Deer Park at Ballavpur, Bird Sanctuary (Prokriti Bikhon Kendra), Prantik, Siksha Bhavana, Vidya Bhavana, Sangeet Bhavana, Patha Bhavana, Nippon Bhavana, Sriniketan Chhatimtala, Rabindra Bhavan, Kala Bhavana.
Post Lunch transfer to Bishnupur (113 KM / 3 Hrs). Bishnupur is famous for its terracotta temples and baluchari sarees. The town has a glorious past that is reflected in its rich architecture, music and handicrafts such as pottery and weaving. It prospered in the 17th and early 18th centuries. Ruled by a line of Hindu Rajas of the Malla dynasty, Bishnupur developed a unique form of architecture and has perhaps the most brilliant and detailed terracotta work in Eastern India that has withstood the ravages of time. The history of Bishnupur can be traced back to 694 AD, when King Raghunath I founded the Malla dynasty. However it was much later in 994 AD that the place was named Bishnupur. The name is derived from the name of the Hindu God ‘Vishnu’. The majority of the people belong to the ‘Vaishnava’ sect. Evening free for individual activity. Over night at Hotel.

Morning after breakfast half day Bishnupur local sightseeing covering – Rasmancha, Jorebangla Temple of Keshto Rai, Pancha Ratna Temple of Shyam Rai, Madanmohan Temple, Lalbandh, Krishnabandh & Pokabandh.
After lunch transfer to Kolkata (143 KM / 3.30 Hrs). Evening free for individual activity. Overnight at Hotel.

Morning at 9.30 AM starts the full day city tour, drive by the old heritage building of BBD Bagh and visit the bank of the River Ganga to understand the significance of the mighty river in our life. Also visit the famous Howrah Bridge, Victoria Memorial (museum closed on Monday and National Holidays), St. Paul’s Cathedral and Kalighat Temple; you will finish the day’s tour at the Mother Teresa’s House, the headquarter of the Missionaries of Charity. Overnight at Hotel.

Transfer to airport to connect your flight to the next destination, TOUR ENDS.