| Hazarduari Palace | |
| Native Name: | An ASI Listed Monument |
| Former Names: | Bara Kothi |
| Alternate Names: | Nizamat Kila |
| Location: | Murshidabad district |
| Coordinates: | 24.1864°N 88.2687°W |
| Groundbreaking Date: | 9 August 1829 |
| Completion Date: | December, 1837 |
| Architect: | Colonel Duncan MacLeod |
| Owner: | Archaeological Survey of India |
| Cost: | 16.50 Lacs Gold Coins. |
| Floor Count: | 3 |
| Parking: | available |
| Map Type: | India West Bengal#India3 |
| Architectural Style: | Italian-style palace built in the 19th century and Greek (Doric) style |
| Height: | 80 feet |
| Other Dimensions: | Length: 130 meters and Breadth:61 meters |
Hazarduari Palace, earlier known as the Bara Kothi,[1] is located in the campus of Kila Nizamat in Murshidabad, in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is situated near the bank of river Ganges. It was built in the nineteenth century by architect Duncan Macleod, under the reign of Nawab Nazim Humayun Jah of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa (1824–1838).
In 1985, the palace was handed over to the Archaeological Survey of India for better preservation.[2] [3]
According to the Archaeological Survey of India as mentioned in the List of Monuments of National Importance in West Bengal, the Hazarduari Palace and Imambara are ASI Listed Monuments.[4]
See main article: Kila Nizamat. Kila Nizamat or Nizamat Kila or Nizamat Imambara(Nizamat Fort) was the site of the old fort of Murshidabad. It was located on the present site of the Hazarduari Palace, on the banks of the Bhagirathi river.[5]
The name of the palace that is Hazarduari, in which Hazar means "thousand" and Duari means "the one with doors"; thus, the total sums up to "the one with a thousand doors".
The palace earlier known as Bara Kothi has been named so as the palace has in all 1000 doors, of which 100 are false. They were built so that if any thief or robber tried to steal something and escape, he would be confused between the false and real doors and by that time he would be caught by the Nawab's guards.[6]
The palace has now been transformed into a museum which houses collections from the Nawabs like priceless paintings, furniture, antiques and so on. The famous one is the mirror and the chandelier. In 1985, the palace was handed over to the Archaeological Survey of India for better preservation.[2] [3]
A miniature of the palace,[7] made by Sagore Mistri in ivory, along with portraits of His Highness and his son, among other presents, were sent to King William IV. He honoured the Nawab with a full-size portrait of His Majesty and an autographed letter, and conferred upon him the badge and insignia of the Royal Guelphic and Hanoverian order, which are still preserved in the Palace.