Heritage Malda of Bengal and Why is it in Ruins!

The state of heritage and culture may have many wonders that remain unexplored by both natives and tourists alike. The monumental ruins of Bengal are one such example. Malda, as it is known, was once the capital of Bengal and is now the gateway to North Bengal. It is a district that can still be seen through its ruins today.

Unlike its neighbour, Murshidabad, which is immensely popular, the heritage ruins of Malda have never garnered much attention. Located 350 km north of Kolkata, English Bazar, also commonly known as Malda Town, is the district headquarters.

Going back in history suggests that Malda was popular with various derivatives of the word "Gour". The folklore says that the word "Gour" came from ‘gur’, meaning jaggery, as the region was always known for the production of date palm jaggery. "Gour" also finds a documented mention in Panini’s Ashtadhyayi as "Gourapura". According to history, the region was ruled by the Mauryan and Gupta rulers before Sasanka rose to power.

The first independent ruler of Gour was Sasanka, who ruled for almost three decades. During this time, the capital was Karnasuvarna. However, Matsyanyaya took the throne after Sasanka’s demise. After that, the Palas ascended to the throne in the middle of the 8th century.

Buddhism found a strong foothold in Gour during the reign of the Pala rulers. In addition, art and architecture also flourished under their rule, and many Buddhist monasteries were established in this area, particularly in Devikot (present-day Dakshin Dinajpur) and Nandadirghi (modern Malda).

After the Pala dynasty, the orthodox Sena dynasty came to power. During the reign of Lakshmana Sena, Gour was renamed Lakshmanavati after its king. It was during this time that Bakhtiyar Khilji invaded Bengal, and Muslim rule began thereafter. Gour came to be dominated by the Sultans of Ilyas with the capitals in the Shahi and Hussain Shahi dynasties, with capitals at Lakhnauti and Pandua.

To this day, the relics of the Sultanate's architectural achievements are still present in Malda, which is considered one of the most popular tourist destinations. Later, however, the Mughals shifted the capital of Bengal to Dhaka due to changes in the course of the River Ganges. It was around this time that Gour began to decline.

The present-day Malda

Currently, Malda, even in ruins, boasts major hotspots such as Lukochuri Gate, which was built by Shah Jahan’s son Shah Suja; Chika or Chamkan Mosque, built by Sultan Yusuf Shah in 1475; Gumti Darwaza, built by Hussain Shah in 1512; Kadam Rasool Mosque, built in 1530 by Sultan Nusrat Shah; and the Tomb of Fateh Khan, who was the son of one of Aurangzeb’s military generals. Another notable site is Firoze Minar, built by Saifuddin Firoze Shah.

Malda also includes Dakhil Darwaza, one of the most magnificent structures of the Sultanate era, along with Baro Shona Mosque, whose construction began during the reign of Hussain Shah and was completed during the time of his son, Nasiruddin Nusrat Shah. If you explore the area, you will also catch glimpses of Lattan or Loton Mosque, constructed during the reign of Sultan Yusuf Shah.

If you are in or around Bengal, this is one of the hidden treasures that you definitely won’t want to miss—especially if you are a fan of history and culture!