NIZAMAT IMAMBARA

Nizamat Imambara, a Shia Muslim congregation hall, is situated in Murshidabad, West Bengal.

The present Nizamat Imambara was built in 1847 AD by Nawab Mansur Ali Khan, after the old Imambara built in —- by Nawab Siraj ud-Dualah (1733 – 1757)was destroyed by the fires of 1842 and 1846. The old Imambara was primarily made up of wood. He bought bricks and mortar and laid the foundation of the building with his own hands. The plot where this Imambara had been built was dug to a depth of 6 feet and filled with soil which was brought from Makkah so that the poor members of the Muslim community who could not afford the journey could have an experience of performing Hajj. Nothing survived except the old Madina Mosque.

The Imambara stands just opposite to the Hazarduari Palace by the banks of the Bhagirathi River and has been divided into three large quadrangles as follows:

• The central quadrangle has the Madina Mosqueand the Memberdalan, a hall for members;
• The eastern quadrangle has the Naubat Khana, literally the drum house during ceremonies; at the entrance is a huge gate built in Imamia style linked to Iran .
• The western quadrangle has a two-storied Mosque.

Acknowledgement and further reading:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nizamat_Imambara

https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Nizamat_Imambara

https://www.wbtourismgov.in/destination/place/imambara

https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000060439

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazarduari_Palace

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siraj_ud-Daulah

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mansur_Ali_Khan