Māldah, India

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Māldah, India

Region: West Bengal

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Geographic Coordinates: 25.011900, 88.143300

Climate: Seasonal.

Population: 300088

Language: Bengali

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Māldah, Or Malda, Is a city located in the northern part of West Bengal, India. Situated on the banks of the Mahananda River, It is known for its rich history and cultural heritage. The city has been an important center of trade and commerce since ancient times due to its strategic location on the Silk Road. One of Māldah’s most prominent attractions is the Adina Mosque, Built by Sultan Sikandar Shah in 1369 AD. This mosque is one of India’s largest mosques and has a unique blend of Hindu and Islamic architectural styles.

Another popular tourist destination in Māldah is Gour, Which was once an important capital during medieval times. The ruins of several historical monuments such as palaces, Temples, And tombs can be found here. Aside from its historical significance, Māldah also boasts a diverse range of flora and fauna due to its location near several nature reserves such as Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary and Gorumara National Park. These parks are home to numerous species including elephants, Tigers, Rhinoceroses, Leopards & deer species like barking deer & spotted deer etc., Making them popular destinations for wildlife enthusiasts.

The city’s economy mainly revolves around agriculture with mangoes being one of its major crops. The region produces some high-quality mangoes that are exported all over the world. Apart from agriculture-based industries like jute mills & silk weaving factories have contributed significantly to employment generation. Māldah also has a rich culinary culture with some unique dishes specific to this region such as mutton dakbunglow (a spicy lamb curry), Chital macher muithya (fish balls made from chital fish) & many more local delicacies that you can try at various restaurants across town.

In terms of transportation facilities, Māldah is well-connected by road and rail to major cities in West Bengal and other parts of India. The city has its airport which connects it to Kolkata & other nearby cities. Overall, Māldah is a city that offers a unique blend of historical significance, Natural beauty, And cultural diversity making it an ideal destination for tourists looking for an offbeat experience in India.

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1. Adina Mosque
2. Gour-Bangal Museum
3. Firoz Minar Tomb
4. Lattan Mosque
5. Chika Masjid
6. Dakhil Darwaza
7. Gour Mahal
8. Kadam Rasul Mosque
9. Eklakhi Mausoleum
10. Pandua Gate

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• 1. Agriculture
• 2. Handloom weaving
• 3. Jute production
• 4. Silk weaving
• 5. Rice and wheat production
• 6. Fishing
• 7. Dairy farming
• 8. Leather industry
• 9. Growing tourism sector due to historical significance

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Noteable History

1. The Battle of Plassey: This battle was fought in 1757 between the forces of the British East India Company and Siraj ud-Daula, the Nawab of Bengal. It took place near Māldah, and the British victory marked a turning point in their control over India.
2. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed: Born in Māldah in 1905, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed was the fifth President of India from 1974 until his death in 1977.
3. Adina Mosque: This mosque is one of the largest mosques in South Asia and was built by Sikandar Shah during the 14th century. He was a ruler of Bengal Sultanate.
4. Jagjivan Ram: Born in Chandwa village near Māldah district, Jagjivan Ram was an Indian independence activist and politician who served as Deputy Prime Minister under Indira Gandhi.
5. Gour Kingdom: The ancient Gour Kingdom was located within present-day Māldah district and ruled by various dynasties including Pala dynasty (750-1162), Sena dynasty (1070-1230) and Muslim rulers from Delhi Sultanate (1204-1336) to Bengal Sultanate (1352-1576).
6. Rammohan Roy: A social reformer born near Māldah district who founded Brahmo Samaj – a socio-religious movement that aimed to reform Hinduism.
7. Shamsuddin Ilyas Shahi Dynasty: This dynasty ruled over Bengal from mid-14th century to early 16th century with their capital at Pandua town which is located within present-day Māldah district.
8. Krishnanagar Raj Estate: Located within present-day Māldah district, Krishnanagar Raj Estate was a princely state under British India which was ruled by the Maharaja of Nadia.

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Museums and Things To See

1. Adina Mosque is a historic mosque that was built in the 14th century.
2. Gour Museum is located in the ruins of the ancient city of Gour and showcases artifacts from the region’s rich history.
3. Jami Masjid is a grand mosque that was built during the reign of Sultan Alauddin Husain Shah.
4. Firoz Minar is a tower that was built by Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq and offers stunning views of Māldah and its surroundings.
5. Malda District Library is an impressive library with over 100,000 books and manuscripts on various subjects.
6. Kanchannagar Park is a beautiful park with lush greenery and scenic views, perfect for picnics and relaxation.
7. Chika Masjid is an ancient mosque dating back to the 15th century, known for its intricate architecture and design.
8. Baisgazi Wall Mosque is another historic mosque with unique architectural features that make it stand out from other structures in Māldah.
9. Rathbari Garden Palace is a palace-turned-museum that showcases local art, culture, and history through its exhibits.
10. English Bazaar Municipal Museum & Art Gallery – A museum showcasing local art including paintings by famous artists like Jamini Roy as well as artifacts from Malda’s past such as pottery fragments found at archaeological sites around Malda district.

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Cultural Events

1. Kali Puja – celebrated during Diwali, this festival is dedicated to the goddess Kali.
2. Durga Puja – a five-day festival that celebrates the victory of goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura.
3. Eid-ul-Fitr – a Muslim festival that marks the end of Ramadan.
4. Rath Yatra – a Hindu festival where Lord Jagannath is taken on a chariot procession.
5. Poush Mela – an annual fair held in December-January to celebrate harvest season and showcase local handicrafts and cuisine.
6. Basanta Utsav or Holi – a spring festival where people throw colored powder and water at each other to celebrate the arrival of spring.
7. Baul Mela – a music festival celebrating baul music, which originated in Bengal and combines elements of mysticism, poetry, and folk music.
8. Laxmi Puja – another Diwali-related festival that celebrates the goddess Laxmi with prayers, offerings, and decorations.
9. Christmas – celebrated by Christians in Māldah with church services and festivities like carol singing and feasting.
10. Independence Day (15 August) and Republic Day (26 January) are also important national holidays celebrated throughout India including Māldah with parades, flag hoisting ceremonies etcetera.

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Cuisine

1. Mughlai Paratha: A popular street food in Māldah made with minced meat and spices stuffed inside a paratha.
2. Shyam Sundar Sweets: A famous sweet shop in Māldah known for its rasgulla, cham cham, and other Bengali sweets.
3. Hotel Sonar Bangla: A restaurant serving authentic Bengali cuisine like fish curry, chingri malai curry, and luchi-aloor dom.
4. Radhika Restaurant: Another popular restaurant serving Bengali delicacies like ilish macher paturi (Hilsa fish cooked in banana leaf) and kosha mangsho (spicy mutton curry).
5. Rajmahal Restaurant: Famous for its chicken biryani and kebabs.
6. Biryani House: Known for its delicious biryanis like chicken biryani, mutton biryani, egg biryani etc.
7. Gopal’s Chaat & Snacks Corner: A street food joint famous for its chaat items like papdi chaat, bhel puri etc.
8. Annapurna Restaurant & Bar: Offers both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes including Indian Chinese cuisine as well as continental dishes too.
9. The Food Court Mall of Malda: It is a food court located at the Mall of Malda that offers various cuisines such as North Indian, South Indian, Chinese etc.
10. Hotel Green Park: Famous for their breakfast menu which includes Poori Sabji, Luchi Alu Dom, Bread Butter Toast with Tea/Coffee.

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Parks and Recreation

1. Rabindra Bhavan Park
2. Kaliachak Park
3. Rathbari Park
4. Malda Sports Complex
5. Malda Stadium
6. River Ganges Bank for boating and fishing
7. Bicycle tours around the city
8. Bird watching at Adina Forest Reserve
9. Visiting historic sites such as the Adina Mosque and Gour Pandua
10. Taking part in local festivals and fairs, such as the Mango Festival or Durga Puja celebrations

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Go Where The Road Takes You.

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