The Jhargram Raj Palace of Jhargram, West Bengal built by the Jhargram royal family is now partly converted into a heritage hotel with 10 well appointed nicely furnished rooms on the ground floor retaining the old colonial flavor with Indian ambiance. This hotel is in collaboration with WBTDC.
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| hargram Raj Palace W. Bengal ripoventure.com |
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| stairway Jhargram Raj Palace W. Bengal ripoventure.com |
Part of the palace complex is the current residence of the Malla Deb Royal family. Their ancestors in 1592 CE founded Jhargram kingdom, Rajput Sarveshwar Singh with his elder brother who were Generals under Man Singh of Amer came to Bengal on a war expedition
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| Jhargram Raj Palace W. Bengal. upload.wikimedia.org/ |
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| hargrampalace.com |
Raja Man Singh was Subehdari of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa granted by Mogul ruler Akbar. Sarveshwar Singh, on orders from Man Singh defeated the local Mal tribal kings who were controlling part of the region called Junglekhand.
Quite satisfied with this decisive victory Raja Man Singh, as a token of his appreciation, granted Mansabdari of the entire region of Junglekhand to generals Sarveshwar Singh Chauhan and his elder brother, under suzerainty and subordination as a tributary vassal state to the Mughal Emperor. He named his capital Jhargram meaning 'a village surrounded by 'deep forests'. The rulers of Jhargram earned the sobriquet "Malla Deb."
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| Jhargram Raj Palace, W.Bengal hargrameshani.com |
In 1799, the ruler of Jhargram, who had been watching the fast land expansion by the English company and their atrocities against the natives, was quite sore about their unjust rule. Unable to brook their insults and insinuation let lose on the locals, he finally revolted against the hegemony and misrule of the company along with rulers of Bishnupur and others.
The sudden change of political scenario in this part of West Bengal affected the peasants, Zamindars and small kingdom and their livelihood. This led to a major revolt called Chuar Mutinywhich lasted from 1768 till 1798. The ruler was forced by the English to surrender and they changed the status of the kingdom into a Zamindari estate still under the British control. The kingdom had eight sardars under the system and one Sub Zamindar of Beliaberah. The main power was vested with the English company. East India company's successful take over of Bengal and other parts with vast revenue laid the foundation for the empire. Backed by money power EIC was in an expansion mode and they began taking over the Indian lands by wheeling and dealing.
It was from this great palace the erstwhile royal family of Jhargram ruled their dominions and estates, particularly during their heyday under Raja Narasingha Malla Deb. Being shrewd and able administrator with proper guidance from his mentor and Dewan Rai Bahadur Debendra Mohan Bhattacharya, he converted Jhargram town into a modern planned township. As a resident here, he needed a palace to live with his famed members and entertain higher officials and dignitaries. Commissioned in 1931, the fascinating palace is one of the finest examples of Indo Saracenic architecture in Eastern India.
Set on a vast land of 30 acres the Main Building of Jhargram Raj Palace is an attractive one with elements of opulent Italianate design style. Built in the middle of well- laid lawns and gardens. palace went through restructuring in 1931 CE by the Calcutta Improvement Trust when d Raja Narasingha Malla Deb Bahadur was at the helm . meticulous care was taken to decorate the interior without compromising on the heritage aspect of this historic palace.
The Palatial Guest House, a part of the Jhargram Raj Palace, once served as a venue for the several dignitaries right from its inception and palace record mention that some dignitaries did stay in the Guest House in their official capacity.
If you prefer a quiet week end and be at peace yourself, Jhargram Rajbari is an ideal place where you will experience a peep into the history of this place in a colonial ambiance. With rich interiors and wonderful furnishings you will feel the rich royal aura all around you.
https://www.jhargramtourism.com/tourist-places.php
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jhargram_Palace
http://www.jhargrameshani.com/jhargram_raj_palace.html