Treasure of Azimganj

Rani Bhabani

the mid-17th century, a small trading centre called Azimganj came up on the banks of the Ganga in Murshidabad. The royal family of Natore, now in Bangladesh, built a riverside palace in a village near Azimganj, and called it Baronagar, meaning ?a big town?.

Rani Bhabani, born in 1716 and widowed at 32, became a legend for her administrative ability. Driven by religion, she planned to build a Varanasi in Bengal. From 1755, a huge complex with over a dozen temples was built in Baronagar. Many have since been reduced to dust, but a few still stand strong, a testament to the past glory of Bengal.

One of the magnificent structures is the Panchanan Shiva temple on the Ganga embankment. Small and red, it has a unique Shivalingam ? five heads of Shiva carved on black stone. The temple houses a beautiful garden with a breathtaking riverside view.

The main attraction of Baronagar is the Charbangla mandir complex. Built in 1760 by Rani Bhabani, this is a small square arena fenced by four massive temples. Each one is built on a 1.5-ft high foundation and is dochala hut-shaped, a fine example of Bengal architecture. Each temple has three doors with three Shivalingams inside.

The magic of these temples is on their walls, embellished with beautiful terracotta work. The Ramayana is wonderfully sculpted. This is unique among terracotta temples in Bengal. Hindu motifs are also visible.

The temples had a narrow escape in December 1992, when a mob stormed the complex after the Babri Masjid demolition.

Another temple with a unique shape is in the north-west part of the Charbangla complex. The Bhabaneshwari temple of Baronagar is a masterpiece in distinctive Murshidabadi style. Built in 1755, it is 18-m high with a massive dome on top and decorated with fresco works, both inside and outside.

Famous people of Azimganj

Dr. Vimal Bachchhawat

Few people know that Dr. Vimal Bachchhawat of Azimganj had been awrded with Padmabhushana. He was also bhatnagar award winner in science. He was also the President of Indian scientists association for long time.

So many Rai Bahadur at British raj from one small Twin Town

1 )BISHAN CHAND DUDHURIA, Rai Bahadur. 

Born loth June 1852. The title and was conferred on 2nd January 1888 for his liberal philanthropy and public services. Owns lands in the districts of Maimansingh, Murshidabad, Birbhum, Burdwan, Bhagalpur, Faridpur, and Rajshahi, and has always contributed to charitable and other funds, opening annachatras (or poor-houses) in times of famine, etc. His son is named Bijai Singh Dudhuria, born November 1879. His brother is Rai Budh Singh Dudhuria Bahadur. 


2) BUDH SINGH DUDHURIA, Rai Bahadur. 

The title was conferred on 2nd January 1888. Is a brother of the Rai Bishan Chand Dudhuria Bahadur. 


3)DHANPAT SINGH DUGAR (of Baluchar), Rai Bahadur. 

Born 1841. The title was conferred on i3th December 1866. The Rai Bahadur, son of the late Pratap Singh Dugar , is a leading man among the Jains, and has founded many Dharmsalas for the use .of his co-religionists in various parts of India, and published and distributed the Jain sacred books. He is a banker and manufacturer, having houses in most of the great cities of Bengal, and has been distinguished for 
his liberality and public spirit. He has been twice married, and has three sons Babu Ganpat Singh and Babu Narpat Singh by the first wife, and Babu Maharaj Bahadur Singh by the second. Is an Honorary Magistrate.The family emigrated about 150 years ago from Kishengarh in Rajputana,and settled at Baluchar and Azimganj.

4)MEGHRAJ KOTHARI, Rai Bahadur. 

The title was conferred on 8th October 1867, for services rendered to Government during the Bhutan war.

5) SHITAB CHAND NAHAR, Rai Bahadur. 

Born 1 7th April 1847. The title was conferred,on 12th March 1875, recognition of his public spirit and services during the Bengal famine of 1873-74. Belongs to a Jain family of Bankers and Zamindars, owning land in the districts of Dinajpur, Murshidabad,and the Santal parganas. On ist January 1877, on the occasion of the Imperial Assemblage at Delhi in honour of the Proclamation of Her Most Gracious Majesty as Empress of India, he received a Certificate of Honour ; and on the occasion of Her Majesty's Jubilee, 23rd June 1887, he founded and endowed the Bibi Pran Kumari Jubilee High English School. Has edited sundry works on the religion of the Jains. He is an Honorary Magistrate of Azimganj, Murshidabad. He has four sons Mani Lai Nahar, born 7th April 1865 ; Puran Chand Nahar, born i5th May 1875; Golab Chand Nahar, born loth October 1881 ; and Koer Singh Nahar, born 8th October 1883.

6) SHIVA PRASADA, C.S.I., Rdjd. 

Born 1823. The title is hereditary, and was conferred on i6th February 
1887, on the occasion of the Jubilee of the reign of Her Most Gracious 
Majesty. Belongs to an Oswal Baisya family, claiming the same descent as that of the Jagat Seth family of Murshidabad. Raja Dal Chand, great-grand- father of the present Raja,on his two cousins being put to death by Nawab of Murshidabad, fled to Benares to the protection of the British Government. He was succeeded by his son, the Raja Utam Chand. The present Raja was early distinguished as a very learned man and a clever author. He entered the Department of Public Instruction of the North- Western Provinces, and was for many years a highly successful Inspector of Schools. He is also a Fellow of the Allahabad University. He was created a Companion of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India, 28th May 1870 Raja, as a personal distinction, 2oth March 1874 and the same title declared hereditary, i6th February 1887. He has a son and heir, Kunwar Suchet Prasad.