Did You Know That Kolkata Has A Mini Lucknow in Metiabruz?

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The Metiabruz was home to the last Nawab in Kolkata and is steeped in history. The royal lineage is lost. What remains is the ruins of the glory of Nawabs of Bengal.

In the year 1856, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah came to Kolkata on an exile from Lucknow, not knowing that he will make it a second Lucknow - a home far away from home. During his initial days in the city, the Nawab used to live in an ancient bungalow in Garden Reach (a lovely, colonial settlement beside the river) as owned by the Maharaja of Burdwan and paid Rs.500 as rent. Longing for his ancestral home, the Nawab dedicated his life in transforming the Metiabruz area (that includes Nadial, Kanchantala, Badartala, Satghara, and Hooghly river) into a small, Lucknow-style abode that will keep him connected to his roots in a foreign land.

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Image courtesy: Astounding Bengal

Under the supervision of the Nawab, many buildings like the Murasa Manzil, the Adalat Manzil, the Noor Manzil, and the Qasrul Baiza, along with a few Imambaras and mosques, were constructed. Not many are aware of the fact that the Nawab also introduced an open-air zoo that comprised of tigers, leopards, reptiles, birds and even a few of the rare endangered species.

The Kolkata Explorers (under the banner of the well-known Green Step Tourism) has decided to reinvoke the Nawabi spirit of grandeur and royalty by organising a special, heritage tour meant for exploring the Metiabruz area. Not just Metiabruz, the tour will also take an attempt at rediscovering the nearby Bhukailash Rajbari along with the Kidderpore area and the famous docks. The Kolkata Explorers team will also pay a visit to the Bascule Bridge (over the Hooghly river) and the Oudh Royal Family burial ground. The tour will also reconnect you with the city’s glorious past, by covering the Quasrul-Buka-Imambara, Bichali Ghat, Shahi Imambara, and the Shahi Masjid.

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Image courtesy: Events High

It will also take you through the long-forgotten heritage of the Suriname Ghat, near the Metiabruz area. Named after a country on the northeastern coast of South America, the Suriname Ghat holds an immense historical significance in our city. Back in 1873, the ‘Lalla Rookha’ vessel is forever etched in the realms of history as the first ship to have carried 410 labourers from India to Suriname.

The team has arranged for an AC vehicle to take you to Kidderpore from the Peerless Hospital (the starting point of the tour) and making a stop at Chaturbhuj (the renowned confectionery) for a hearty breakfast. Led by Avijit Dhar Chowdhury (an expert on the subject), the tour will deftly guide you through the heritage sites in Metiabruz and around, and will definitely be an experience to remember!

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