Nizamat Imambara

{{Short description|Shia Islam congregation hall in Murshidabad, West Bengal, India}}

{{Infobox religious building

| name = Nizamat Imambara

| native_name = {{lang|bn|নিজামত ইমামবাড়া}}

| native_name_lang = bn

| image = Nizamat Imambara 2.jpg

| image_upright = 1.4

| alt =

| caption = The new imambara, opposite the
Hazarduari Palace and the Bhagirathi River

| map_type = India West Bengal

| map_size = 250

| map_alt =

| map_relief = 1

| map_caption = Location of the imambara in West Bengal

| coordinates ={{coord|24.188374|88.268623|region:IN-WB_type:landmark|format=dms|display=title,inline}}

| coordinates_footnotes =

| religious_affiliation = Shia Islam

| locale =

| location = Murshidabad, West Bengal

| deity =

| rite =

| sect =

| tradition =

| festival =

| country = India

| administration =

| consecration_year =

| organisational_status = Imambara

| functional_status = Active

| heritage_designation =

| ownership =

| governing_body =

| leadership =

| bhattaraka =

| patron =

| religious_features_label =

| religious_features =

| architect = Sadiq Ali Khan {{small|(1847)}}

| architecture_type = {{nowrap|Mosque architecture}}

| architecture_style = Indo-Islamic

| founded_by = {{ubl|Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah {{small|(1740)}}|Nawab Mansur Ali Khan {{small|(1847)}}}}

| creator =

| funded_by =

| general_contractor =

| established =

| groundbreaking =

| year_completed = {{ubl|{{nowrap|1740 CE {{small|(1st structure)}}}}|1847 {{small|(current structure)}}}}

| construction_cost = 6 lakhs gold coins {{small|(1847)}}

| date_destroyed = 1846 {{small|(1st structure)}}

| facade_direction = South

| capacity =

| length = {{cvt|680|ft|m|order=flip}} {{small|(1847)}}

| width =

| width_nave =

| interior_area =

| height_max =

| dome_quantity = One {{small|(maybe more)}}

| dome_height_outer =

| dome_height_inner =

| dome_dia_outer =

| dome_dia_inner =

| minaret_quantity =

| minaret_height =

| spire_quantity =

| spire_height =

| site_area =

| temple_quantity =

| monument_quantity =

| shrine_quantity =

| inscriptions =

| materials =

| elevation_m =

| elevation_footnotes =

| nrhp =

| designated =

| added =

| refnum =

| footnotes =

| website =

| module = {{Infobox historic site

| embed = yes

| designation1 = MANI | designation1_offname = Hazarduari Palace and Imambara (Murshidabad) | designation1_type = | designation1_criteria = | designation1_date = 1977 | delisted1_date = | designation1_partof = | designation1_number = N-WB-122 | designation1_free1name = | designation1_free1value = | designation1_free2name = | designation1_free2value = | designation1_free3name = | designation1_free3value = }}

}}

The Nizamat Imambara ({{langx|bn|নিজামত ইমামবাড়া}}), also known as the Nizamat Kila, is a Shi'ite imambara (or congregation hall{{efn|Sometimes incorrectly described as a mosque.}}), located in Murshidabad, in the state of West Bengal, India.

It was built in 1740 CE by Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah and, after it was destroyed by the fires of 1842 and 1846, was rebuilt in 1847 by Nawab Mansur Ali Khan.{{cite web |url=http://murshidabad.nic.in/tourism1.htm |title=Nizamat Imambara |work=Murshidabad Tourism |date= |access-date=31 March 2012 |archive-date=13 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111213131632/http://murshidabad.nic.in/tourism1.htm |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.india9.com/i9show/Nizamat-Imambara-39804.htm |title=Wonders of India: Nizamat Imambara |work=India9.com |date= |access-date=31 March 2012 |archive-date=7 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307102727/http://www.india9.com/i9show/nizamat-imambara-39804.htm |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.bharatonline.com/west-bengal/travel/murshidabad/tourist-attraction.html |title=Murshidabad Tourist Attractions |work=bharatonline.com |date= |access-date=31 March 2012 |archive-date=10 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120610200946/http://www.bharatonline.com/west-bengal/travel/murshidabad/tourist-attraction.html |url-status=live}} The building is frequently mentioned as the largest imambara in the world.{{cite web |url=http://www.indiaprofile.com/monuments-temples/murshidabad.htm |title=Imambara |work=India Profile: Monuments and temples in Murshidabad |date= |access-date=31 March 2012 |archive-date=27 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827101757/http://www.indiaprofile.com/monuments-temples/murshidabad.htm |url-status=live }}

Together with the Hazarduari Palace, the Imambara is a Monument of National Importance since 1977,{{cite web |url=https://www.ncf.nic.in/projects/ongoing-projects/hazarduari-palace |title=Up gradation of Hazarduari Palace, Murshidabad , West Bengal |work=Project NCF |publisher=National Cultural Fund of India |date=2024-08-29 |access-date=4 March 2025 }} and administered by the Archaeological Survey of India since 1985.{{Cite web |url=http://asi.nic.in/alphabetical-list-of-monuments-west-bengal/ |title=List of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains of West Bengal: Item no. 122 |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India |date= |access-date=18 July 2021}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100813/jsp/bengal/story_12806034.jsp |title=Palace handed over to ASI |work=Telgraph India |date= |access-date=28 March 2012 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924145113/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100813/jsp/bengal/story_12806034.jsp |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_museums_murshidabad.asp |title=Handed over to ASI |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India |date= |access-date=28 March 2012 |archive-date=7 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507095350/http://asi.nic.in/asi_museums_murshidabad.asp |url-status=live }}

Architecture

= Old Imambara =

The old Nizamat Imambara was built by Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah in the Nizamat Fort Area. He bought bricks and mortar, and laid the foundation of the building with his own hands. However, the old Imambara was primarily made up of wood. The plot where this Imambara had been built was dug to a depth of {{convert|6|ft|m|order=flip}}. It was refilled with soil which was brought from Mecca so that the poor members of the Muslim community could have an experience of Hajj.

The old Imambara caught fire for the first time in 1842 and was partly destroyed. It was completely destroyed by a fire on 23 December 1846. That day the Nawabs along with the Europeans threw a party to celebrate the weaning ceremony of five-year-old Hassan Ali Mirza. The Imambara caught fire at midnight due to the fireworks and was completely burnt down. Nothing survived except the old Madina Mosque.

= New Imambara =

File:The Imambara at Hazarduary Palace.jpg

The new Imambara was built in 1847 by Nawab Nazim Mansur Ali Khan under the supervision and direction of Sadeq Ali Khan. The new mosque is located opposite the Hazarduari Palace and cost more than {{Indian Rupees}} 6 lacs. The main entrance faces south, and is parallel to the north face of the Hazarduari Palace. The masons took eleven months to finish the construction as, in addition to their wages, they received food which allowed them to work day and night. The present Imambara is {{convert|680|ft|m|order=flip}} long, however the width varies. The central block that has the Madina is {{convert|300|ft|m|order=flip}} long. The new Imambara was built a metre away from the site of the old building. The gap between the shores of the river and the west wall of the Imambara are less than {{convert|1|m|ft|spell=on}}.

The old Madina Mosque was left as it was and a new one was constructed in the newly constructed Imambara. The old Madina Mosque can still be seen standing between the new Imambara and the Hazarduari Palace near the Bacchawali Tope and the Clock Tower of Murshidabad.

File:Nizamat Imambara.jpg]]

File:Panoramic view of Imambara, Murshidabad.jpg

The present Imambara has been divided into three large quadrangles as follows:

The central quadrangle has the Madina Mosque and the Memberdalan.
The eastern quadrangle has the Naubat Khana.
The western quadrangle has a two-storied Mosque. The mosque stands on the Mint Ghat and rises almost from the Bhagirathi River as the distance may be a few feet.

The Memberdalan, which means hall for members, is a hall rather than a corridor just beside the Madina Mosque. It has a pulpit and to recite an elegy. The hall also has a verandah. The hall, the verandah and its flooring, are all built with marble. The hall also has a spacious room for the ladies. The vat between this hall and the mosque had silver headed fountains. They worked after the singing of the elegies were over.

The entrance of the Naubat Khana is a huge gate built in Imamia style which is surrounded by this Naubat Khana.

The western quadrangle of the Imambara has a two storied mosque which stands on the Mint Ghat. It has stately pillars and spacious marble floors. The mosque has several magnificent chandeliers, most of them gifted to the Nawabs by the East India Company and several other magnificent equipments.

Gallery

Hazarduari Palace or the Nizamat Kila.jpg|A painting by William Prinsep of the Nizamat Fort Campus with the old Imambara at extreme right just behind the boat and the other surrounding buildings which include the Hazarduari Palace.

Map of Nizamat Imambara.JPG|Map of Nizamat Fort Campus showing the Imambara in yellow

Nizamat Fort Campus.JPG|Map of Nizamat Fort Campus showing the Imambara in yellow and other buildings surrounding it, including the Madina Mosque, the Hazarduari Palace, Chawk Masjid, Bacchawali Tope, the clock tower, Shia complex, and the Zurud Mosque (north).