Malda with its rich heritage and colonial history is indeed one of the most cherished tourist destinations of West Bengal. Ideally nestled at the convergence of Mahananda and Kalindri River, the town Malda with its entire sheen enhances the beauty of Bengal.

Malda was previously known as English Bazaar and it got its name (English Bazaar) from the English factory, which was established here in 1771. Malda is the chief halt for visiting Gaur and Pandua. Gaur, capital to three dynasties of ancient Bengal - the Buddhist Palas, the Hindu Senas and the Muslim Nawabs - has seen three distinct eras of glory and has a major share in the history of India. Pandua, once the alternate seat of power to Gaur, has the third largest concentration of Muslim monuments in Bengal.

Gaur: The remnants of 14th and 15th century Bengal, which are worth seeing, are the Bara Sona Mosque, Dakhil Darwajah (built in 1425), Qadam Rasul Mosque, Lattan Mosque and the ruins of the extensive fortification. There are colourful enamelled tiles on the Gomti Gate and Firoz Minar. Gaur is about 12 km south of Malda, right on the Indo-Bangladesh border.

Pandua: Pandua situated on the main highway is 18 km north of Malda. Adina is another 2 km north of the village of Pandua, where Adina Mosque is one of the most famous places for the tourist. Sikander Shah built it in 1369 and the mosque shows the achievement of the then Muslim rulers. Eklakhi mausoleum (built at a princely cost of one lakh rupees) and several smaller mosques can be found nearby.

One can reach Malda by bus or by train. Bus services are available from Kolkata.

Culture in Malda

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