Royalty of Itachuna Rajbari: A Year Ending Post

Feature Photo by ConSCIENCE

Hi friends, hope you all are doing well in this breezing winter. A festive season is going through now with all the government approved guidelines to combat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Now we are at the end of 2020 and we are ready to welcome 2021 with lots of hopes for a COVID-19 free world. Let’s hope for the best. Without further delay, in this festive mood I want to share some sort of my grand feelings about the royalty of Itachuna Rajbari, a heritage resort, I have visited recently.

We all love to travel much to rejuvenate our minds, but this year has taught us many things- one of them is “Stay Home, Stay Safe”. During unlock phase many of us started to visit some nearby places including me. So, after eight months of isolation, we planned a vacation for 24 hours to Itachuna Rajbari.

I know some of you have already visited this place, but, I can’t resist myself to share my feelings with you in this festive mood. I think I can’t express the royalty, the monarchy of this place in words; still I am trying to write.

This article brings you about the history, knowledge, beauty and a huge picture gallery of Itachuna Rajbari.  

How did I come to know about this place?

It was 2013, I just joined my lab, when I have watched a hindi movie “Lootera” by Ranveer Singh and Sonakshi Sinha and the movie started with the view of the “Thakurdalaan” and "Nat Mandir" of Itachuna Rajbari.

It was a beautiful scene and then I have googled to know the exact location of this place. After seven years I have got the original view of it and it was a marvelous one.

Location

Itachuna Rajbari is situated in Itachuna village, near Khanyan, Hoogly, West Bengal, India, 50 miles away from Kolkata, a 1.5 hours drive and 61 km from Burdwan town. It’s nearest railway station is Khanyan.

If you come from Kolkata, then take the Durgapur Expressway via Dakhineswar or Vidyasagar setu, coming straight towards Burdwan you will cross Dankuni toll plaza, then coming to the Basipur more, drive for at least 19 km from Basipur then take left to Polaba-Khanyan road and drive towards Khanyan Railway Station, after approximate 10 minutes driving you will get Itachuna Rajbari on the left [1].

History of Itachuna Rajbari

Century old Rajbari bears a ton of history. It’s high rise ceilings, brick red colour, age old edifice tells a nostalgic history. It's structure mesmerized us, and it stands tall as a glory of Bengal.

The history of this royal palace takes us back to the Bengal’s history when Bengal is periodically looted and robbed by Maratha warriors ‘Bargis’. During 1742, Bargis stepped into Bengal for its taxes and lands.

That time Bengal was ruled by Nawab Alivardi Khan, he fought bravely but failed to save Bengal, people had to pay taxes to Bargis, during that time a mass violence and destruction are experienced in Bengal [2].   

After Maratha invasion, many Borgis started to live there; they started their own business and settled there. They liked the beautiful nature and landscapes of Bengal and intermingled with the locals, after that many of them were considered as ‘Bengali’s.  

Of these ‘Bargis’, the ‘kundans’ later known as ‘kundus,’ formed this structure. The Itachuna Rajbari possesses the wealth and abundance of a Borgi Landlord family of Bengal, so, this palace is alternatively known as “Bargee Danga”. 

The palace was built in 1766 by the ancestors of Shri Safallya Narayan Kundu. Now, the Kundu family owns the heritage building as their residence and makes it an outstanding resort.

Ambience

This red and white royal legacy is stand out with all of it’s imperial ambience. It offers nature’s love and a royal ambience together.

About 20 ‘Bigha’ land is in possessions of the Rajbari, where you can find outer entrance part, thakurdalaan, kitchen, dining hall, pond for fishing, house for snacking, land for cultivation, playground and the main building with lots of rooms.

Mainly this palace is distributed in ‘five mahallas’, like a village courthouse, a ballet dancing hall, kitchen house, guest house and an andar mahal for ladies.

Their family divinity ‘Shreedhar Jeeu’ is still offered prayers four times a day. Evening arti is fascinating to watch, it starts at 5.30 daily in winter. Dazzling illumination of light in night fills the mind perfectly.

The backyard of the Rajbari, filled with greenery, now converted to an outdoor shooting area, it includes swimming pool, a swing, playground, ‘Cha ghar’ or snacking house, fishing pond, cottage and mud hut. It is an ideal place for get-together for at least one or 2 days.

In the outdoor garden, beside the ''Cha ghar", there is a place for Badminton. We have played a lot in the evening. 

Rooms are exceptionally in royal style, some are opened to garden terrace. A princely feeling is must to feel in the rooms. There is an amazing thing about the rooms that they are called by the name of our traditional relationships like, ‘Thakuma’, ‘Boro Pishi’, ‘Choto Pishi’, ‘Boro Boudi’, ‘Choto Boudi, ‘Ginni Maa’, ‘Boro Maa’, ‘Mejo Maa’, ‘Kakababu’, ‘Pishemoshai’, ‘Jatha Moshai’, ‘Borda’, ‘Bilash’, ‘Manjari’ and the mud huts named ‘Aparijita’, ‘Madhabilata’, ‘Kanaklata’ and ‘Jhumkalata’.

Rooms are decorated with antique pieces, antique furniture and lighting. The glasses of chandelier are Belgium glass and the flooring marbles are Italian marble.  

Terrace is too much beautiful and there is a staircase of dreams or ‘Swapner Siri’ to the terrace. You can feel the history in every inch of the palace. Just be yourself and feel the eternity with all of your heart.  

Mouthwatering Food

Their own kitchen provide mouthwatering authentic Bengali foods three times in a day, i.e. breakfast, lunch, dinner and in between you get snacks in the evening.

Don’t miss the lip smacking items like, ‘Luchi’ with ‘Sada alur tarkari’, ‘Dhokar Dalna’, ‘Shukto’, ‘Kosha Mangso’ etc.

Dining hall is also very beautiful; a large chandelier is on the centre of the hall. Foods are delivered by maintaining all the sanitation and protocols.

My feelings

I have no words to explain the magical feelings about the Rajbari. A walk through the entire Rajbari is an ecstasy feeling. Watching sunset or hearing the morning flute is another magical experience in this palace. It seems to witnessing the history from the violent devastating beginning to the peaceful domestication of the ‘Borgis’.

I went there with a hope in mind that is highly fulfilled by the blissful feelings. Their behaviour is extremely good, they are so helpful and provide a superior service. 

[Further reading: Visiting Kalikapur Rajbari]

Picture gallery

Satisfaction of clicking pictures overflowed my mind. Colourful and vibrant pictures are so amazing and refreshing. It takes away all the rust from the mind in seconds.

I have lots of pictures from which I made a short gallery for your perusal. Just have a look.

Entrance

Right portion of building

Thakur dalaan

Inside of building

Dinning hall

Lunch

Dinner

Breakfast

Andarmahal

Mud hut

Pond

In the garden

Four man chess

Evening Arti

Rajbari in the evening

Do I want to revisit this place?

The answer is yes. Of course, if I get a second chance, I will revisit this royal place for sure. The ambience of the palace will again help to refresh my mind and a second cause to revisit this place is it’s mouthwatering foods.

ConScience

Witnessing hundreds years of history is very satisfying. I suggest you to do visit at least once in your lifetime. I expect you will not be disappointed. Prior booking is necessary to avoid the last minute rush.

Stay happy. Wish you a very happy new year…  

This post is not a promotional post. It is created by all of the love of my heart.

     [Further reading: Visiting Kalikapur Rajbari]

*All pictures are self captured ©ConSCIENCE