Just About Everything

Qadam Rasul Mosque, Gour, Malda This post is in continuation to my earlier post on Gour a historical city in West Bengal houses some beautiful old monuments . I am sharing some more beautiful historical structures from Gour. Qadam Rasul Mosque : This beautiful structure dates back to 1531; the carvings on some of the bricks tells you how remarkable this structure must have looked in its prime.  Entrance to the Qadam Rasul mosque Carvings on the bricks Ballal Bati in Gour is a recently excavated site. It was the palace of Ballal Sen during 1160-1179. Remains of a wall which surrounded the palace Water  body near Ballal Bati Mango trees are in abundance in Malda Monitor Lizard in Ballal Bati, going into hiding:)

Baradwari Mosque Gour Gour, near Malda town, West Bengal is also referred to as Gauda and Lakhnauti. It's origin can be traced back to the Buddhist Pala Dynasty in Bengal that rose in the 7th century AD and ruled for four centuries. Gour, however rose to prominence in the 11th century under the Hindu Sena Dynasty. Not much archaeological evidence exits of these times and today what we see in Gour dates back to post 1198 when Gour fell to Bakhtiyar Khilji and that was followed by the foundation of Muslim rule in north-west Bengal. The Muslim Sultan shifted his capital from Gour to Pandua in 1350. How to reach Malda : Malda is very well connected from Kolkata. Overnight trains and AC buses are easily available. Shatabdi express is another option from Kolkata to Malda. Where to stay : There are quite a few hotels and tourist lodges in Malda town. You may check tripadvisor ( https://www.tripadvisor.in/SmartDeals-g1187926-Malda_Malda_District_West_Bengal-Hotel-Deals....

Our Ancentral house in Nazirpur, Malda This was one nostalgic trip for me. Most of our summer vacations, when we were at school, were spent in our ancestral home in a village by the name of Nazirpur in Malda,West Bengal.It used to be great fun! Meeting up cousins, chatting whole night long, getting spoilt by my grandmother, long walks to the mango orchards...Malda is best known for its mangoes, during summers, I remember surviving mostly on mangoes  (did not want to dilute that pleasure with any other substitute!) I have not been to the village in ages. After my grandmother passed away, there was no one to visit, and slowly our visits stopped. My father who feels the vacuum the most, visits now and then. But he is now getting on in years and can't make these trips that often. The house is no longer lived in and it now stands desolate, badly in need of repairs, and in need of love and care. (it is easily over hundred years!) We took an overnight train...