Bardhaman, West Bengal

interesting texture on doors
Originally uploaded by pavangupta.

Bardhaman Raj was founded in 1657 by Sangam Rai of the Kapur Khatri family of Kotli in Lahore, Punjab, whose descendants served the Mughal Emperors and the British government. The great prosperity of the Raj was due to the excellent management of Maharaja Mahtab Chand (d. 1879), whose loyalty to the government, especially during the “Hul” (Santhal rebellion) of 1855-56 and the Indian rebellion of 1857, was rewarded with the grant of a coat of arms in 1868 and the right to a personal salute of 13 guns in 1877. Maharaja Bijai Chand Mahtab (b. 1881), who succeeded his adoptive father in 1888, earned great distinction by the courage with which he risked his life to save that of Sir Andrew Fraser, the lieutenant-governor of Bengal, on the occasion of the attempt to assassinate him made by Bengali malcontents on 7 November 1908.

The city of Bardhaman is situated 100 km north-west of Kolkata, on the banks of Damodar River and Banka Nala. Bardhaman has been a district capital since the time of Mughals. Burdwan is an alternative name for the city.