A curve of still water, a three-domed mosque and a ruined gateway: Motijhil holds the story of a nawab's palace that changed hands as Bengal changed rulers.

The pearl lake

Motijhil, or Motijheel, means pearl lake. It is also called Company's Lake for its link with the East India Company. The horseshoe-shaped lake lies on old beds of the Bhagirathi, about one and a half kilometres south of Murshidabad and about three kilometres south-east of Hazarduari Palace. It was created by Nawazish Muhammad Khan, son-in-law of Nawab Alivardi Khan.

The stone palace

Beside the lake, at its bend, Nawazish built the Sang-i-Dalan, the Stone Palace, in 1740, named for the black basalt pillars brought from the ruins of Gaur. He and his wife Ghaseti Begum lived here; in 1756 Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah seized the palace and its wealth. After Plassey, Mir Jafar built a palace of 12 doors here, the Bara Duari, and Robert Clive is said to have lived at Motijhil; on 29 April 1766 he held the first ceremony of revenue collection here as Dewan. Warren Hastings lived here from 1771 to 1773.

The Kala Masjid and tombs

The Kala Masjid, or Jama Masjid of Motijheel, was built in 1749–50, as its Persian inscription records. It has three domes crowned by lotus and kalasha finials and four tapering octagonal minarets; a Quran calligraphed by Nawazish himself is kept inside. East of it lie the tombs of Nawazish, his adopted son Ekram-ud-Daula, younger brother of Siraj ud-Daulah, and his general Shumsheree Ali Khan. West of the mosque stands a ruined royal gateway. The lake and its monuments are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.

• Kala Masjid — The three-domed mosque of 1749–50.
• Tombs — Marble tombs of Nawazish and Ekram.
• Keating grave — The grave of Edward Keating, the young son of a Murshidabad Mint superintendent.

Nearby

Katra Masjid is 3.1 km away, Hazarduari Palace 3.4 km, the Nizamat Imambara 3.6 km, and Kathgola Palace 5.7 km.