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City in West Bengal, India
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Asia > South Asia > India > Eastern India > West Bengal > Northern Plains (West Bengal) > Malda

Malda (Bengali: মালদহ Māldaha), also known as English Bazar (Bengali: ইংরেজবাজার Iṁrejbājār), is a city in the northern plains of West Bengal. Because of its location, it is an important junction and entry point to Siliguri from the southern part of West Bengal. The river Ganges makes its entry into West Bengal near Manikchak in Malda district.

Understand

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Get in

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By train

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Malda is well connected by railways and is covered by both ER and NFR. There are three railway stations in the city, including 1 Malda Town  ER  Malda Town railway station on Wikipedia, 2 Malda Court  NFR  and 3 Old Malda Junction  NFR  Old Malda Junction railway station on Wikipedia.

All trains going to North Bengal stop at Malda Town railway station. There are some direct trains from Malda Town; connecting Bangalore, Chennai, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Dibrugarh, New Delhi, Guwahati etc.

By bus

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Malda town lies on National Highway 34, and all buses plying from Kolkata to Siliguri in the North will give a halt at Malda. By road it is 332 km away from Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal. Regular buses ply between Kolkata (Esplanade Depot) and Malda. Buses are operated by NBSTC, SBSTC and WBTC. There are Volvo and Night sleeper bus services between Kolkata and Siliguri. One can avail this service too to reach Malda or Raiganj.

  • 4 NBSTC Malda Depot. 

By ferry

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  • 5 Manikchak Ghat (30 km (19 mi) from Malda town). Ferry service to Rajmahal, Jharkhand. Manikchak (Q60441532) on Wikidata Manikchak, Malda on Wikipedia (updated Oct 2022)

Get around

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Nimasarai Minar
  • 1 Malda District Museum, Subhankar Bandh Road. The Museum dates back to 1937 and is under the West Bengal Directorate of Archaeology. The museum was initially started as a place of exhibits of artifacts found in the Malda district. The museum houses beautiful stone and bronze specimens dating back around 750 AD to 1200 AD. The exhibits include ancient coins, stone inscriptions, copper plate inscriptions, manuscripts, arms and weaponry of the medieval period. There are also ancient statues of Hindu gods and goddesses dating back to the 4th and 5th centuries. Malda Museum on Wikipedia (updated Jun 2020)
  • 2 Nimasarai Minar. Nimasarai Minar is a collapsed tower with projected spikes. Namasarai literally means halfway inn. It lies halfway between Gour and Pandua in Malda. The probably the place housed an inn in ancient town but no trace of it can be seen today. Only the collapsed portion of the tower stands. Although nothing much is known about the purpose of the tower but historians believe it was constructed as an indication tower for travellers. It was believed that lanterns were put up on top of the tower to guide travellers to the sarai. The projected spikes were probably used for hanging the served heads of executed criminals. The 500-year-old tower is said to be a replica of the Hiran Minar in Fatehpur Sikri. The tower stands on an octagonal base. The upper part of the slightly tapering tower has collapsed long ago. The structure is about 18 feet high and consists of two stories. The stories are marked with projected cornice. Tower of Nimasarai (Q56247223) on Wikidata (updated Oct 2022)
  • Johuratala Kali Bari - A century old temple dedicated to Goddess Kali. It is advisable to visit this temple with some time in hand, as the line to offer Puja gets pretty long.
  • 3 Subhankar Sishu Udyan. There is a restaurant inside. You can also take a boat riding. ₹5 per person. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 4 Manaskamana Mandir. Visit this pious Hindu Kali temple. 
  • 5 Ramkrishna Mission Ashram. You can visit the place during the evening, experience the chanting and the prayer. 

The folk culture of gombhira is a feature of Malda, being a unique way of representation of joy and sorrow in daily life of the common people, as well as the unique medium of presentation on national and international matters.

Malda is famous for mango, it is called "mango city". Definitely buy mangoes if you are travelling to the city between April-June. There is a mango market beside University of Gour Banga. Mango pickle, jam and jelly are available in the two famous main shopping areas, Rathbari Market and Chittaranjan Market, throughout the year. Otherwise, there is nothing special about Malda but those who are very keen to buy something can look for Murshidabad silk. Those who are traveling by car can look for fresh vegetables, particularly extra-large brinjals.

Some eateries in Malda are: Rajani Ganhdha (Continental Lodge), Purbanchal, Fiza (Kalinga Hotel), Rojgere Ginni (Chanakya Hotel), Payel restaurant.

Malda is famous for special varieties of mango that are available in summer. Also, there are two special variety of sweets available only in Malda, naming Kansat Chamcham and Rosokadamba. One can try Aamsattwa made from mango, the most famous being that made from Gopalbhog mango.

Drink

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Almost all brands of drinks are easily available. Quite a few liquor shops are available selling varieties of drinks. Normally drinks are available in the hotels but those who are particular about it should preferably carry it.

Sleep

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Caution Note: To avoid the unsavoury, corrupt, and thoroughly untrustworthy booking services based in Kolkata, it is best to get a place to stay on arrival without advance reservation.
Amarapali Tourism Property

Stay safe

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As it is a low lying basin, the area is prone to flood.

Cope

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  • District Library. Read newspapers and local classifieds for free. The library is open from noon-7PM. 

Nearby

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Nandadirghi Vihar
  • 1 Nandadirghi Vihar (Jagjivanpur). An archaeological site in the Jagjivanpur village. A chance discovery of a copper plate in 1987, with a royal seal on top, contains inscription on both sides in kharoshthi script. It was the charter of a hitherto unknown ruler called Mahendrapal Deva, of the Pala dynasty, who bequeathed a plot called Nandadirghik-odranga to his army chief Mahasenapati Vajradeva for building a Buddhist monastery to help his parents and the people, in general, attain religious merit. The discovery leads to an extensive excavation of the Tulabhita mound in Jagjivanpur. The excavation revealed a structure containing a sanctum sanctorum, bastions-cum-cells, balcony, steps, bathroom complex, well, courtyard and entrance. The archaeological findings suggest that the ruins were the remains of Nandadirghi Vihar, one of the leading centres of learning in the 9th Century AD. The 30m x 30m structure, maintained by the state archaeological department, is enclosed by barbed wire. The four corners of the square structure had four circular constructions, two of which exist to this day. Beautiful terracotta panels adorned the four walls. The panels have been removed to State Archaeological Museum in Behala, Kolkata. The structure has a courtyard in the middle, surrounded on all sides by two lines of square identical cells, which were probably used as students’ residences or classrooms. Jagjivanpur (Q6122662) on Wikidata Jagjivanpur on Wikipedia (updated Jun 2020)

Go next

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Routes through Malda
Ends at ← Raiganj ←  N  S  → Baharampur → Krishnanagar


This city travel guide to Malda is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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