Jhargram Raj Palace

The history of Jhargram Palace (Rajbari) lies in the legend of Jhargram city which says that around 1574 AD ,Man Singh I of Kachwaha Rajput Raja of Amber which was later known as Jaipur came to conquer Bengal on behest of Akbar, the Mughal emperor of India. Sarveshwar Singh along with his elder brother belonging to the Chauhan clan of Rajputs from Fatehpur Sikri were appointed to defeat Mallabhum’s local tribunals. Mallabhum, included areas of present day Bankura,Paschim Medinipur and Jhargram was invaded by Raja Sarveshwar with the Rajput Military force and cavalry, they defeated the Mal Raja and as a result he adopted the imposition name Malla Dev and set up a kingdom by naming the place Jhargram which means a village encircled by dense forest. His victory is celebrated each year on Vijaya Dashmi day.

Man Singh I resided here for a period of four months and later decided to return to Rajasthan leaving his royal trusted Senapati Sarveshwar Singh as the Raja of Jhargram and his elder brother as the Raja of Bishnupur. Hence a Fortress which still exists behind the new Palacial Residence was built for the royal family members to reside and rule the kingdom from this place.
The new Palace is built in a very impressive way. It is constructed in the Indo Saracenic style of architecture designed by Shri Khytish Chandra Biswas, the then Chief Valuer of Calcutta Improvement Trust. It has beautiful gardens and lawns inside and around the Palace. The work began during the reign of Raja Narasingha Malla Dev in 1922 AD and the building was commissioned in 1931 AD. The Palace is so magnificently and artistically built that the interiors of the Palace recreates the memories of the past.