Malda Travel Essentials

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Malda Tourism

If you are in the mood to revisit your roots, Malda is the picture perfect place for you. Located at the confluence of the rivers Mahanadi and Kalindi, in the interiors of West Bengal, about 350 km from Kolkata, the charming town of Malda is famous not only for its mango orchards but also for its rich history and heritage. Malda literarily has Indian History written into every street and every corner of the city. Mango, silk, and jute are popular products of the district. Mulberry plantations and mango orchards occupy a large area.

From the Pre-colonial Nawabs to the East India company, Malda enthralls you with visual splendor. Along with history, it also bears the foot prints of religion and beliefs that India has always been living with. Formerly known as the English Bazaar, this town has experienced the reign of three dynasties- the Palas, the Senas and the Nawabs.  The different reigns coupled with varying cultures, religions and traditions intensified the charm of the small town as we see today. Scattered with numerous monuments, Malda is one of the most historically relevant cities in Bengal. The folk culture of Malda comprising of 'Gombhira' and 'Kaviyal' is another major attraction of the region.   

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History of Malda

Forts, architectural marvels, and tales of valour, all in their unique way, bear testimony to the glory that Malda is and was just after it was conceived by the Mauryan Dynasty in 5th Century AD. Located 365 kilometres north of Kolkata, this place was formerly known as English Bazaar in 1771. Once the capital of Gour-Banga the gateway of North Bengal, it is spread over 3456 sq kilometres of land classified into Tal, Diara and Barind popular for attracting explorers and archaeologists round the year. The entire region including the capital cities Gaur and Pandua were part of Pundravardhana empire in the medieval period, which later aggregated with the English Bazaar Town to form present-day Malda. Panini accounted Gourapura town and relics of the Gour kings in the region which dates back its history to the time of Gour Kings in Bengal. This place holds a symbolic record of its history as it had been the witness of several kingdoms that ruled and flourished by successor kingdoms. Puranic texts indicate that the boundary of Gaur was affected since the beginning of its rule by Mauryas after which it was marked by the rulings several kingdoms and empires. Guptas in 7th century AD, the Pala Dynasty in the 8th century, the Sen Kings in 1204 AD and then the Britishers who regained power over the region in after they won Battle of Plassey in 1757.The result of partition in 1947 brought this region to West Bengal for which they celebrate their independence on 17th of August every year.

Gombhira

Gombhira is a socio-religious festival that originated in Malda that celebrates the holy faith of Shiva as it is believed that it brings contentment in this world and salvation in the next. The ceremony is supposedly a pathway to attain particular blessings for his devotees that will purify their soul and guide them on the golden path. The celebrations begin at the end of Choitro (March-April) month marking the end of the agricultural harvest for that year. People wear marks, perform spiritual dance and music, organize feasts to please the deity. It is known by different names in other regions such as Neel-er Jagon in Bangladesh, Gomeera in Jalpaiguri and Shiva Gajon in several southern and western districts of Bengal. But with increasing urbanization in these parts, this art form is dying and now is only observed in very few regions. With changing popular tastes, it is now an almost forgotten tradition in the country.

Restaurants and Local Food in Malda

In addition to a variety of Bengali delicacies, Malda is especially known for its varieties of Mangoes, including Himsagar and Gopalbhog. Summer time travellers can especially benefit as the season offers plentiful fresh fruits. Malda also has excellent Bengali desserts to offer, the most popular ones being- Kansat Chamcham and Rosokadamba. Another delicacy to splurge on is the Aamsatwa (sort of mango pulp cake, dried in the sun) made from mangoes, especially the Gopalbhog mango. Fazli is a rich variety of mango know for its thin peel and substantial size with high pulp content is a signature product of Malda District. Originated in the Eastern region of South Asia it is popularly used in tart varieties, flavours up simple dals and winds up afternoon meals in delicious chutneys. 
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Suggested Itinerary for Malda

Day 1 - Start off your tour early morning with a rejuvenating stroll in the mango orchards. Explore the ruined city of Pandua later in the day. Visit the Jami Mosque and Qutub Shahi Mosque.
Day 2 - Learn the history of the town in the Malda museum. Proceed to Gaur in the afternoon. Visit the Firoz Darwaza.
Day 3 - Visit the excavated monasteries in Jagjivanpur.

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How to Reach Malda

How to Reach Overview

Trains offer the most convenient option to reach Malda from other cities in the country. There are no direct flights to Malda but buses are available from nearby cities.

How to reach Malda by flight

Malda does not have an airport of its own and its previous airport was closed down due to disturbances with Bangladesh way back in 1972. The nearest airport is the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport. Cabs are easily available for a drive down to Malda which is a 5-6 hour drive

How to reach Malda by road

Malda has easy road access. Located on NH 34, Malda is about 350 km away from Kolkata. If you do not want to hire an exclusive cab, then a bus can easily be taken for a nominal rent of under Rs.150. North Bengal State transport runs daily buses from nearby places to Malda

How to reach Malda by train

Malda Town is the main railway station, lending Malda excellent connectivity, not just with nearby places like Kolkata, but also Delhi and Mumbai. Trains are pretty regular, but they do not run on a daily basis

Local transport in Malda

The intracity transport, especially travelling between old Malda and New Malda (English Bazaar), is maintained by city run transport facilities. The rates are fixed by the municipality so you need not worry about haggling or being cheated. Also along with autos and rickshaws, intra city bus route is also widespread.

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Malda Photos

Malda, West Bengal
Relics of Gaur
Dakhil Darwaza
Baroduari / Boro Sona Mosque

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FAQs on Malda

Who should visit Malda?

Malda is one of the most historic towns in Bengal. A popular place for history lovers, Malda attracts a lot of archaeologists too. The summer season, though extremely hot, is delightful for mango lovers.

What are the places near Malda?

The top places near to Malda are Gangtok which is 263 km from Malda, Darjeeling which is located 225 km from Malda, Santiniketan which is located 154 km from Malda, Kolkata which is located 272 km from Malda, Murshidabad which is located 93 km from Malda

What are the things to do in Malda?

The top things to do in Malda are Dakhil Darwaza, Gour, Firoz Minar, Chamkati Masjid Chika Mosque, Temple of Jauhra Kali, Adina Dear Park. You can see all the places to visit in Malda here

What is the best way to reach Malda?

Trains offer the most convenient option to reach Malda from other cities in the country. There are no direct flights to Malda but buses are available from nearby cities.
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What is the local food in Malda?

In addition to a variety of Bengali delicacies, Malda is especially known for its varieties of Mangoes, including Himsagar and Gopalbhog. Summer time travellers can especially benefit as the season offers plentiful fresh fruits. Malda also has excellent Bengali desserts to offer, the most popular ones being- Kansat Chamcham and Rosokadamba. Another delicacy to splurge on is the Aamsatwa (sort of mango pulp cake, dried in the sun) made from mangoes, especially the Gopalbhog mango. Fazli is a rich variety of mango know for its thin peel and substantial size with high pulp content is a signature product of Malda District. Originated in the Eastern region of South Asia it is popularly used in tart varieties, flavours up simple dals and winds up afternoon meals in delicious chutneys. 
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What is the best time to visit Malda?

October, November and March are the best months to visit Malda. Malda experiences a very hot summer and overflowing monsoons. Though summertime doesn't have any issues, the heat may get overwhelming. Monsoon showers are very frequent and often disruptive. Hence, the early winter and early spring season are the ideal time, owing to the comfortable climate and picturesque backdrop. Winters might also serve as a good time to visit, but only if you're a winter climate lover
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What is not so good about Malda?

Extremely hot in summers. Not very developed. Bad roads in some areas.

What is famous about Malda?

Less traffic. Less pollution.

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Kovid Kapoor

5 years ago
- A fun fact to know is that popularly known as the English Bazar, Malda is one of the two Muslim dominated districts of West Bengal (along with Murshidabad) and was the first Indian City to have a s (Read More)pecial woman's court
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