Hazarduari Palace at a glance
The Hazarduari Palace stands in Lalbagh, in Murshidabad. It was built between 1829 and 1837 for Nawab Nazim Humayun Jah. The plan and construction are credited to Colonel McLeod Duncan, also written Duncan McLeod. The style is neoclassical, and the building has about 1,000 doors, some of them real and some false.
The palace is not the palace of Siraj ud-Daulah, who lost at Plassey in 1757, long before it was built. It was used for durbar events and for high-ranking English officials. Today it is a museum run by the Archaeological Survey of India since 1985. If you want a guide and transport for the day, see Murshidabad tours from Kolkata.
Hazarduari Palace ticket price and timings
Amounts and hours for 2026. They can change, so confirm at the counter or on the online ticket page.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Indian adults | INR 20 to 25 |
| Foreign adults | INR 100 to 300 |
| Children under 15 | Free |
| Opening hours | 09:00 to 16:30 or 17:00 |
| Closing day | Friday |
| Parking and locker room | Available |
| Photography inside | Ask at the counter |
The ranges exist because the amount depends on the category and on how you buy. You can also buy tickets on the online ticket page. Arrive early in the day, since closing time can be 16:30.
Our picks: tours around Hazarduari
Hazarduari is among the sights of the Murshidabad day trip, whose price covers the entries listed in the itinerary; check the stops on the booking page. The two Kolkata options are for a day before or after: the Victoria Memorial ticket tour is short, the heritage walk covers the colonial centre.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Private day trip from Kolkata to Murshidabad
- Private air-conditioned car
- English-speaking private guide
- Entries per itinerary
A private car and an English-speaking guide take you from Kolkata to the Nawabs' sights. Entries listed in the itinerary are included; photo and video fees are extra.
Check availability →
Kolkata British-era heritage walk
- Guide
- Entries included
- Small refreshments
A guided walk through Kolkata's colonial-era heritage with the entries and small refreshments included.
Check availability →
Victoria Memorial guided visit with entry ticket
- Victoria Memorial entry ticket
- English-speaking guide
- Priority entry
A short guided visit to the Victoria Memorial with the entry ticket already included.
Check availability →Hazarduari Palace tours
Guided visits to the palace and the other Murshidabad sights, with a driver, from Kolkata or Berhampore.
Hazarduari Palace museum
The museum has between 8 and 20 galleries, depending on how they are counted, so do not expect a fixed number. The collection includes portraits, furniture, silver thrones, palanquins, weapons, and ivory and marble objects. Together they show the court of the later Nawabs and the English officials who visited it.
Photography rules inside can change. Photography may be allowed while video is not, and cameras and phones may be banned in the museum. Ask at the counter before you go in. Use the locker room if you are asked to leave bags or devices.
Around the palace
What sits close to Hazarduari in Lalbagh.
Nizamat Imambara
The Shia assembly hall faces the palace. The present building dates from 1847. Access to its inside varies, so treat it as a sight from outside unless you are told otherwise.
Bachhawali Tope
A separate cannon near Hazarduari. It is not the Jahan Kosha, which stands in Tope Khana near the Katra Masjid.
Wasif Manzil
The New Palace near Hazarduari reopened to the public in December 2023 after 16 years. Ask locally whether it is open on your day.
The grounds
Lawns surround the palace, and a cannon stands on the grass in front. Rules for the lawns and the museum can differ, so follow the signs and the staff.
A short history of the palace
From the Nawab's court to a museum.
1829 to 1837: construction
Nawab Nazim Humayun Jah had the palace built in the neoclassical style. The plan and the work are credited to Colonel McLeod Duncan.
The Nawab's court
The palace hosted durbar events, the formal gatherings of the court, and high-ranking English officials. This is the later period of the Nawabs, decades after Siraj ud-Daulah.
1985: the museum
The Archaeological Survey of India took over the museum in 1985. A project agreement for the palace was signed in 2010.
Today
The palace is a museum with galleries, lawns and a path in front. Allow time for the museum itself before you walk the grounds.
Plan your visit
Hazarduari fits well into a day in Lalbagh.
Time of day
Come in the morning. The museum opens around 09:00 and closes at 16:30 or 17:00, and the other sights in Lalbagh have their own hours.
Friday
The museum is closed on Fridays. Plan other sights for that day and check their hours on arrival.
A route through Lalbagh
Start at the palace, cross to the Nizamat Imambara, then go on to the Katra Masjid, the Jahan Kosha cannon and Kathgola. Khoshbagh lies across the river and is a separate stop. The order is a suggestion, not a fixed circuit.
Places to visit →Getting there
Take the train to Berhampore Court or Murshidabad station, then a local ride. Organised tours use a toto or auto for transfers.
Trains from Kolkata →
Hazarduari Palace: frequently asked questions
What is the Hazarduari Palace ticket price?
For 2026, Indian adults pay INR 20 to 25 and foreign adults INR 100 to 300. Children under 15 enter free. Confirm the amount at the counter or on the online ticket page.
What are the Hazarduari Palace timings?
The museum opens around 09:00 and closes at 16:30 or 17:00. It is closed on Fridays.
Can I take photos inside?
Rules can change. Photography may be allowed while video is not, and cameras and phones may be banned inside the museum. Ask at the counter.
Was the palace built by Siraj ud-Daulah?
No. It was built from 1829 to 1837 for Nawab Nazim Humayun Jah. Siraj ud-Daulah was defeated at Plassey in 1757. See the history of Murshidabad.
Are parking and lockers available?
Parking and a locker room are both available at the museum. Ask at the counter about any fee, and leave bags in the locker room if you are asked to.
How long does a visit take?
That depends on how many galleries you view. Allow a morning for the museum and the grounds, and add time for the Imambara and the other sights nearby.