What to do and see in Haldia, West Bengal: The Best Things to do

Reviewed By rintuleo - Kolkata (Calcutta), India

I was on a day trip to Geonkhali from Kolkata with my family on 24.11.19. While returning, we sort of had a plan to visit Mahishadal Rajbari but was unsure about the visit as it was getting really late due to our late arrival at Geonkhali and simultaneously having a very late lunch there. But since I had read praises about the place, I hurriedly drove and finally reached the Rajbari gate at 4:30 pm. Would recommend everyone who is taking his/her own car to park safely outside the palace as the road outside is quite narrow. The main gate though not seemed as royal from the outside but once we entered the premises, it was all surprises. After getting tickets @ 10 Rupees per person, we sneaked inside the Rajbari. Wow... What opulence the Zamindars used to have in those days. Each & every room of the property had some story or the other to tell. We were really taken aback at the collection of stuffed animals the Rajas had hunted from tigers to leopards and from sambars to black bears. We came to know that currently two renovated rooms on the first floor of the palace is being let out to tourists who want to experience a royal stay. Also the property is being let out for film shoots. Recently a popular Bengali movie called Basu Poribar starring Soumitra Chatterjee & Aparna Sen was shot extensively here. Those who want to experience something royal should definitely come and explore the palace thoroughly. For getting a feeling of something haunted, something eerie, one should not miss visiting the old Rajbari which is in a dilapidated condition, located just opposite to the Raj School. We visited the Gopinath Jiu Temple which is a stone's throw from the Old Rajbari and is very well maintained by the present heirs of the erstwhile property. Overall a very nice experience we had and would recommend everybody who will be touring this part of the state not to miss visiting Mahishadal Rajbari at all.