Chilkigarh Raj Palace

Chilkigarh is well known as a village in Zamboni (CD Block) in Jhagram district. The village is located around 14 km away from Jhagram.

Here, there is an old Raj Bari building occupying a huge area. This famous palace is located around 1.4 km away from another famous Kanak Durga Temple. The palace is nested on the other side of the river Dulong. In the present day, a part of it is used by a ‘West Bengal Government’ ICDS office. However, the inner building is not open to tourists. But you can come to this historic place and spend quality time with your loved ones.

There’s a small temple inside the palace. The temple is still operational by the local pandits. Along with tourists, this place attracts devotees as well. Despite the fact that the Rajbari complex needs more maintenance, it has been a popular destination for years. The temple, as well as the palace area, can accommodate a lot of people at a time. The entry price is also cheap. So, for anyone, be it a historical enthusiast, it is a place to spend your weekend.

Attraction

Chilkigarh Palace, a heritage place located near Jha gram, not in its full shape but in ruined shape, is a major tourist attraction. A beautiful and scenic royal palace is losing its charm, but it still has its importance now. Still, you will feel thrilled to visit an old heritage place like this one.
Chilkigarh Raj Palace stands as a witness of history. It was once a group of majestic buildings within a huge compound. Today, a part of the Palace is used as a government office, and the inner buildings are not, unfortunately, open to tourists. This makes the place more mysterious. You will certainly wonder what might be behind those walls and who used those buildings in the past.

Near the Palace lies the river ‘Dulong.’ You can take a walk on the bank of the river only to feel a gentle breeze on your face. The old majestic building will take you to the mediaeval age. You can come here with both family and friends.

History

Concrete historical Information has not been found regarding the history of Chilkigarh Raj Palace. However, as per the locals, this palace is 450 years old and proudly standing as a witness of history. The place has seen many things, and if it were seriously preserved, then it would become a great source of archeological, architectural, and anthropological knowledge. However, this place is like a palace museum, and for locals, it is a place of recreation as well as devotion.

Inside/Outside Views

Chilkigarh Raj Palace is indeed a beautiful and royal palace. Although it is in need of some maintenance, it is still majestic and standing with elegance. A portion is being used by the state govt offices as well. Tourists are allowed to roam within a comparatively smaller place in the ground floor, that too outside the main palace building.
The Chilkigarh Raj Palace is a nearly 450-year-old palace, according to the locals. This palace is a witness to many histories of Bengal as well as India. The Mughal, the British, and other important events are on this list. The deity inside the temple of this dynasty is still worshipped here every single day. It is also said that some representatives of the dynasty lived in the inner part of the palace, where tourists were not allowed to go. The district administration, as well as the central government, are looking forward to building a suitable and more tourist-friendly center around this palace.

How to Reach

By road: It is situated in the ‘JharGram’ area. From the busy area of Kharagpur, the Chilkigarh Raj Palace is about 50 km away. Kharagpur is well connected with other major cities like Siliguri, Delhi, Ghaziabad, Mumbai etc. of the country. And from Jhargram city, you will get local transport to reach the site.

By air: The closest airport, ‘Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport‘ (which is an international one), is almost 189 kilometres away from this area which is in Dum Dum, Kolkata. You can visit this place from outside of India. Apart from that, there are airports in Delhi, Mumbai or Lucknow with direct flights in Kolkata. From the airport, you can easily get local transports to reach the site.

By train: The closest railway station from the Chilkigarh Raj Palace is about 57 km away at the ‘Kharagpur Railway Station.’ This station is well connected with major areas of the country. From the station, you will get local transport so that you can reach the site.

Tips for Travellers

Please wear suitable and comfortable clothes according to both culture and seasons.
Don’t forget to follow the code of conduct.
If you are visiting Kharagpur for the first time, try to visit in a group for safety purposes.
Please stay away from total strangers.
The inner building is not open to tourists.
The best time to visit this place is during the winter season when the weather is gentle.