Murshidabad

the former capital of Bengal, is steeped in haunting folklore and historical myths. The most famous local legend is the dark tale of  Azimunnisa Begum whose tomb is a popular but eerie site for visitors.

The Legend of the “Liver-Eating” Begum
Azimunnisa Begum was the daughter of Murshid Quli Khan, the first Nawab of Bengal. Locally known as the Zinda Kabr (Live Tomb), her resting place is at the center of a gruesome legend:
  • The Disease: Legend says the Begum fell seriously ill with a rare disease. A local hakim (physician) prescribed a disturbing remedy: a medicine prepared from the livers of human children.
  • The Addiction: While the treatment allegedly cured her, she supposedly developed a horrific addiction to the taste and continued to have innocent children killed to satisfy her craving.
  • The Punishment: When her father (or in some versions, her husband) discovered her crimes, he was so horrified that he ordered her to be buried alive.
  • The Humility: To ensure she would seek eternal forgiveness, her grave was placed directly under the entrance staircase of her mosque. This way, every devotee entering for prayer would step over her, symbolically crushing her sins with their feet.
Other Notable Legends
Murshidabad’s landmarks are filled with stories of mystery and “bad luck”:
  • Bacchawali Tope (The Cannon of Childbirth): Located near the Hazarduari Palace, this massive 18th-century cannon is said to have been fired only once. The legend claims the sound was so deafening that the sonic boom caused every pregnant woman within a 10-mile radius to go into labor or suffer a miscarriage.
  • The Ghost of the Mirror: In the Hazarduari Palace Museum, there is a “secret mirror.” Local lore suggests that while you can see others in it, you cannot see your own face, a design intended to help the Nawab spot hidden assassins behind him.
  • The Hidden Treasures of Jagat Seth: The House of Jagat Seth is rumored to contain vast hidden treasures. Legend says the family, once the wealthiest bankers in the world, hid their jewels in secret underground chambers and cursed them so that anyone who tried to find them would meet a tragic end.