Wasif Manzil

Wasif Manzil, also known as the New Palace, is a historic palace in Murshidabad, West Bengal, located adjacent to the Hazarduari Palace on the banks of the Bhagirathi River. Built in 1904 by Nawab Wasif Ali Mirza Khan, it was constructed after the earlier palace was damaged in the 1897 earthquake. Notable for its Indo-European architecture, it forms part of the Murshidabad heritage complex and is visited for its historical association with the Nawabs of Murshidabad.

Visitors can expect to view the exterior of a two-storey palace with arched facades, columns and landscaped grounds within the Hazarduari complex. The palace is situated close to the Hazarduari Palace, Nizamat Imambara and the Bhagirathi River. Interior access is generally restricted and the structure is viewed from outside as part of a heritage walk. The surroundings include gardens, the palace compound and views of nearby historic monuments.

Wasif Manzil was commissioned by Nawab Wasif Ali Mirza Khan, Nawab of Murshidabad from 1906 to 1959, and completed in 1904. It was built to replace an earlier palace on the same site that was severely damaged in the 1897 Assam earthquake. The palace served as a residence of the Nawabs of Murshidabad during the early 20th century and is part of the historic Nizamat complex that includes Hazarduari Palace.

The palace represents the late Nawabi architectural heritage of Murshidabad and the cultural legacy of the Nawabs of Bengal. Its location within the Hazarduari-Nizamat complex makes it an important component of Murshidabad's heritage tourism circuit, reflecting Indo-European architectural influences of the early 1900s.