AmanGautamArtist at 11:02, 8 March 2026

2026-03-08T11:02:33Z

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{{More citations needed|date=December 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Cooch Behar Palace
| image = The Cooch Behar Palace or the Cooch Behar Rajbari, Cooch Behar District, West Bengal, India 01.jpg
| image_size = 270px
| caption = Façade of the Cooch Behar Palace
| pushpin_map =
| latitude =
| longitude =
| location = [[Cooch Behar]], West Bengal, India
| coordinates = {{Coord|format=dms|display=title,inline}}
| architect =
| floor_area = 
| client = [[Nripencdra Narayan|Maharaja Nripendra Narayan]]
| engineer =
| construction_start_date = {{start date and age|1887}}
| demolished_date =
| cost =
| structural_system =
| architectural_style = Classical Western / Italian Renaissance
| size =
}}
'''Cooch Behar Palace''' is a landmark in [[Cooch Behar]] city, [[West Bengal]]. It was designed in the Italian Renaissance architecture style and was built in 1887, during the reign of [[Nripendra Narayan|Maharaja Nripendra Narayan]] of the [[Koch dynasty]]. It is currently a museum.<ref>[http://coochbehar.nic.in/htmfiles/rajbari_exclusive2.html Cooch Behar Rajbari Museum] ''coochbehar.nic.in''. Retrieved 2 October 2021</ref>

==History==
{{Bengal Zamindars series}}
The Cooch Behar Palace is noted for its elegance and grandeur. It is a brick-built double-story structure in the Classical Italian architecture covering an area of {{convert|51309|sqft|m2}}. The whole structure is {{convert|395|ft|m}} long and {{convert|296|ft|m}} wide and is on rests {{convert|4|ft|9|in|m}} above the ground.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}} The Palace is fronted on the ground and first floors by a series of arcaded [[verandah]]s with their piers arranged alternately in single and double rows.

At the southern and northern ends, the Palace projects slightly and in the center is a projected porch providing an entrance to the [[Durbar Hall]]. The Hall has an elegantly shaped metal dome which is topped by a cylindrical [[louver]] type ventilator. This is {{convert|124|ft|m}} high from the ground and is in the style of the [[Renaissance architecture]]. The intros of the dome is carved in stepped patterns and [[Corinthian column]]s support the base of the cupola. This adds variegated colors and designs to the entire surface. There are various halls in the palace and rooms that include the grand Durbar Hall or the hall of audience, Drawing Rooms, Dining Hall, Billiard Room, Library, Bed Rooms, [[Toshakhana]], Ladies Gallery and [[Vestibule (architecture)|Vestibules]]. The artifact and precious objects that these rooms and halls used to contain are now lost.

The original palace was partially a 3 storeyed structure, but was subsequently destroyed by the [[1897 Assam earthquake]].

The palace shows the acceptance of European [[idealism]] of the [[Koch kingdom|Koch kings]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.coochbehar.nic.in/ |title=Official Website of Cooch Behar district in West Bengal |website=Coochbehar.nic.in |access-date=25 October 2016 |archive-date=5 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105001629/http://coochbehar.nic.in/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

According to the [[List of Monuments of National Importance in West Bengal]] the Cooch Behar Palace is an [[Archaeological Survey of India|ASI]] listed monument.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://asi.nic.in/alphabetical-list-of-monuments-west-bengal/ |title=List of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains of West Bengal - Archaeological Survey of India |publisher=ASI |work=Item no. 57 |access-date=7 August 2020 |archive-date=1 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801114411/https://asi.nic.in/alphabetical-list-of-monuments-west-bengal/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:The rear side of coochbehar palace, which retains the original color of the monument..jpg|thumb|right|The rear side of Cooch Behar Palace, which retains the original color of the monument.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://coochbehar.nic.in/htmfiles/rajbari_exclusive.html |title=Rajbari in Cooch Behar town |access-date=19 October 2019 |archive-date=14 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814072309/http://coochbehar.nic.in/htmfiles/rajbari_exclusive.html |url-status=live }}</ref>]]

==Architecture==
The Rajbari or the Cooch Behar Palace is a grand monument constructed in the Italian Renaissance form of architecture. The entire monument extends gracefully over an area of 51,000 square feet; about 390 feet in length and 296 feet in width; It's a brick-built structure. Standing 125 feet tall from the ground, the monument features an entrance on the ground floor, leading through a projected porch to the Durbar Hall. The first floor has a series of beautiful arcaded verandas with alternately arranged piers in double and single rows. The palace houses over 50 rooms including bedrooms, dressing rooms, billiard room, kitchen, dining hall, dancing hall, library, Tosha khana and the ladies gallery.{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}

== Durbar Hall ==
A splendid porch positioned in the center of the monument serves as an entrance to Rajbari through the Durbar Hall.<ref name="Cooch Behar Galery">{{Cite web |date=9 July 2023 |title=Cooch Behar Galery |url=https://coochbehar.gov.in/gallery/cooch-behar-palace/ |website=Cooch Behar District }}</ref> The Durbar Hall has a beautiful metal dome with a cylindrical louvre on the top that also acts as a ventilator. The dome is at 124 feet high from the ground level and is built in the traditional Italian Renaissance architecture. The dome also is beautifully carved in step pattern and rests on four arches supported by huge Corinthian columns adorned with a lantern on the top. Several small yet elegant balconies also surround the dome of the Durbar Hall.{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}
[[File:কোচবিহার রাজবাড়ি.jpg|thumb|right]]

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:The Cooch Behar Palace or the Cooch Behar Rajbari, Cooch Behar District, West Bengal, India 01.jpg|The front view of the palace
File:The Cooch Behar Palace or the Cooch Behar Rajbari, Cooch Behar District, West Bengal, India 03.jpg|The palace and its reflection on the water body inside the compound
File:The lawn of Cooch Behar Palace, Cooch Behar, West Bengal, India 01.jpg|The garden of the palace
File:Front view of Cooch Behar Palace, WB, IN 11.jpg|The front view of the palace
File:The Cooch Behar Palace or the Cooch Behar Rajbari, Cooch Behar District, West Bengal, India 02.jpg|The palace and its reflection on the water body inside the compound
File:Billiard Table at Cooch Behar Palace 03.jpg|Billiard Table at Cooch Behar Palace
File:Cooch Behar Palace in the afternoon 5 1 (2).jpg|The landscape of Cooch Behar Palace
File:The garden of Cooch Behar Palace as seen from 1st floor 02.jpg|The garden of Cooch Behar Palace as seen from 1st floor
File:Interior of Cooch Behar Palace, Cooch Behar, WB, India 06.jpg|A chandelier inside the Royal Court
File:The Royal court of Cooch Behar at Cooch Behar Palace 2.jpg|The Royal court
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Cooch Behar State]]
* [[Kamata Kingdom]]
* [[Koch dynasty]]
* [[Koch Hajo]]
* [[Rajbongshi people]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
{{Cooch Behar topics}}

[[Category:Royal residences in India]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Cooch Behar district]]
[[Category:Palaces in West Bengal]]
[[Category:History of Cooch Behar]]
[[Category:Monuments of National Importance in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Cooch Behar district]]
[[Category:Cooch Behar]]

Cooch Behar Palace - Revision history

AmanGautamArtist at 11:02, 8 March 2026