Sovabazar Rajbari
শোভাবাজার রাজবাড়ি
Also known as Shobhabazar Rajbari.
The palace of Raja Nabakrishna Deb, and a Durga Puja kept since 1757.
About Sovabazar Rajbari
Nabakrishna Deb rose as munshi to the East India Company and built his palace here in the mid-eighteenth century. In 1757, after Plassey, he held a Durga Puja in the pillared thakurdalan to which Robert Clive was invited. The family has held the puja every year since, in two houses facing each other across the street. The courtyard with its arched thakurdalan is one of the best surviving examples of a Bengali rajbari.
Why visit
To see a traditional bonedi bari Durga Puja in the courtyard where it has been held for more than 260 years.
What to see and do
- The thakurdalan and courtyard
- The ekchala idol in the traditional style during Puja
- The second house (Chhoto Rajbari) opposite
Plan your visit
- Area
- Sovabazar, North Kolkata
- Nearest landmark
- Sovabazar Sutanuti metro
- Best time
- Morning or evening. Durga Puja (autumn) is when the courtyards are open.
- Time needed
- About 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Entry
- Entry is controlled (permit, caretaker, service times or event days). Privately owned family property. Public entry is during Durga Puja and on some event days; otherwise view from the street. Do not enter without permission.
- Metro
- Sovabazar Sutanuti (Blue Line), about 5 minutes’ walk
- Walking
- Little walking
- Photography
- Photography is fine with some care.
- Food nearby
- Mitra Cafe for fish kabiraji and brain chop.
Tip
The family houses are private. The courtyards open to visitors during Durga Puja; at other times you may only be able to see the gateway and façade from the street.
Nearby and related places
- Kumartuli: The lanes where the city’s gods are made from river clay.
- Mitra Cafe: A tiny cabin serving cutlets, kabiraji and brain chop since 1920.
- Ahiritola Ghat: A neighbourhood ferry ghat with boats across to Howrah.
- Hatibagan Market: North Kolkata’s pavement market for saris, clothes and everything else.
- Star Theatre: The most famous stage of the Bengali public theatre.
- Balaram Mandir: The house where the Ramakrishna Mission was founded in 1897.
Walks that include it
- Old North Kolkata Walk: From the five-point crossing to the potters’ ghat
- Kumartuli Art Trail: Clay, river and the Bagbazar of Ramakrishna
More guides
- Places in Sovabazar
- Heritage places in Kolkata
- Free places to visit in Kolkata
- Family-friendly places
- Places near a metro station
- All places to visit in Kolkata
Last checked on 2026-10-02. Each place was checked to exist and its position confirmed. Timings, closing days and ticket prices are shown only where known and can change: confirm before you travel.