Murshidabad was once one of the great power centres of Bengal. The nawabs ruled from here before British power shifted the centre of gravity to Calcutta, and the city still has the ruins, palaces, mosques, gates, cannons, and riverbank tombs to prove it.
The main cluster is around the Hazarduari Palace and the Nizamat complex, where European palace architecture, Shia ceremonial buildings, old mosques, and royal display pieces sit almost on top of each other. A little farther out, Katra Masjid and Khushbagh add the older, more atmospheric side of the city.
Murshidabad is a strong day or overnight stop for travellers interested in Bengal's pre-colonial and early colonial history. It can feel dusty and spread out, and the monuments vary in condition, but the density of history is real. Start early, hire local transport, and do not try to see every minor mosque in one hot afternoon.