House of Jagat Seth

The Jagat Seth family was a wealthy merchant, banker and money lender family from Murshidabad in Bengal during the time of the Nawabs of Bengal.
Roben Orme, the official historian of the British East India Company described Jagat Seth as the greatest banker and money changer known in the world at that time. They built up their business towards the last quarter of the 17th century and by the 18th century, it was perhaps the largest banking house in the country. In the 1750s, their entire wealth was estimated to be 14 crores. Jagat Seth was extremely influential in financial matters in Bengal and had a monopoly of minting coins there. The Jagat Seths were the most prominent moneylenders to the East India Company.
The Jagat Seth was a co-conspirator of Robert Clive against Siraj ud-Daulah, along with other alienated figures, among them prominent being- Mir Jafar, Krishnachandra Roy, Omichund, Ray Durlabh & other leading men. The Jagat Seth and other wealthy bankers funded the British for the conspiracy.
After the Battle of Plassey, Mir Qasim became the new Nawab. He organised the killing of several member of the family including Jagat Seth Mehtab Chand and his cousin Swarup Chand, in 1763, and threw their bodies off the ramparts off Munger Fort, and with the transfer of the treasury and mint to Kolkata by the British, the need of a private banker at Murshidabad was vastly diminished
House of Jagat Seth Museum was established in 1980. It is privately managed. It contains personal possessions of the Jagat Seth family including coins of the bygone era, muslin and other extravagant clothes, Banarasi sarees embroidered with gold and silver threads.

Entry Fee: 20/-

Jagat Seth was co-conspirator with British Empire against Last independent Bengali Nawab Siraj Ud-Daullah. He was merchant during nawab bengal. In this house, used itineraries from that period are being exhibiting. Couple of secret underground way is there. The place is 5 minutes away from Hazarduary palace. Entry fees is 20 rupees per head.

After the Battle of Plassey, Mir Qasim became the new Nawab. He organised the killing of several member of the family including Jagat Seth Mehtab Chand and his cousin Swarup Chand, in 1763, and threw their bodies off the ramparts off Munger Fort. Mahtab Chand's son, Kushal Chand, was granted the title of Jagat Seth, but with the transfer of the treasury and mint to Kolkata by the British, the need of a private banker at Murshidabad was vastly diminished.
Kushal Chand was only 18 years old when he became the Seth. He lacked his father Mehtab Chand's political shrewdness and was a spendthrift. Thus the fortunes of the Jagat Seths began declining. Govindchand, the next Seth, died in 1864, succeeded by Gopal Chand and Gulab Chand respectively. By then, the fortunes of the family had declined by a considerable amount.The last member of the family died in 1912, their fortunes being a thing of the past and surviving on a pension given by the British.

This is great place to visit while your trip to Murshidabaad.
The place is very clean and well maintained. You can also bring your kids.
However this is not the actual house of Jagat Seth, claimed by guide and local people. There is a mesuem inside the house. You can get to know so many things related to the time of Jagat Seth. Though you may find guides standing outside the gate inside the house. But it is not necessary to take one. Everything that is allowed to visit and see, you can cover it on your own.😄.

You can get toto from Murshidabaad station or outside Hazaduari Palace.
Do visit this place. Happy time :)

The house of great Jagath Seth who used to lend money to Britishers in 1700s. Also one of the main person to cause the Battle of Plassey. Museum is available there any many more . Must visit.

Almost everyone knows the history of Jagat Seth and it is not the place to discuss it here. But it is good to know that Jagat Seth is not a person's name, it is a title.

Before entering the museum, go in knowing that locals and guides say that this is not actually Jagat Seth's house during Siraj's time. That house has been submerged by the Ganges erosion long ago. It is the home of someone else of that clan who has now moved to the city. Local youth have turned this house into a museum.

If you take a good look at the museum, you will understand that most of its items are brought from outside and arranged here. Items are not properly described. The tunnel also seems to be newly constructed. And nowhere on the whole does it look much older.

Still it is a must see as there are many historical objects here which are of immense importance.

The house was founded by Jain Hiranand Shah from Nagaur, Rajasthan,who came to Patna in 1652. In 1707, Manikchand helped Prince Farrukhsiyar financially to become the Mughal Emperor. In award, Farrukhsiyar conferred the title of Jagat Seth on Manik Chand,the head of the family, meaning "banker or merchant of the world". This indicates the favour the family had gained at the Mughal court.

Kachari bari (office premises) of the Palace of Jagat Seth

Roben Orme, the official historian of the British East India Company described Jagat Seth as the greatest banker and money changer known in the world at that time. The historian Ghulam Hussain Khan believed that "their wealth was such that there is no mentioning it without seeming to exaggerate and to deal in extravagant fables".They built up their business towards the last quarter of the 17th century and by the 18th century, it was perhaps the largest banking house in the country. In the 1750s, their entire wealth was estimated to be 14 crores.

Jagat Seth was extremely influential in financial matters in Bengal and had a monopoly of minting coins there.

The temple associated with memory of Jagat Sett's house at Mahimapur

The Nawabs of Bengal such as Murshid Quli Khan used the credit networks of the Jagat Seth family to pay annual tribute to the Mughal Emperors in Delhi. Alivardi Khan came to the throne of Bengal in a military coup financed and planned by the Jagat Seths.According to William Dalrymple, they could "make or break anyone in Bengal, including the ruler, and their political instincts were sharp as their financial ones". Once a local businessman named Kantu borrowed money from Jagat Seth Fateh Chand and was interested in the purchase of silk. However, he failed to return the money. Indian businessmen refused to deal with the East India Company unless Kantu returned the money to Fateh Chand.

This is the residence of Jagat Seth who was a powerful man in the Times of the rule of Nawaab Suraj ud daula. This house has beautiful interiors and an armoury situated in the basement which was kept as secret at that time. Now you can see the various weapons displayed in the underground chambers. Many old artifacts are on display over here.