(pearl lake) with a courtier, painted in the
Company Style, where it first emerged in Murshidabad temple in the mansion of
Jagat Seth, a historically prominent banking family of Murshidabad The area was part of the
Gauda Kingdom and
Vanga Kingdom in
ancient Bengal. The
Riyaz-us-Salatin credited the initial development of the town to a merchant named Makhsus Khan. The merchant's role is also mentioned in the
Ain-i-Akbari. During the 17th-century, the area was well known for
sericulture. In 1621, English agents reported that large quantities of silk were available in the area. During the 1660s, it became a
pargana of the Mughal administration, with jurisdiction over European companies in
Cossimbazar. Murshidabad was also located centrally in the expanded jurisdiction of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. The presence of the princely court, the
Mughal Army,
artisans and multiethnic merchants increased the wealth of Murshidabad. Wealthy families and companies established their head offices in the city. The Murshidabad
mint became the largest in Bengal, with a value amounting to two percent of the minted currency. The city witnessed the construction of administrative buildings, gardens, palaces, mosques, temples and mansions. European companies operated factories in the city's outskirts. The city was full of brokers, workers, peons, naibs, wakils, and ordinary traders. See also -
Nawabs of Bengal and Murshidabad File:Bazrupmati.jpg|Two horsemen, Murshidabad style of painting Gujjari Ragini.jpg|Woman playing the
sitar, Murshidabad style of painting Royal Peacock Barge LACMA M.82.154.jpg|Ivory sculpture of a royal barge Ivory carving in the Indian Museum, Kolkata 03.jpg|Ivory sculpture of a royal barge Nahabat Khana - Nashipur Palace - Murshidabad 2017-03-28 6239.JPG|An elevated musicians' gallery where drums, flutes and Indian classical music would be played. ==Economy==