Indo Islamic Heritage
Lal Bagh Palace in Cuttack is well-connected by various modes of transport. The nearest railway station is Cuttack Railway Station, located about 2 km away. The city does not have a metro system, but local transport like auto-rickshaws and buses are easily available. The Cuttack Bus Stand is also nearby, providing convenient road connectivity. The nearest airport is Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar, approximately 30 km from Cuttack, offering both domestic and limited international flights.
The Lal Bagh Palace in Cuttack, built in 1636 A.D., is considered the first significant Muslim monument in Odisha and was originally constructed as the residence of the Mughal Governors of the province. Though Persian sources provide no direct evidence of its construction, European travelers like William Bruton and Thomas Motte described it as a grand palace with multiple courtyards built in Morisco (Islamic-Mughal) style, though already in decay by the 18th century. Bruton noted the governor’s reluctance to sleep under a roof built by others, preferring tents instead, while Motte described its deteriorating state and strategic location along the Kathajodi River. The palace area later became home to the Orissa Raj Bhawan before it was moved to Bhubaneswar, and today, the region is rich with historic mosques and Muslim settlements, marking it as the nucleus of early Islamic influence in Cuttack.
Year of Built: 17th Century
Address: Rajpath Road, Cuttack, along the scenic Kathajodi River bank
Country: India
State: Odisha
District: Cuttack
Pincode: 753002
Longitude: 85.8830° E .
Latitude: 20.4625° N