One of the oldest royal houses in the city, Sovabazar (Shobhabazar) Rajbari, was constructed by Raja Nabakrishna Deb, a prominent aristocrat of the city. This palatial structure is best known today for the iconic Durga Puja celebrations that take place in October-November. Some of the notable features of this monument are the Nat Mandap, which is a centrally located open courtyard. Supported by columns that are adorned with arches and have a square base, the courtyard was once a venue for special functions and celebrations. There are double-storey wings on either side of the courtyard that connects the mandap with Naach Ghar, which is now in ruins. Sovabazar Rajbari was built in 1700 and is a mix of Moorish, Hindu and colonial styles of architecture.

Being a close confidante of Lord Clive, Raja Nabakrishna Deb wielded a lot of authority during his time. He was the first to celebrate Durga Puja on a lavish scale in 1757 after the British defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah at the Battle of Plassey. Top British officials including Sir Warren Hastings and Lord Clive were invited to this celebration. When Swami Vivekananda returned from the Chicago Parliament of Religions in 1897, this was where his first civic reception was organised by Raja Binoy Krishna Deb Bahadur.

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