Cooch Behar Palace, officially the Victor Jubilee Palace, is a magnificent Indo-Saracenic royal residence in Cooch Behar district, West Bengal, built in 1887 during the reign of Maharaja Nripendra Narayan. Modelled partially on Buckingham Palace in London, this 51,000 sq ft palace with its grand dome, arched colonnades, and lush 51-acre gardens is one of the finest examples of royal colonial architecture in eastern India and is now maintained as a museum.
Cooch Behar Palace
The Victor Jubilee Palace — Bengal's Royal Heritage in the Dooars
History of Cooch Behar Palace
The Koch Kingdom
Cooch Behar was the capital of the Koch dynasty — one of northeastern India's most powerful medieval kingdoms — that ruled the region from the 16th century onwards. The Koch kings were patrons of Bengali language and literature and maintained semi-independent status even under Mughal and British suzerainty.
Maharaja Nripendra Narayan & the Palace (1887)
The Victor Jubilee Palace was built in 1887 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria — hence its name. Designed by British architect Charles Mant (who also designed the Laxmi Vilas Palace in Baroda), it blends Italian Renaissance, Mughal, and European Baroque styles into a unique colonial masterpiece.
Merger with India (1949)
Cooch Behar State merged with India in 1949 under Maharaja Jagaddipendra Narayan, becoming part of West Bengal. The palace was subsequently transferred to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and converted into a museum housing royal artefacts, photographs, and portraits of the Koch royal family.
Architecture & Museum
The palace features a 51-metre high dome, 8 ornamental towers, 51 rooms, and lavish Italian marble interiors. The museum houses royal furniture, hunting trophies, royal portraits, vintage photographs, and the famous Cooch Behar durbar regalia. The surrounding Madhuban gardens and artificial lake create a picturesque setting that makes it one of the most photogenic royal palaces in Bengal.
Festivals & Events
Rash Mela (November)
The ancient Rash Mela, held at Madanmohan Bari temple in Cooch Behar, is one of North Bengal's largest festivals — drawing over 500,000 visitors over five days for religious rituals, cultural performances, and Bengal's largest rural fair (mela).
Koch Rajbongshi Cultural Festival
The annual festival celebrating the Koch Rajbongshi community's unique culture — featuring traditional Husori dance, Goalparia music, and folk performances — is held near the palace grounds each autumn, showcasing the vibrant indigenous heritage of this historically significant region.
Did You Know?
Maharani Sunity Devi of Cooch Behar — wife of Maharaja Nripendra Narayan — was one of the first high-caste Hindu women to travel abroad in the 19th century and was presented at Queen Victoria's court in London in 1887. She later wrote an autobiography (1904) — one of the earliest memoirs by an Indian royal woman — that became a landmark document of cross-cultural encounters in the Victorian era.
Travel Guide to Cooch Behar Palace
How to Reach
By Air: Bagdogra Airport (IXB), Siliguri — 160 km via NH27 (approx. 3.5 hours by road).
By Train: Cooch Behar Railway Station on the NJP–Alipurduar line — 2 km from the palace. Trains from Kolkata (Howrah) via Kanchenjunga Express (8–9 hours).
By Road: NH27 from Siliguri — 165 km (3.5 hours). State buses from Siliguri to Cooch Behar town run frequently.
Nearby Attractions
Madan Mohan Bari Temple: 1 km — the principal temple of Cooch Behar, built by Maharaja Nara Narayan in 1573.
Bana Durga Temple: A serene forest temple 5 km from the palace.
Jaldapara National Park: 60 km — one-horned rhino safari and Hollong Bungalow.
Museum Timings
Hours: 10 AM – 4:30 PM (closed Thursdays and government holidays).
Entry Fee: ₹25 for Indian nationals / ₹300 for foreign nationals. Camera fee ₹25 extra.
Best Time: Morning visits (10–11:30 AM) for the best light on the palace facade and gardens.
Best Time to Visit
October–March is ideal with pleasant temperatures (12–26°C). November's Rash Mela creates a festive atmosphere throughout the town. Combine with Jaldapara National Park (60 km) and Gorumara (80 km) for a complete Dooars itinerary. Avoid May–June when temperatures exceed 38°C and humidity is high.
Travel Tips
The palace façade is best photographed from the front garden in the golden morning light — arrive when it opens at 10 AM for the clearest shots.
The palace museum guide (available at the gate) explains the royal portraits and artefacts in fascinating detail — worth the ₹50 guide fee.
Try the local Cooch Behar specialty "Muri Ghonto" (rice and fish head curry) at restaurants near the palace — a genuine Koch Rajbongshi culinary tradition.
Combine Cooch Behar with Jaldapara National Park (60 km) and Chilapata Forest (50 km) for an outstanding 2-day Dooars heritage-and-wildlife trip.