Singhi Dalan in Rajmahal. Telegraph picture

Ranchi, July 19: Though the splendour is waning, all is not lost.

Rajmahal in Sahebganj district, which was the capital of Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Assam (known as united Bengal) during the Mughal period, will be developed into a popular tourist spot by the state tourism department and The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach), Jharkhand chapter.

A small but historically significant town, Rajmahal has relics dating back to the Mughal period when Raja Man Singh, the general of Akbar, made it the capital of united Bengal in 1592. The town, situated on the right bank of Ganges, boasts monuments like Singhi Dalan, Akbari Masjid, Tomb of Maina-Biwi, Tomb of Miran and Mint. These heritage structures will be spruced up to attract more tourists.

The total cost of the revamp project will be around Rs 2.5 crore and the proposal has been submitted to the tourism department for its final approval.

Shree Deo Singh, the state co-ordinator of Intach, said work would be started soon to restore and conserve the architectural sites of Mughal era. For the benefit of the tourists, the department will add drinking water facilities and build sitting areas, pathway and resting places without causing damage to the monuments, he added.

Singh rued that some black stone architectural pieces are being stolen and immediate attention is required to stop the theft. “Deputy commissioner of Sahebganj K. Ravi Kumar is providing all necessary assistance to start this project,” he added.

Besides, Singh said a place called Kanhaiyasthan, situated on the bank of Ganges, was a place of religious importance and would also be revamped to draw more devotees. The place is on a hill top situated about 13km northwest of Rajmahal and owes its name to Krishna (Kanhaiya).

“State tourism department has already constructed eight guest rooms at Kanhaiyasthan. It is believed that Chaitanya once stayed here on his way to Brindavan from Bengal and he saw Krishna,” he said.

Meanwhile, Baradwari, the residence of Fateh Jang Khan, a close confidant of Akbar, is being preserved by Archaeological Survey of India.