Indian Paper Money, Illustrated Guide Book by Sk Imtiaj

Indian Paper Money, Illustrated Guide Book

by Sk Imtiaj

Book Review

Book Cover (Source: Amazon)

There are several books and catalogues on Indian stamps and coins but for Indian paper currency there have been only a couple of books and catalogues. Information provided in this couple of books have been far from exhaustive.

Its true that the number of stamp and coin collectors far exceed the number of note collectors but the serious note collectors were always in need for a extensive catalogue or a detailed book on Indian Paper Currency.

Sk. Imtiaj‘s newly published book titled Indian Paper Money, Illustrated Guide Book provides an extensive insight into the paper currency of India.

It is an extensive cataloging of Indian paper currency from the Presidency Notes of British India right to the present day.

The self published, almost 500 page, books comes in with a jacket and high quality colour prints of notes. The photos contains extensive coverage on water marks, finer details and the serial numbers.

Ambika Kalna, Terracotta Temple Town of West Bengal

Ambika Kalna

Terracotta Temple Town of West Bengal

Located on the west bank of the Bhagirathi River, Ambika Kalna (popularly known as Kalna) once flourished as a prosperous port town.

Nava Kailash (108 Shiva Temple), Ambika Kalna

It reached it’s pinnacle of glory during the late 18th century under the patronage of the Maharajas of Bardhaman, who built several magnificent temples with intricate terracotta ornamentation.

Street Food tour of Sasaram, Non Veg Litti and Chicken Feet Curry

Street Food tour of Sasaram, Bihar

Non Veg Litti and Chicken Feet Curry

Sasaram once the citadel of Suri dynasty is a historical paradise. The mighty dome of the Mausoleum of Sher Shah still dominates the Sasaram skyline. Several other tombs and historical structures make Sasaram an interesting gateway for history lovers (Also see: Sher Shah’s Tomb and other monumnets of Sasaram)

 A litti shop in Sasaram

A trip to Sasaram can be combined with trips to nearby Rothasgarh Fort and Shergarh Fort along with trips to a couple of nearby water falls. But no trip to Sasaram is complete without its amazing street food.

Sher Shah’s Tomb and other monuments of Sasaram

Sher Shah’s Tomb

and other monuments of Sasaram, Bihar

During the siege on Kalijar, in May 1545, a rocket ricochetted back and exploded in the Suri camp. Sher Shah Suri, the king of Hindustan, suffered serious burn injury. In a desperate bid to to save their favourite emperor, the royal physicians applied generous quantities of sandalwood paste and poured volumes of rose water on the wounds to relive the emperor of the intolerable pain.

Panoramic view of Sher Shah Suri’s Tomb, Sasaram, Bihar

Sadly the burns were so deep rooted, nothing worked and the pain from the severe burn injuries increased hour by hour. Sher Shah held on for a couple of days but final on 13 May it was all over the emperor was no more.

Kolkata’s very own Museum, Metcalfe Hall

Kolkata’s very own Museum

Metcalfe Hall

Museum – a series of artifacts arranged in rows with placards describing each of them. This has been the idea of a museum for most of the people. Over the years, like all other things, museums have also evolved.

Metcalfe Hall, Kolkata

Today museums are not just a display of artifacts. It comes in with audio visual effects creating a movie theatre like atmosphere. The visitor gets a real life feel of the artifacts as he moves from one gallery to the other.

Sheherwali Cuisine and much more at Bari Kolthi, Azimganj

Sheherwali Cuisine and much more at Bari Kolthi

Azimganj, near Murshidabad

Also see: FAM Tour of Bari Kothi, Azimganj

A decade after the death of the last great Mughal Aurangzeb, Murshid Quli Khan in 1727 declared himself the independent nawab of Bengal Province. A province which consisted of present day Bangladesh and the Indian states of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha.

Dinner at the grand Durbar Hall, Bari Kothi, Azimganj

As the Murshid Quli Khan took up his charge, the trade and commerce flourished and historical records even suggested that Murshidabad contributed about 20% of the Indian economy and a staggering 5% of the world GDP.

Rasbari Garden House of Belur, Revisited

Familiarization (FAM) Tour of Rasbari Garden House, Belur

Also see: First visit of Rasbari Garden House, Belur

My first visit to Rasbari was almost a year back and things have changed a lot. The clock tower have been renovated and the clock has started ticking.

The lit up Rasbari Garden House Complex, Belur, Howrah

The number of two beaded rooms have increased from two to four. The old white pavilion shaped building remains the same with the two for bed rooms and the big drawing room.