Mahmud Shah's Tomb, Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur

Mahmud Shah's Tomb, Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur

In the Bhagalpur district Kahalgoan or Colgong is situated at a distance of about 30 kms. East of the district headquarter, Bhagalpur. Mahmud Shah was the last independent King of Bengal who died at Kahalgoan in 1539 A.D. After his defeat at the hands of Sher Shah, the mighty Pathan ruler, he took refuge with the Mughal Emperor Humayun at Chunar. In his absence from Bengal his capital was stormed and sacked and his two sons were murdered by the Afghans. Mahmud Shah, after joining hands with the Mughal emperor Humayun, advanced as far as Kahalgoan to attack Sher Shah. But, after hearing the news of the death of his two sons and the plunder of his capital, he was so much shocked that only after a few days' illness he died at Kahalgoan in 1539 A.D., where his tomb was built later. The tomb of Mahmud Shah is, therefore, of great historical significance.