Riyaz al-salatin 5: SECTION III.—RELATING TO A DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN TOWNS AND FOUNDATION OF CERTAIN CITIES IN THE COUNTRY OF BENGAL.

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The city of Lakhnauti, which in past times was the Capital of Bengal, was founded by Sangajdib. It is said that at the time when Firuz Rai, the Rajah of Hindustan, being defeated by Rustam Dastan, fled to Tirhut, and from there fleeing to the mountains of Jharkhand and Gondwarah, died, Rustam Dastan, who was displeased with his insolence, not bestowing the kingdom of Hindustan on the Rajah's children, awarded the sovereignty of Hindustan to a Hindu, named Suraj. Suraj became a powerful Rajah, subjugated the kingdom of the Dakhin and also the kingdom of Bengal. When Suraj died and the sovereignty passed to his son, Bahraj, disturbances occurring in all parts of the kingdom, ambition showed itself in every head, and at length a Brahmin, named Kedar, coming out from the mountains of Sawalik, and becoming victorious after fightings possessed himself of the reins of sovereignty. Towards the end of his reign, a person named Sangaldib, emerging from the environs of Kuch, which adjoins the limits of Bengal brought to his subjection, first, the countries of Bengal and Behar, and then fighting against Kedar became victorious, and building the city of Lakhnauti, made it his capital. And for two thousand years it remained the Capital of Bengal. In the time of the Mughul Emperors it became ruined, and instead of it Tandah became the Viceregal Capital. Afterwards Tandah was also ruined, and Jahangirnagar, and lastly Murshidabad, became the Viceregal Capital. The reason for the name of Gaur is unknown, but it is guessed that in the period of the rule of the sons of Nojgorlah, perhaps this name was given. And Emperor Humayun, considering Gaur an inauspicious name, changed it to Jinnatabad. This city at present is in complete ruin, and has become the haunt of lions and tigers. Excepting traces of gates of the fort, and dilapidated buildings, and the mosque, and foundations of the building of Qadam-Rasul, nothing else exists.
The place where monarchs dwelt in gardens with friends, Has become the abode of crows and vultures and the haunt of lions and jackals!
Gaur contained a large fort, traces whereof are still visible. On the eastern side of the city are the lakes of Jhatiah and Bhatiah and other lakes, and the embankment continues from that to this time, though it was stronger and kept out the flood of water in the rainy season, when the city was in a flourishing condition. At present, in the rainy season, boats pass across it, and everything is inundated. Towards the north of the Fort, to the distance of one kos, a large building of ancient times existed, and also a tank called Peasbari — the water whereof was noxious, whoever drank it became attacked with bowl-diseases and died. It is said that in past times, criminals were imprisoned in that tank, and by drinking the water of it they immediately died. And Emperor Akbar, taking pity, put a stop to this form of punishment.