kinjalbose

Balakhana Heritage Homestay, Maheshganj Estate, Nadia

Located about 130 kilometres from Kolkata, Balakhana, now a heritage homestay in Maheshganj estate of Nadia district in West Bengal was once a Nil Kuthi (indigo planter’s bunglow). The construction of Balakhana started in the year 1780 and it took nearly five years to complete.

Terracotta temples of Uttarpara

Uttarpara, a municipal town under Serampore subdivision of Hooghly district enjoys the status of being the first muncipality of West Bengal in 1853. Later in 1964 Kotrung was added and thereafter it now becomes Uttarpara-Kotrung Muncipality.

Bawali Rajbari

Bawali, a village in Budge Budge II block of South 24 Parganas district was once regarded as a temple town. Here one can see a number of temples, of which now most are in ruins belonged to the Mondals, who were the zamindars of this area.

Rasbari Garden House, Belur, Howrah

Belur Rashbari

Belur Rasbari in Howrah district of West Bengal is located close to Belur Math and just opposite to Kuthi Ghat in Baranagar on the other side of the Ganges. This Rasbari was founded by Purna Chandra Dawn, eldest son of Shiv Krishna Dawn of Jorasanko on 21st Jaistha, 1297 and according to Gregorian calendar it was in June, 1890.

Shiv Mandir

I had gone to Chandannagar a number of times; but last year during Jagaddhatri Puja, when I was going to Bhadreswar from Chandannagar by auto via Grand Trunk Road, I noticed four Shiva temples in an enclosed courtyard. They look more or less like deuls. I was so much interested that I left the auto there and went to see them.

Dashavatar Tash (Cards)

Bishnupur in Bankura district of West Bengal is regarded as temple town. Bishnupur was once the capital of Malla kings. A new dynasty known as Malla dynasty began in 694 A.D with Adi Malla (694-710), the first king. With his accession a new type of calendar, Mallabda began. There is a difference of 101 years between Bangabda (the Bengali calendar) and Mallabda with the former starting in the year 593 A.D.

Temples of Surul, Birbhum

About five kilometres from Shantiniketan in Bolpur subdivision of Birbhum district of West Bengal, you will come across a village named Surul. The village comprises of a number of richly decorated terracotta temples mostly dedicated to Lord Shiva. Here apart from an aatchala temple and a pancharatna temple there are about four deuls out of which three are renovated but without losing its exquisite terracotta ornamentation.

Anandamoyee Kali Temple, Krishnanagar

There are a number of temples in Nadia district of West Bengal of which Anandamoyee Kali Temple in Krishnanagar deserves mention.

Nilkantheshwari Temple, Gondalpara, Chandannagar

Chandannagar, a former French colony, is just 35 kilometres from Kolkata can be reached by both rail and road. Chandannagar is now a subdivision of Hooghly district of West Bengal. When we speak of Chandannagar, the first thing that comes to our mind is Jagadhatri Puja which is celebrated here for five days with great pomp and grandeur just like Durga Puja. A number of temples are there in Chandannagar of which Nilkantheshwari Temple of Gondalpara deserves mention.

Jagadhatri Puja of Kolkata’s ‘Bonedi’ Families

When we speak of Jagadhatri Puja, we think of Chandannagar, Mankundu, Bhadreswar in Hooghly district and Krishnanagar in Nadia district of West Bengal. In Hooghly district it is a five-day festival starting from Sasthi to Dasami like that of Durga Puja whereas in Krishnanagar the puja starts in Nabami.