Mayapur, West Bengal: A Spiritual Haven on the Banks of the Ganges

 

Mayapur, a town located in the Nadia district of West Bengal, India, is a popular pilgrimage site for Hindus. It is located on the banks of the river Ganges and is home to the headquarters of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Mayapur is visited by thousands of devotees every year, who come to seek blessings and take part in various religious activities. Here is a comprehensive travel guide for Mayapur, West Bengal:

 

How to Reach Mayapur:

Mayapur is well-connected to major cities in West Bengal and other parts of India. The nearest airport is the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, which is about 100 km from Mayapur. From there, you can take a taxi or a bus to reach Mayapur. The nearest railway station is in Nabadwip, which is about 10 km from Mayapur.

 

Things to See and Do in Mayapur:

ISKCON Temple: The ISKCON Temple is the main attraction in Mayapur. It is a beautiful temple complex that houses several shrines, gardens, and a museum. The temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and attracts thousands of devotees every day.

Yoga Pith: This is the birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a saint and social reformer who played an important role in the spread of the Hare Krishna movement. The site is marked by a small temple and is considered a holy site by devotees.

Ganges River: Mayapur is located on the banks of the river Ganges, which is considered a sacred river in Hinduism. Visitors can take a dip in the river and offer prayer

Srila Prabhupada's Pushpa Samadhi Mandir: This is a beautiful temple dedicated to Srila Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON. The temple houses his samadhi (tomb) and is a popular spot for devotees.

Vrindavan Gardens: These beautiful gardens are located near the ISKCON Temple and are a great place to relax and unwind. The gardens are filled with colorful flowers and have several fountains and waterfalls.

 

Best Time to Visit Mayapur:

The best time to visit Mayapur is from October to March, when the weather is pleasant and cool. Summers can be hot and humid, and the monsoon season (June to September) can bring heavy rainfall.

 

Accommodation:

There are several hotels and guesthouses in and around Mayapur that cater to the needs of visitors. ISKCON also has guesthouses and dormitories for devotees.

 

Food:

Mayapur is known for its delicious vegetarian cuisine, which is served in many restaurants and eateries. ISKCON also has a prasadam (sacred food) hall that serves free meals to devotees.

 

Mayapur is a must-visit destination for those interested in spirituality and religion. With its beautiful temples, scenic locations, and rich cultural heritage, Mayapur is a unique place that offers a glimpse into the rich history and tradition of India. So, if you are planning a trip to West Bengal, don't forget to include Mayapur in your itinerary.

Mirik-The Place Burnt By Fire

Mirik is an attractive tourist destination located at the beautiful hills of the district Darjeeling in West Bengal. The name of this hill station has derived from the Lepcha word Mir-Yok which means “place burnt by fire.” This hill resort is situated at a distance of 52 km from Siliguri and 49 Km from another popular hill station Darjeeling.
Connectivity:
Mirik has turned into a tourist spot for the natural beauty, accessibility and climate. Mirik is connected with the other parts of West Bengal through air, rail and roads. The nearest airport of this hill station is the Bagdogra, located 55 Km away. Nearest rail stations of Mirik are: Ghum, located at 41 km away; Darjeeling, located at 49 km away; and Siliguri, located at 52 km away from Mirik. Apart from that, Mirik is also well connected with kurseong, Siliguri and Darjeeling through roads.
Place of interest:

The heart of attraction of this hill station is the Sumendu lake which is fed by the perennial streams. The lake is surrounded by the pine trees on a side and a garden on the another side. The sloppy west part of the lake is covered with thousands of Cryptomania-Japanica trees. The best part of the lake is that the glory of the Kanchenjungha flashes in the waters. Both sides of the lakes are connected by an bending footbridge, which is named as Rainbow bridge or Indreni Puli. Besides, a 3.5 km long zig-zag footwalk surrounds the lake and take the tourists to show the view of marvelous kanchanjungha on far horizon with the woods by their side. Pony riding and boating on wonderful shikaras are available here. So, whether you are in a company or alone, you would enjoy the beauty of this place a lot.

Another places of interests are: Deosi Dara, Kawley Dara, Tea Estates, Rai Dhap, Cardamom Grove, Orange Orchards.
Best time to visit:

The winter season is very much dreadful here. The temperature remains minimum 2°C to maximum 13°C. Heavy woolen clothes are must. So, the best time to come to Mirik is March to Mid June and therefore September to December.

Dooars-The Gateway To Bhutan

The Dooars or Duars are the foothills of the Eastern Himalayan range in North East India. It is totally an unmatched area in the northern part of West Bengal and it is full of lengthy stretches of greenery and forest as well it is a land of mesmerized beauty. The dooars area is well known because of the wild life sanctuaries and an elaborated tea plantation located nearby. Beside the floras, Dooars is also well known because of the virgin forests and the beautiful river Teesta with a number of tributaries. The beautiful yet dense forests of Dooars have various species of rare and wild animals.

How to reach Dooars:

There are several entry points to Dooars. The most convenient among them is the through Siliguri by the road. Regular bus services connects Siliguri and other tourist destinations of North Bengal. Apart from that, travelers can also avail the broadgauge rail connection to reach Dooars and its adjoining places.

What to see?

 Walking along the rolling slopes of the hills, widespread tea gardens separated by the silver colored meandering mountain streams, quiet and ethnic villages, high Sal trees, vast grasslands with some blue outline of the Himalayan ranges and the endless sky are the most attractive scenes of Dooars.

The dooars valley is famous because of the wild life sanctuaries like the Buxa tiger reserve and Jaldapara wild life sanctuary. The wild life sanctuaries are full of the array of the wild life, ranging from red panda, royal Bengal tiger, great Indian bison, various types of birds, and lastly several kinds of deer. Being known as the “doors to Bhutan”, the countryside is mainly flourishing because of the unparallel natural beauty. Apart from the wild life, there are some ruins of Nalrajar garh, which the tourists can visit. Another places to visit in Dooars are the Jalpesh temple, Buxa Duar and Tota para.

 

Where to stay in Dooars?

There are some forest lodges in Dooars, Samsing, Garumara, Chapramati, Hollong, Jainti, Nilpara, Bardabri, Madarihat and Mal. Tourists can rest in there.

Kalimpong-Beyond Nature

Kalimpong is a hill station in the lesser Himalaya range of West Bengal. The town is situated at a ridge overseeing the Teesta river. The thick virgin forests, beckoning Himalayas, meadows, the vast valleys and the chilling weather have made Kalimpong one of the best tourist destinations of West Bengal.

How to reach Kalimpong:

Kalimpong is situated at the NH31A, which connects Sevok and Gangtok. The region is also an offshoot of NH31. Both of the national highways connects this region with the plains. Regular car rental service and bus service connects Kalimpong with Siliguri and its outskirt areas. But the communication gets disrupted because of land slides during the monsoon times. Two wheelers, hired taxi services are available for traveling at the shorter distances. The nearest airport of Kalimpong is Bagdogra airport which is located 80 km away from this region. The airport connects Kalimpong with Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati, (Paro)Bhutan and Bangkok.The closest railway station of Kalimpong is the New Jalpaiguri. Tourists can reach till New Jalpaiguri by train and can take a hired car service from there.

Places to visit:

Kalimpong has become a popular tourist destination because of its proximity to the famous tourist destinations and because of the temperate climate of this area. Kalimpong is a home to the Buddhism religion. There are several rare scriptures of the Tibetan Buddhist as well Buddhist monastery available at Kalimpong. Tourists can visit the Durpin Dara, which is a observatory point located at 3 km away from the Kalimpong town. One can see the amazing view of the Himalayan ranges as well as the breathtaking view of the mighty Teesta from this place. Another popular tourist destination is the Neora Valley National Park which is the home to the tigers. Kalimpong is the ideal place where you can enjoy the quiet and beautiful nature at its best.

Horticulture is a popular activity of this region. The flower market of this region has an wide collection of orchids, flower bulbs, rhizomes and tubers. Besides, ficus, cinnamon, bamboo, cardamom and cacti are seen in the hillsides of this region. Animals that can be seen in this region are clouded leopard, red panda, Asiatic black beer, Siberian Weasel, goral, Tahr, pangolin and gaur. Rishi Bankim Chandra Park-the ecological museum is another place where the tourist can go.

Cuisines:

Kalimpong is the home of some different cuisines. Momo is the popular snack of here. It is made of beef, vegetables and pork cooked in a flour wrap and the food is served hot with watery soups. Other popular foods available in kalimpong are: Thukpa, a type of noodle served in a form of soup and Churpee, a kind of hard cheese made of chauri's or Yak's milk. The favorite beverage of Kalimpong is tea.

Bethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary

Want to spend your leisure time in the forests amidst the sounds of the wild animals? Or want some adventure in life? Then you can try to visit the great wildlife sanctuary, located in Bethuadahari. Located 148 km away from Kolkata, Behuadahari is a reserve forest. The core area of the forest is spread over around 167 acres. To be in the forest for few hours, will feel like you are in the mother nature's lap.

How to reach Bethuadahari?

Bethuadahari is easily accessible by road and rail service. Regular bus services are available from Berhampur and krishnanagar. Another way you can choose is the local train service. Regular train services are available from Sealdah. You need to avail the train service from Sealdah to Krishnanagar. From there you can take a rickshaw to reach the sanctuary.

Flora and Fauna:

The entire sanctuary is covered with several big trees including the Shal, Teak, Arjun, Sishu, Bamboo and Hamjam. The inhibited wild animals in this wildlife sanctuary include: deer, tortoise, crocodiles, monkeys, rabbits, mongoose and a wide variety of snakes. At present there are 183 deers in the forest. Apart from the animals there are a wide variety of birds and insects.

Things to do in Bethuadahari sanctuary?

People usually visit this forest to get rid of the tiredness comes from the hassle and bustle of the daily life. You can roam around the sanctuary, visit the wild animals and can feel the calmness in your mind. Viewing the sunrise in the jungle is a marvelous experience with birds chirping all around.

After visiting this sanctuary, you can take rest in the lodges or in the rest houses outside thisforest for the night. The next morning you can visit the nearer places like Yugpur forest, Mayapur, or Plassey.

Best time to visit Bethuadahari:

Bethuadhahari remains open for its visitors all around the year. You can visit this forest anytime you feel like.

Bakkhali-Touching The Sea Shore

Bakkhali is a seaside resort, and one of the deltic islands of South Bengal. It is situated in the South 24 parganas. The 7km long sea beach of Bakkhali stretches across to Frasergunj from Bakkhali with relaxing and rolling waves and casuarina trees in the beach line. The sea beach is not crowded except the occasional holidays. In the general days, some parts of the beach remain open. The hard beach of Bakkhali is perfect for driving and cycling. One can even take a long walk here in the evening. 

A trip to Bakkhali:How to reach?

The place is achieving huge popularity in a rapid pace because of the tourist-friendly environment. Now a days, traveling to Bakkhali from Kolkata has become quite easier and less time consuming. Tourists can board a train from Sealdah to Namkhana railway station. It would take 2.30 to 3 hours to reach. Regular bus services and private cars are available from Namkhana. You can either choose the bus service or the car. The second one is more preferable as it takes less time to reach to Bakkhali. 

The drive to Bakkhali from Diamond Harbour is quite enjoyable as the road passes through small markets, sleepy villages and sometimes a creek with bridges over it. The ferry crossing is a memorable experience to the city dwellers as the ferries carry humans, cars and buses at one time.

Lothian and Jambudwip are two nearby forested islands of Bakkhali. The only way to reach at this islands iare the motorised country boats. But there are no jetties. Travelers have to jump out of the country boats and wade through the sea to reach there.

The experience sounds quite thrilling! Rickshaw is the only mode of local transport here.
Local people rely on the trekker and bus services to reach at the farther destinations.
There are plenty of hotels in Bakkhali to stay. They offer a good service within a reasonable price. You can also stay at the Henry Island or at the WBSTDC Guest House.

A trip to Bakkhali: Activities

Bakkhali is not only a mere tourist destination, it is also famous for various reasons. There are several windmills in Frasergunj,which generates power for the small localities. The hotels use the power of solar heaters to heat water. The only activity of the people of this destination is fishing. In Frasergunj, there is a fishing harbour., established by the a wing of the state government

A trip to Bakkhali: Why Bakkhali?

If you like to spend a day of leisure, far away from the hassles of the city, Bakkhali can be the perfect spot. Here, you can still hear the crow of the cock in the morning and can view ducks paddling through the muddy pools. 

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Jhilimili is a quiet and pleasant place for traveler

Jhilimili is a beautiful tourist center in Khatra subdivision of Bankura district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is also a meeting point of the three districts of Bankura, Purulia and Midnapur. In Bengali, Jhilimili means sparkle or twinkle.

Jhilimili is situated 70 Km away from Bankura Town.Jhilimili is located on the banks of Kangsabati River, is about 15 kilometers from Mukutmanipur,80 kilometres from Bankura, 36 kilometres from Khatra and 20 kilometresfrom Ranibandh.

Jhilimili is a quiet and pleasant place for traveler, if you want to go Ranibandh to Jhilimili offers a magnificent revelation to impressive forest of changeable heights on both sides on the route. The Kangsabati flows through this forest and its banks are also a perfect picnic spot.

Jhilimili hav a won cultural significant, during mid of January, “Tusu parab” is celebrated there. Goddess Tusu is worshipped. Santhals organise village fairs during Makara Sankranti.

Government buses leave from the Shahid Minar of Calcutta, bus stand at 10 p.m., reaching Jhilimili in the early hours of morning. These buses go via Mukutmanipur and Ranibandh. There are also buses plying between Jhargram (in the district of Midnapur) and Jhilimili.

Tarakeshwar - the pilgrim place - Famous Shiva Temple

Tarakeshwar is one of the perfect pilgrimage centers and most acclaimed religious destinations in West Bengal of India .Tarakeshwar is located near Serampore in the district of Hooghly near Kolkata in Bengal. This small place is famous for the holy temple of Lord Shiva. Thousands of Devotees pour in every day to offer their prayer to the Lord from all through India and also from foreign countries. This temple dates back to the 18th century. Legend has it that a devotee by name Vishnu Das emigrated with his clan from Oude (Ayodhya) and was viewed with suspicion by the locals. It is believed that he proved his innocence by holding in his hand a red hot iron bar. Later, his brother discovered a site in the nearby jungle, where cattle discharged the contents of their udders at a particular spot each day. Upon investigation, they discovered a Shivalingam. A dream is said to have revealed to them that this Shivalingam was a manifestation of Tarakeshwar - Shiva. A temple was built at this spot, and was renovated in subsequent years.

The prime attraction is the Lord Shiva temple, known as Tarakeshwar temple.The temple has an 'atchala' building structure with a 'natmandir' (Place for prayers) in front. The temple premises host shrines of Kali and Lakshmi-Narayan.

Tarakeshwar is overwhelmed by the flow of pilgrims during the Sravan month (July – August). Maha Shivratri is an important festival in this town. It is celebrated with major fairs and shopping festivals. It is celebrated in a grandeur style in the month of February-March. Other festival celebrated here are the Bengali New Year or the Chaitra Sankranti

How to get there: Buses and trains are available from Kolkata, Kolkata's Dum-Dum airport is the nearest airport from Tarakeshwar and it is just 58 kms away from Tarakeshwar. You can hire a taxi from the Dum Dum airport to Tarakeshwar with a fare of about Rs 750.

Another way is the railway and the nearest station is Howrah junction which is 30 km away from Tarakeshwar. This is the cheapest way to reach Tarakeshwar as here you can hire a taxi or else you can get a bus straight to Tarakeshwar, now the choice is yours. Tarakeshwar also has a railway station which is connected with the Howrah station and you can get into a train to Tarakeshwar for reaching up faster.

Jhargram is the paradise of nature lover

Jhargram is the Sub-Divisional town, situated in the western part of Paschim Medinipur District of West Bengal and close to the Jharkhand State. It's surrounded by dense Saal, Piyal and Mohua trees and carpeted in red earth. Jhargram, is an ideal destination for travelers and paradise of nature lovers to spending a few days in fresh atmosphere with low budget. In winter season in Jhargram is very enjoyable. The Durga Temple in the forest and a Deer Park are significant tourist spots here. Jamboni situated 11km. from Jhargram it's well known for old castle known as Chilkigarh and many other visiting place are there which awaiting for travelers certificate .Jhargram directly linked with Digha and Howrah by bus and train.

Tamluk is a Historical - Religious - Academic and Cultural place

Tamluk is the headquarter of East Medinapur district in West Bengal. It is situated at100 kms from Kolkata connected by road and also communicated through Tamluk to Srirampur and Moyna, Tamluk to Mecheda, Kolaghat, and Kolkata, Tamluk to Panskura, Kharagpur and Ghatal, Tamluk to Haldia, Durgachowk, Tamluk to Digha, Contai, and Egra. The nearest railway station is Mecheda lying on Kolkata – Kharagpur route of the south eastern railway also connected by Howrah to Haldia, via Tamluk, Howrah to Digha, via Tamluk and Contai Haldia to Kharagpur via Tamluk.

Tamluk is the site of the ancient city known as Tamralipta or Tamralipti. The present town is located on the banks of the Rupnarayan river close to the Bay of Bengal. According to some scholars the city’s name derived from the Sanskrit word, Tamra Lipta, which means "Full of Copper". The name must have been originated during the Copper age, when Tamralipti was exported the ore and the metal to the peninsular India.
According to local folklore the name Tamralipta came from the King Tamradhwaja (which means The King with Copper Flag/symbol) of the Mayura-Dhwaja (Peacock) dynasty. During Fa-Hien's visit to Bengal, Fa-hien is said to have travelled eastward along the course of the Ganges river, and during his journey, he came across Buddhist stupas and monks at several places. In Tamluk/Tamralipti Fa-hien had spent two years, and visited twenty-two monasteries, inhabited by monks in Tamluk.

This ancient port city and kingdom was bounded by the Bay of Bengal in the south, river Rupnarayana in the east and Subarnarekha in the west. The Rupnarayana is the joint flow of the river Dwarkeshwar and the river Shilai. The Bay of Bengal and these great rivers and their numerous branches created a prosperous and easy water navigational system fostering commerce, culture and early contacts with the people outside the region. At the same time, these rivers helped to develop the agriculture in this region.
History tells us that the rivers have been central to urban settlement and development in the subcontinent from the ancient period. The Indus and the Ganges were cradles of ancient civilization. Tamluk was a civilization based on Bay of Bengal and river Rupnarayana. And the most important natural resource of this area was water from the rivers and sea.

It was known as Tramralipti or Tamralipta in Mahabharata or Tamalitti in foreigners` descriptions or Tamoluk in the British Raj. It was a seaport, now buried under river silt. For this reason, Tamluk has many ponds and lakes remaining today. According to Jain sources, Tamralipti was the capital of the kingdom of Venga and was long known as a port.
Tamluk is mainly an agricultural area. About 60% of the land is under cultivation. Tamluk is one of the largest producer and exporter of the Pan Leaf. Once Fishing was an important occupation of the local residents. Hilsa ( Ilish Mach ) of the River Rupnarayan is very famous for its taste.

Sanatan Shakti Peeth It is an important pilgrim place of the Hindus and one of the 51 sacred places of Shakti Peeth where left ankle of Sati/Parvati fell. The temple's presiding deity is known as Shri Barghobhima Devi.

Vaisnav/Vaishnav Thirtha In the vaishnava/vaisnava dharma Tamluk is also an important Vaishnav/vaisnava Tirtha. According to Kashidas Mahabharat and Jaimini's Mahabharat Supreme Lord Sri Krishna and Arjun came here to release the Devine Horse of Ashwamedh Yagna from King Tramradhwaja. The land of Tamluk is always devine and sacred because it was touched by the lotus feet of Sri Krishna.

In various Vaisnava religious writing Tamluk is mentioned as the next "Vrindavan" where on the next Kalp ( Next Creation of the universe) Sri Krishna will play his Rass Leela.

Places to see

Rupnarayan - The Rupnarayan river bank is famous for picnic.
Devi Barghobhima - There are near about 1150 year old Temple of Kali known here as Devi Barghobhima. This temple is a part of 51 Shakti Peethas. Puranas say that the small finger of left feet of devi Parvati fell here, when Lord Vishnu cut the sacred Body of Goddess Parvati into several pieces to make Lord Shiva quite.
Tamluk Rajbari - Tamluk Rajbari is on the outskirts of town. The literal translation for "rajbari" is king's house, once housing one of the many kings in West Bengal. The Mayura-dhwaja ( Peackok ) Dynasty had been named in Mahabharata, Bhagvat, Bramhabaibarto Puran etc as a very rich and wealthiest one of that region.
Archeological Museum - There are an Archeological Museum in Tamluk; it is a most visiting place of the town. Mr Kamal Kundu is the one of the prominent person who did his best to run this museum. The Tamralipta Museum at Tamluk contains artifacts of tamra or copper. Inscribed copper templates comprise the documents of this museum. The museum has preserved a tamralipta of Greek inscriptions. The Tamralipta Museum preserves the historical heritage of Bengal.
Rakhit bati - Rakhit bati is the another place to visit in Tamluk. In the beginning of 19th century it was famous as a secrete center of the then revolutionary party ‘Anusilan Samiti' & ‘Gupta samiti'. Famous historian late Shri Tailakyanath Rakhit rebuilt this building.
Matangani Sahid Smarak - Near  about 7Km from Tamluk station and on the way to Tamluk college,  Matangani Hazara Sahid Smarak at the side of pond called Banpukur at Abasbari Para near Tamluk Court is one of the most important place of tourist. During the ‘Ahimsa' movement of 1942, while a crowd trying to capture Tamluk administrative building, British police opened fire in which Smt Matangini Hazara became ‘Sahid'. Later on Mahatma Gandhi appreciated her bravery and titled her as ‘Birangana'. This monument is a homage to her by Ex- prime-minister, Smt Indira Ghandhi. 
Tamluk irrigation Bungalow - Tamluk irrigation Bungalow and its near by areas also famous for its semi-non urban atmospheres. The River Rupnarayana is just 1 km from the bungalow.
Green fields near the rail station - Another very popular picnic destination in Tamluk is green fields near the rail station.

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