Your destination for extraordinary travel  

   
 
Search
Keyword to search for
on Theindiatravel.com
      
In this section
General Information
People of West Bengal
History
Religious Places
Historical Places
Museums & Art Galleries
Rivers & Lakes
Beaches
Hill Stations
Forests
Wildlife
Festivals 
Temples
Travellers Interest
Hotels of West Bengal
City Phone Codes
Travel & Tour Operators
Educational Institute
      
Free Listing
Add yourself  in our database :
Tour Operator
Travel Agents
Hotel Directory
Golden Plan
       
  Home > State > West Bengal > Historical Places
      
Historical Places

<Next Page> <Previous Page>

Cities of West Bengal 
Calcutta DarjeelingKalimpong Malda
Mirik • Murshidabad • Siliguri • Vishnupur
• Bishnupur Cassimbazaar Karnasubarna
Mahimapur Murshidabad Saidabad
Hetampur Hijli Jamboni
Maynagarh Shilda Tamluk
Bagnan Bardhaman Kalna
Bandel Chandannagar Chunchura
Srirampur Malda Pandua
Gour 
Saidabad

Located between Berhampur and Murshidabad, Saidabad is another town of historical interest. Armenian merchants traded in Murshidabad since 1665, and the Armenian Church was built in the town in 1758. A number of Armenian graves can be found within the church compound. Many ancient Hindu temples of Lord Shiva also abound around this Church. 

The Kunjaghata Palace, very close to Saidabad's Gorabazaar, belonged to Maharaja Nanda Kumar's son-in-law. The Maharaja and his family stayed at the Kunjaghata Palace in 1755 and his personal belongings, including his letters, shawl and sword are among a wide range of personal effects preserved here. An outstanding article in this collection is an oil painting of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, created and presented to Nanda Kumar during the former's lifetime. 

The Kunjaghata Palace is somewhat dilapidated. Nevertheless, the Palace's unique Durgadalan is still intact. The palace has Hindu icons of Shiva, Lakshmi-Narayan and Vrindavanchandra in its temples.

Hetampur

These Birbhum towns are rich with landmarks from ancient Bengal. Birbhum's oldest college, Krishnachandra College is at Hetampur. The college was formerly the Ranjan Palace of Raja Ramranjan Chakrabarty of Murshidabad.

Hetampur, Birsinghpur and Rajnagar have relics of the Hindu Rajas of Birbhum. The ruins of Raja Birsingh's palace are at Birsingpur.These towns of Birbhum are best visited from Siuri and Dubrajpur. 

Hijli

Hijli is an ancient seaport of Midnapur, enriched by Muslim and British history. Job Charnock, the founder of the British settlement in Calcutta, defeated the local forces here in 1687, planting the first seed of British colonial control in India. 

Located at the confluence of Rasulpur and Hooghly rivers, Hijli overlooks an extremely wide stretch of water. It can be reached by ferry from Dariapur, which lies on the north across the Hooghly. The Sagar Islands are also opposite Hijli. 

Among other attractions, Hijli has the Masnad-I-Ala-Masjid, which was built around 1648-49. A visit to Hijli is also provides an opportunity to see the 400-year old Joramandir of Jagganath or Twin Temples of the Lord of the Universe. 

Jamboni

Jamboni, in west Midnapur, is 13 km. from Jhargram. Its primary attraction is the Jungle Mahal Fort, hidden in the deep recess of tropical rain forests. 

The ancient Kanak Durga Mandir, reconstructed in 1348, is also worth a visit. The guardian deity of this Temple, Devi Kanak Durga, is a three-eyed, four-armed personification of the Godess. At one time human sacrifices were offered at this Temple. Today, goats and buffaloes continue to be sacrificed on navami, or the ninth day of the lunar month. 

Maynagarh

The moat-enclosed capital of the Buddhist King, Mahavir Lausen, Maynagarh is linked with the history of ancient Bengal. The moat was a natural one, made up of three tributaries of the River Ganga - Kansabati in the north-east, Keliaghai in the south and Chandiya in the west. Only few traces of its ancient grandeur however remain. 

Today Maynagarh is the site of elaborate local celebrations of the Hindu Vaishnav Raas Lila Festival, which is a celebration of divine caprice of Lord Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu. The Raas Lila is a week long festival. A nocturnal pageant marks the start of celebrations. A glittering pageant boat of bright lights brings Shyamasundar, or Krishna, to the arena of his Raas or joi de vivre. The celebrations represent romanticised religious faith, lore and rituals. 

There are no overnight rest facilities at Maynagarh. The closest accommodation is at Tamluk, 16 km. away. 

Shilda

Nine kilometres from Gidhni, Shilda is in the Jhargram-Belpahari forest circuit of west Midnapur. The town was the nexus of a tribal rebellion by the Chuars. Shilda is also a town with ancient princely fortresses, temple ruins and the Shilda Lake.

The Bhairav Mela of Shilda is a unique ethnic event. The mela, or fair, is held every dasami, or tenth day of the Hindu calendar. The rhythms of tribal drums are the salient features of the Bhairav Fair. Two kinds of drums are used. The Dhamasa and the Madal drums are played from eventide. As the drumbeats unfold in the descending darkness, people from the adjoining areas begin to arrive at Shilda. Late in the night, folk goddess Ranakim is brought from Bihar's border town, Ghatshila to join the Bhairavs at Shilda. The Bhairavs are Hindu Shakta sanyasis devoted to Lord Shiva.

Tamluk

Tamluk was one of the capitals of the ancient kingdom of Bengal. Today there are two significant landmarks in the town.

The Bargabhima Mandir of Tamluk has a very old icon of the Hindu Goddess Tara. This temple is the site of an annual Baruni Mela. The fair is held at Paush Sankranti, which celebrates the end of the Bengali month of Paush, in the middle of January.

The Tamralipta Museum at Tamluk contains artefacts 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. 

A northbound bus from Digha to Mecheda stops at Tamluk. The town has modest overnight accommodation. 

Bagnan

The Temple of Madangopaljiu in the Mellak village is of considerable archaeological interest. Built in 1651 AD, the temple contains early specimens of terracotta art. 

<Next Page> <Previous Page>

© 2008. theindiatravel.com. All Rights Reserved