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  Home > State > West Bengal > Religious Places
      
Religious Places

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Cities of West Bengal 
• Calcutta • Darjeeling• Kalimpong• Malda
• Mirik • Murshidabad • Siliguri • Vishnupur
• Joyrambati • Dahapara • Ziaganj
• Bakreshwar  • Tarapith • Siuri
• Dariapur • Egra • Belur Math
• Kalna • Banshberia • Kamarpukur
• Tarakeshwar • Jalpesh • Jayanti
• Chakladham • Kochua • Sagardwip
• Ramkeli 
Joyrambati

Originally a nondescript town, Joyrambati is now famous as a pilgrim-spot for followers of Sri Ramkrishna, the 19th century sage. Srima Saradamoni, his wife and spiritual partner, was born here on 22nd December, 1853. Joyrambati is six kilometres from Kamarpukur and 43 km. from Bishnupur.

The Matri Mandir was opened on 19th April, 1923, to commemorate Srima Saradamoni. The day was Akshay Tritiya. Every year, this day sees the celebration of the Temple. The Temple houses a statue of Srima Saradamoni in marble.

Two other interesting landmarks for the pilgrim are the Purano Bari and the Notun Bari. The former house was used by Srima Saradamoni from 1863 - 1915, and the latter from 1916 - 1920. There is also the Vivekananda Math, established in 1985.

How To Get There 
Popular conducted tours link Tarakeswar, Joyrambati and Kamarpukur. These can be booked through WBTDC.
Buses leave from the Shahid Minar stand in Calcutta, and reach Joyrambati via Arambagh and Kamarpukur.
Visitors can also get buses from Shushunia, Bishnupur, Bankura, Durgapur, Bardhaman and surrounding important towns. 

Dahapara

Just five kilometres from Dahapara rail station is the Kiriteswari Mandir, the oldest temple in the Murshidabad district. The original Kiritkana Mandir was destroyed in 1405. The present temple was made in the 19th century by Darpanarayan. 

The unique feature of the temple is the absence of any image or deity. The headdress of the Hindu Goddess, Kiriteswari, has been worshipped through the ages. At present, the headdress is preserved at Rani Bhabani's Guptamath, situated opposite to the temple. 

Ziaganj

There are three major Jain Temples in the town of Ziaganj. The Adinath Maharaj Jain Mandir is enormous and the most impressive of the three. Ziaganj has two of the larger Jain temples, namely the Bimalnathji Jain Mandir and the Sambhunathji Mandir, near the market. The former is the more striking of the two. It has an involved, multilayered, brick-masoned steeple.

Bakreshwar 

59 km. from Shantiniketan, a Mahishamardini Mandir marks the spot where Sati's forehead and eyebrows fell Bakreshwar is a small temple-town on the edge of the Chhotanagpur plateau, with nine hot springs, naturally rich in therapeutic minerals. Bakreshwar's natural springs are also sources of helium gas. Eight of these springs cluster within one area, A ninth is separate. The most popular springs are Agni (67ēC), Bhairab (65ēC), Khir (66ēC), Nrishinha (67ēC) and Surya (66ēC). Water samples are commercially available at Bakreshwar. 

Pilgrims believe that Bakreshwar is a Siddhapith, a sacred Hindu Shakta-site for Shiva worship. According to Vedic legend, Lord Shiva was pleased with the penance of an ancient sage, Ashtabakra, and blessed Bakreshwar as a Siddhapith. The Shiva Mandir of Bakreshwar is adjacent to Bakreshwar's Papahara natural spring. It is also beside the Bakreshwar River. This temple has existed since the 17th century. 250 smaller Shiva temples surround the Bakreshwar Shiva Mandir.

Tarapith

70 km. from Shantiniketan, near Rampurhat, a Tara Mandir marks the spot where Sati's eyes fell.

Siuri

Siuri, the district headquarters, is known for its 200-year old Damodar Temple. The 10.7-m. tall temple displays a terracotta wall-plate rendition of the Hindu icon of Radha and Krishna. 

The Bauri Para section of Siuri has an ancient, fortune-telling neem tree shrouded in folklore. The fortune-telling tree is reputed to unravel the past, stabilise the present and foretell the future. 

A mineral-rich town, Siuri is also a key transit point for road connections with Birbhum's China Clay reserves and ancient history-rich towns. 

Dariapur

Dariapur is best known for the Kapal Kundala Mandir. Located near the old Lighthouse, the Temple however, is decrepit and has no idol. Controversy surrounds the precise location of the original Kali idol. Recent claims indicate that the Devi continues to be worshipped in the neighbouring township of Kanthi. 

Dariapur's most famous son is Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay (1838-1894), the father of Bengali literary renaissance. His acclaimed novel, 'Kapal Kundala', is based on the Temple. His home in Dariapur still exists, though in dilapidated condition. The annual Bankim Mela is held there in the first week of April. 

The Kapal Kundala Mandir of Dariapur is linked by bus to Junput and Kanthi. Dariapur is a three-kilometre trek from Petua. Many travellers also trek from Kanthi to the land's end at Dariapur. 

Egra

About 50 km. before Digha, on the Calcutta-Digha road, is the old town of Egra. Egra has two ancient Hindu temples. The Radha-Benode and Sarbhuj Mandirs are landmarks of ancient Indian history and art. Egra also has a 16th century Shiva Mandir. Though this temple is decrepit, the artistic fusion of Oriya and Bengali aesthetics on the temple walls is still discernible.

Belur Math

The headquarters of the Ramkrishna Order, the Belur Math, was set up on 14th January, 1938, as homage to the memory of Sri Ramkrishna, the 19th century monk and seer. The spot where the Math stands was marked by his most eminent disciple, Swami Vivekananda, who placed the ashes of Sri Ramkrishna at this spot. Swami Vivekananda is largely credited with the concept of the Math. 

The architecture of Belur Math combines the features of a church, a temple and a mosque, to embody the spirit of religious fraternity. The main gateway leads to the Ramkrishna Sarada Mandir.

Another attraction for visitors is the Sri Ramkrishna Museum, which has been set up with the assistance of the National Council of Science Museum. Items owned by Sri Ramkrishna, Ma Sarada and Swami Vivekananda have been kept as souvenirs, and made to recreate the bygone ambience of blessed serenity

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