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The town of Kalna, 82 km. from Calcutta, is one of the Shaktapiths. 
Popularised by the sage Bhaba Pagla, the Temple of Debi Bhabani holds a special puja on the last Saturday of the Bengali month of Baisakh. 
Close to it is Sri Gauranga Mandir. The temple complex houses Sri Chaitanya's manuscripts and personal belongings. A major landmark is the Siddheshwari Temple. It is dedicated to Debi Ambika, and it is after her that Kalna is also known as Ambika Kalna. 

A major attraction is the Nava Kailash or 108 Shiv Mandirs. Built in 1809, the temples are constructed in two circles. One consists of 74 temples while the other circle has 34. The former has white marble and black stone shivlingas, while the latter has only white marble ones. Due to its ingenious planning, all the shivlingas can be seen from the centre of the temple complex.

The Krishna Chandra Mandir, with its 25 steeples, is another popular landmark. Scenes from the epics are depicted on its terracotta walls. Doors remain closed from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

How To Get There 
All Howrah-Katoa trains go via Kalna. Buses to Kalna are available from Nabadwip, in neighbouring Nadia.

The old port town of Shaptagram, standing four kilometres north of Bandel, has come to be known as Banshberia. The major tourist attractions here are the Basudev and Hanseswari temples.

The Basudev temple, also known as Banshberia temple, was built in 1679 by Raja Rameshwar Dutta. The walls of the temple are covered with terracotta carvings depicting scenes from the Hindu epics. Inside the temple, an idol of Basudev or Vishnu is worshipped in the central chamber, and Shivalingas in the surrounding ones. 

The Hanseswari temple nearby is an architectural splendour. Started by Raja Nrisinghadev of Banshberia in 1801, the construction of the temple was completed by the younger queen, Shankari in 1814, and cost 5,00,000 rupees. Stones were brought from Chunar and the craftsmen from Jaipur to build the temple. This 21-m. high structure of brick, wood, stone and terracotta has 13 turrets and the peak is shaped like a thousand-petalled lotus. Built according to Tantric principles, the five-storey temple carries suggestions of the five main arteries of the human body - Ira, Pingala, Bajraksha, Sushumna and Chitrini. Inside, there is a blue neem-wood idol of the four-armed goddess Hanseswari, an incarnation of Goddess Kali. 

Kamarpukur, 104 km. away from Calcutta and 45 km. from Tarakeshwar, is famous as the birthplace of the great seer, Sri Ramkrishna. The great man was born here on 17th February, 1836. The Sri Ramkrishna Math was established here on the 11th May, 1951, on the site of Sri Ramkrishna's original home. The famous artist, Nandalal Basu, designed this 13.5-m. high math. Inside is a beautiful marble statue of the sage seated on a lotus. 

Other attractions are his residence, a mango tree planted by him, and the adjacent Raghubir Temple where Sri Ramkrishna worshipped. 

The small village of Tarakeshwar is a famous Hindu Shaiva pilgrimage. A Shiva Temple was built here by Raja Bharamalla in 1729 by clearing the surrounding forest area, but was ruined in course of time. The present temple is located at a five-minute walk from the railway station. Built in the aatchala style, this temple was commissioned by Gobardhan Rakshit of Shiakhala. Besides Lord Shiva, an idol of Basudev - or of Brahma according to some - is also worshipped here. Pilgrims come in huge numbers from faraway places to pay obeisance to Lord Shiva.

Adjacent to the temple is the Doodhpukur, where pilgrims take their holy dip, especially on the occasions of Shivratri and Chaitra Sankranti. 

The Jalpesh Shiva Temple is famous in North Bengal as a pilgrimage for Shiva worshippers. Legend has it that Raja Jalpesh of Pragjyotishpur, on a hunting expedition, discovered a Shivlinga in the first century AD. He enshrined it in a temple, which was destroyed by the ravages of time. Centuries later, in 1665, the present temple was commissioned by Raja Pran Narayan of Coch Behar. The structure bears traces of Muslim architecture. 

Adorned by mountains, forests and a river, Jayanti is a quiet little village 11 km. away from Alipurduar. Tall forests of sal, segun, simul, palash and sirish trees hide the mountains and sky, while the sparkling Jayanti River flows beneath. The forest bungalow stands on the west bank of the river, and on the east is the Buxa Tiger Reserve. Though normally accessible, the pathways may become difficult to negotiate during the monsoon. 

Jayanti is one of the 51 Shaktapiths according to Hindu mythology. A two-hour trek takes one to the top of a hill where there is a Sati Temple. There is also a Mahakaal Temple in three adjacent caves. In the first cave there are idols of the Brahma-Vishnu-Maheshwar trinity, in the second there is one of Lord Shiva, and in the third, that of goddess Mahakali. The occasion of Shivaratri is celebrated each year with great fervour. 

It is said that the sage Loknath was born in Chakladham. The Loknath Mandir is the chief attraction here. Thousands of pilgrims visit the place on Loknath's birthday in August. 

Chakladham is just 13 km. from Guma junction. Private cars and buses are available from Guma. Guma is connected to the rail route that runs from Sealdah Station in Calcutta to Bongaon on the Indo-Bangladesh border. The route-95 bus connects Barasat and Guma.

Alongwith the inhabitants of Chakladham, the people of Kochua claim their village to be the birthplace of Loknath. Kochua is just 15 km. from Chakladham. The first temple, the Brojo Mandir, came up here in 1943 to honour the sage. In 1989, the Temple was built anew to celebrate Loknath's 259th birth anniversary. 

Kochua is easily accessible from Berachampa junction, which is only three kilometres away. Basirhat-bound buses also connect with Kochua. 

Hindus revere Sagardwip, for it is here that the Holy Ganga meets the sea. Located at a distance of 128 km. from Calcutta and 78 km. from Diamond Harbour, Sagardwip is a cluster of 51 islands, covering 581 sq. km.

Devastated by the floods of 1688, Sagar Island remained uninhabited for a long time. It was in 1822 that it attracted the attention of the British Government, which undertook to develop it. Today Sagar Island is well populated and well cultivated, despite the constant fear of cyclones. Visitors remain undaunted in their enthusiasm, and the hope of salvation keeps pilgrims returning year after year. As the legend goes, some 5,000 years ago, Kapil Muni, a sage and holy man, had an ashram at the spot where the Ganga meets the sea. One day he was disturbed by King Sagar while meditating. Furious, he cursed the King, as a result of which the 60,000 sons of the King died. A distraught King Sagar appealed to Ganga, who descended from heaven with her six distributaries and infused new life into the dead princes before flowing on to the sea. The day in mid-January is celebrated as Makar Sankranti, and devotees believe that a dip in this holy river at dawn will wash away all sins.

Today millions of pilgrims from all over India arrive at the island on Makar Sankranti, crowding the water to bathe. The day also marks the beginning of the Gangasagar Mela, the largest fair in West Bengal. Preparations for the fair begin a month in advance. Makeshift shacks are built for the pilgrims. Shops are set up along with temporary hospitals, kitchens and drinking water facilities. The entire area is transformed into a flurry of activity. 

Kapil Muni's ashram no longer exists. However, in 1947 a new temple of Ganga Devi was built to mark its existence and draws innumerable pilgrims every year. Ruins of old temples can also be seen, bearing testimony to the fact that kings and sages did once upon a time exist on Sagar Island. 

Apart from things religious, Sagardwip is an attractive tourist spot by virtue of its natural charms. It is here that the Ganga enters the Bay of Bengal to provide an arresting sight. The sunset and sunrise over the river are not to be missed. Boat cruises into the Bay of Bengal are available. 

How To Get There 
Every half hour, buses leave from the Shahid Minar bus terminus at Calcutta for a three-hour journey to Namkhana (105 km.). From here a launch takes one across the River Muriganga to Chemaguri. The visitor has to walk the one and half km. stretch to Chhoyer Gheri, from where buses are available for the Sagar Islands.

A small village on the way to Gour, Ramkeli is famous for being the temporary home of Sri Chaitanya, the great religious reformer of Bengal, where he had stayed for a few days on his way to Brindaban. A conglomeration of two tamal and two kadamba trees can still be seen, under which the saint is said to have meditated. A small temple constructed under this tree contains Sri Chaitanya's footprints on stone. There are eight kundas or tanks flanking the temple. These are named as Rupsagar, Shyamkunda, Radhakunda, Lalitakunda, Bishakhakunda, Surabhikunda, Ranjakunda and Indulekhakunda. Every year, on the Jaishthya Sankranti, celebrations are held here to commemorate the arrival of Sri Chaitanya. A week-long fair also starts on this day. 

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