Tarapith Temple, Tarapith

Rampurhut

Tarapith is a small temple located on the banks of the Dwarka River that flows in Birbhum, at a distance of 264 km from Kolkata. The temple is ancient and is considered to be extremely auspicious by the Hindu community. The regal temple, one of the 51 Shakti Peeths in India, is one of the most important places where tantric rituals are followed even today. It remains busy all through the year and is often visited by the poor who come here to have a free meal.

As per legends, one eyeball of Sati fell here at Tarapith, when Lord Shiva roamed the universe mourning her loss. In view of this believed event, the name of the village was changed from Chandipur to Tarapith since the Bengali word for eyeball is Tara. The temple is thus dedicated to Ma Tara. The Tarapith temple represents the destructive aspect of Lord Shiva in the form of Kali. As per the Hindu traditions, Ma Tara is believed to be the second out of the ten goddesses of great wisdom and is also known as Kalika, Bhadra-Kali, and Mahakali. She is the tantric demonstration of Goddess Durga. The temple is an architectural wonder full of mysteries and exciting facts which make it a must-visit.

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Naleteswari Shakti Pith Temple

Nalhati town Birbhum West Bengal

The Nalateswari Shakti Pith Temple is located to Nalhati town Near Birbhum West Bengal.The temple was renovate in 1890 Maharaja Ranajit Singha.The temple is Dedicated to Goddess Sati (Sakti),Nalateswari.Believed to be one of the 51 places where parts of Sati’s body fell. This temple is very sacred and visited by people coming from all over the country. Since the throat or ‘nala’ of Sati is believed to have fallen here, it came to be known as the Maa Nalateswari Temple. 

The main temple of the town is that of Maa Nalateshwari’s temple. She is believed to be present in a big mounted rock, dipped with vermillion, She is adorned with a gold crown and three golden eyes. She has a beautiful silver arch on her crown with the images of Maa Durga, Maa kali and lord Shiva. Special rituals are held here during the kali Puja and on Amavasya (new moon) with yagna and also on every Tuesday of the ‘Jaishtya’ (mid may- mid June) month of the Bengali calendar. On every Saturday, ‘aarati’ is done with 108 ‘pradeeps’ (lamp) of pure ghee.

Temple Timing: 5:30 Am  to  8:30 Pm

Kankalitala: Explore The Place On Cycle

7 km from Santiniketan.

This highly sacred temple is situated at a distance of nearly 7 kilometers from the town of Shantiniketan and is one of the most popular places to visit in Bolpur. You can drive up here or if you prefer you can get here by cycling. Cycling is very popular in this part of India. A large population of people prefers to cycle to work or study here. The journey up to this place is soothing both to the eyes and the soul. There are villages that you will have to cross and there are fields that you will see. You will get to witness the beauty of semi-rural India on your way here. There is a small temple here when you reach the place. This place is said to have high scared value in the hearts of the people who live here or visit here. You can plan a trip to Kankalital on a pleasant day with your family if you want to. You’re sure to have a good time. It is one of the fifty-one Shakti Peeths in India. According to mythological facts, the skeleton of Sati Devi is said to have fallen here.

Entry fee: Free
Timings: Morning to Evening

Malooti Mouliksha Mandir

Mallarpur Malooti Rampurhat, Road, Malooti,

Mauliskha — the word Mauliksha has come from union of two words. Mauli and iksha. Mauli means mastak (head) and iksha denotes darshan   (to see). Actually the goddess has only a well curved stone head fixed on the wall. Rest of the body is absent. The lustrous icon has smiling face. It is made out of laterite stone, nicely chiselled has been given the shape of an idol. She has been placed on a platform inside the garva-griha or sanctum sanatorium. Goddess Mauliksha is worshipped as Singha Vahini Durga. However, the deity has no resemblance with idol of Durga as described in different texts. The name Mauliksha also could not be found among Hindu or Buddhists god or goddesses. So it is still a mystery how the name came.

Incidentally, the icon of Mauliksha is facing westward. Her colour is red. A lotus-designed halo is present behind the icons. So talking all these factors into account, the probability is there, that the icon had been established long back by the Buddhist monks inside the forestry long before the village Maluti was built as the capital of the tax-exempted kingdom. The original ancient temple was in ruins when the royal family members discovered the idol. The original temple was perhaps destroyed by an earthquake. As the temple collapsed on the idol, the nose of the idol was damaged. So the idol was covered with layer of gala. The current temple was constructed on the original foundation.

Goddess Mauliksha is said to be the elder sister of goddess Tara of Tarapith. This is so, because the renowned yogi (ascetic) Bamakhepa attained his Siddhi (enlightenment) from Mauliksha first and then from Tara. A number of miraculous stories are heard about Mauliksha. Many people have seen during night a flame springing out from the Hom-Kunda (pit for receiving the fire for oblation) all, on a sudden. Desceendants of Kamala Kanta, a great ascetic saint was thrown out in midnight while he was in deep meditation before the deity. Another story relates that sometimes in night, the sound of sweepoing with broom-stick at different places at a time is heard from inside the boundary of the lonely temple.

Suratheshwar Shiva Temple.

Suratheshwar Shiva Temple is located at Supur region near Bolpur in Birbhum District of West Bengal. Suratheshwar Shiva Temple is located on the mound in the west of Bolpur on Illambazar, which is now under the part of Forest department and a major weekend destination from Kolkata and Ranchi.

Suratheshwar Shiva Temple is an old medieval temple in Birbhum District of West Bengal. This temple has intricate artwork of terracotta, shows the excellence of Bengali culture in medieval era. Suratheshwar Shiva Temple is now in ruins and the condition here is in dilapidated condition. The archaeological renaming of Suratheshwar Shiva Temple is present in the museum of Bolpur.

Deity of Suratheshwar Shiva Temple:The main deity of Suratheshwar Shiva Temple is Lord Shiva or Mahadeva.There is an old Shiva linga present here from the early medieval era.
History of Suratheshwar Shiva Temple:According to the medieval history of Bengal, it is believed that the legendary king of Rurh Bengal Suruth worshiped regularly at this temple.
Fair in Suratheshwar Shiva Temple:Every year, a large mela held near the premises of Suratheshwar Shiva Temple on the occasion of Uttarayan Sankranti which is held in the month of January and February is a major draw to the local and outbound tourists.People from Kolkata,Jharkhand and Bihar visit this dying terracotta temple and the local large fair.

Visiting Information:Suratheshwar Shiva Temple is accessible through railways and roadways. Bolpur in Birbhum District of West Bengal is 160 km from Howrah by road and 39 km by train from Khana junction of the Eastern Railways. The nearest railhead is Bolpur Shantiniketan Railway Station. It is accessible from Supur easily. Supur is an old village, situated at the south-west side of Bolpur. In early era and the medieval era, Bolpur was under Supur pargana. On that time, Supur was the centre of business of Muslim India. Here weaving industries were also developed. Previously in late medieval era, Supur was the part of French East India Company, but later with the advent of British East India Company there began a collision with them. After that, Supur and Surul became the part of British colonization of Bengal.

Nandikeshwari Temple, Sainthia

165, Mayurakshi Sarani, Beside Sainthia Railstation, Sainthia, West Bengal

Nandikeshwari temple is located in earlier Nandipur village, which is now a part of Sainthia town, Birbhum district, West Bengal (220 Km from Kolkata). The Sainthia town is located on the bank of river Mayurakshi. According to Hindu scripture Neck lace of Sati fell here. Goddess Shakti is worshipped here as Nandini and Lord Bhairav as Nandikeshwar. The name Sainthia is derived from ‘Sain’, a Bengali term used to refer to an Islamic priest. Sainthia is also known as ‘Nandipur’, after Nandikeshwari Temple. Nandikeshwari temple was built in 1320 (According to the Bengali calendar). It rests on an elevated platform, and contains many additional smaller shrines to many gods and goddesses of the Hindu pantheon. Statuettes of the Dasa Mahavidya are carved on the walls overlooking the main temple. The name of Goddess is derived from ‘Nandi’, the mascot and follower of Lord Shiva, and ‘Ishwari’ (Goddess), meaning ‘one who is worshiped by Nandi, the divine bull.

Bakreswar Temple, Shakti Peeth

Bakreshwar, West Bengal

The Bakreswar Shakti Pith Temple is located on the banks of the Paaphra River in the district of Birbhum West Bengal.The temple is renowned for its Oriya-style of architecture.The Bakreshwar Temple of West Bengal lies on the banks of the Paaphra River in the district of Birbhum, around 24 km from the town of Siuri and 240 km from Kolkata. The temple is renowned for its Oriya-style of architecture. Inside the temple complex are the Mahishmardini and the Vakranath temple.

Bakreswar or Bakreshwar is a popular pilgrimage destination. Located in Birbhum, Bakreswar is known as one of the 51 Sakthi Peethas of India. Bakreswar is famous for its Bakreswar temple which is dedicated to lord Bakranath (Shiva) and goddess Kali. The temple is believed to be erected at the spot where the forehead and brows of Goddess Sathi fell. The main temple of Bakreswar is surrounded by many small shrines which are dedicated to lord Shiva. There is a Temple Tank and Sacred Tree. Bakreswar is also known for its eight hot springs which has varying temperatures. The hottest of these springs is called Agnikund and it has a temperature of about 93.33° C. It is believed that the water of these springs have healing properties. They all discharge in to a rivulet, which joins Pamphra river. A big mela is held every year on the day of Shiva-Ratri.

Fullora Devi Temple, Labhpur , Birbhum

Labhpur, Birbhum

The main attraction of the place is the beautiful temple of Fullara Maata. Fullora Devi Temple is one of the Shakti Peethas – places where the body parts of Goddess Sati fell to Earth. There is no proper idol of the goddess is consecrated. A stone of around 15 feet symbolizes the lower lip of Sati. The temple is surrounded by dense foliage, giving the place a mysterious look. The overall ambiance of the place is very divine and tranquil

Attahas Shakti Peetha is the most famous Shakti Peetha where it is said that the “Lower Lip” of Maa Sati fell and the idols are Devi Maa as Phullara or Fullara (Blooming) and Lord Shiva as Vishwesh (Lord of the universe) Bhairav. It is located in Labhpur, W.B, India. Image of Devi and the Shiva temple is next to the Devi temple. It is a major pilgrimage and tourist attraction. From Birbhum to Ahmedpur to Labhpur (6.5 miles). Attahas is just East of Labhpur, around 115 miles from Kolkata. The temple of Bhairav is beside the temple of Maa Fullora or Phullara. A deity made of stone. It is so large that the lower leap of the Goddess is about 15 to 18 feet wide. According to mythology, when Mahadeva (Lord Shiva) danced around with Sati’s dead body cutting it to pieces, the lip fell at Fullara or Phullara. There is a big pond beside the temple. According to hearsay, Hanuman collected 108 blue lotuses from the pond when Sri Ramachandra required them for the worship of Goddess Durga.

Behira Kali Mandir

Kopai, Santiniketan

Bahira Kalimaata or Nimbabasini Kaliomaata is Maata Annapurna Devi of Kashidham, Varanasi. It is said that Sage Ashtavakra bought Maa Annapurna from Kashidham to Bahira a village at Bakreswar river-bank inside a forest. Later Bhardwaj Muni confined Goddesses here.The Mandir is built inside a forest at Bakreswar river bank near Purandarpur (near Suri Town) , Birbhum. Place is serene, calm holiness and a spiritual environment prevails here. This place is ideal for worship of Goddesse of Kalimata. Here you can see Samadhi's of Great Sadhus/ Tantrik and deceased beloved ones at Mandir premises. A legendary Batabriksha not known of how many years old remaining here also covered by a Venarasi Sari. There is a picnic spot also near Mandir premises

Entry fee: Free
Timings: Always open