Category: West Bengal

Bankura Amarkanan

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Amarkanan is a tourist destination located at a certain distance from Bankura. It is basically a small village that is now growing to become a town of sorts with the introduction of centers of education such as a school and a college. It is located right at the foothills of Koro Hill. Koro Hill is a 400 feet tall hill and is fairly popular among the people who keep visiting Bankura every now and then. It is situated 19 km from Bankura. There is also a temple that is located on the hilltop. This temple has been dedicated to a deity who is known as Savitri Devi.  The best time to visit Amarkanan and Koro Hill is during the months of October, November and December. Now a days Amarkanan has become a famous picnic spot in Bankura.

Both Amarkanan and Koro Hill are really exquisite tourist spots that offer a welcome break from the mundane city life and drudgery of everyday work like targets and ambitions etc. The Sri Ram Krishna Seva Dal Ashram, which is located at a short distance from Amarkanan, is also a major tourist attraction of the said area. The Ashram was set up by Sri Gobinda Prasad Singha who was a freedom fighter in the Gandhian school and a zamindar as well.

Over the years a number of well known personalities such as Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Kazi Nazrul Islam and Satish Dasgupta have visited the ashram. When Kazi Nazrul stayed at Amarkanan he had written a poem named ‘Amarkanan moder Amarkanan’. The beauty of this location lies in the red soil as well as the beautiful hill that lies nearby, thus lending it an eerie charm especially during the night. The buildings, most of them constructed several years ago, present an old world charm that one will not see in most other places in West Bengal.

How to reach

In a direct root SBSTC and private mini Buses are available via Amarkanan from Durgapur (39km) and Bankura (22km).

Other than that Amarkanan is easily accessible from Bankura rail station and Bishunupur.

Where to stay at Amarkanan, Bankura

For people willing to enjoy a night’s stay or two at the Ramkrishna Sebadal Asram in Bankura there are plenty of options. The temple authority has in fact constructed a guest house for that purpose. It is known as the Ramkrishna Sebadal Ashram Guest House and Mandir Guest House. In addition, there is a forest bungalow as well for the ones willing to take that route.

In order to book the bungalow you can contact or get in touch with the DFO of the northern Division. Here are the details:

DFO- North Division
Bankura
PC- 722101

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Bankura Ramkrisna Sebadal Asram

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The Ramkrishna Sebadal Asram is located in the vicinity of Amarkanan and is one of the various tourist destinations that you will see in the wonderful district of Bankura in West Bengal. The Asram was built in order to commemorate Amar Chattapadhyay, who happened to be a freedom fighter. Continue reading →

Bishnupur in Bankura

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Located in the Bankura district in West Bengal, Bishnupur is also known as Vishnupur. This town is situated in what was previously known as Rarh and is well known for its terracotta temples and a culinary delight named postor bora.

Tourist Locations at Bishnupur

Jorbangla Temple: Jorebangla Temple of Keshto Rai was erected during the 17th century by Raghunath Singha Dev II, who happened to be a local monarch. The roof of this temple is built in the chala style, which is a classical and eminently identifiable tradition of Bengali architecture. The temple also features terracotta carvings that can be described as elaborate.

Shyamrai Temple: Pancha Ratna Temple of Shyam Rai was also built by King Raghunath Singha during 1643. The walls in this temple also have the usual terracotta carvings and depict various incidents from the life of Krishna. This is also one of the bigger temples in Bishnupur. Continue reading →

Purulia Lake

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Purulia district in West Bengal is an abode of natural beauty. Some of best tourist destinations of Bengal are located here. These are great places to unwind for the weekend. The crimson red soil and the varied landscape have much to offer to the tourists. Beautiful water bodies, dense green forests with colorful blooms, historical sites all these things make it the most sought after weekend destination for nearby cities.

Purulia has many water bodies. Purulia Lake is the biggest and most famous among them. It is also known as Saheb Bandh. The huge water body spanning an area of almost 83 acres adds to the aesthetic beauty of the district. Visitors and locals enjoy fishing and boating in this lake. This beautiful lake is located 1 kilometer from the main town. Continue reading →

Bamni Falls in Purulia at Ayodhya Hills in west bengal

Bamni Falls in Purulia

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Spreading over an area of 6,259 sq km, the Purulia district in West Bengal remains the westernmost region of the state. Paschim Medinipur, Bankura, Bokaro, Bardhaman, Ranchi are some of the places with which the place shares its boundaries. Continue reading →

Saibad

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Murshidabad is one of the well-known districts in West Bengal and located on the southern bank of Bhagirathi (a tributary of Ganges River). The rich history of the town can be traced in its “Mughal” roots. It used to be the capital of Bengal during the Mughal rule in India. In the year 1704 Murshid Quli Khan, the Diwan of Bengal serving during the time of Aurangzeb had transferred the capital city from Dhaka (now in Bangladesh) and renamed the city after his own name. In 1716 Quli Khan was conferred with the title of Nawab which was further followed by Murshidabad becoming its capital.

Now, Saibad being one of the prime attractions of this historically rich city has its own importance in the West Bengal tourism scene. It lays midway between Murshidabad and Berhampur. One of the primary attractions of Saibad is the American Church with a pond, garden and a graveyard that is here since as early as 1660s. A service is held every Sunday morning and it is situated near Dayamoyi Kali Bari. As per reports, the prime attraction of Saibad- the American Church had been constructed in the year 1758 and reconstructed later in 2007. The calm ambience and the neat and well-maintained surroundings serve as the main draw. Just a mere picture of this church can give you a glimpse of what actually awaits you here- a deeply gratifying touring experience marked by serenity and inner peace. This can be an ideal destination for nature lovers as well. So if you’re planning a trip to Murshidabad soon do not make the mistake of leaving out Saibad from your itinerary besides Baranagore, Cossimbazar etc

How to Reach

You would be able to reach Murshidabad by train, bus or flight. Kolkata is home to the airport that is nearest to Murshidabad.

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Wasef Manzil: Some Facts

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Wasef Manzil, alternately known as Wasef Manzil or New Palace had been constructed by Nawab Wasif Ali Mirza Khan. It is placed by the banks of the Ganges river while you’re heading towards the south from the back of Hazarduari (a major attraction here). The entire building was constructed under the able supervision of Surendra Barat, a Bengali engineer and Mr. Vivian, who was the officer of the Public Works Department of the Nadia Rivers Division. The building which shares a proximity to the Hazarduari Palace was exclusively used by the Nawab as his palace.

The 1897 earthquake had destroyed substantial portions of the palace. There were restoration attempts made later but without the second storey that had come down in minutes after the earthquake. The palace is actually built between Hazarduari Palace and Dakshin Darwaza, on the Nizamat Fort Campus. It’s just parallel to the Bhaghirathi- Hooghly River and just opposite the South Zurud Mosque of the campus.

The palace had majorly been designed as a castle with tiny corner turrets on the corners. The palace, which is now maintained by the Archeological Survey of India has a semi-circular pediment with the Nawabs of Murshidabad’s coat of arms on it. The garden space in front of the palace has several marble statues and a fountain. Framed by a neat iron railing, the palace has a Norman archway as the main entrance. The statues and staircases are etched out of marble and serve as tourist attractions as well.

How to reach Wasef Manzil

The driving distance from Murshidabad to Wasef Manzil is 2 kms. Depending upon traffic conditions you can reach this place within 5-10 minutes.

Transportation

Murshidabad is a major tourist hot spot in West Bengal. It receives thousands of footfalls every year and the number is increasing with every passing day. You can reach Murshidabad by train, bus or flight since it is well connected by all these routes. From Murshidabad you can rent a car for Wasef Manzil. The two nearest railway stations are Baharampur Court and Murshidabad railway Station.

Kolkata has the nearest 9to Murshidabad) airport connected with flights to major cities.

Accommodation

Grand World Hotel and Hotel Sonar Bangla are the two nearest accommodations near Wasef Manzil.

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Duarsini

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Duarsini in Purulia is located on the foothills of a nearby mound. River Satgurang flows right next to this ethnic tourist destination. In fact it is said that one can spend hours on the end sitting right next to the river bank. Its location near forests and hills makes it an ideal destination for people looking for a break from regular lives. In short it can be termed as a fantastic destination where one can spend a weekend. The forest is full of trees such as shal, shimul, piyal and palash. Continue reading →

Mursidabad Katra Mosque: A Must See for History Buffs!

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Being a resident of Kolkata, West Bengal, I have always preferred Murshidabad as a convenient weekend getaway. Quite contrary to my friends who unfailingly sneaked in to the over explored seas of Digha, I made it a point to make short trips to Murshidabad on short holidays. Here, I would like to speak about my experience of witnessing one of its famous buildings- the Katra Mosque. It is located around 3 km east of the historical city (i.e.  Murshidabad) and around 200 kms from Kolkata.

The Mursidabad rail station is nearby as well (Katra Mosque situated at 1.5 kms–north-eastern part of the station). Built between the year 1723 and 1724 by Nawab Murshid Quli Khan, this building served as an important centre of Islamic learning.

History of Katra Mosque

The mosque derives its name “Katra” from the bustling market place that surrounded it. Katra means marketplace. It is place where Nawab Murshid Quli Khan had been buried. The earthquake of 1897 had considerably destroyed this mosque, believed to be the replica of Kartalab Khan’s mosque in Dhaka (built in around the year 1700-1704 AD).

Structure

The Archaeological Survey of India has made sure that the remains of this important structure are well cared for.  The main gate would lead you to a massive courtyard that is believed to have accommodated around 2000 Namaz readers at the same time! There are huge domes and two minarets standing at 70 feet. The other two minarets are believed to have been destroyed by the quake. Each of the domes had these semi-circular patterns (Mihrabs) in the wall that point towards the Kabba in Mecca.  (Climbing a good 67 steps (22 meters) up you will find 2 of the surviving pillars from which you can take a considerable view of the surroundings. each on the terrace. There are two pillars with 15 meter radius. The other pillars, here, have been destroyed).

The mosque is replete with intricate designs and stretches across a whopping 40*71/2 metres. You can only wonder at the overwhelming grandeur of this structure. The huge door embracing the entrance has some Iranian words written on it. The writing extols the Muhammad of Arab. Sarfaraj Khan’s Futi Masjid is placed at the west of the Katara Mosque at the edge of the railway line. This one replicates the Katara Mosque. The Topkhana is a castle, situated at the south eastern side of Katara.

Interesting Facts about Katra Mosque in Murshidabad

It is claimed that an individual named Farash Khan was assigned the task of building this mosque. He, apparently, was not very fond of Hindus and had built the masjid using materials collected after destroying Hindu temples. This one served as the residence of 700 Quran readers. There are no wooden panels on the ceilings here.

How to Reach the Katra Mosque

  • Murshidabad Railway Station Junction is the nearest railway station near the Katra Masjid. They are set just a kilometer apart.
  • The Jiaganj railway Station is around 6.7 km away
  • The Beldanga Railway Station is around 28.3 km
  • Train would be a safer and more convenient means of travel here, as the nearest airport (i.e. Rajshahi Airport) is 34 km away!

In fact reaching Murshidabad from Kolkata or Howrah is very easy as a lot of trains are available.

When Should You Visit this Place?

It is ideal to avoid the scorching summers while you’re heading for Murshidabad. Target the time between October to February. The temperature hovers around the 20s (hardly rising above it) thus providing you the much needed respite from the humid summers. The mosque is open for visitors on all days between 5-6 pm.

Accommodation

There is no dearth of cheap hotels around the Masjid. The fact that there is a wide array of 3, 4 and 5 star hotels present in and around the mosque, substantiates the claim that it is one of the most oft-visited places in Murshidabad.

The nearest place to stay, however, would be WBTDC’s Raiganj Tourist Lodge. The price would vary around INR 500- INR 1000 per night.

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Image Source: Tarun Pradhan

Purulia Baghmundi

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Baghmundi is a small community development block located in the administrative division of Purulia. Every year thousands of tourists visit this place to witness the natural beauty of the magnificent Ayodhya Hills and the many dams. The picturesque landscape here consists of undulating hills, cascading waterfalls, lush green forests with rich variety of flora and fauna. Travelers can get a variety of experience from historical and archeological sites to eco tourism.

Ayodhya Hill, not very far from Baghmundi, is of immense mythological significance to the Hindus. It is believed that Lord Ram with his wife Sita had come to Ayodhya Hill during their exile. Lord Ram had pierced the earth with his arrow to bring out a gush of water to quench Sita’s thirst. From then, this place has been named Sita-kunda. On a Baisakhi full moon day, tribals from surrounding villages assemble here to join the game of hunting animals. They hunt small animals like rabbits and jungle hen. Continue reading →