Birbhum Tourist Places

Santiniketan
Sited near Bolpur, in the Birbhum District of West Bengal, Santiniketan is a small town famous worldwide, as it was the hometown of the Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, a Bengali polymath. Better known as the university town in West Bengal,     Santiniketan is a great tourist attraction, because Rabindranath Tagore    wrote many of his literary classics here only. Though the place can be visited all throughout the year, the Poush Mela deserves special mention. A 3 day fair, it usually starts on the seventh day of the Bengali month Poush, which falls in the last week of December. More

DubrajpurDubrajpur is a little settlement and have a Shiva temple. There are numerous huge rocks in the locality. Two significant rocks are recognized as Mama& Bhagne (Uncle & Nephew).

HetampurIt is positioned near Dubrajpur, is well-known for the past heritage Rajbari. Here are numerous reservoirs enclosed by lofty palm trees. 8 km from Dubrajpur, the Ranjan Palace, made in the style of Hazarduari of Murshidabad is one of the chief tourist spots here, is a beautiful specimen of art and architecture. Besides the terracotta temple of Dewanji Shiva also draws the attention of the pilgrims. 
SriniketanMerely 3 km from Santiniketan, the university town in West Bengal, is Sriniketan, a rural reconstruction center that was established in 1922. A sister unit of Shantiniketan, Sriniketan was mainly established to bring back life in its completeness to the villages and help people solve their problems on their own. Today, Sriniketan is a shopper's paradise, offering traditional handicrafts, such as batik, pottery, weaving kantha embroidery and dokra. Apart from this, major attractions in Sriniketan include Kala Bhavana, Rabindra Bhavana, Uttarayan Gardens and Deer Park.

Temple of Nandikeswari 

This temple was constructed in 1903. It is 179 km from Howrah. A piece of marble, positioned in between a pipul and banyan tree, is worshipped by the followers. There are also deities of other gods and goddesses. A fair is arranged once a year at some time in autumn. It is thought that the bone of the neckline of Sati cut down at Sainthia which is previously known as Nandipur
 
Tarapith

  Sited in the village Tarapur, Tarapith is a religious and sacred place. While some believe that Tarapith is so called because the eye ball (tara) of Sati fell here, the others are of the opinion that Sage Basistha worshipped Goddess Sati in the form of Tara, at this place. The latter belief says that the place is not a shaktipeeth and owes its sanctity to Sage Basistha. Whatever be the opinion, Tarapith is a must-see for tourists in Birbhum.




Bakreshwar59 km from Shantniketan and 19 km from Suri by road, Bakreshwar is approachable from both the places. On the way, you may give a step over to the renowned Mama-Bhagne hill at Dubrajpur. It appears that nature has taken ache to place the gravel here and redecorate the set. This position is dwelling of the Oraon tribes. You may locate numerous hilly caves; one of them somewhat renowned is Baghsuni. Somewhat close to, there are the temples of Pahareshwar Shiva and Shasan Kali, according to the legend; it is worshipped by the eminent dacoit Raghu. The Mughal Kuthi at Mahanto Para is also a significant place to pay a visit. And the terracotta Shiva temple and Trayodash Ratna temples are worth to visit 

Fullara Fullara is just 50 km from Bolpur linked with Nanur/ Kirnahar. The myth is that, the lip of Sati cut down at Fullara. There is an old temple with no deity in it. As a substitute there is a piece of tortoise-shaped rock admired by the disciples. A fair is organized yearly in the month of Magh. Labhpur is famous as it is the birth place of Tarasankar Bandopadhyay, renowned novelist of Bengal. For residing here one can make contact with the Labhpur Guest House.There is a temple of Dharma in close by the village, Bele. Those who are suffering from arthritis come to this village to have a bath in the pool, adjoining to the temple which is believed to have a celestial healing power. 

Suri Suri, better known as Suiri, is just the place for those who want to taste rustic beauty and rich cultural heritage in Birbhum. The picturesque exquisiteness of the place, coupled with rolling green farms, blissful ambience and aromatic atmosphere, gives way to a perfect holidaying experience. Though Suri is the district headquarters of Birbhum, the city is a hidden gem of West Bengal and is far away from the evils of the city life. It boasts of a glorious past in the bygone era, the rich culture heritage and ancient monuments promising the facts.

MasanjoreMasanjore is a desired place for a short time tour. The Tilpara Barrage on Mayurakshi is constructed here. The barrage at Masanjore is also identified as Canada Dam. The barrage is 113 ft high 2000 ft long with 21 lock gates which manage the water of Mayurakshi. The dam is enclosed by mount and wood, and perfect spot for outing.The Massanjore Dam was built up in 1955 in Canadian support. It is 34.4 m. elevated and 609.6 m. extended. The Mayurakshi River water is regulated with a series of 21 lock gates. Low green hills around the Massanjore Dam join with the Birbhum's santhal, or tribal, belt. 

Ballabhpur Wildlife Sanctuary
Birbhum offers explorers and those in quest of excitement and thrill an excellent opportunity to indulge in adventure escapade. Located near Shantiniketan, in Bolpur subdivision of Birbhum District, Ballabhpur Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1977. Popularly known as Deer Park, the sanctuary is home to a number of wild animals, including the blackbuck and spotted deer. Apart from this, the fauna of the region includes jackals, foxes and a variety of water birds. The eco system of the sanctuary is excellent.

Kankali PithIt is situated in the village, Bengutia, in the station Prantik. The unique temple is surrounded by the hot spring. Devi Kali in the appearance of Devi Kankali is admired in this temple. This temple is believed to be an extremely holy place by the Hindus. A festivity is also held yearly throughout the April. Adjacent to the temple is the there runs the Kopai River. Close to, the temples of Lord Kanchiswar Shiva and Devi Ruru Bhairav be worthy of a visit.

Kolkata/Calcutta Tourist place

Tourism in Kolkata is on its boom these days. There are lots of places to see in Kolkata. In this section, we will provide you with Calcutta tourist attractions guide. 

Indian Museum

Indian Museum is a wonderful place for art & artifact lovers in Kolkata that one may see & explore. It is the largest museum in India and was founded in 1814. Dr. Nathaniel Wallich was the founder curator of the museum. At present it has more than sixty galleries dedicated to Geology, Archeology, Zoology, Anthropology, Art and Botany. The place is funded by the Department of Culture, Government of India. Popular exhibits are the skeleton of dinosaurs, painting on illustrated palm-leaves, collection of meteorites, miniature paintings, Ashoka Pillar, Buddhist Stupa, other remaining of the ancient civilizations and many more rare collections. This museum is the ninth oldest regular museum in the world. More on Indian Museum

Asiatic Society

The Asiatic Society in Kolkata started functioning from the year 1784. The Indian museum first came into existence within the building of Asiatic Society. The museum was later shifted to a separate building and is still situated there. Initiated by Sir William Jones, the Asiatic Society is home to a rich repository of Relic that represents different eras of time. The library inside the building consists of Rare Manuscripts and Books, which are written in most of the languages around the world. Original Painting, Manuscripts, Engraving, Asokan Rock Edict and Coins are some of the things one may explore while on a visit to the place. More on Asiatic Society

Victoria Memorial

Built in the memory of Queen Victoria the memorial is made of white marble. The foundation stone was laid by King George V in the year 1906. In the year 1921, it was opened to the public. The memorial also has galleries that exhibit rare collections of Coins, Paintings, Stamps, Sculptures, Arms and other Historic Artifacts. Moreover, there is a rich library that contains nearly 10,674 Books and Periodicals. The collection of rare books in the library dates back to 1870. More on Victoria Memorial

St. Paul's Cathedral

The Church "St. Paul's Cathedral" was built in the year 1847 and had an essence of Indo-Gothic architecture. The structure was damaged in an earthquake and was rebuilt in 1938. The new structure is a replica of the Bell Harry Tower. The church also contains collection of antique books and paintings. One would get mesmerized by the inner grandeur that contains intricate artwork on wall, mosaic panels, mural painting and Florentine frescoes. The surrounding of the cathedral also presents one with a calm ambience. More on St. Paul's Cathedral

Marble Palace

One of the popular places to visit in Kolkata, India, is the Marble Palace. The stunning beauty of the white marbles would leave one mesmerized. The palace was built by Rajendra Mullik in 1855. Jagannath Temple is also located in the premises but it remains accessible to the family members. The place also harbors a small zoo, lawns and other attractions. The architecture is neoclassical and also has signs of Chinese pavilion. The palace has paintings of both Indian and European Artists. Two famous painting of Ruben is also present in the house. The paintings are 'The Marriage of St. Catherine' and 'The Martyrdom of St. Sebastian'. It also has paintings of John Opie, Sir Joshua Reynold, Murillo and Titan. It is also home to a collection of Rare Clocks, Urns, Mirrors and other exquisite objects. More on Marble Palace

Eden Gardens Cricket Stadium

The Eden Garden Cricket Stadium was built in 1864 and is the second largest stadium in the world behind Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia. The stadium in the recent years has undergone renovation work. This cricket stadium has been host to a number of great cricket games that have made mark in the history of cricket. The first ODI was played in the year 1987 and the first test match was played in 1934. The test match was against Douglas Jardine's MCC. The ground is home to The Bengal Cricket. More on Eden Gardens Cricket Stadium

Botanical Garden

It is one of the oldest botanical gardens in India. The place is located around 8 kms from the Calcutta City. One of the major attractions of this garden is the famous Giant Banyan Tree, which is said to be around 2 centuries old. Botanical Garden was developed by the East India Company in the year 1787. The place has a variety of plants, palms and orchids that would take you close to nature. One would also come across rare trees and plants. The place has a library where one would get a huge collection of botany books. In the year 1793 William Roxburg, a botanist, brought plants from all over the country and formed herbarium. This herbarium is now The Central National Herbariumof Botanical Survey of India. More on Botanical Garden

Zoological Garden, Alipore

The Zoological Garden in Alipore is said to be the oldest zoo in the country. It became operational from the year 1876. Some of the attractions of the zoo are the Royal Bengal Tiger, Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros, Indian Elephant, Jaguar, Reticulated Giraffe, African Elephant, Hornbills, Macaw, Golden Pheasant and Hornbills. It also has a variety of reptiles like Crocodiles and Snakes. More on Zoological Garden

Esplanade

Smeared with shops and vendors selling variety of items, Esplanade is one of the popular places to see in Kolkata. From Books to Garments one would be taken through a unique ride of sight and sound. One may check out the Antique shop or explore the handicrafts sold on the streets of Esplanade. The place also has some of the finest Restaurants and Food Joints.

Park Street

Park Street is another Great Place to visit as the place has its own charm. One of the major attractions of this place is the Asiatic Society. The street is also filled with host of hang-out joints and restaurants. From shops selling electronic goods to book stores the area has a lot to offer. On a visit to Kolkata during the Christmas one must witness the festive decoration of Park Street during that time of the year.

Kalighat Kali Temple 

Located on the banks of river Hooghly, Kalighat Kali temple is a very famous temple of the city of joy i.e. Calcutta. It is dedicated to Goddess kali, who is believed to be the destroyer as well as liberator. Every year, it has been attracting more and more crowds. Infact, Calcutta Kalighat Kali temple has come in the top list of must see tourist attraction places. For Hindus, Kali temple at Kalighat, Kolkata is one of the most sacred pilgrimage destinations. 

There is an interesting legend behind the formation of Kali temple, which suggests that when Lord Shiva was furiously performing his dance (Pralay), keeping the corpse of Goddess kali on his shoulders, his spinning wheel sliced off her dead body. Her body slices fell off at different points, where pilgrimage centers were formed later on. Kalighat temple is one such pilgrimage spot, where a toe of her right foot had fallen. It is during the months of Bhadra, Paush and Chaitra (according to the Bengali calendar) that Kali temple at Kalighat turns into a convergence point for devotees from al over the world.

         Location: Banks of river Hooghly

         Dedicated to: Goddess Kali

Dakshineshwar Temple

Dakshineshwar Kali temple has an interesting story. The construction of this fabulous temple was initialized in the year 1847 and got completed in 1855. The credit for the formation of Calcutta Dakshineswar Kali temple goes to the queen Rasmani of Janbazar. Located on the bank of the Ganges, north of Belur Math in Kolkata, it is dedicated to Goddess kali. It is a spacious temple covering an area of about 25 acres.

Ramakrishna Paramhansa, the famous spiritual leader is also associated with this temple, as it was over here only that he had worshipped Goddess Kali and formed a rare form of love for her, which is popularly known as maha-bhava in Hinduism. Read on to know about the history of Dakshineshwar Temple Of Kolkata, India.

The legend associated with the establishment of the temple suggests that the queen Rasmani was all set to leave for the sacred city of Banaras to worship the divine mother and seek her blessings. During those times, going by boat was the only feasible option, as there were no railway lines between Calcutta and Banaras. But one night before, it happened that divine mother kali appeared in the dreams of Rani Rasmani and instructed her to construct a beautiful temple on the banks of the Ganges River and install her idol in it. She also said that she would manifest herself in the image over there and accept her devotion. It is one of the largest temples in Kolkata.

Location: Bank of the Ganges, north of Belur Math in Kolkata
Dedicated to: Goddess Kali
Founded by: Queen Rasmani of Janbazar
Year of establishment: 1847 - 1855 

Tourist Information Office in West Bengal

WestBengal Tourist Bureau - 3/2 B.B.D Bag  East Kolkata-1 Contact numbers-2248-8271-73/5168/5917,2243-7260(7AM-6PM),(Sunday 7AM-2PM)
Tourist Department, Govt of west bengal - 2 Brabourne road kol-1, Contact no. 2225-8183/4565,FAX-2225-4565 Website - www.westbengaltourism.com

Basant Utsav, FESTIVAL OF COLOURS in West Bengal,দোলযাত্রা

Holi  is a religious spring festival celebrated by Hindus. Holi is also known asfestival of Colours. It is primarily observed in India, Nepal,  and countries with large Indicdiaspora populations following Hinduism, such as Suriname, Malaysia, Guyana, South Africa,Trinidad, United Kingdom, United States, Mauritius, and Fiji. It is also known as Doḷajāta in Orissa and Dol Jatra ( দোলযাত্রা) or Basantotsav ("spring festival") ( বসন্তোৎসব) in West Bengal. The most celebrated Holi is in the Braj region, in locations connected to the Lord Krishna: Mathura, Vrindavan, Nandagaon, and Barsana. These places have become tourist destinations during the festive season of Holi.
Holi by the name of Basant Utsav is celebrated with fervour in the state of West Bengal. The tradition of Vasantotsav, meaning Spring Festival was started by poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore at Shantiniketan, the University he founded.
Every year, thousands of Hindus participate in the festival Holi. Waiting for the day after the full moon in the month of Phalguna, or early March, These men and women are ready to spread the joy. Holi has many purposes. First and foremost, it celebrates the beginning of the new season, spring. It also has a religious purpose, commemorating many events that are present in Hindu mythology. Although it is the least religious holiday, it is probably one of the most exhilarating ones in existence. During this event, participants hold a bonfire, throw colored powder at each other, and celebrate wildly. 
What is appreciated is the grace and diginified manner in which Vasant Utsav is celebrated in West Bengal as compared to boisterous Holi witnessed in most parts of India. Boys and girls joyfully welcome Spring, the season of hope not just with colours but with songs, dance, chanting of hymns in the serene ambiance of Shantiniketan. Anybody who got a chance to witness this elegant way of celebrating Holi in Bengal remembers it with fond memory for the rest of his life

History of Holi

Holi is an ancient festival of India and was originally known as 'Holika'. The festivals finds a detailed description in early religious works such as Jaimini's Purvamimamsa-Sutras and Kathaka-Grhya-Sutras. Historians also believe that Holi was celebrated by all Aryans but more so in the Eastern part of India.

It is said that Holi existed several centuries before Christ. However, the meaning of the festival is believed to have changed over the years. Earlier it was a special rite performed by married women for the happiness and well-being of their families and the full moon (Raka) was worshiped.

Calculating the Day of Holi
There are two ways of reckoning a lunar month- 'purnimanta' and 'amanta'. In the former, the first day starts after the full moon; and in the latter, after the new moon. Though the amanta reckoning is more common now, the purnimanta was very much in vogue in the earlier days.

According to this purnimanta reckoning, Phalguna purnima was the last day of the year and the new year heralding the Vasanta-ritu (with spring starting from next day). Thus the full moon festival of Holika gradually became a festival of merrymaking, announcing the commencement of the spring season. This perhaps explains the other names of this festival - Vasanta-Mahotsava and Kama-Mahotsava.

Reference in Ancient Texts and Inscriptions
Besides having a detailed description in the Vedas and Puranas such as Narad Purana and Bhavishya Purana, the festival of Holi finds a mention in Jaimini Mimansa. A stone incription belonging to 300 BC found at Ramgarh in the province of Vindhya has mention of Holikotsav on it. King Harsha, too has mentioned about holikotsav in his work Ratnavali that was written during the 7th century.

The famous Muslim tourist - Ulbaruni too has mentioned about holikotsav in his historical memories. Other Muslim writers of that period have mentioned, that holikotsav were not only celebrated by the Hindus but also by the Muslims.

Reference in Ancient Paintings and Murals
The festival of Holi also finds a reference in the sculptures on walls of old temples. A 16th century panel sculpted in a temple at Hampi, capital of Vijayanagar, shows a joyous scene of Holi. The painting depicts a Prince and his Princess standing amidst maids waiting with syringes or pichkaris to drench the Royal couple in coloured water.

A 16th century Ahmednagar painting is on the theme of Vasanta Ragini - spring song or music. It shows a royal couple sitting on a grand swing, while maidens are playing music and spraying colors with pichkaris.

There are a lot of other paintings and murals in the temples of medieval India which provide a pictoral description of Holi. For instance, a Mewar painting (circa 1755) shows the Maharana with his courtiers. While the ruler is bestowing gifts on some people, a merry dance is on, and in the center is a tank filled with colored water. Also, a Bundi miniature shows a king seated on a tusker and from a balcony above some damsels are showering gulal (colored powders) on him.

Legends and Mythology
In some parts of India, specially in Bengal and Orissa, Holi Purnima is also celebrated as the birthday of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (A.D. 1486-1533). However, the literal meaning of the word 'Holi' is 'burning'. There are various legends to explain the meaning of this word, most prominent of all is the legend associated with demon king Hiranyakashyap.

Hiranyakashyap wanted everybody in his kingdom to worship only him but to his great disappointment, his son, Prahlad became an ardent devotee of Lord Naarayana. Hiaranyakashyap commanded his sister, Holika to enter a blazing fire with Prahlad in her lap. Holika had a boon whereby she could enter fire without any damage on herself. However, she was not aware that the boon worked only when she enters the fire alone. As a result she paid a price for her sinister desires, while Prahlad was saved by the grace of the god for his extreme devotion. The festival, therefore, celebrates the victory of good over evil and also the triumph of devotion.

Legend of Lord Krishna is also associated with play with colors as the Lord started the tradition of play with colours by applying colour on his beloved Radha and other gopis. Gradually, the play gained popularity with the people and became a tradition.

There are also a few other legends associated with the festival - like the legend of Shiva and Kaamadeva and those of Ogress Dhundhi and Pootana. All depict triumph of good over evil - lending a philosophy to the festival.

Pulse Polio Program in West Bengal

Pulse Polio is an immunisation campaign established by the government of India in 1995-96 to eradicate poliomyelitis (polio) in India by vaccinating all children under the age of five years against polio virus. This project deals with the ways to fight poliomyelitis through a large scale immunisation programme, co-operating with various international institutions, state governments and Non Governmental Organisations.

The discovery of three full-blown polio cases in the North 24 Parganas district belies district officials' claims of a 90% success rate in the state's pulse polio drive

West Bengal's polio eradication programme is in the doldrums with the state health ministry allegedly losing count of the number of under-five children. The government has also lost track of the population growth rate and the number of people within the productive age-group, health department sources claim. They say the state government has been sending faulty reports based on rudimentary information to the union health ministry.

Recently, three full-blown polio cases were discovered in the North 24 Parganas district, taking authorities completely by surprise. Interestingly, although district officials claim a 90% success rate in the state's pulse polio drive, they have no statistical proof of this. According to officials, health department directives for districts and area sub-centres to prepare a list of children under five in West Bengal has yielded no results, forcing them to rely on older data.

"The district health officials are required to complete the yearly headcount survey between January and March. But with (it nearing) October-end, the exercise is far from complete," said a senior health ministry official. He added: "The claims of success in the pulse polio drive may not be as true as they are claiming it to be."

In India, vaccination against Polio started in 1978 with Expanded Program in Immunisation (EPI). By 1984, it was successful in covering around 40% of all infants, giving 3 doses of OPV to each. In 1985, the Universal Immunisation Program (UIP) was launched to cover all the districts of the country. UIP became a part of child safe and survical motherland program (CSSM) in 1992 and Reproductive and Child Health Program (RCH) in 1997. This program led to a significant increase in coverage, up to 95%. The number of reported cases of polio also declined from 28,757 during 1987 to 3,265 in 1995.

In 1995, following the Polio Eradication Initiative of World Health Organization (1988), India launched Pulse Polio Immunisation Program along with Universal Immunisation Program which aimed at 100% coverage.