Bengal: Where diverse faiths unite

East Midnapore

The 213-feet-tall temple built on a sprawling 24-acre campus near Digha is Bengal’s newest pilgrim spot. The temple enshrines idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra. Darshan timings are from 5.30am to 12.30pm and 3.30pm to 9.30pm.

Burdwan

There are, in fact, two such temple clusters in Burdwan— one in Ambika Kalna (19th Century) and the other in Burdwan Town (18th Century). The temples in Ambika Kalna are arranged in two concentric circles, while the ones in Burdwan Town are arranged in a rectangular format.

The brick red church built in 1816 by the Church Missionary Society (CMS, London) is small but elegant. The church opens every Sunday for Mass. Inside, there are memorial plaques dating back to colonial times.

Birbhum

The 300-year-old brick red temple in Rampurhat, Birbhum, is another Shakt Peeth where the goddess’s third eye (tara refers to eyeball) is believed to have fallen. Located a little over 200km from Kolkata, the temple is open from 5.30am to noon and 6pm to 10pm.

Murshidabad

Established in 1757 near Behrampore in Murshidabad, this is one of the world’s oldest churches of Mother Mary, outside Armenia. It was reopened after 100 years in the 1980s. Mary and Jesus at this church are not white-skinned. They have an Asian and not European, look. Other Armenian churches in Bengal are St John the Baptist Armenian Church in Chinsurah (1695), Armenian Holy Church of Nazareth in Burrabazar, Kolkata (1707), Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Tangra in Kolkata (1867) and St Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church in Kolkata (1906).

The old Madina mosque was built by Nawab Siraj ud-Daullah in the 18th Century and the new Madina mosque was built by Nawab Mansur Ali Khan in 1847. Both mosques stand within the Nizamat Imambara complex. Soil collected from Mecca was used while building the original mosque, which was damaged in a fire. 

Nadia

ISKCON’s Chandrodaya Temple draws global visitors and is the gateway to Nabadwip, believed to be Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s birthplace and a key site of Vaishnavism in Bengal. 

North 24-Parganas

Built by Rani Rashmoni in the mid-19th century, the temple on the Hooghly riverbank had Ramakrishna Paramhamsa as its priest. The temple is open from 6am to 12.30pm and 3.30pm to 7.30pm.

South 24-Parganas

Sagar Island is the confluence of Ganga and Bay of Bengal and also the site of Kapil Muni Temple. Pilgrims come here for a holy dip, especially during the annual Gangasagar Mela held at the time of Makar Sankranti (around January 14)

Howrah

Envisioned by Swami Vivekananda, Belur Math enshrines Sri Ramakrishna’s sacred relics. The temple complex on the Hooghly riverbank features a nine-spired (navaratna) sanctuary and a sacred ghat. Also to be seen is the room where Vivekananda attained mahasamadhi. It is open from 6.30am to 11.30am and 4pm to 9pm (seasonal variations apply). Prasad is served daily at 11am, coupons must be bought 30 minutes in advance.

Hooghly

An aatchala Shiva temple famed for its natural spring (Dudhpukur) where bathers believe their wishes are granted.

A Sufi shrine founded in 1375, it is famous for its Urs and Pir mela festivals held in the month of Falfun (March) that draw thousands of devotees annually.

The mosque with a huge congregational hall was built by philanthropist Hazi Muhammad Mohsin in 1861. The imposing structure stands on the bank of Ganga. The Imambara is known for the large clock that connects its two towers. 

The Bandel Church, built by the Portuguese in 1599, is dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. The church is open to visitors from 6am to 6pm. It hosts Christmas Mass, Easter services and an annual May Feast dedicated to Our Lady of Happy Voyage.

Kolkata

A Shakti Peeth, Kalighat is believed to be the site where goddess Sati’s toes fell. The idol here has a long, gold tongue. Darshan timings are from 5am to 2pm and 5pm to 10.30pm. Tuesdays and Saturdays are auspicious but tend to be crowded. The all-new Kalighat Skywalk has made access easier for devotees.

The 175-feet-high Anglican cathedral built in the Gothic Revival style is known for its magnificent architecture. Music forms an integral form of worship at St. Paul’s Cathedral. The Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve draws huge crowds.

Built in 1926 at Chitpore, this is Kolkata’s largest mosque with a prayer hall that can accommodate 10,000 people. The mosque is open from 6am to 8pm. 

The mosque with 16 domes and four minarets was built by Prince Ghulam Mohammed, son of Tipu Sultan. The heritage landmark located at Esplanade can accommodate 1,000 worshippers.

The Burrabazar gurudwara, visited by Guru Nanak Dev and Guru Tegh Bahadur, is open daily from 5am to 8pm. Langar (community kitchen) meals served from 9am to 3pm and 6pm to 10pm.

The century-old Shree Digambar Jain Parshwanath Temple in Belgachhia features intricate white marble carvings and hosts major Jain festivals. The temple is open from 5.30am to 11.30am and 6pm to 9pm.

Darjeeling

The quiet hill town around 700 feet above Darjeeling houses the 19th Century Yiga Choeling Monastery. It has a large clay statue of Maitreya Buddha. 

The 18th Century Karma Dorjee Chyoling Monastery belongs to the Red Sect of Buddhist Lamas. The original monastery was destroyed by war and then earthquake and later rebuilt.

The Scottish church originally built in 1843 was rebuilt in 1873 after being severely damaged by a lightning strike. The church is open for Sunday Mass.