Tourism of Nadia primarily developed round the fact that the district is historically significant as a prominent pilgrimage and a seat of sophistication and learning, since the primeval of history. The very idea of the district as a significant pilgrimage, constitute Nadia to be an important tourist centre, which was root of the
Bhakti movement and Shree Chaitanya in
Nadia.
The tourism of Nadia gradually attaining prominence and has lot to offer to those who love traditional culture. Nadia, since its advent used to be an educational and cultural centre and it retains its cultural significance till date, which serves the tourism industry in Nadia greatly.
Nabadwip
The tourism of Nadia solely developed centering on famous pilgrimage of Nabadwip. Formerly surviving as the capital of the Sena King Lakshman Sena, Nabadwip is regarded with reverence as a birthplace of Shree Chaitanya. The special attraction for the tourists here are the temples of
lord Krishna and the idols of Shree Chaitanya, almost synonymous to the lord Krishna. The Dwadas Shib Mandir, fabricated with exquisite floral design fetches tourists to a large extent. However the principal interest provided by tourism industry of Nadia concentrates in Nabadwip.
Nabadwip is conveniently connected by rail and road. By rail the place is connected from
Kolkata (
Howrah). There are daily bus services available as well. It is an hour`s journey by bus from Krishnanagar. Nabadwip is the place of birth of Sri
Chaitanya and hence has become an important centre of pilgrimage. Several temples of the Vaishnavites are there. Of the many festivals, Dol or
Holi (March) and Ras (November) are more famous. There are a few private hotels for accommodation.
Mayapur
Popularity of Nabadwip has grown over the years as a pilgrimage spot throughout Nadia. Mayapur, a prominent pilgrimage just opposite to Nabadwip, is famous for three temples- ISKON Temple of A. C. Bhaktivedanta, the Saraswat Adwaiata Math and Chaitanya Gaudiya Math. During the festival of Holi (DOL) and
Ratha Yatra, a vast chunk of pilgrims gathers in the core of Mayapur.
On the other banks of the river
Bhagiratrhi River, ferry services between Nabadwip and Mayapur is readily available. Direct bus service from Krishnanagar (about one and a half-hour journey) is also available. Though several old temples adorn Mayapur, the Centre of attraction is the Chanrodaya Temple of ISKCON.
ISCKON has a guesthouse here, besides a few private hotels.
Shantipur
Shantipur existed to be a seat of
Sanskrit literature along with the Vedic texts and scriptures since the 9th century. In spite of being interested as a centre of traditional learning, the temples built in the traditional "atchala" style are the important sites worth visiting. The Shyam Chand Temple, Jaleswar temple and the Adwaiata Prabhu Temple etc are the representations of the exclusive terracotta style, once prevalent in Nadia. The township of Fulia, in close proximity to Shantipur is the motherland of famous poet Krittibas and also famous for "Tant Sari". Shantipur is filled with immense cultural and historical interest.
20 km from Krishnanagar, on NH34, direct local trains from
Sealdah Railway Station, Kolkata is available for Shantipur. The place is also connected by a narrow gauge railway service with Nabadwip (19km). Shantipur also is a famed Vaishnava center. Handloom products are a specialty of the region. Ras (November) is the most important festival.
Fulia
The place is popular for its manufacturing skills of Handloom Sarees. It is located 26km from Krishnanagar and 6km from Shantipur on NH34. It is situated 92km from Kolkata. Fulia happens to be the birth place of the great poet Krittibasa. Fulia is an important Centre for production of handloom textiles, especially handloom sarees.
Betuadahari
28km from Krishnanagar on way to Berhampore is Bethuadahari Railways Station. 1km. from the station is Bethuadahari Deer Park on NH34. From Kolkata, Bethuadahari is 127km. by rail and 148km. by road.
The Deer Park spread on a 165-acre forest is the habitat of various kinds of deer. For accommodation there are two Forest Rest Houses. For day-trippers, there is a Day Centre under the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation.
The extant temples of the different civilizations colonized here, helps tourism flourish here. The architectural trappings and the exquisite floral fabrications around walls of the temples actually appeal tourists to a large scale. The temples here not only designed after the Indian architecture only, the gothic influence is also predominant in the architectural style. The Ragniswar Temple and the
Lord Ram-
Sita temple, etc are constructed, as a composite structure with Raj Rajeswari Temple, commonly called the Burro-Shib Mandir is the reproduction of Gothic style in Indian mould.
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(Last Updated on : 29/12/2011)
