Ambika Kalna - Lesser-Known Beauties of Bengal

Some places leave you in utter surprise. Surprise because you get to see what you never expected.

Who knew so close to Kolkata there are two such places that are rich in history and are time capsules on their own? Just over a two-hour ride in Katwa local will take you to two quaint little towns called Ambika Kalna, in Purba Bardhaman district and some 15 minutes toto ride to the other place called Guptipara, in Hoogly district.

As less as these places are heard of, they will surely pick your traveller’s imagination. It is as if someone has forgotten their existence leave alone their stories.

Forgotten yes but mostly to tourists but Ambika Kalna has survived as one of the Shaktipeeths, Ambika Ma to devotees for a long time. Situated on the western bank of the Bhagirathi River, it is also called the Temple City. This place is also an added attraction to followers of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as many of the religious places are dedicated to him. Going around this humble little town you can stop at Gopalji Temple, Anant Vasudev Sri Temple, Jhalak Darshan, Patal Ganga, 108 Shiva Temple, the Neem tree where Mahaprabhu used to take rest and the Rajbari complex.

Guptipara on the other hand will leave you in utter surprise with the detailed terracotta works on the temples. Rathayatra is celebrated with great enthusiasm here.

Although in present days both places have been lost in time, they clearly carry evidence of a glorious past when they flourished with abundance.

Strange as it may seem how fewer people know about these two places; they are waiting to be visited and discovered.