Kamarpukur and Jayrambati are two villages in West Bengal, separated by the imaginary district boundary of Bankura and Hooghly. Thousands of people visit these villages every year from the various parts of the world and get spiritually refreshed and elevated.
Kamarpukur is best known as the birthplace of Gadadhar Chattopadhyay, better known as Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa. The village was once surrounded by extensive fields, often looked like an island floating in a vast sea of green. Apart from agriculture, it was also noted for cottage industries. The signs of ancient prosperity are still visible everywhere at Kamarpukur. A number of ponds, tanks and old buildings and dilapidated temples still bear witness to its old glory. People belonging to the different strata of society live in peace in the tranquil atmosphere of the village.
Jayrambati is known as the birthplace of Sarada Devi, wife of Sri Ramakrishna. Unlike its twin Kamarpukur, the village began to show signs of prosperity mainly after Sarada Devi's advent.
Get in
[edit]By train
[edit]Although there's a railway station at Kamarpukur, it is not yet operational. The nearest operational railway station is 1 Goghat (7 km (4.3 mi) from Kamarpukur), but only a few local trains serve the station from Howrah. Arambagh and Tarakeswar are nearest railway stations to get to Kamarpukur smoothly.
You can also take a train to Bishnupur, then take SH 2 to reach Kamarpukur and Jayrambati via Arambagh.
By bus
[edit]Buses are available from Kamarpukur to other destinations in West Bengal.
- 2 Kamarpukur Bus Stand.
Get around
[edit]
Like the rest of West Bengal, there are rickshaw services to get around the villages, including totos (electric rickshaws).
See
[edit]Kamarpukur
[edit]- 1 Birthplace of Sri Ramakrishna. The area contains the hut where Sri Ramakrishna spent his childhood, a temple dedicated to him and a Shiva temple called Jugider Shib Mondir (যুগীদের শিব মন্দির). Facing towards the east, the Shiva temple has terracotta works at the walls. It is said that Sri Ramakrishna used to read Hindu scriptures in the temple.
- 2 Gar Mandaran (গড় মান্দারণ). A popular picnic spot with a historic fort. The fort was under the control of Gajapati Kapilendra Deva of Odisha but was later lost to Bengal. There is also a tomb of the warrior Shah Ismail Ghazi.
- 3 Haldarpukur (হালদারপুকুর).
- 4 Raghubir Temple (রঘুবীর মন্দির Rôghubīr Môndir), Satberia. A laterite temple belonged to the Rai family of Satberia. Khudiram Chattopadhyay, the father of Sri Ramakrishna, used to perform priestly duties in the temple when Ramananda Rai was the zamindar of Satberia.
- 5 Ramakrishna Math.
Jayrambati
[edit]- 6 Mayer Dighi (মায়ের দীঘি). It is said that Sarada Devi in her girlhood used to cut grass for cows in neck-deep water from this very tank. Visitors and the village-folks take their bath here and get refreshed.
- 7 Sri Sri Matri Mandir (শ্রীশ্রী মাতৃমন্দির). The temple was constructed on the birthplace of Sarada Devi. The deity in the Matri Mandir is positioned exactly on the spot where Sarada Devi was born.
Do
[edit]Events
[edit]In the Bengali month of Choitro (March—April), Kamarpukur reverberates with songs during the worship of Goddess Manasa and festival of Shiva, and in the following month, devotional choral songs of Hari are sung for three days at a stretch.
Buy
[edit]Eat and drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]Although the Yatrinivas (travellers' lodge) run by Ramakrishna Mission is considered an ideal place to lie your weary head, there are several hotels and lodges around Kamarpukur and Jayrambati, each of varying tastes.
- 1 Kamarpukur Ramakrishna Math Yatrinivas. Online booking in advance.