PATHRA TEMPLE:

Pathra, on the bank of the stream Kangsabati, is a town of sanctuaries. There are 34 sanctuaries in the town, all over 200 years of age. Scarcely 10 km from Midnapore town, this common village is a secret stash for the people who like to turn back the clock.

The historical backdrop of Pathra returns to the Gupta age, when the spot was the hinterland of Tamralipta port, a door to southeast Asia. From eighth Century to twelfth Century, it was a significant center for Hindus, Jains and Buddhists. A great Vishnu Lokeshwar sculpture recovered in the town in October 1961 uncovered the two Hindu and Buddhist impacts, showing that specialists of the two religions regularly visited Pathra.

The downfall began as the rich families moved base from the town and oblivious neighborhood inhabitants began vandalizing the sanctuaries. A significant number of the designs were diminished to rubble. There was neither any drive from the public authority nor from the scholastic circle to save the designs.

The endeavors of a nearby occupant named Yeasin Pathan and a modest bunch of researchers from the mid-1960s at long last drag organic product as government award and specialized help from IIT Kharagpur in saving the sanctuaries. A cut of Bengal's radiant past was rescued at the last possible second.

Today, 28 out of 34 sanctuaries in Pathra are under the management of the Archeological Survey of India. It has fixed 18 sanctuaries. A non-government association named Pathra Archeological Preservation Committee likewise cares for the constructions.

The navaratna sanctuary on the western bank of the waterway is the most stupendous. The 250-year-old, 40-ft high design has nine pinnacles and numerous earthenware boards on its dividers. A little aatchala sanctuary laid out in 1816 stands in a similar compound.

Only inverse to it is a group of three aatchala sanctuaries and a little navaratna sanctuary called Shivalaya. Earthenware works of art embellish these sanctuaries, as well. Behind them is a Durga dalan, a sanctuary like construction made of stone.

Some distance away is one more gathering of pancharatna sanctuaries, worked in the normal Bengal style and enhanced with earthenware models.

The vast majority of the sanctuaries offer looks at Islamic engineering styles. Plaster lime and shell are the fundamental materials utilized.

The earthenware boards that actually exist bear pictures of Ram, Balaram, Radha and Krishna, Dashavatar, Hanuman, Durga and hunting. Most of the sanctuaries are committed to Krishna, Vishnu and Shiva.

The second greatest sanctuary of Pathra is a Sitala sanctuary prevalently known as Burimar than. It, as well, is 40 ft high. The other significant sanctuaries are Sarba Mangal, Kalachand, Das Mahavidya and Hansa.

There's additionally a straightforward yet appealing rasmancha, worked in 1832. It has nine little pinnacles.

City arranging understudies at IIT Kharagpur have done broad examination on Pathra. They have proposed to foster the town as a legacy the travel industry objective.

Trip tips:

Pathra is a two-hour drive from the city. The street inside the town can be hard to explore after a spell of downpour. Pathra can be reached through Kharagpur too. Contact Pathra Archeological Preservation Committee (Phone: 9932785126) for extra data. Pack food and water.

How to reach :

From Kolkata to Pathra Temple  Total Distance – 136 KM

NH-16 – Panskura – Debra – Medinipur – Hatihalka – Pathra Road followed…..