Mayapur
If you are on a short visit to Kolkata and cannot
manage over night stay to explore a new place, this is one trip you can have in
your agenda. A train from Sealdah at 6.10 AM and you reach Krishnanagar station
by 8.35 AM – Add another half an hour if that spills over due to signal
clearance in a few stations. Just in case you miss this, you have one more
train at 7.30 AM.
From Krishnanagar Station
A reserved auto from Krishnanagar Station to Mayapur
ISKCON would roughly be around INR 350. Instead, a Toto from the station to
Krishnanagar Bus stand and another bus directly to ISKON would be dirt cheap –
INR 27 per person. Alternatively, to save time, the autos take you to the bank
and you can cross the river to reach ISKCON.
Srila Prabhupada's Pushpa Samadhi Mandir
This is actually the memorial to the founder of the
International Society of Krishna Consciousness – A photographer’s delight. When
you drop your shoes in the free shoe stand, or your mobiles for a nominal
charge of INR 10 or your baggage in the third counter, make sure you also visit
the Radha Madhav Temple which is just a stone throw distance away before
collecting your things back – or you have to do this exercise all over again.
The beautiful part about ISKCON is the feel of the place
– the chanting of Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, Hare Krishna, Hare
Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare. We happened to be there during 24 hours
Kirtan from 16th to 20th February 2015.
The Museum
Visit to the Museum is optional. The ticket will cost
you INR 10. It portrays the life of Srila Prabhupada. The moments are well
captured in the gallery, using fiberglass exhibits and it leaves a mark on you
for its natural look.
Radha Madhav Temple
You can always take a Toto to see the place around
including the Goshala, the life style of people, the local culture, saffron
robed devotees but then, people’s preferences vary – why distract the spiritual
seeker in local mundane if you can just sit in Radha Madhav’s Temple and absorb
the quite tranquility of the place in spite of the ongoing Kirtan and
accelerate your inward journey.
Lunch & Prasadam
You can choose to have lunch in ISKCON premises between
12 to 3 PM, at a nominal cost of INR 30 or 45 and pick dry prasadam for friends
and relatives from the stores around who claim to source it from the temple.
You can try Italian Pizza in Gourango Pizzaria or the Govinda Restaurant for
light food.
If you want to pick mementoes, books and gifts, there
are plenty of shops apart from ISKCON’s in-house stores.
Other Places
Nabadwip – the birthplace of Sri Sri Chaitanya
Mahaprabhu is another attraction, which is just a ferry away from Mayapur.
Alternatively you can do this place on another day using the Katwa local train.
Mayapur is approximately 130 kms from Kolkata and can
also be reached by car or a bus from Esplanade. In train, the trip will cost
you just INR 150 per person, including lunch in ISKCON premises.
Disclaimer:
It is always better to read and know more about the place before you visit. Jai
Sri Krishna. Hare Rama Hare Krishna are common utterances there.
