TravelStories: Intricate Terracota Ornamentation In Bengal

I finally set my equation with Mahadev right today. Shivji has been playing games for the past couple of weeks.

Each time I planned a visit to Ambika Kalna, I ended up exploring some other place. First time I covered Halisohor and then Riverside Ramkrishna Mission, last Sunday

Today, we left at around 7:50 AM to board the Katwa local. We paid INR 10/- to Toto to reach the local railway station.

The train tickets cost us INR 15 each for Ambika Kalna. I was actually in a dilemma if I should buy tickets for Bishnupriya Halt (INR 25/-) so that we could cover Nabadwip first and then Kalna. I discarded the idea as it will be too hectic. I am glad we chose only Kalna as this place has quite a few places to cover.

The local train was ten minutes late and after we reached Kalna, we just walked out of the station, took a Toto to our first spot – Nava Kailash

It was probably written on our face, I guess that we were tourists here. So the Toto driver asked if we will be interested to see other pilgrim spots and he gave a long list. He quoted INR 300 and then dropped it to INR 250.

I wanted to cover one or two spots first and see if we had stamina for the rest. I had senior with me and had to be mindful of that first.

About Kalna

It is a small town located on the west bank of the Bhagirathi. The temples built their by the Maharajas of Bardhaman still stands tall as a testimony of Kalna’s flourishing and glorious past.

To be able to deep dive into the history of this place, which is perfect for a short one day tour, you are just a decision away.

You can board a Katwa local either from Howrah or Sealdah and reach Ambika Kalna

Nava Kailash Temple / 108 Shiv Mandirs

This was built by Maharaja Teja Chandra Bahadur in 1809. These brick temples are constructed in two circles.

The outer circle has 74 temples and the inner circle has 34. The temples had alternate white marble and black stone shivlingas in the outer circle and only white shivalingas in the inner round. The temples symbolically represent beads in a rosary.

Nava Kailash

All of them are Aat-Chala means eight-sloped roofed temples.

I noticed the structure could use some more care from the authorities however the lawns and the flower arrangements that separated the two circles were very well maintained.

74 Temples In the Outer Circle and 34 In the Inner Circle

We dropped some donation in the box before we left the premises hoping it will help in its maintenance. We cross the road and enter a huge high walled complex to see some wonderful and intricate terracotta work on temples.