As religious as a country India is, all the states in the country try to remain attached to its roots too. Everywhere around the country you will find so many temples and sites of pilgrimages. From all over the world people visit these temples to pay their visit to the Gods and Goddess. IF you are in Howrah then also you will find many such important temples which the devotees find to be extremely important. People from all over the city visit these temples to offer their prayers to the Gods here. One such revered and old temple is the Seth Bansidhar Jalan Smriti Mandir. And very recently after the inauguration of the temple it is also popular as the Bangeshwar Mahadev Temple. The Bangeshwar Mahadev Mandir in Howrah has got its name from the tall statue of Lord Shiva here.
This is furthermore a temple located close to the river Ganges that further elevates the beauty of the temple. The complex is huge and beautifully maintained. With a lot of attractions packed in there is a lot to explore here. So if you are anywhere around Kolkata then you certainly need to go and visit the Bangeshwar Mahadev Temple in Howrah. The serene ambiance and the beautiful atmosphere will bring in a lot of peace in your mind. You will certainly feel rejuvenated and refreshed after a visit there.
Bangeshwar Mahadev Temple
Keep on reading this article as here I will mention everything that you probably need to know about the Bangeshwar Mahadev Mandir. Here I will mention everything that will help you plan a trip to this Mahadev Temple.
Location: 32, Salkia School Road, Salkia, Bandhaghat, Howrah, West Bengal
Timings: 5:30 am to 12 pm 4 pm to 8 pm on all days
Entry fee: There is no entry fee
How to Reach
By air
The nearest airport to reach the Bangeshwar Mahadev Temple is the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport. From there the distance of the temple is 18.5 km and you can reach there in about 50 minutes. You can take a cab or hire a car or travel by your own vehicle from the airport to reach there.
By train
The nearest major railway station to reach the Bangeshwar Temple is the Howrah Station. Also you can take a train to reach the Ahiritola station. From Howrah Station the temple is located at a distance of 3.8 km and you can reach there in about 15 minutes. And from the Ahiritola Station the distance of the temple is about 1.2 km and you can reach there in about 20 minutes.
By road
If you are travelling by road then you can take a cab or take your own vehicle as well to reach Ahiritola. And from there you can either take an auto or take a ferry from the Ahiritola ferry ghat to reach the temple
By metro
If you are travelling by metro then the nearest metro station to reach the Bangeshwar Mahadev Temple is the Shobhabazar Metro Station. From the metro station you can take an auto to reach the ferry ghat. And from there the easiest option is to take a ferry to reach the temple.
By ferry
You can get a ferry from the Ahiritola Ferry Ghat to reach the temple. The ticket price is very low. You have to take a ticket to reach Bandhaghat and the price is Rs. 8 per person. From Bandhaghat the temple is located at a 10 minute walking distance. Or else you can also take a Toto or a Rickshaw as well to reach the Bangeshwar Mahadev Temple.
Overview of Bangeshwar Mahadev Temple
The original temple in Howrah is an ancient temple constructed in 1952. One of the revered families, the Jalan family had constructed this temple just beside the Ganges. The original name of this temple is the Seth Bansidhar Jalan Smriti Mandir. From the time of its construction the temple has been an important site of pilgrimage. However later in 2015 there was installation of a 51 feet tall Shiva statue here known as the Bangeshwar Mahadev. And from that the temple became popular as the Bangeshwar Mahadev Temple.
This is a beautiful statue of Lord Shiva that has intricate detailing in it. And one of the most important features of this statue is the five heads of the idol. The main idea behind this installation was to spread the message of “Love Humanity”. The then President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee had inaugurated and unveiled this structure. Furthermore this statue is also the tallest Shiva statue in Eastern India as well.
In recent years another attraction is added in the temple and that is the replicas of the 12 Jyotirlingas that are found in the different states. For a Shiva devotee visiting a Jyotirlinga is always important. Jyotirlingas are self manifested or Swayambhu forms of Lord Shiva. According to beliefs the Jyotirlingas are locations where Lord Shiva appeared on his own as a flame or a bright light or Jyoti. These Jyotirlingas are one of the most sacred temples of Lord Shiva in the country. But not everyone can always go to all these locations to visit the Jyotirlinga temples.
What’s more?
Therefore for them this is the best option to check out all the temples at one single location. Each of these Jyotirlinga Temples are constructed here as a replica of the original structure of the temple. Furthermore the idols of Lord Shiva are also replicas of the original idols at the different temples. You will get to visit the temples like Somnath, Kedarnath, Mallikarjuna etc here.
The main temple here however lies in the middle of the campus. Here you will find the main Shivalinga which is the presiding deity here. The Shivalinga here is made of silver and the upper covering is totally covered in silver that gives a mix of black and white look to the Shivalinga. Outside the temple there is a passage from where you will get the full view of Ganges. It further elevates the beauty of the location and also provides a very serene atmosphere as well.
From there you will reach a structure that looks like a cave. Here you will find idols of Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati. Outside the cave there is a statue of a crocodile on water and on top of that there is an idol of Maa Ganga. This is the entrance of the cave and once you enter you will find the replica temples of the 12 Jyotirlinags here.
Wrapping Up!
So that was everything about the Bangeshwar Mahadev Temple in Howrah. This new temple in Howrah Salkia is one of the major attractions at the present time. Also this is the only temple near Kolkata where you will get to witness the 12 Jyotirlingas at one single location. Furthermore the tall statue of Lord Shiva here is yet another major attraction for the visitors. In recent times this is a popular location that a lot of devotees visit. And you also certainly should not miss out on visiting the Bangeshwar Mahadev Temple in Howrah. So let me know when you are planning a trip to this location in Howrah. And also let me know if this article is helpful for you in planning a trip to this temple in Howrah.
