BY DEBAJYOTI CHAKRABORTY
KOLKATA, 21 SEPTEMBER :
After Tagore’s abode of peace, Shantiniketan has bagged the coveted UNESCO’s World Heritage tag, now a village in Murshidabad district of West Bengal, Kiriteswari has bagged the best touwin village award 2023 from union minister of Tourism.
“Glad to share and announce that Kiriteshwari in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal has been selected by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, as the Best Tourism Village of India. The selection has happened in the Best Tourism Village Competition,2023, from among 795 applications received from 31 States/ UTs. MoT, GoI will give away awards on 27th September in New Delhi. I congratulate the people of the village,” tweets an ecstatic Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from Dubai.
Mr. Anil Punjabi, member of the national executive committee of Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) told The Travel and Tourism Times, amidst the serene beauty of West Bengal’s villages , lies the heart of hospitality and the soul of tradition. “ Murshidabad, a true gem, shines as the receipient of the Best Tourism Village Award, a testament to its rich culture and warm welcomes,” Mr. Anil Punjabi added.
Mr.Manav Soni, Chairman ( East) of Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) said that the last two recogntion and awards will further boost the travel and tourism sector of the state. “ We are delighted to hear that after Shantiniketan in UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site List , now Kiriteswari village has bagged the best tourism village award in the country. Congratulations to our Chief Minister, Toursim Minister and Principal Secretary tourism for acheaving such feats,” said Mr Manav Soni.
ABOUT KIRITESWARI TEMPLE :
The 300 years old Kiriteswari Temple is situated in Kiritkona village under the Nabagram CD block in the Lalbag subdivision of Murshidabad district in the state of West Bengal. This is one of the 51 Shakti Pithas in the country.
According to the Puranas or Hindu mythology the place were named as Kiriteswari. Peeth devi name is devi Vimala and Bhairab is Samvarta. The construction of the temple is more than 1000 years old and this place was considered to be the sleeping place of Mahamaya. Local people call this temple as Mahishamardini. Devi is also worshipped as Mukuteshwari (as her mukut or crown fell) the Holy Goddess. The original Temple was destroyed in 1405.
The present temple was re-constructed by Darpanarayan, king of Lalgola in the 19th century and this is the oldest mark of architecture amongst 51 Peethas. It is the oldest temple in the Murshidabad district. There is a legend that Nawab Mir Jafar in his death bed had requested for the holy Charanamrito (the holy water) of Maa Kiriteswari while suffering from leprosy
According to David J. McCutchion the Kiriteswari Temple is a small shrine which is basically a char-chala, “but the curve of the cornice has been repeated as a pattern all the way up the roof (eight segments). He also mentions it as a char-chala with an ek-bangla porch.
How to go:
Airport- The nearest airport is at Kolkata, located about 195 km from Murshidabad. The airport is well connected by flights to Indian cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Bengaluru. From the airport taxi services are available for Murshidabad.
Railways – Murshidabad railway station is connected by trains to Howrah, Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmadabad and several other Indian cities. Taxi services are available from the station.
Road – Mushidabad is well connected by road. State-run buses from Kolkata, Burdwan, Rampurhat, Suri, Bolpur, Malda, Krishnagar and Durgapur do ply regularly to Murshidabad. One can also hire a taxi to reach Murshidabad from the above mentioned places.
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