Tarapith: Places to Visit on Your Weekend Getaway

An abode of Maa Tara, another form of goddess Kali, Tarapith with its rustic beauty is popular among devotees and tourists alike. At a driving distance of 4-5 hours from Kolkata, it can also be a base to explore Birbhum district, a popular Hindu pilgrimage site.

Places to Visit in Tarapith

Maa Tara Temple - Popular among devotees, Maa Tara, the temple deity, is made of stone and is ritually bathed and clothed twice every day. Only 30 devotees are allowed to see this special ritual called Siddhi Roop. The temple is always crowded and it make sense to have a priest help you with the darshan.

Shatiniketan - This small town was shaped by the dreams of poet Rabindranath Tagore. He established an ashram here, which was eventually converted into the Visva Bharati University. Take a tour of the varsity complex which has many heritage buildings and homes of the poet. Regular buses ply between Tarapith and Shantiniketan.

Nalhateshwari Temple - About 25 kilometres from Tarapith, this is the place where the ‘nala’ or throat of goddess Shakti in believed to have fallen after an angry and grieving Shiva performed Tandava dance with the body of his dead wife. It is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths in the country. Devotees come here for a darshan of Mata Nalhateshwari, an avatar of goddess Kali.

Mallarpur Shiv temples - This temple complex is about 10 kilometres from Tarapith and is believed to be one of the oldest in the Birbhum district. Built by the Malla kings about 800 years ago, it has 21 temples and a pond on the eastern periphery. Devotees of Lord Shiva throng the temple, particularly during Shivratri. On this occasion, a grand fair is also held in the nearby Nimtala ground.

Massanjore Dam - This colossal dam is built on the Mayurakshi River in Dumka district of Jharkhand. With bounties of nature all around, it is an ideal site for a family picnic. You can go for boating and try your hand at angling too. Later, enjoy the fresh palm juice sold by the tribal vendors here.

Insider Tips

Visit the tribal villages nearby or walk through the paddy fields to get a glimpse of rural life. You can also buy local crafts and artefacts here.

Where to Stay? Hotel Sonar Bangla and Amantran Hotel and Resort are few hotels in Tarapith

Budget: Rs. 2,500 for 2-night hotel stay

Distance from Kolkata: 221 kilometres (4 hours by road via NH2)

Traveller Type: Family, Couples