After getting refreshed with divine Himalayan touch, we spent two nights in a hotel at Salt Lake (Kolkata) for my mother’s routine checkup at Apollo hospital. In the morning at around 7.30am after breakfast we started for Mayapur. Our pre-booked cab driver Pranab Das was a wonderful man – very humble. As we were leaving urban area nature was getting closer to us. It was just after rainy season. Kash flower was in full bloom indicating autumn season.
Jute plants were being harvested and processed. The sticks are very important in worship (yajna), charcoal, board preparation and also used as fuel for cooking in rural areas in eastern India.
As our car was moving I saw jute fibers hanging beside road. Jute fiber is used for bag, paper, textiles, paper and many other purposes. Eastern India used to be the main center of jute cultivation. After partition of India during independence main jute growing land fell under east Pakistan (now Bangladesh).
We reached Mayapur at around 10.30am. I saw people with “tulsimala” chanting Harekrishna. Mayapur is the Headquarter of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness). When we went Sreela Prabhupada Pushpasamadhi Mandir was under construction which now is the main attraction of tourists for it’s beauty.
We were told that we have to get tickets for prasad (lunch) at Gada Bhavan. So we rushed there. There were queues for tickets. After showing ID proof documents we were allotted room at Ishodyan Bhavan and got tickets for prasad (Rs.70/- each normal lunch ticket).
With tickets in hand we waited in long queue. Our tiredness was gone once we got to sit for prasad. Prasad was simple rice, dal, fry, sabji, payesam.
Ishodyan Bhavan is located at a very nice location surrounded by rural beauty. When we visited some other construction works were going on nearby Ishodyan Bhavan. There are beautiful gardens. You can have pizza, samosa, roti and many other veg foods at the restaurants in ISKCON Complex.
There are many other staying options available to the tourists. Gour Nitai Dharmashala is a very inexpensive option for staying at Mayapur.
It was afternoon, we listened to “path” or spiritual lecture on Sri Krishna for some time.
It was getting dark when we went to the main temple. There are specific rules regarding photography and dresses and the devotees have to obey.
Time table for worshipping at the temple is given in details before the main temple entrance.
If someone carries mobile phone or has shoes, he/she can deposit them in the counter. Token is given in return which is required to get back the items. After entering the main temple I was feeling very happy. Many incidents are depicted regarding life of Sri Chaitanya Mahabrabhu. We bought prasadam to offer to God. The priest chanted mantras and returned back the prasadam to us. We returned back after having a happy divine feeling.
I love roof arts. At Ishodyan Bhavan the roof at the entrance is painted showing “avatars” of Lord Vishnu.
Roof art at Ishodyan Bhavan – Lord Vishnu is seen in deep sleep in Kshir Sagar (ocean of milk).
After having refreshing sleep early in the morning we roamed around the temple complex. Then we went to Mayapur-Nabadwip Boral ghat to go to Nabadwip by boat. Motor boat fare is Rs.7/- during our visit and you have to get the ticket at the ghat counter managed by Nabadwip Jolpath Samabay Samiti. We purchased some simple musical instruments for the kids at home. After some time we boarded on our boat.
Nabadwip means nine islands. There are nine islands namely 1. Antardwip 2. Simantadwip 3. Godrumadwip 4. Madhyadwip 5. Koladwip 6. Ritudwip 7. Jahnudwip 8. Modadrumadwip 9. Rudradwip. Due to lack of time we could not visit all of them.
Confluence of River Jalangi and River Bhagirathi can be seen on the way to Nabadwip. Difference between color of two rivers can be easily seen. I saw one indigenous boat carrying local people.
After reaching Nabadwip we hired one man-pulled rickshaw who charged Rs.120/- and showed around the town.
There are many small temples in Nabadwip. We went to few of them. In many of the temples before entering inside you have to pay (Rs.2/- or more).
After visiting temples of Nabadwip I purchased some cotton clothes (gamchha and tant sarees) from a local shop at reasonable price. Nabadwip is famous for cotton clothes and I did not want to miss the chance.
On our way back rickshaw driver stopped at Porama Mandir which he said is very famous in Nabadwip. The temple is inside a large banyan tree. Later on through the internet search I found many interesting facts about this temple one of which is Porama is Maa Bhabatarini (form of Maa Kali) whose face was burnt by the thunders and hence got the name “porama” or burnt mother.
We returned back to Mayapur again by boat. Our cab driver took us to the airport and we sincerely thanked him for his wonderful service. For an outdoorsy like me travelling is always the way to happiness.
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