Mayapur

Sri Mayapur is a village on the bank of the river Ganges, which is considered holy by Hindus and lovingly known as mother Ganga. It's approximately 130 km north of Kolkata and across the Ganges from the city of Navadvipa. It is the birthplace of Sri Krishna Chaitanya, who was born in 1486. His followers believed he was an incarnation of Krishna, and he is the one who started the Hare Krishna movement; he was the first to teach widespread mass chanting and singing of the Hare Krishna mantra.

By bus

ISKCON Kolkata operates AC and non-AC buses thrice a week, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 033 64588777, 033 32488041, +91-3330-289258. The bus takes passengers from the Kolkata temple straight to Sri Mayapur. Iskcon Kolkata also provides cars for hire, 033 64588777.

By train

From Howrah station

If you are catching a train at Howrah, a clean and less-crowded train to catch is Intercity express, which leaves Howrah at about 3:15PM. It reaches Nabadwip Dham by about 5:15PM.
There are trains leaving Howrah and which pass through Nabadwip Dham, practically every hour and a half, but they are sometimes quite crowded. It takes about 3 hours to reach Nabadwip Dham from Howrah. But it is a better option to get down at Bishnupriya Halt Station which is nearer to Mayapur Ghat.
Once you reach Nabadwip Dham station, you have to take a rickshaw to Mayapur Ghat and then get on a boat to cross over the Ganga to reach Hular Ghat at Mayapur. Take a rickshaw to come to ISKCON’s Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir.

From Sealdah station

Sealdah is a train station in Kolkata. There are trains leaving Sealdah and which pass through Krishnanagar City Jn station. Usually these trains are crowded. It takes about two hours to reach Krishnanagar from Sealdah in express train. In local EMU it will take 2½ hours.

From Krishnanagar

From Krisnanagar, you can catch a rickshaw to go to the bus terminal (“bus stand”) and catch a bus to ISKCON Mayapur. Or, you can get into a three-wheeler to go to Mayapur Ghat in Swarup Ganj (where Bhaktivinoda Thakura used to live), get on a boat to cross over the Jalangi river to reach Hular Ghat at Mayapur. Then take a rickshaw to come to ISKCON Mayapur.

Walk or get a rickshaw.

• ISKCON TempleThis is the head temple of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

Other sights

• Ballal DhigiThis 30-ft high mound spread over a sprawling area of 1,300 sq ft, has been standing at Bamunpukur village near Mayapur. The locals call it Ballal Dhipi, named after King Ballal Sen, of the Sen dynasty, who ruled Bengal in the late 12th century AD. ASI excavated between 1982-89. Excavation has revealed a stupendous brick structure in an extensive yard, covered on all sides by enclosure walls. Stucco heads, terracotta human and animal figurines, copper utensils and other objects, iron nails etc were found from excavation. The upper remains are datable to 12th century AD and built over the earlier structures of 8th and 9th century AD. To get there the best possible way is to arrange for rickshaws they charge something between ₹60-₹70.

• Goshala: ISKCON Mayapur’s Gosala takes care of more than 200 cows and bulls. A veterinary doctor performs timely health checks. The Mayapur Gosala also sells health products derived from the cow such as ghee, yogurt, go-ark (distilled cow urine) and others.

• Nabadwip CityThis is an old city. Nabadwip lies on the western side of the river Bhagirathi at a distance of about 20 km from Krishnagar and it is associated with birth of Lord Sri. Chaitanya and the advent of the Vaishnab religion in Bengal. Sri. Chaitanya was not only a religious leader preaching Vaishnab ideas and Bhakti cult but also a social reformer in the 16th Century. Nabadwip was the capital of Lakshman Sena, the famous ruler of Sena dynasty, who ruled from 1179 to 1203. There are a number of temples and pilgrimage centres. Dwadas Shib Mandir built in 1835 with the exquisite floral designs attracts a large number of pilgrims. The images and idols of Lord Sri. Chaitanaya in a few other places are also regarded with reverence.

• Srila Prabhupada’s personal quarters: On the second floor of the Lotus building are two rooms (Room 18) that were used by Srila Prabhupada as his personal quarters in 1976-77. These rooms have been maintained as when Prabhupada was present. The first room was Srila Prabhupada’s darsana room and in the next room, Srila Prabhupada’s personal Deity of Sri Mayapur-chandra and the imprint of Srila Prabhupada’s lotus feet are there. In the darsana room, a larger than life size murti of Srila Prabhupada is present and behind this murti is a display of his personal belongings and books. On his right is a display of his books that have been translated into many languages.

• Chant. Chanting is traditional in this centre for Krishna Consciousness.

• Mangal AratiAttend the early morning Mangal Arati held in the Sri Radha Madhav Temple. Summer and winter timings may differ by a couple of minutes, however, the reception near the main gate and inside the guest houses within the ISKCON campus will be able to provide a prayer timings pamphlet. It is a blissful gathering of devotees and visitors, and early morning prayer to the deities.

• Prasadam

  address: 50 b l ghosh road belghoria kol 57
  There is one restaurant in this town, operated by ISKCON for the glory of Krishna, of course. The breakfast consists of puri and alu shabji along with sweets. Lunch is splendid and so is the dinner, but as the menu varies, you have to go to find out what's being served.

Chaitanya Bhaban, Gada Bhaban, Gouranga Kutri are the economic accommodation options.

• Baba Loknath Guest House

  phone: +91 34714 245025
  address: Hular Ghat

• Chaitnaya Bhavan

  address: (03472) 245362

• GuesthouseISKCON has a guesthouse.

• Jahnabi Tirtha Hotel

  address: Hular Ghat

• Bethuadahari ForestBethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary is 15 km away. Maintained by West Bengal Forest department one will find lots of deer in this 5 km² forest. There is a tourist lodge inside the forest. To stay there you need to contact West Bengal Forest Department.

• Krishnanagar CityKrishnanagar is 15 km away. This city is an old city having historical value. One can see a beautiful Cathedral charch, an old palace of Maharaja Krishnachadra and the house of famous Gopal Bhar. One must visit the Ghurni Putulpatti which is an arcade for selling clay sculpture. and this place is known for making one of the best clay models in the country.

• Plassey (Palashi). Palashi is a place of great historical interest. It is situated at a distance of about 50 km from Krishnanagar. The famous Battle of Plassey was fought here on 23 June 1757 between the last independent ruler of Bengal, Nawab Siraj Ud-Daula (1756-1757) and the British forces under the command of Lord Clive. This battle marked the advent of the British rule in the erstwhile Bengal and in India as a whole. A memorial stone to mark the victory of the British was erected here in 1883. The structure which stands today was built at a later period of Lord Curzon.