Kalna

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Kalna
Kalna
State - District(s)	West Bengal - Bardhaman
Coordinates	23.22° N 88.37° E
Area - Elevation	- 11 m
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Population (2001) - Density	52,176 -

Kalna is a city and a municipality in Bardhaman District in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is situated on the western bank of the Ganges. More popularly known as Ambika Kalna, named after a very popular Deity of Goddess Kali, Maa Ambika. It has numerous historical monuments such as the Rajbari (the palace) and the 108 Shiva temples. The town of Kalna(a.k.a. Ambika Kalna), is 50 km. from Bardhaman, the district headquarter.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Attractions
4 References
5 See also

[edit] Geography

Kalna is located at 23.22° N 88.37° E^[1]. It has an average elevation of 11 metres (36 feet).

The town can be accessed by rail or road. By rail it is connected on the loop line route from Howrah towards Katwa. There are several local trains as well as express trains, on the route and almost all of them stop at the Ambika Kalna rail station. By road, the town can be accessed from primarily 4 places, Bandel, Pandua, Bainchi and Barddhaman.

Though part of the Barddhaman district of West Bengal, it is located near the border with Nadia District, and is very near to the famous pilgrimage place called Nabadwip and Mayapur, famous for the centre of ISKON.

[edit] Demographics

As of 2001 India census^GRIndia, Kalna had a population of 52,176. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Kalna has an average literacy rate of 77%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 72%. In Kalna, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.

[edit] Attractions

Popularised by the sage Bhaba Pagla, the temple of Debi Bhabani holds a special puja on the last Saturday of the Bengali month of Baisakh. Close to it is Sri Gauranga Mandir. The temple complex houses Sri Chaitanya's manuscripts and personal belongings. A major landmark is the Siddheshwari Temple. It is dedicated to Debi Ambika, and it is after her that Kalna is also known as Ambika Kalna.

A major attraction is the Nava Kailash or 108 Shiv Mandirs. Built in 1809, the temples are constructed in two circles. One consists of 74 temples while the other circle has 34. The former has white marble and black stone shivlingas, while the latter has only white marble ones. Due to its ingenious planning, all the shivlingas can be seen from the centre of the temple complex.

The Krishna Chandra Mandir, with its 25 steeples, is another popular landmark. Scenes from the epics are depicted on its terracotta walls. Doors remain closed from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.