It was a rain-soaked morning when my friend and I reached Howrah Railway Station quite early in the morning at around 8 AM, to catch the morning local train. We had originally planned to spend the entire day exploring a few temples and historical places in and around Kolkata, but we ended up visiting the Hanseswari Temple in Hooghly.
Bandel, a city in the Hooghly district of West Bengal, was initially our main destination as it is steeped in history and architecture. As the rain continued to pour, we were forced to abandon our itinerary. Yet, travel often rewards spontaneity, and this unexpected change of plans led us to one of the most extraordinary and architecturally unique temples in West Bengal—the magnificent Hanseswari Temple, also called “Hamsesvari Temple or Hangseswari Temple”.
How to reach the Hanseswari Temple
Nestled in the historic town of Bansberia, this lesser-known gem promised an experience unlike any other, turning a gloomy, rain-filled morning into a memorable spiritual journey. Located around 50 Km and, a journey of approximately 1 hour led us to the Bansberia railway station along the Howrah-Katwa line.
When we got off the train, it was raining cats and dogs. So we took shelter under a small tea shop and sipped some piping hot tea, enjoyed the rain and made plans about how we could make the best use of the day. The easiest route is by train and also the fastest. Also, this place can be reached by a hired taxi, but you must check the road conditions.
The rain stopped, and we took an e-rickshaw, which dropped us at the gate of the Hanseswari Temple. The day was quite gloomy, and it was still drizzling. It kept raining the entire day, and we visited a lot of places that day with an umbrella over our heads. Nothing could dampen my spirits; I covered all the places that were in the itinerary.
A Brief History of Bansberia
Bansberia is a small municipality situated around 48 Kms away from Kolkata. Bansberia is a small Municipality own in the Hooghly district of West Bengal. The history of this town dates back to the Mughal Era. According to an age-old legend, the name Bansbati inspired the name Bansberia, which resulted from the clearing of a bamboo grove to build a Fortress in 1656. Mughal emperor Shahjahan handed over the reign of the present-day Bansberia to Raghab Dutta Roy of Patuli. It was Raghab’s son Rameshwar who cleared the bamboo grove.
Bansberia is situated on the western Bank of the Hooghly River. It is also one of the main cities of the ancient Saptagram, a Port city built by the Hindu rulers for carrying out foreign trade with Europe since the 17th century. The word Saptagram refers to the seven villages, namely Bansberia, Kristapur, Basudebpur, Nityanandapur, Sibpur, Sambachora and Baladghati.
Bansberia is famous for the Hanseswari Temple and also stands out as a place rich in heritage, tradition, culture and unique architecture. The Ananta Basudeb Mandir (1679 A.D) and the Shrine of Zafar Khan Ghazi have been declared as National heritage sites under the Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. These, along with the Kali Temple of Raghu Dakat, are some of the prominent historical places that attract tourists from all over.
The Hanseswari Temple is an outstanding example of Bengal’s unique architecture and design. Well, the temple was commissioned by Raja Nrisingha Deb Roy, and it was completed by his wife, Rani Sankari. It is believed that no expense was spared in the construction of the temple. The temple is partly made of stone and partly of brick. Stones were brought from Chunnar in Uttar Pradesh, and artisans were hired from Jaipur in Rajasthan, and an estimated Rs 5 lakhs were spent in total.
The main deity of the temple is a blue neem-wood idol of the four-armed goddess Hanseswari. She is a manifestation of Goddess Kali and is seated on a Lotus Flower having its stalk coming out of the navel of a samkari in 1814. The temple is 21 meters high and has 13 Ratnas or towers. This is a Ratna-type temple and has thirteen ratnas arranged around its five stories, which are conical in shape with Lotus petal designs.
The temple is designed in such a way that the 13 peaks of each tower are shaped as a blooming lotus flower. It is believed that the temple is constructed according to Tantric principles.
There is yet another temple in the same complex named the Ananta Basudeba temple, which is right beside the main temple. It is a beautifully designed terracotta temple, yet another example of Bengal’s great architecture and design. This is also one of the very few Ekaratna temples of the 17th Century outside Bankura District. There is an Octagonal Pinnacle over the humped roof of the temple, which has arched openings on all its sides.
My experience of visiting the Hanseswari Temple in Bansberia
It was still raining when we reached the temple complex; it was spectacular to watch the enormous structure standing right in front of my eyes. My friend has visited this temple many times, but being a lover of historical places, she was enjoying this visit with me. The Ananta Basudeb temple was closed for some reason, and we were not even allowed to go near it.
We offered our prayers at the historical temple, and it was only due to the blessings of the Goddess that I could reach there in person. The historical temple led me to wonder about the many stories hidden within its walls. This remarkable temple instantly fascinated me with its unusual architecture, and I briefly stepped into Bengal’s past.
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