Antpur

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Antpur | type = village | latd =22.766 | longd =88.383
locator_position = right | state_name = West Bengal
district = Hooghly
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area_telephone =91 3212 25
postal_code =712424
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Antpur ( _bn. আঁটপুর) is a village in Hooghly District in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is around 20 km from Tarakeswar, the famous temple town and railhead for the Sheoraphuli-Tarakeswar section.

History and Significance

The most famous temple in Antpur is that of Radhagovindjiu with exquisite terracotta carvings depicting stories from all the 18 puranas. This 100 feet high temple was constructed by Krishna Ram Mitra, in 1786 (1708 Shakabda). Its Chandi Mandap and Dol Mancha have beautifully crafted wood carvings. [ [http://www.seemyindia.com/west-bengal/west-bengal-antpur.htm Seemy India] ]

The period when the temple was built was curious. Muslim rule was ebbing out and the Europeans were making forays into the country. It is said that Krishna Ram Mitra built the temple to enthuse the Hindus. Terracota work which was earlier an exclusive preserve of Bishnupur artisans was no more so. While Radha and Krishna are predominant in the carvings, of Shovabazar Rajbari in 1757. [ [http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050724/asp/calcutta/story_5026403.asp The Telegraph 24 July 2005] ]

Besides the main temple of Radhagovindjiu are the temples of Gangadhara, Fuleswara, Rameswara, Jaleswara and Baneswara.

Antpur was the village home of Baburam Ghosh (later Swami Premananda). It was at Antpur that Swami Vivekananda and eight other disciples of Sri Ramakrishna took their vow of ‘sannyasa’ on 24 December 1886. The Ramakrishna-Premananda Ashram of Antpur has built a temple on the birth-place of Swami Pramananda. [ [http://www.wbtourism.com/heritage/hooghly.htm#Hooghly West Bengal tourism] ]

Economy

Antpur's rural economy has developed due to the presence of the famous temples listed above. There is a constant stream of middle-class devotees who visit Antpur. The villagers are accustomed to vehicular traffic and other exposure to the life-styles of well-off Indians and foreigners.

Rajbalhat, 20 minutes by bus from Antpur, is famous for handloom saris. [ [http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050724/asp/calcutta/story_5026403.asp The Telegraph 24 July 2005] ]

Transport

Now, one has to go to Antpur by road either directly from Kolkata or from Tarakeswar or Haripal. Earlier Antpur was a station on the Howrah-Amta-Chapadanga-Shiakhala narrow-gauge route of the Martin Light Railway Company, a private rail service established in 1892. The rail company was shut down in the 1950s, and the tourist flow to the village declined gradually after that. [ [http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050724/asp/calcutta/story_5026403.asp The Telegraph 24 July 2005] ] [ [http://www.hinduonnet.com/businessline/2000/07/24/stories/142460l2.htm The Hindu Business Line 24 July 2000] ]

References

External links

* [http://wikimapia.org/275815/ Satellite view]

ee also