Mainaguri

Mainaguri is a census town in Jalpaiguri district in the state of West Bengal, India. It is known as the "Gateway of Dooars" and is a regionally significant tourist destination for "Jalpesh Temple" of Lord Shiva and nearby Gorumara National Park.

Mainaguri

Maynaguri
Census Town
Nickname(s): 
Gateway of Dooars
Mainaguri
Location in West Bengal, India
Mainaguri
Mainaguri (India)
Mainaguri
Mainaguri (Asia)
Coordinates: 26.564°N 88.820°E / 26.564; 88.820
Country India
StateWest Bengal
DistrictJalpaiguri
Elevation
84 m (276 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total30,490
Languages
 • OfficialBengali[1][2]
 • Additional officialEnglish[1]
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
735224[3]
Vehicle registrationWB
Lok Sabha constituencyJalpaiguri
Vidhan Sabha constituencyMaynaguri

Location

Mainaguri is located at 26.57°N 88.82°E / 26.57; 88.82.[4] It has an average elevation of 84 metres (275 feet).

Mainaguri is about 10 km north-east of Jalpaiguri and 50 km from Siliguri. Local attractions include Jalpesh Temple, Gorumara National Park and Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary. The nearest airport is Civil Enclave Bagdogra, and the nearest railway station is New Mainaguri.[5]

Five roads connect Mainaguri with

  1. Siliguri, Jalpaiguri (West)
  2. Alipurduar, Cooch Behar (East)
  3. Changrabandha, Mathabhanga (South)
  4. Malbazar, Lataguri (North)
  5. Ramsai (North-west).

[6]

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,[7] Mainaguri had a population of 27,086. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Mainaguri has an average literacy rate of 75%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 80%, and female literacy is 70%. In Mainaguri, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Education

Radhika Library, has been operating here since 1910. Radhikanath Nandi who was the Deputy Collector of the Khasmahal office at Mainaguri, helped to begin the library. At the beginning, 1 anna was decided as the monthly fees of the library. It used to be a rural library. It was upgraded as town library on 1 March 1983. It has more than 14,000 books and around 600 members.[8]

Transport

Road:

NH31

The main mode of transport in the area is roadways. Most of the places are well connected by roads and to rest of India. NH 31 is the main highway of the area. Regular bus services provided by North Bengal State Transport Corporation and Assam State Transport Corporation and other private parties run between all important places of the area. Share jeeps and maxi-taxies are quite popular in the area.

Rail:

A DMU train @ New Maynaguri

Mainaguri lies in the Northeast Frontier Railway zone of the Indian Railways. There are railway links to the rest of the country directly and via Kolkata. The major railway junction of New Jalpaiguri (Code:NJP) is 45 km from the town. New Mainaguri railway station (NMX) serves the town directly. Another rail station of this city is Mainaguri Road (MYGD). It is about 5 km from the city. Maynaguri Road station is an important station of Malbazar-Changrabandha. Previously it was known as Doars railway. Mainaguri Road station is also 'Y' connected with New Maynaguri and New Domohoni rail station.

Places of interest

Jalpesh Temple
Jalpesh Temple of Lord Shiva

The Jalpesh Temple is approximately 3 kilometres from away Mainaguri 26°31′32″N 88°52′1″E, and is dedicated to Lord Jalpeshwar (Siva). The temple was built in a style akin to Islamic architecture. Inside the temple, there is a Shivling called 'Anadi'. Mahashivaratri is the main festival celebrated in this temple, which is 126 feet high and 120 feet wide.[9] Pilgrims come during Sravani Mela in July–August and during the fair of Jalpesh Mela in February–March to offer special puja to Siva. After worshipping, devotees, whose number reach approximately 1.2 million, collect water from River Teesta and walk barefoot 15 kilometres to the temple.[10]

Jalpesh Temple was founded by Bisu Singh of Cooch Behar in A.D. 1524. His son, Maharaja Narayan, rebuilt the temple in A.D. 1563. Pran Narayan in turn rebuilt the temple in A.D. 1663[11]

Other places
A view of Himalayan Range
Jatileswar Temple of Lord Shiva
  • Jatileswar Temple(dedicated to Lord Jatileshwara or Lord Shiva)
  • Bateshwar Temple
  • Mahakal Temple
  • Ramsai Wildlife(Gorumara National Park)
  • Khuksiya Park

Culture

Festivals

Various festivals are celebrated throughout the year. Kali Puja of Mainaguri is renowned. It also celebrates Eid and Christmas Day with similar pompousness.

Sports and entertainment

Mainaguri has a famous playground (Known as Mainaguri Football Ground) where several football tournaments are held every year.

Other than that several fairs (Baishakhi mela, Mela during durgapuja etc.), book fair, one yearly cultural function organised by local clubs is also held. This ground is an inseparable part of the people of Mainaguri.

References
  1. "Fact and Figures". Wb.gov.in. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  2. "52nd REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR LINGUISTIC MINORITIES IN INDIA" (PDF). Nclm.nic.in. Ministry of Minority Affairs. p. 85. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  3. "Maynaguri Pin Code, Search Maynaguri JALPAIGURI PinCode". www.citypincode.in. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  4. "Maps, Weather, and Airports for Mainaguri, India". www.fallingrain.com. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  5. "Mainaguri in Mainaguri India". www.india9.com. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  6. "Mainaguri Pincode". citypincode.in. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  7. "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
  8. "Town Library Automation " Radhika Library". Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  9. "Jalpesh Shiva Temple in Jalpaiguri India". www.india9.com. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  10. "Tourist Places in North Bengal | North Bengal Tourism". www.north-bengal.com. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  11. "Cooch Behar Government: Royal History : Book of Facts and Events". Archived from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2008.
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