ANTPUR

        Antpur is the perfect example of village Bengali poets had described since time immemorial. Full of green,calm n quiet, it is the abode of peace. Devotees of SRI RAMAKRISHNA DEB hold the place in high regard.

        Baburam Ghosh , one of the  twelve disciples of SRI RAMAKRISHNA DEB was born here. His parents were okay with the fact that he wanted to be a monk. So they played host to other monks of Ramkrishna Mission & SRI SRI MAA SARADA DEBI.

       After SRI RAMKRISHNA left for his heavenly abode in the year of 1886 ,  the twelve disciples left home & started living in a dilapidated house at Baranagar. They spent days meditating & survived on alms. They came to Antpur on a chilly day of December. They were realizing the need of renunciation. Finally, on the Christmas eve in 1886 the twelve young men took the decision to renounce the world & be monk.  This event took place in Baburam's house at Antpur.

        The  place where they performed homa & took the oath is well preserved & embellished with a huge  sculpture of the first twelve monks of Sri Ramakrishna order.

        The dilapidated two-storeyed house of Baburam has been restored by the Ramkrishna Mission. On the first floor there's a room where SRI SRI MAA SARADA DEBI put up on Her visit to Antpur. Now a beautiful picture of Hers is housed in the room. The room of Swamiji too is on the first floor.  Behind the house is a pond where Swamiji loved to swim. Now it is named after Him.

HOUSE OF BABURAM GHOSH

        Antpur has some beautiful relics of terracotta architecture also.  There's a huge chala (hut) style  temple of Radha Gobinda. Diwan of Burdwan royal family, Krishna ram Mitra built this terracotta temple in 1786.  Daily worship is performed in Rradha Gobinda temple.  There are  dol mancha & ras mancha in front of the temple.

RADHAGOBINDA TEMPLE

        There are temples of Lord Shiva as well.

        Behind the Radha Gobinda temple stands a chandi mandap ( shrine of Goddess Chandi ) that was erected in medieval period. It  bears the testimony of expertise of the craftsmen in Antpur & adjoining area. The mandap made of wood of jackfruit tree is one of its kind.

       

PART OF THE CHANDI MANDAP

       

          Antpur has a lot to offer, but there's a very few takers. Most of the Bengalis aren't aware of the presence of such a heritage place near Kolkata. Ramkrishna Mission welcomes everyone visiting the place. They provide food & lodging. If solitude,spirituality rejuvenate you, Antpur is your destination.