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Amkhoi Wood Fossil Park, IllamBazar, near Bolpur (Shantiniketan)
Amkhoi Wood Fossil Park
IllamBazar, near Bolpur (Shantiniketan)
The villagers of Amkhoi village, near Bolpur, while digging a pond in 2006 stumbled upon giant bone-like structures. Unable to figure out what they were, they informed the local administration.
These lead to a scientific investigation revealing what look like giant bones were actually fossilized wood. Scientific digging continued at the pond site extracting more such fossilized wood specimen, which was estimated to be 15 to 20 million years old.
Bhot Bagan, Howarah Buddhist Monastery with a tumultuous history
Bhot Bagan
The Howarah Buddhist Monastery with a tumultuous history
Visitors in the Himalayas are all familiar with monasteries. They generally consist of Buddhist shrines of Tibetan origin surrounded by fluttering prayer flags with green hills or snow peaks in the backdrop. But can you imagine such a monastery in the plains of Bengal!! That too right next to the Hooghly River and bang opposite the city of Kolkata.
Bhot Bagan, literally meaning the Tibetan Garden, is presently located in the winding lanes of Ghusuri in Howrah. It dates back to 1780 and happens to be the oldest Tibetan Buddhist Monastery outside the Himalayas.
Canning House, the last remains of the failed Canning Port Project
Canning House, 24 Parganas (South)
The last remains of the failed Canning Port Project
Since the late 17th century Calcutta (now Kolkata) has flourished as a flourishing river port and contributed a chunk of the trade of East India Company. It also served as the Capital of British India and was considered the second city of the British empire.
Plan for a new port: But In the early 1850s it was found that the river was first silting up and the East India Company decided to make a new port further down the river. Surveyors were sent deep into the Sundarban area and they finally came up with a spot on the banks of the Matla River.
Nandadirghi, Buddhist Vihar, Jagjibanpur, Malda
Nandadirghi Vihar
Buddhist Vihar, Jagjibanpur, Malda
Also see: Gour Pandua Tour
During the summer of 1987 Jagadish Gayen, a farmer from the remote village of Jagjibanpur bordering Bangladesh in Malda district, stumbled upon a copper plate. The plate measured 52.5cm x 37.5cm and had inscription on both side.
Gayen had no idea what was written but he could figure out that the plate was something extraordinary. Understanding the historic importance he submitted it at the panchayet office. The plate soon moved to the BDO office and then onwards to the DM office and final made its way to the State Archaeology department.
Nimasarai Minar of Malda, tower of a medieval inn
Nimasarai Minar, Malda
Tower of a medieval inn
Also see: Gour Pandua Tour
Today Malda town the district headquarters of Malda district serves a base for tourist visiting the two medieval citadels of Gour and Pandua. Today Pandua lies about 32 km north of Malda, while Gour is 15 km south of Malda.
Today Malda town with its share of hotels and restaurants serve as a night stay option for tourist heading for the two medieval citadels of Gour-Pandua. Today good roads connect both the ancient towns to Malda and vehicles are readily available for tours covering the monuments of the twin citadels.