Jalpesh Mandir is a famous temple of North Bengal located near Maynaguri town. This place is around 25 km away from Jalpaiguri town and 8 km from Maynaguri. Taxi is available from Jalpaiguri and Maynaguri to reach this place. One can also hire van rickshaw from Maynaguri to reach this place.
The Jalpesh Temple is around 3 kilometres from away Mainaguri. Maynaguri is a census town in Jalpaiguri district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is known as the “Gateway of Dooars” and is a regionally significant tourist destination for its temple to Shiva, and is dedicated to Lord Jalpeswara (Siva).
The temple was constructed in a style akin to Islamic architecture. Inside, there is a Shivling called ‘Anadi’. Mahashivaratri is the key festival celebrated in this temple, which is 126 feet high and 120 feet wide. Pilgrims come during Sravani Melain July–August and during the fair of Jalpesh Mela in February–March to offer special puja to Siva. Millions of pilgrims gather during ‘Shivratri & Sravani Mela’ before Independence of India, elephants were traded during mela in the spring people come from Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and all adjacent states, collect water from River Teesta and walk barefoot 15 kilometres to the temple. Jalpesh is a temple dedicated to Lord Siva, now is also known as Jalpeshwara. Pilgrims come during Sravani Mela in the month of July – August and during February – March for offering special Puja to God Siva (There is daily but Ananta Siva Lingha) is placed inside the temple.
The 350-year-old temple of Lord Shiva was founded by Sri Biswa Singha in the year 1524. From the time back it has been there since. Biswa Singha was the father of Maharaja Nara Narayan of ‘Kamta Behar’ (Cooch Behar) and he also later rebuild the temple in 1563. Again after a period of 100 years Pran Narayan, a king in succession rebuilds this temple in the year 1663 A.D. Then after refusing to hold the Royal Umbrella at the coronation of the then King Luxminarayan of Cooch Bihar, in 1621 Mahi Deb Raikut, signified his independence and refused to pay tribute. From then onwards, the temple of Jalpesh was looked after by the Raikut’s of Baikunthopur. Again in the year 1897, the temple was almost destroyed by an earthquake. It was reconstructed by Rani Jagedeswari Devi, the wife of Raja Jogendra Deb Raikut on Jan 30 1899.
During the monsoon month (Hindu calendar month of Shravan), thousands of pilgrims from North Bengal and around flock to Jalpesh Mandir for puja, chanting ‘Bholey Bom’. During this time a great fair is organized around the temple complex.
