Shrinkhala Devi Temple is located in Hooghly,West Bengal at Pandua/ Praddyumnam. It is a temple is dedicated to Devi Durga and it is considered one of the 18 Maha Shakthi Peethas. According to legend Sati’s Stomach has fallen at the Shrinkhala Devi temple. At present there is no temple at this place. The Muslim invaders destroyed it and built a mine here. At present this place is under the protection of the archaeological society of India. The doors of what is left of the ruins are locked and entry is banned into the temple. The the archaeological society says it is for security reasons. However it is very clear from its appearance that these temple ruins in front of the mining was the main entrance to the temple of Shrinkhala Devi.
Every year during magha maasa (Around February) a festival by name MELA TAALA of about 30 days duration is celebrated in the premises of the Minar which is attended by local hindu and muslim communities in large numbers (More than 1 lakh). It is one of the important celebration of that place.
An old window present in the campus of-shrinkala matha temple
Minar at Pandua
Remains of a ruined pillar
It is said that the great Rishyshringa Maharshi worshipped Mata here and got her blessings. According to one legend Rishi Rushyasrunga took Devi to Sringeri in Karnataka as per the wishes of the Devi. There is said to be a Shrinkhala Devi Temple in Karnataka. But when I visited and searched and enquired about no one knew about it.
Every year during the Hindu month of Magha Masa which falls around February the locals organise a Devi festival called locally Mela Tala for about a month and it is celebrated near this ruins and it is is attended by both the Hindus and Muslims!
The Temple visit timings are from 6.00Am to 8.00PM.
Accommodation: The T.T.D has constructed several guest houses here called Yatri Nivas, Sri Sharada Kripa, Bharathi Tirtha Vihara, Sri Shankara Kripa, Sri Sri Shankara Sadana, Sri Srinivasa Kripa and accommodation is available for a nominal cost. Regrettably no advanced booking of the guest house is possibleand you have to go to the Information Office located next to Sri Sharada Temple.
How to reach:
Air: Calcutta airport is 71 kn away.
Train: Panduva is about 82 km from Howrah by Train and takes about 3 hours from Howrah.
Road: Several companies have bus service to Panduva from Calcutta and Howrah.
