East Medinipur is a district in the state of West Bengal with its headquarters located at Tamluk. It was granted independent district status in 2002 after the Partition of Midnapore, which created East and West Medinipur. It has been further divided into the sub districts of Tamluk, Egra, Haldia and Contai. The scenic district is named after the tribal deity, Medinimata. With centuries of legacy and heritage, the scenic district has also been an ancient marine trade center at Tamluk or Tamralipta, which means full of Copper. The district is rich in mineral resources and home to numerous mining companies. Apart from that, East Medinipur has carved a niche for itself as one of the best tourist places in West Bengal. Verdant dense forests, rivers and rivulets that run through the district make it a vacation spot right in the lap of Nature. It has something for everyone, from temples to forests, so if you are here on a pilgrimage or a wildlife adventure to bird watching or simply relaxing.
The Jagannath Temple at Nutan Bazar was built in 1851, possibly at the request of a descendant of the Ganga dynasty of Orissa. Other temples from the eighteenth century include the Hanuman-jeu Temple in Mirzabazar, the Sitala temple at Barabazar, and the Habibpur Kali Temple. One of the oldest temples in the town is the Rukmini temple at Nutanbazar which was built in the 17th century.The Ramakrishna Mission also has a temple adjacent to an elementary and high school. The goddess Kali at the Battala temple is an important temple in the locality, but is a more recent addition.
There are numerous majars and dargahs dotting the town. Jora Masjid is the most notable in the town and is the site of a notable annual urs. Among the majars, Dewan Baba’s majar near the District Court and Fakir Kua near the bus terminus are locally revered. According to local legend, the water of the well at Fakir Kua majar has mysterious healing powers, although the veracity of this claim is debatable.
The Chapaleswar and Mahamaya temples at Karnagarh, 10 km north of the town, are two of the most popular temples. Both were built in the early eighteenth century.This temple is also of historic importance as being a hotspot of the Chuar Revolt during the Indian Independence Movement.
Since many Midnaporeans are fond of walking, a number of parks have come up in recent years.Gopegarh Heritage Park is a good picnic spot for families and youth and was opened in 2001. Booking for sheds and boating facilities can be arranged at the Forest Range Office. Another major park has come up near the Police headquarters (also known as “Police line”). Many people can also be seen in the cooler morning and evening hours walking near the riverfront.
There are a number of major theaters in the town including the Aurora, Mahua and Hari Cinema Hall. But Aurora, Mahua are closed now, only Hari Cinema Hall is still running A number of private and government operated halls include the Zilla Parishad Hall, Vivekandanda Hall (inside Midnapore College), and Vidyasagar Hall. These are often the venue for numerous cultural events like the hosting of dramas, concerts, poetry-recitals, and dance programs. Some of these are venues for numerous “Melas” or canivals hosted each year on adjacent grounds such as the Midnapore College-collegiate ground, Church School ground (for the Christmas fair), and the river ground (for large political assemblies).
The bank of Kangsabati River (also variously known as Kasai and Cossye) is great for sightseeing and fishing and a popular destination for picnics during the Christmas and New Year’s breaks. Unfortunately the bank is being eroded by new construction, brick-kilns and new communities.
Origin of the Name Tamluk
According to some scholars Tamluk derives its name from the Sanskrit word Tamra Lipta meaning “Full of Copper”.
Tamralipta (Tamluk), lower down the river Hooghly and sea port, had been an important waterway for more than 3000 years. It gets its name from the copper which was mined, as it is even now, at Ghatsila, Jharkhand, Orissa areas which are not far from the city. Copper had been eclipsed by iron around 100 B.C., so the name must have originated during the Copper Age, when Tamralipti exported the ore and metal to peninsular India; the alternative was the less accessible Rajasthan area.
