Advsalahuddinahmed at 04:52, 2 April 2026

2026-04-02T04:52:29Z

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{{Short description|Hindu temple in West Bengal, India}}
{{Infobox religious building
| name = Baneswar Shiva Temple
| native_name = বাণেশ্বর মন্দির ''bāṇeśśor mondir''
| religious_affiliation = [[Hinduism]]
| image = Baneshwar Shiva Temple at Cooch Behar District in West Bengal 05.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Baneswar Temple
| map_type = India West Bengal # India
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|26.399063|N|89.497535|E|display=inline,title}}
| location = [[Baneswar]]
| state = West Bengal
| country = India
| elevation_m =
| year_completed =
| architecture_type =
| festivals = [[Maha Shivaratri]]
| deity =
}}

'''Baneswar Shiva temple''' is a [[Hindu temple]] dedicated to [[Shiva]] located at [[Baneswar]] in the [[Cooch Behar II]] [[Community development blocks in India|CD block]] in the [[Cooch Behar Sadar subdivision]] of the [[Cooch Behar district]] in [[West Bengal]], [[India]]. Here, Shiva is worshipped in the form of Baneswar.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dey |first1=Subhagata |title=কোচবিহারের বানেশ্বর শিব মন্দিরে পুজো দিলেই, খুঁজে পেতে পারেন মানসিক শান্তি |url=https://bengali.news18.com/news/cooch-behar/baneshwar-shiva-temple-in-cooh-behar-lcn-sdg-820437.html |access-date=2 April 2026 |work=[[News18]] |date=7 June 2022 |language=bn}}</ref>

==Geography==
{{OSM Location map
| width=320| height=370| zoom=11
| coord={{coord|26|20|30|N|89|27|30|E}}| float=left|caption='''Places in the Cooch Behar Sadar subdivision in Cooch Behar district''' CT: census town, M: municipal town, R: rural/ urban centre, H: historical/ religious centre Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly
|mark-coord1={{coord|26|20|37|N|89|28|26|E}}| label-pos1=left|label1= Baisguri | numbered1=CT| mark-title1= [[Baisguri]] (CT)|label-color1= #800000 |label-size1=11| mark-size1=12|shape1=l-circle|shape-color1= #A40000 |shape-outline1=white|label-offset-x1=2
|mark-coord2={{coord|26|23|30|N|89|29|45|E}}| label-pos2=left|label2=Baneswar| numbered2=CT| mark-title2= [[Baneswar]] (CT)|shape-color2=black| label-size2=13|label-color2=black 
|mark-coord3={{coord|26|20|10|N|89|28|44|E}}| label-pos3=right|label3=Chakchaka| numbered3=CT| mark-title3= [[Chakchaka]] (CT)
|mark-coord4={{coord|26|16|50|N|89|28|18|E}}| label-pos4=left|label4=Dhaliabari| numbered4=CT| mark-title4= [[Dhaliabari]] (CT)
|mark-coord5={{coord|26|18|49|N|89|27|50|E}}| label-pos5=left|label5=Guriahati| numbered5=CT| mark-title5= [[Guriahati]] (CT)
|mark-coord6={{coord|26|21|36|N|89|27|36|E}}| label-pos6=right|label6=Khagrabari| numbered6=CT| mark-title6= [[Khagrabari]] (CT)
|mark-coord7={{coord|26|18|55|N|89|28|15|E}}| label-pos7=right|label7=Kharimala Khagrabari| numbered7=CT| mark-title7= [[Kharimala Khagrabari]] (CT)
|mark-coord8={{coord|26|20|0|N|89|25|55|E}}| label-pos8=left|label8=Takagachh| numbered8=CT| mark-title8= [[Takagachh]] (CT)
|mark-coord9={{coord|26|19|40|N|89|27|3|E}}| label-pos9=right|label9=Cooch Behar| numbered9=M| mark-title9= [[Cooch Behar]] (M) | shape-color9=#800000
|mark-coord10={{coord|26|14|37|N|89|29|10|E}}| label-pos10=right|label10=Dewanhat| numbered10=R| mark-title10= [[Dewanhat]] (R) | shape-color10= #C42222
|mark-coord11={{coord|26|17|8|N|89|28|12|E}}| label-pos11=right|label11=Ghughumari| numbered11=R| mark-title11= [[Ghughumari]] (R)| shape-color11= #C42222
|mark-coord12={{coord|26|26|15|N|89|22|30|E}}| label-pos12=right|label12=Kalarayerkuthi| numbered12=R| mark-title12= [[Kalarayerkuthi]] (R)| shape-color12= #C42222
|mark-coord13={{coord|26|24|32|N|89|22|56|E}}| label-pos13=right|label13=Pundibari| numbered13=R| mark-title13= [[Pundibari]] (R) | shape-color13= #C42222
|mark-coord14={{coord|26|17|40|N|89|27|20|E}}| label-pos14=left|label14=Gudam Maharaniganj| numbered14=H| mark-title14= [[Gudam Maharaniganj]] (H) |shape-color14=#AA6666
|mark-coord15={{coord|26|19|37|N|89|26|18|E}}| label-pos15=left|label15=Cooch Behar Palace| numbered15=H| mark-title15= [[Cooch Behar Palace]] (H) |shape-color15=#AA6666
|mark-coord16={{coord|26|21|48|N|89|22|41|E}}| label-pos16=right|label16= Madhupur Satra| numbered16=H| mark-title16= [[Madhupur Satra]] (H) |shape-color16=#AA6666
|mark-coord17={{coord|26|22|7|N|89|22|4|E}}| label-pos17=top|label17= Haripur| numbered17=H| mark-title17= [[Haripur, Cooch Behar]] (H) |shape-color17=#AA6666
|mark-coord18={{coord|26|22|11|N|89|29|59|E}}| label-pos18=right|label18= Baikunthapur| numbered18=H| mark-title18= [[Baikunthapur]] (H) |shape-color18=#AA6666
|mark-coord19={{coord|26|23|12|N|89|30|45|E}}| label-pos19=right|label19= Sidheswari| numbered19=H| mark-title19= [[Sidheswari]] (H) |shape-color19=#AA6666
|mark-coord23={{coord|26|18|0|N|89|29|0|E}}|label23= Mara| label-color23 = #77A1CB| label-angle23=-24| label-pos23=top| label-size23=10| mark-size23=0| mark-title23=none
|mark-coord24={{coord|26|17|40|N|89|30|30|E}}|label24= Torsha River| label-color24 = #77A1CB| label-angle24=34| label-pos24=top| label-size24=10| mark-size24=0| mark-title24=none}}

===Location===
Baneswar Shiva temple is located at {{coord|26.399063|N|89.497535|E|display=inline}}.

It is about {{convert|10|km}} from [[Cooch Behar]] and is located near Baneswar railway station on the [[Alipurduar-Bamanhat branch line]]. It is {{convert|1.6|km}} from New Baneswar railway station on the [[New Jalpaiguri–New Bongaigaon section]] of the [[Barauni–Guwahati line]].<ref name="temple">Koch Bihar Jelar Purakirti (in Bengali), Data compilation and writing by Dr. Shyamachand Mukhopadhayay, published by the Department of Archaeology, Government of West Bengal, Second edition 1974, Pages 52-56.</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://indiarailinfo.com/train/-train-alipurduar-bamanhat-passenger-55465/21260/449/7550| title = 55765 =>55465 Alipurduar – Bamunhat Passenger | work= Time Table| publisher = Indiarailinfo |accessdate = 31 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://indiarailinfo.com/train/-train-rangiya-new-jalpaiguri-passenger-55714/7767/1374/444| title = Rangiya New Jalpaiguri Express | work= Time Table| publisher = IndiaRailInfo |accessdate = 10 August 2020}}</ref>

Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.

==The temple==
The beginning of Baneswar Shiva temple is mired in mythology. According to popular belief the legendary [[Banasura|Raja Banasura]], an ardent devotee of [[Shiva]] had made the latter agree to come down to earth. When Shiva was following Raja Banasura, the latter suddenly stopped at Baneswar (earlier name Gordasandara), which was a breach of agreement. Shiva instantly disappeared and later established a [[Lingam|Shiva-linga]] on the banks of the Bangti River. Many believe that the place was named after the Raja. However, there is no mention of the temple in the legend.<ref name="temple"/>

According to some, the temple was built by Raja Jalpeswar, who built the Jalpesh temple. He is believed to have ruled in the second or third century and is mentioned in ‘Jalpesh Mahatya’. Some others think that [[Nilambar of Kamata|Raja Nilambar]] of the [[Khen dynasty]] had built it. Yet others think that [[Nara Narayan|Maharaja Nara Narayan]] of the [[Koch dynasty]] established it and Maharaja Pran Narayan of the [[Cooch Behar State]] subsequently revamped it.<ref name="temple"/>

The present structure is [[Bengal temple architecture|squarish with a dome]] and a slightly curved cornish. It has two entrances -one on the west and the other in the east. The temple has a [[Lingam|Shiva linga]] and a ‘Gouripat’ in the [[garbhagriha]], {{convert|3.1|m}} below the plinth level. The temple was slightly tilted on the east during an earth-quake in 1897. It has a height of {{convert|10.9|m}} and the base measures {{convert|9.6|m}} square. The walls are {{convert|2.5|m}} thick. There are some decorated narrow strips on the walls. It has a raised platform in the front. There is a bull made of cement on the right. On the northern side there is a tin shed housing idols of Shiva and ‘ardhanariswar’. There are some other idols also, including a [[Kali]] idol in another shed.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dey |first1=Subhagata |title=এই মন্দিরে মানত করলেই ঘটে রোগমুক্তি, ৪৬০ বছরের‌ প্রাচীন বানেশ্বর শিব মন্দিরের ঐতিহ্যের ইতিহাস |url=https://bengali.news18.com/news/south-bengal/460-years-old-baneshwar-shiva-temple-is-located-in-howrah-know-the-history-and-significance-l18-sdg-1019109.html |access-date=2 April 2026 |work=[[News18]] |date=16 March 2023 |language=bn}}</ref>

There is a big pond nearby 'Shiv pukur' which is a habitat of many [[Black softshell turtle]], a [[critically endangered]] species of turtle. The turtles are locally known as 'Mohan' and are sacred.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rare turtle found dead in temple pond at Baneswar in Cooch Behar |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/rare-turtle-found-dead-in-temple-pond-at-baneswar-in-cooch-behar/cid/1982207 |access-date=2 April 2026 |work=The Telegraph |date=24 November 2023}}</ref>

A week-long fair is held during Shiva Chaturdashi. This temple is under the Cooch Behar Debuttor Sangstha.<ref name="temple"/><ref name="admin">{{cite web | url = http://coochbehar.nic.in/htmfiles/tour_all.html#arch_monuments| title = Tourist attractions | work= Baneswar Siva temple| publisher = Cooch Behar district administration |accessdate = 11 August 2020}}</ref>

Baneswar Shiva temple is a [[List of State Protected Monuments in West Bengal|state protected monument]].<ref name="ASI MNI">[http://asi.nic.in/asi_protected_monu_list.asp List of State Protected Monuments as reported by the Archaeological Survey of India] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523134605/http://asi.nic.in/asi_protected_monu_list.asp |date=2013-05-23 }}.</ref>

==Baneswar Shiva temple picture gallery==
<gallery widths="200px" heights="150px">
File:Baneshwar Shiva Temple at Cooch Behar District in West Bengal 12.jpg
File:Baneshwar Shiva Temple at Cooch Behar District in West Bengal 16.jpg
File:Baneshwar Shiva Temple at Cooch Behar District in West Bengal 17.jpg
</gallery>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Cooch Behar topics}}
{{Hindu temples in West Bengal}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Cooch Behar district]]

{{CoochBehar-geo-stub}}

Baneswar Shiva Temple - Revision history

Advsalahuddinahmed at 04:52, 2 April 2026