Durgapur - Places of Interest

Places of Interest

• Bhabani Pathak’s Tilla(Durgapur Science and Energy Park) – It is located near the City Centre of Durgapur. Earlier there was a tunnel system from here to the Damodar River, but now that is closed from public view. Now, people can visit only the Tilla and the Science park. The park which was built by the WEBREDA is now closed.
• Rahreswar Shib Mandir – Located 3 km from the NH-2 Muchipara crossing on the Muchipara-Shibpur Road in the Arrah village opposite the NSHM Knowledge Campus, this 11th century Shiva temple is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. It is located in the Gopalpur Gram Panchayet of Kanksa block. Thousands of people rush to this temple at the Maha Shivaratri.
• Ichhai Ghosh’s garh - It is a fort – now in ruins - and the Shyamarupa temple.
• Santiniketan – location of Visva Bharati, established by Rabindranath Tagore. It is about 60 km away from Durgapur.
• Bishnupur – the famous terracotta temple town and home to major art and crafts. It is about 70 km away from Durgapur. The Bankura horse, symbol of Indian handicrafts is produced at Panchmura, near Bishnupur. It is also the home of the Baluchari sari, originally woven with motifs based on stories from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, but now modernized.
• Jaydev Kenduli – temple and birthplace of Sanskrit poet Joydeb, on the banks of the Ajay River. This place is about 30 km away from Durgapur. On the occasion of Makar Sankranti (Winter Solstice), a fair is organized here. Bauls, religious singers with a detached philosophy and spontaneity of their own, participates in this fair, which is held in mid January every year.
• Bakreshwar – a hot spring and temple, lying about 60 km away from Durgapur.
• Churulia - birthplace of the famous Bengali poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. He is considered the national poet of Bangladesh. The village is about 60 km from Durgapur, and contains a museum with his works and a memorial for him.
• Durgapur Barrage – A dam and a tourist spot on river Damodar.
• Randiha – The Anderson Weir (named after John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley, who inaugurated it), a diversion constructed in 1932, 19 km downstream of Durgapur Barrage on river Damodar is a wonderful serene tourist spot located in the Chaktentul Gram Panchayet in Galsi I block. Across the river lies Sonamukhi. A tourist to Randiha must visit the Ancient Mound at Bharatpur on the Silampur-Randiha Road, a monument of National Importance, has been excavated jointly by the Archaeological Survey of India and the University of Burdwan has yielded evidence of habitational sequence from the Chalcolithic times to the 12th century. Randiha is about 10 km from Panagarh railway station.
• Nehru Park, Burnpur – Originally named (& popular as Lahmeyer Park, after F.W.A.Lahmeyer, a General Manager of IISCO who had inaugurated it) Riverside Park, it has been renamed after Jawaharlal Nehru in 1989 on his birth centenary. Undulating terrain, meandering brook and a musical fountain are added attractions to the park. Located on the banks of the Damodar river in Burnpur. It is located 14 km south-west of the Asansol railway station with minibuses aplenty.
• Dreamplex- It's the first shopping mall in Durgapur. It contains the Big Bazaar, 89 cinemas and other shopping and entertainment spots.
• Benachity Bazar- This is the largest shopping market place in Durgapur. Thosands of people flock the streets of this widely popular market area especially during the Puja season marketing.
• Suhatta is another shopping complex which has famous brands & designer retail outlets.

• City Centre This is the only central business district of the city, and is the costliest area of the city. The famous movie theatre Duragapur Cinema - popularly known as DC is located here.
• Junction Mall is the biggest shopping complex (excluding Kolkata)in Eastern India. It had been developed by the Shrachi group and has Pantaloons, Shopper's Stop, Crossword, Fabindia, Reebok, Adidas, Woodland, Café Coffee Day, United Colors Of Benneton, VIP, The Mobile Store, Bioscope(3 Screen 3D Multiplex), Subway, KFC and many other popular brands and is spread over an area of 4 hundred thousand sq. ft.
• Mohan Kumaramangalam Park - Named after Mohan Kumaramangalam, the park located in the DSP Township is one of the favourite destinations for couples and for picnic, which has now been renovated with exciting rides n food stalls. The water bodies in the park is the abode to some of the most venomous water snakes in the town including keel backs.

Other than these there are several beautiful villages surrounding the Industrial town, which come alive, especially during the festive seasons. The traditional Durga n Kali pujas in Kuldiha, Gopalpur and some other villages are worth being given a watch.