About Pareshnath Jain Temple :
Kolkata is a city with umpteen temples and numerous religious shrines. However, Jain temples are still rare. One of these rare Jain temples in the city is the Pareshnath Temple. Situated in the north eastern corner of Calcutta, it is a temple not only marked for its religious auspiciousness, but also for its magnificent architecture. The temple premises houses four different temples, dedicated to four different holy preachers of the religion whom they regard as Avatars (Reincarnation) of Divine Power. Pareshnath Jain Temple was built in 1867 and is a magnificent piece of architecture. It was built by a connoisseur of art named Ray Badridas Bahadur. Built of flamboyant mirrors, colored pebbles and stones and wonderful glassy mosaic, the temple looks wonderful at a glance. It stands on mirror-inlay pillars and opens to the premise through a stained glass window. The marble floors, with floral design, provide a classy look to this colossal architecture. The temple premise also overlooks a beautiful garden, with blocks of glass mosaics and silver European-styled statues. The main amongst the four shrines within Pareshnath Jain Temple complex is the one dedicated to the 10th Jain Avtaar Sri Sital Nath Ji. The beautiful temple has a never-extinguishing lamp, which stands as the symbol of immortal existence of God. The temple situated to the south of the main temple is dedicated to Sri Chanda Prabhujidev. To the right of the main temple is a temple in honor of Dadaji Garu and Kushalji Maharaj. The 4th temple, situated towards the north, belongs to Mahavira the last guru of Jains. You can visit the temple any day of the week, between 6.00 am and 11.00 am or 3.00 pm and 7.00 pm.
General Information about Pareshnath Jain Temple :
Location: Kolkata
State: West Bengal
Capital: Kolkata
Language: Bengali, Hindi, English
Temperature: Max 42˚C, Min 27˚C (summer), Max 26˚C, Min 14˚C (winter)
Best Season: September to March
How to Reach Pareshnath Jain Temple :
By Air:
Kolkata is well connected by airways, to all the major countries in the world as well as to the key Indian cities. There are regular flights from all the major cities of India, like Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai, to the place. Even international destinations, in France, Britain, Holland, Bangladesh, Japan, Singapore, Nepal, Jordan and Thailand, are connected to the Netaji Subash Chandra Bose International Airport of Kolkata. This airport is located at Dumdum, about 15 km away from the main township.
By Rail:
The rail connectivity of Calcutta is also very good. Trains connect the city with all the major cities of India. Super fast trains like Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express ply between Kolkata and Delhi and other nearby places. Kolkata has two major railway stations; one is located in Howrah and the other is at Sealdah, with the former being the stop for majority of the interstate trains.
By Road:
The road connectivity of Kolkata to adjoining areas is also wisely planned. The Esplanade Terminus is the main bus terminal that lies in the heart of the city. From here, you can easily get a bus as well as taxi for travelling to the cities within West Bengal as well as in the neighbouring states. Even road connectivity to Bangladesh is smooth and comfortable, with frequent Bus service.
How to Travel in Kolkata:
For the international tourists, it is always advisable to carry their Indian visa, as it is cumbersome to get one after arriving Carry all your important documents and money If you are travelling alone, don’t publicize it. Incase you happen to lose your passport, immediately lodge a complaint at the police station and also inform your country’s embassy. It is advisable to carry adequate photocopies of your passport, traveller’s checks and insurance. Beware of touts and agents. Make sure that your hotel reservation is done and it is confirmed. To secure your belongings, use a combination lock.