Tarakeswar
—  town  —
Tarakeswar Location of Tarakeswar in West Bengal and India
Coordinates	22°53′N 88°01′E / 22.89°N 88.02°E / 22.89; 88.02Coordinates: 22°53′N 88°01′E / 22.89°N 88.02°E / 22.89; 88.02
Country	India
State	West Bengal
District(s)	Hoogly
Parliamentary constituency	Arambag
Assembly constituency	Tarakeswar
Population	28,178 (2001[update])
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	• 18 metres (59 ft)
Codes • Telephone • +91 3212

Tarakeswar (Bengali: তারকেশ্বর Tarokeshshor) is a town and a municipality in Hooghly District in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a police station in Chandannagar subdivision.^[1] Tarakeswar is a renowned place of pilgrimage and the greatest centre of the Shiva sect in West Bengal. 58 km away from Kolkata, Tarakeswar can be reached conveniently by train.

Geography[link]

Tarakeswar is located at 22°53′N 88°01′E / 22.89°N 88.02°E / 22.89; 88.02. It has an average elevation of 18 metres (59 feet).

Demographics[link]

As of 2001^[update] India census,^[2] Tarakeswar had a population of 28,178. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Tarakeswar has an average literacy rate of 72%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 78%, and female literacy is 66%. In Tarakeswar, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Economics[link]

This is a rich agricultural area with several cold storages.^[3]

Temple of Taraknath[link]

The principal attraction is the temple of Taraknath, an 'atchala' structure with a 'natmandir' in front. Close by are the shrines of Kali and Lakshmi-Narayan. Dudhpukur, a tank to the north of the Shiva temple is believed to fulfil the prayers of those taking a dip in it.

Pilgrims visit the temple throughout the year, especially on Mondays. But thousands of pilgrims visit Tarakeswar on the occasions of 'Shivaratri' and 'Gajan', the former taking place in Falgun (Feb-March) while the latter lasts for five days ending on the last day of Chaitra (mid-April). The month of Sravana (mid-July to mid-August) is auspicious for Shiva when celebrations are held on each Monday.

Education[link]

In Tarakeswar there are several Primary school namely Anandamarg ,Bhangipur SSK, Sishu Niketan , Ankur , Sahapur. There are three High schools situated here Tarakeswar Boys School, Tarkeswar Girls School , Bikash Bharati Blooms Day School. Kendriya Vidyalaya has been opened recently but will run with full functionality later. Tarakeswar Mahavidyalay is a School affiliated to WBCHSE (Class XI - XII only). Degree College is the only college situated in Tarakeswar affiliated to Burdwan University.

Transport[link]

The Howrah-Tarakeswar line was opened in 1885.^[4] Tarakeswar was also a terminal for the Bengal Provincial Railway.It is part of the Kolkata Suburban Railway system.^[5] Tarakeswar Railway Station is Declared as a MultiFunctional Station.The present Railway Line between Sheoraphully and Tarakeswar is being extended to Bishnupur.

Communication[link]

Champadanga area exchange with code 03212 serves: Begampur, Bhagabatipur, Champadanga, Chanditala, Dihi-badpur, Dwarhatta, Eksara, Gopinagar, Haripal, Harinkhola, Jangipara, Jinpur,Dulalbati, Masat, Nalipur, Rajbalhat, Shaympur, Tarakeswar, Talpur.^[6]

See also[link]

• Tarakeswar affair

References[link]

v t e Cities, towns and locations in Hooghly District Cities and Towns Chinsurah subdivision Amodghata Badhagachhi Bansberia Chak Bansberia Dharmapur Hugli-Chuchura Kodalia Kulihanda Madhusudanpur Pandua Raghunathpur (PS-Magra) Shankhanagar Simla Chandannagore subdivision Bhadreswar Champdani Chandannagar Singur Tarakeswar Srirampore subdivision Baidyabati Bamunari Barijhati Begampur Chikrand Dakshin Rajyadharpur Dankuni Garalgachha Kanaipur Kharsarai Konnagar Krishnapur Monoharpur Mrigala Nabagram Colony Pairagachha Purba Tajpur Raghunathpur (PS-Dankuni) Rishra Serampore Uttarpara Arambag subdivision Arambag Locations other than cities and towns Anandanagar Antpur Bandel Champadanga Furfura Sharif Gondalpara Guptipara Jejur Kamarpukur Mankundu Mogra Radhanagore Rajbalhat Saptagram Tribeni Related topics Hooghly topics People from Hooghly district Cities, towns and locations in other districts Bankura Bardhaman Birbhum Cooch Behar Dakshin Dinajpur Darjeeling Howrah Jalpaiguri Malda Murshidabad Nadia North 24 Parganas Paschim Medinipur Purba Medinipur Purulia South 24 Parganas Uttar Dinajpur West Bengal portal