Midnapore

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Midnapore Travel Essentials

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Also Refered As:

Medinipur

"Heritage"

Midnapore Tourism

In the interiors of West Bengal is yet another treasure- Midnapore town or Medinipur, as it is locally known. Midnapore combines the beauty of India's multi religion culture with the exuberance of ancient history.

It is also the base for several well-known colleges like the Oriental Institute of Science and Technology, the Midnapore Medical College and Hospital, the Midnapore Law College, etc.
This is one of the few towns in perhaps all of India's semi Urban landscape that has so many places to offer in their sheer number. The town is not the kind of place that you go to for a luxury getaway but the kind that pleases your explorer instincts. So if you're a traveler at heart, then pack your backpack and book a ticket for Medinipur!

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Culture and Heritage

During ancient times, as the historical sites and structures show, Jainism and Buddhism were highly dominant in these parts of the country. Midnapore is renowned for its benefaction to the history of freedom fighters in India. It has created several brave martyrs. A vastly distinctive culture can be seen in Midnapore. The official languages spoken here are Bengali and English, though Hindi is widely understood. Midnapore is also notable for its Bengali sweets shops. The residents here lead a very laid back life and are known to be friendly. Midnapore is also deeply set in the celebrations of its religious festivals. Vishwakarma Puja, especially, is immensely popular in Midnapore. 

Etymology

Midnapore is pronounced as Medinipur in the local language. Different accounts associate different stories with the origin of the name. One story claims that Medinipur is so named after goddess Medinimata (meaning mother of the worlds, an incarnation of goddess Shakti). Even though the deep influence of Jainism and Buddhism is imprinted here, some accounts associate the name Midnapore to that of Medina, the Islamic holy city. It is said that during its prime days, Midnapore housed mosques which rivalled the mosques in Medina due to their sheer numbers and that is how it came to be known as Midnapore. It is also said that Medinikar, a ruler of the Kar dynasty which ruled Midnapore during 1200 and 1431 AD named it as Medinipur.

Restaurants and Local Food in Midnapore

Midnapore is not particularly famous for any local delicacy. But, one local preparation, known as Gohona Bori gives the tiny town of West Midnapore something to boast of, i.e., a food item true and authentic to the Bengali cuisine. Gohona means jewellery in the local language and Bori means small round shapes (derived from Batika in Sanskrit). Like many local crafts, the craft of making these Boris is fast disappearing. But, some local cooperatives are trying to revive it by offering them for sale. Difficult as it might be to source it, a trip to Midnapore will be complete if you get to experience this authentic Bengali delicacy.
These beautiful, intricate jewellery like patterns are made from lentil paste, whipped out with the help of a small cone. The lovely and wonderful shapes of these Boris are enough to whet anyone's appetite.

If you prefer to eat from highly credible places, then eating at your hotel is the most trusted option. Midnapore, being a small town, does not have many eateries or food joints. You can find local Bengali food in and around the station area.

Kharagpur lies only 23 km away from Midnapore and you can find a few restaurants between Midnapore and Kharagpur where you can have a complete filling meal.

Himalayan Delight lies 8 km away from the Midnapore railway station and serves North Indian and Chinese cuisine. It is known for the quality of its food and amazing service. Non-veg curries, rolls, and biryani are some of the must-try dishes here. Hot Box is the closest to the railway station, lying only 1.4 kms away. Serving Indian cuisine, it is a relatively new place and has opened up very close to the Midnapore railway station. Ideal for a quick meal when travelling to or from Midnapore railway station. Hotel Capsicum is approximately 9 km from the station and serves North Indian fare.It is popular among tourists for its view of the Highway, amazing hospitality, and tasty food. Biryani and the variety of capsicum dishes on offer are recommended by travellers.
View Top Restaurants in Midnapore

Suggested Itinerary for Midnapore

If you plan to cover Midnapore in a short trip, then you're in for a challenge, especially because beautiful tourist sites are spread all over Midnapore and it's neighbouring villages. Although all of them are worth visiting, some of them are much more breathtaking than others.

After having settled in your hotel, the first place to visit is Tamluk, a small village, a few km from the main town. Carry ample food and water, just to be on the safer side. Tamluk has numerous sites of historical significance. the temple of Devi Bargobheema is one of them. having spent nearly half the day there, you can see St. Johns Church on your way back to the hotel and the Kali Temple in Nutan Bazaar. You may have to go off route to cover all these places, but due to the sheer size of the town, it won't take you much time.

Similarly, the next day you can start with going to the town of Chandrakona, visit its numerous forts and perhaps the local market. On your way back, you can see the Chilkigarh Durga Mandir and Forests. Jhargram palace is another breathtaking site, in town Jhargram near Medinipur.

Best Time to Visit Midnapore

How to Reach Midnapore

How to Reach Overview

Midnapore is well linked to other towns and cities by rail. The nearest airport is located in Kolkata and Midnapore is not very well connected to other towns through proper roads. Thus, travelling to Midnapore by train is the most convenient option.

How to reach Midnapore by flight

Travelling to Medinipur by air directly is not possible. The nearest operational airport is the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport, Kolkata. The airport is nearly two and a half hours away from Midnapore, but if flying to West Bengal is your most preferred option, then getting a bus or taxi ride to Medinipur is not difficult.

How to reach Midnapore by road

If you plan to drive from a neighbouring district to this small town, then NH 60 is the route you'll be following. NH 60 is directly connected to nearby places like Jaleshwar and Bishnupur. The roads are well made and maintained. Medinipur is at a distance of nearly 130 km from capital city Kolkata.

How to reach Midnapore by train

Travelling by train is actually one of the most feasible options. The Midnapore Railway Station is one of the most prominent railway stations in the area. In addition to trains from nearly all nearby regions, trains from Delhi, Mumbai and Pune are also easily available and quite cheap as well.

Local transport in Midnapore

Finding taxis or buses is not very hard to find in Midnapore. Taxi stands and bus stands are sparsely located, but there are a few major places where they are available and then take you all over the town. A prominent taxi stand is located at Dherua-Midnapur Rd, Gurguripal and another bus stand is located at the edge of a petrol pump at municipality road gombhir nagar. If you aren't very comfortable travelling in the bus, then Midnapore is not the place to start experimenting in. It is best if you stick to a taxi.

Midnapore Photos

Midnapore, West Bengal
Tamluk
Chandrakona
Jora Masjid

+ 6
photos

FAQs on Midnapore

What is famous about Midnapore?

A great site to experience cultures, traditions and heritage.

What is not so good about Midnapore?

It is not the cleanest of places. There is also a scarcity of water. It gets extremely hot in the summers and monsoons.

Who should visit Midnapore?

Midnapore is the ideal destination for anyone who has an avid interest in the history of art and culture as well as heritage and legends.

What is the best time to visit Midnapore?

Much like almost the entire West Bengal, travelling to Midnapore in winters will offer the perfect weather for explorations. The summers are extremely hot and roaming around in the sun is not only taxing but also a holiday dampener. For those who aren't fond of winters, October and November are good options. But for the winter children, the entire season is ideal.
Read More

What is the local food in Midnapore?

Midnapore is not particularly famous for any local delicacy. But, one local preparation, known as Gohona Bori gives the tiny town of West Midnapore something to boast of, i.e., a food item true and authentic to the Bengali cuisine. Gohona means jewellery in the local language and Bori means small round shapes (derived from Batika in Sanskrit). Like many local crafts, the craft of making these Boris is fast disappearing. But, some local cooperatives are trying to revive it by offering them for sale. Difficult as it might be to source it, a trip to Midnapore will be complete if you get to experience this authentic Bengali delicacy.
These beautiful, intricate jewellery like patterns are made from lentil paste, whipped out with the help of a small cone. The lovely and wonderful shapes of these Boris are enough to whet anyone's appetite.

If you prefer to eat from highly credible places, then eating at your hotel is the most trusted option. Midnapore, being a small town, does not have many eateries or food joints. You can find local Bengali food in and around the station area.

Kharagpur lies only 23 km away from Midnapore and you can find a few restaurants between Midnapore and Kharagpur where you can have a complete filling meal.

Himalayan Delight lies 8 km away from the Midnapore railway station and serves North Indian and Chinese cuisine. It is known for the quality of its food and amazing service. Non-veg curries, rolls, and biryani are some of the must-try dishes here. Hot Box is the closest to the railway station, lying only 1.4 kms away. Serving Indian cuisine, it is a relatively new place and has opened up very close to the Midnapore railway station. Ideal for a quick meal when travelling to or from Midnapore railway station. Hotel Capsicum is approximately 9 km from the station and serves North Indian fare.It is popular among tourists for its view of the Highway, amazing hospitality, and tasty food. Biryani and the variety of capsicum dishes on offer are recommended by travellers.
Read More

What is the best way to reach Midnapore?

Midnapore is well linked to other towns and cities by rail. The nearest airport is located in Kolkata and Midnapore is not very well connected to other towns through proper roads. Thus, travelling to Midnapore by train is the most convenient option.

Read More

What are the things to do in Midnapore?

The top things to do in Midnapore are Tamluk, Chandrakona, Jora Masjid, Jhargram Palace, St. Johns Church, Midnapore, Kali temple. You can see all the places to visit in Midnapore here

What are the places near Midnapore?

The top places near to Midnapore are Bishnupur which is 74 km from Midnapore, Kolkata which is located 102 km from Midnapore, Raichak which is located 79 km from Midnapore, Digha which is located 88 km from Midnapore, Santiniketan which is located 145 km from Midnapore

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Midnapore Reviews

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Kovid Kapoor

5 years ago
- Midnapore is different from your regular vacation trip. If you plan to pick a place that helps you relax and enjoy some serenity, then Midnapore might not be it. Midnapore is meant for the travelli (Read More)ng fanatics who want to experience the Indian culture in all its brilliance, and are ready to spend some tiring yet highly indulging days
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