Coordinates: 22°18'N 87°55'E? / ?22.3, 87.92

Tamluk is the district headquarters of Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal, India. Though there is some controversy, scholars have generally agreed that present day Tamluk is the site of the ancient city variously known as Tamralipta or Tamralipti. The present town is located on the banks of the Rupnarayan River close to the Bay of Bengal.

People and their socio-cultural background

The region has its own distinct ethnic mix, stemming from successive migrations and invasions from both the west, east, and especially from northern India after the Aryan invasion of India. Its history shows the complex combination of indigenous, Buddhist, Jain, Hindu and Islamic cultures, often introduced through physical conquest and political control, as well as through trade, travel, and migration.

Unlike other parts of Bengal, Tamluk was always well connected with the Gangetic plains. In fact, there is evidence to suggest that the culture of Aryavarta influenced life in early Tamluk. The worship of Bheema is a sign of the socio-religious acceptance of Aryan culture in this area. Even in the recent past, Tamluk was divided into many areas based on caste and occupation, such as Malakar Para (Flower traders), Adhikary Para (Brahmins), Dey Para (Gold traders), and Mathore Para (Sweeper's colony).

Transport

Tamluk is well linked by road and rail. Tamluk is a major roadway junction with six bus-routes originating from it:

• Tamluk to Srirampur and Moyna
• Tamluk to Mecheda, Kolaghat, and Kolkata
• Tamluk to Panskura, Kharagpur and Ghatal
• Tamluk to Haldia, Durgachowk
• Tamluk to Digha, Contai, and Egra

Tamluk is a railway junction; routes are given below:

• Howrah to Haldia, via Tamluk
• Howrah to Digha, via Tamluk and Contai
• Haldia to Kharagpur via Tamluk

Religion

Buddhist Tirtha :- During Fa-Hien's visit to Bengal, Fa-hien is said to have travelled eastward along the course of the Ganges river, and during his journey, he came across Buddhist stupas and monks at several places. In Tamluk/Tamralipti Fa-hien had spent two years, and visited twenty-two monasteries, inhabited by monks in Tamluk.

Since Bengal was adjacent to Magadha, it is possible that the Buddha had visited parts of Bangladesh as suggested by Hiuen Tsang, who noted that Asoka had erected stupas at various places in Bengal and Orissa including the Port City Of Tamluk to commemorate these visits.

Asoka's Reign and the Post-Maurya Period epigraphic and other sources reveal that Buddhism had established a powerful footing in Bengal during Asoka's reign. The discovery of a Mauryan inscription in Brahmi characters at mahasthan in the district of bogra bearing the name Pudanagala (Pundranagara) and the recovery of many Mauryan coins and other artifacts dating from the fourth and third centuries BC suggest that the Gangetic delta was under the control of the Mauryan empire. The Chinese traveller, I-tsing, is said to have noticed Asoka's stupas near tamralipti (Tamluk).

In southern Bengal from the time of Asoka to the Pala period, both the Hinayana and Mahayana, not the tantric, forms of Buddhism were practised. But a mystic form of Buddhism developed in Bengal during the Pala period and its profound impact entirely changed the course and history of Buddhism. This medieval Buddhist movement was founded by the tantric acharyas known as Siddhas who are traditionally believed to be men of psychic and supernatural powers. Buddhism, as a typical tantric form of mysticism, reached a stage in Bengal in the hands of the Siddhas where it was easily assimilated to Shaktism. The fusion between Saktism and Buddhist mysticism gave rise to new schools of Saktism and some forms of popular religion in which Buddhism is said to have survived, despite its decline in the face of Brahmanism.

Tamluk was also an eye-witness of these historical changes of Buddhism. Once the famous Buddhist Tantric Devi Tara or Ugratara, who used to be worshiped in a Buddhist Vihar in Tamluk, started to be recognised as Hindu Devi Kali named as Barghobhima. The temple of Devi barghobhima is built on the site of a Buddhist vihara.

Tamluk, the famous Buddhist Religious and Academic centre of South East Bengal and Eastern India gradually became a centre of Sanatan Shakti Peeth.

Sanatan Shakti Peeth :- It is an important pilgrim place of the Hindus and one of the 51 sacred places of Shakti Peeth where left ankle of Sati/Parvati fell. The temple's presiding deity is known as Shri Barghobhima Devi.

" Bivasete Bam Gulfa Felila keshab / Bhima Rupa Debi tate Kapali Bhairav" - Annadamongal by Bharatchandra Rai.

" Tamoluker Barghabhima Raikhan-r Kali" - Dharomongal by Manikram.

" Gokule Gomatinama / Tamralipte Barghobhima / Uttare Bidita Bishwakaya " Chandimongal by Mukundaram Chakrovorty.

Vaisnav/Vaishnav Thirtha :- In the vaishnava/vaisnava dharma Tamluk is also an important Vaishnav/vaisnava Tirtha. According to Kashidas Mahabharat and Jaimini's Mahabharat Supreme Lord Sri Krishna and Arjun came here to release the Devine Horse of Ashwamedh Yagna from King Tramradhwaja. The land of Tamluk is always devine and sacred because it was touched by the lotus feet of Sri Krishna.

In various Vaisnava religious writing Tamluk is mentioned as the next "Vrindavan" where on the next Kalp ( Next Creation of the universe) Sri Krishna will play his Rass Leela.

Sri Krishna himself confessed his affection with Tamluk to Arjuna, the son of Kunti.

It means : Tamluk is the supreme place of religion, the way my wife Lakshmi Devi stays in my heart, Tamluk is alywas nearer to my heart in such a way, Again and again, time to time i will leave all Pilgrimage, but will never leave tamluk for a moment even.

Christianity In Tamluk :- The ancient religious centre of Buddhist and Hindus also came under the Christianity. The first Christians in Tamluk were the Portuguese themselves. After their intermarriage with local women, their descendants became the first indigenous Christians. Then came the local converts to Christianity from both Hinduism and Islam.

In Tamluk, the Portuguese settlement had a church built in 1635. The flourishing slave market at Tamluk in the seventeenth century was mentioned by Shihabuddin Talish. In 1724, Valintine had mentioned the wax trade at Tamluk, while Carreri in 1695 had found Tamluk under Portuguese control and Christianity.

At Tamluk's southern part there is a secred ghat to take bath on the day of Makar Sankranti and is considered as one of the holiest in India.

Following are the special religious places of interest of Tamluk: