Madhupur
Madhupur is a city in Deoghar district of Jharkhand. It is considered a health resort because the water there is said to cure many stomach and digestion ailments. Historically, there were many notable people, particularly from Bengal, who owned a house in Madhupur and lived there for long periods whenever they could. Amongst them was Sir Asutosh Mookerjee. His younger son, Uma Prasad Mookerjee, the writer famous for his travel books spent time there. Their house Ganga Prasad Bhaban is still there. Earlier Deoghar district was part of Santhal Parganas. The place has lost its earlier popularity but people still visit.
Get in
By rail
Madhupur is 294 km (via main line) from Howrah. It is on the Howrah-Delhi main line. There is a branch line from Madhupur to Giridih (32 km away). Vidyasagar (Karmatanr), associated with the memory of Pandit Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar, is 24 km from Madhupur on the main line towards Kolkata. For timings etc. check with Indian Railways.
Get around
Cycle rickshaws and tongas are available for local transport, and you can find a car or taxi easily.
Or you can take a bus from Madhupur bus stand near the Madhupur Railway station and visit nearby places like Sarath, Palojori, Dumka, etc.
See
- Bahanno Bigha
- Kapil Math
- Sonar bungalow, good collection of roses
- Baba Nayak Dham, Ganjobari
- Kali temple at Pathrol
- Kali temple at Fago, 4 km towards south
- Bakolia jharana (waterfalls).
Do
- You can visit the 'Madhupur Sadar Bazaar ' near the Railway Station and do some shopping.
Buy
The place is famous for its glorious Loha Shaka Pala (Bangles used in weddings).You can buy the famous Santhal handicrafts, garments, paintings and other handmade ethnic things, Friday cheap at its best. Try to make Friday part of your visit, it is the local 'haat baar' or market day when all the artisans from surrounding villages come and sell their ware. Good picks among them are hand beaten iron gardening equipment, hand beaten kadai wok. One more cute thing is a baby cooking toy kit made of burnt or sun-dried clay. they come in various sizes and complexities complete with a packaging of a closed date leaf basket. Very nice gift except that the kid who you want to impress may not really appreciate it as it fails to compete with today's glinting plastic monster trucks with LED s flashing.
Eat
Famous for Bengali sweets — in particular, chandrakala, kaju barfi and cham cham. The Rabari is supposed to be famous, and many have praised the local Chat, as a must try. Bardhamaan Mishtanno Bhandar is a must if you have a sweet tooth, The chanar moorki or sweet cottage cheese nuggets and kachori sabzee are way out. If you are staying in one of those holiday homes then the mishti walla will visit you in the morning with homemade sweets. You can't miss him he carries a bnaak which is a bamboo shoulder bar with ropes carrying 3 vessels on each side. Most holiday homes are equipped with basic cooking arrangements. Mostly all daily needs will come home like milk vegetables fish chicken etc
Drink
Famous for its lassi (a drink made with yoghurt curds and sugar). The sattu sharbat is very tasty and healthy, but can only be found during the summer.
Sleep
Holiday homes are normally places of stay where one has to arrange for one’s own food. They are generally meant for members only but some of them allow others to stay on payment when vacancies are available. Non-employees of the organisation can check if places are available.
- West View Lodge, 52 Bigha, ☎ +91 9831353223. Howrah contact. ₹550 /person (2016).
- Bengal Motion Pictures Employees Union Holiday Home, ☎ +91 33 2246 9622. Kolkata contact.
- The University of Calcutta Holiday Home, ☎ +91 33 2241 0071. The house was donated by Dr.H.C. Mookherjee, the first Governor of West Bengal. There are four rooms. The rent of the rooms at first floor are ₹300/-per room, and the ground floor rooms are available at ₹240/ per room.
There are various guest houses costing between ₹100 and ₹300, including Rajbari Rest House, Munu Guest House, Balaji Guest House, Moonlight Guest House, Apsara Guest House, Hotel Embassy, Agrasen Bhawan, Rai Hotel and Burdawan Guest House.
Go next
- Bokulia springs, 8 km away, is a popular picnic spot.
- Deoghar is 57 km from Madhupur.
- Shimultala is 54 km from Madhupur.