Pathbari Temple — Attraction in West Bengal

Things to See: a. Bhagavatacharya’s worshipable saligram sila and Gopala deity b. Lord Caitanya’s paduka c. Grantha Mandira – a library housing ancient Bengali and sanskrit manuscripts

Prominently known as Baranagar Pathbari

Nearby places to see: Ha Gauranga Matha – where Lord Chaitanya drank water Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu halted on His way to Jagannatha Puri, to quench His thirst by drinking some water. There is an inscription on the temple walls, which describes that after leaving Baranagar, Lord Caitanya reached here by traveling through the bank of Mother Ganges. Here He stopped for a while to drink some water and thereby sanctified this place with the dust of His lotus feet.

How to Reach: Shyambaza, ‘Mohun Bagan lane’, Hatibagan, Calcutta

Sri Bhagavatacharya’s residence: Srila Prabhupada mentions about Sri Bhagavatacharya in Caitanya Caritamrta Adi Lila, 10.113 purport. Sri Raghunatha Upadhyaya, as Bhagavatacharya was then called, used to reside at Baranagar, on the bank of the Ganges, and daily recite Srimad Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana) in his small hut. It so happened that once, while Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was en route to Jagannatha Puri, and was passing by Baranagar, a very beautiful recitation and a sublime devotional explanation of Srimad Bhagavatam, entered His ears. Being curious, He immediately entered the cottage, where He found Sri Raghunatha reciting the spotless literature. Seeing Lord Caitanya, Raghunatha fell at His feet, and hearing his recitations, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu fainted in ecstasy. Lord Caitanya later remarked that He had never before heard such a beautiful explanation of Srimad Bhagavatam. He hence conferred the title ‘Bhagavatacharya’ upon Raghunatha and ordered him that his only duty henceforward was to regularly recite Srimad Bhagavatam. Sri Bhagavatacharya had later compiled his commentary on Srimad Bhagavatam in a book called ‘Krishna Prema Tarangini’. According to Gaura-goddess-Dipika, Sri Bhagavatacharya was one of the maidservants of Srimati Radharani in Vrindavana. Sri Bhagavatacharya strictly followed the instructions given to him by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to daily recite Srimad Bhagavatam and kept along with him a pair of the Lord’s sandals along with a saligrama sila and a small deity named Gopal, whom he worshipped daily. All his belongings are carefully preserved at the Baranagar Path Bari, till this day.

Recent history of Baranagar Pathbari :

After Sri Bhagavatacharya’s disappearance, the place of his residence at Baranagar was destroyed with the Ganges shifting its course. According to the hearsay, centuries later, a brahmin, by name Kali Prasanna Chakraborty, who lived in the area, received orders from Sri Nitai Gaur, in his dream to excavate the site of Bhagavatacharya’s residence and install Gaur-Nitai deities. Sri Kali Prasanna acted as instructed and as a result, Sri Bhagavatacharya’s belongings, his worshipable deities and Mahaprabhu’s paduka were all discovered...

Tucked away in a quiet, almost meditative corner of Baranagar, the Pathbari Ashram may not boast towering spires or golden domes, but its spiritual presence could give the Himalayas a run for their money. The name ‘Pathbari’ literally means ‘House of the Path’, and that path, quite significantly, once bore the sacred footprints of none other than Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu — the 15th-century saint and social reformer whose bhakti movement still resonates in every conch-blow and kirtan across Bengal.

A Pilgrim’s Pause Along the Ganges According to folklore and faith alike, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had halted at this very site during his spiritual journey from Nabadwip to Puri. His brief stay transformed the place from just another riverside resting point into a sanctified sanctuary, now revered by Gaudiya Vaishnavas as a temple of remembrance, devotion, and divine energy.

It’s said that even the floor bears impressions of his footprints, preserved with care, worshipped with fervor, and guarded like spiritual treasure.

Simplicity with Spiritual Swagger There’s nothing extravagant about Pathbari — no grand sculptures or opulent pillars — but therein lies its magic. The humble courtyard, the quiet sanctum, and the persistent fragrance of incense wrap around you like a gentle shawl of serenity. You don’t just visit Pathbari, Raj — you arrive, in the truest, most soul-satisfying sense of the word.

Timeless Echoes and Living Legacy The ashram still houses manuscripts, scriptures, and sacred items from centuries past. It also hosts regular Vaishnava discourses, bhajans, and Janmashtami celebrations that draw pilgrims from across the country.

And if you’re lucky, you’ll meet the head monks who’ll regale you with stories from Mahaprabhu’s life, told with the kind of passion that makes Netflix sound like background noise.

Pathbari isn’t just a place on Google Maps; it’s a waypoint for the weary soul. For seekers of peace, lovers of history, and believers in journeys — this is one destination where the path truly becomes...

A place related to Shri Chaitanyadeva, Baranagar Pathbari, has its history dates back to almost 500 years. On his way to Puri, when Shri Chaitanyadeva was moving along the Ganges downstream from Panihati, a sweet reading of the Bhagavata entered his ears. In search for its origin, he obsered a brahmin in his tiny cottage reading the text, his cheeks flooding with ecstatic tears. Shri Chaitanya resided at the hut for three days, consulted philosophy with the brahmin, listened to his reading of Bhagavata, and rendered him the title of Shri Bhagavatacharya. The place boasts in keeping the wooden sandals of Chaitanyadeva. The place remained undiscovered for 200 years until a Vaishnavite Saint, Ramdas Babaji, rediscovered it and set up an Ashrama or Hermitage there. At his death bed, he had commanded his disciples to chant the holy names. Since then, for 24 hours round the clock, they have been chanting the sacred name of Hare Krishna Hare Rama. Apart from this temple the Ashrama also takes pride in its library, the largest of the Vaishnavite ones of the state. It boasts a collection of almost all the original manuscripts of Shri Chaitanya's first disciples, including Rup Goswami and Sanatan Goswami. Durga Puja is also celebrated every year with due respect and Puja...