Gopiballavpur:
Gopiballavpur is a town and a gram panchayat in the Gopiballavpur I CD block in the Jhargram subdivision of the Jhargram district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Gopiballavpur was earlier known as Kashipur which was a part of Mayurbhanj princely state. Gopiballavpur lies on the banks of the Subarnarekha River on the border area between West Bengal and Jharkhand. Shyamananda Mahaprabhu, a prominent figure in the Vaishnava cult visited a temple in the village and named the village as Gopiballav and hence thereafter Kashipur came to known as Gopiballavpur. The scenic landscape beauty of Gopiballavpur mainly comprises of the panorama of River Subarnarekha along with stretches of dark green forest and temple ruins. As per recent studies Gopiballavpur got its name from the deity Gopi Ballav (a form of Lord Krishna). As per legends it is believed that Gopiballavpur is the place where dacoit Ratnakar had got enlightened to sage Valmiki after a spell of tough meditation. The dense canopy of forests in and around Gopiballavpur was the hunting ground of Ratnakar and here wilderness of Gopiballavpur is home to face monkeys. Gopiballavpur is is home to the Shri Radha Govinda Mandir which is known as Gupta Vrindavan and is a major Vaishnava pilgrimage site in India. It is believed that Valmiki’s ashram at Gopiballavpur which was then known as Tapovan is the place where Sita had taken refuge after been disowned by Rama and even today some of the locals refer to this holy place as Tapovan and firmly believe that Gopiballavpur relates to Ramayana in many aspects. It is believed that at Gopiballavpur Rishi Valmiki had started writing Ramayana at the footsteps of Rameshwar Temple built by Lord Vishwakarma. The surrounding greenery of Gopiballavpur is abundant in timberlands of Sal, Teak, Oak, Eucalyptus, Sonajhuri, and Mahul trees. Apart from this the surrounding villages of Gopiballavpur are inhabited by tribal people.
Activities and attractions in and around Gopiballavpur:
Gopiballavpur being a part of Jhargram tourist circuit, offers tourists with bountiful local attractions and activities to enjoy and experience.
Gopiballavpur Eco Park: Gopiballavpur Eco Park is beautiful park situated on the banks of Subarnarekha River, offering scenic views and a chance to relax amidst nature. Gopiballavpur Eco Park was established in the year 2017.
Jhilli Lake: Jhilli Lake is located at a distance of 22 km from Gopiballavpur on the way to Hatibari. Jhilli Lake near Gopiballavpur is a haven for migratory birds during the winter season. Jhilli Lake is popular for its large water reservoir, lush greenery, and opportunities for bird watching and paddle boating.
Hatibari Forest: Located at a distance of 20 km from Gopiballavpur via Hatibari road, Hatibari Forest in Jhargram is a serene destination known for its lush greenery, proximity to the Subarnarekha River, and the presence of an elephant corridor that spreads from Jhargram to Dumla range. The serene ambience of Hatibari Forest is ideal for those seeking nature and tranquility.
Subarnarekha River: The bank of Subarnarekha River flows through Gopiballavpur is a fine spot of tourist interest. The river originates in the Chota Nagpur Plateau and flows eastward, eventually entering the Bay of Bengal. The sunrise and sunset view at the backdrop of the river from Gopiballavpur is worth remembering.
Tapovan: Tapovan is the place at Gopiballavpur where Mata Sita had taken refuge after been disowned by Rama. The place has a temple named as of Ram, Sita, Valmiki, Hunaman, Luv and Kush. It is surrounded by dense forest and a small rivulet flowing within the area.
Dherua Sunset Viewpoint: Dherua Sunset Viewpoint in Gopiballavpur is a place known for its scenic views, especially sunsets. This viewpoint is located at 57 km away from Gopiballavpur.
Rameshwar Temple: Rameshwaram Temple at Gopiballavpur is located at a distance of 22 km via Sardiha – Gopiballabpur – Hadhadi – Kharikamathani – Nayagram – Bhasraghat Rd. Rameshwaram Temple in Gopiballavpur was built around 1400 and it lies near the bank of River Subarnerekha. The temple is an ideal combination of art and science.
Chilkigarh Raj Palace: Chilkigarh Raj Palace lies near Gopiballavpur located at a distance of 33 km away from Gopiballavpur. The palace is associated with the history of the Dhalbhum region and the reign of Raja Gopinath Singh Matgaja.
Gopiballavji Temple:
Kanak Durga Temple: Kanak Durga Temple is dedicated to Goddess Kanak Durga made of Ashtadhatu (an alloy of eight metals) and 02 feet in height. The Kanak Durga Temple lies in Chilkigarh area at a distance of 34 km from Gopiballavpur. The Kanak Durga Temple is a popular tourist attraction for its natural beauty, the surrounding forest and Dulung River that flows near the temple. There is a vast herbal forest adjacent to the temple
Kodopal Agro Tourism Park: Kodopal Agro Tourism Park is built over 75 acres of land surrounded by the river Dulung and Subarnarekha. The Agro Tourism Park is located at a distance of 28.8 km from Gopiballavpur. This place is developed for afforestation and tourism and one can witness varieties of medicinal plants grown here. There are cottages built in the park for tourist accommodation. Tourist can also enjoy boating. The surrounding jungle is frequented by nocturnal animals like Hyenas, jackals and heards of Elephant.
Jhilli Pakhiralay (Bird Sanctuary): Jhilli Pakhiralay or Jhilli Bird Sanctuary is located at 25 km away from Gopiballavpur. Throughout the ages Jhilli Bird Sanctuary attracts numerous tourists and bird watchers to witness numerous species of migratory birds those visits here from far flung countries. Jhilli Bird Sanctuary near Gopiballavpur is one of the best places to spot the camera to click best possible images of these birds. Paddle boating facilities are available for tourists through the lake to spot these birds in close up view.
Chorchita Yogashram: Chorchita Yogashram is a spiritual retreat established by Mahatma Swami Gobardhan Giri Maharaj about 150 years ago located at 12.9 km from Gopiballavpur. The periphery of this temple features a 200 year old banyan tree. From Chorchita Yogashram at 500 meters away there is Choreshwar Shiv Temple.
Kuthighat Picnic Spot: Kuthighat Tourist Picnic Spot is located in Bajnaguri, Mandir Road near Gopiballavpur. Kuthighat Tourist Picnic Spot is a popular spot for picnic known for location on the riverbank and natural beauty and lies at 8.5 km from Gopiballavpur.
Shri Radha Govinda Mandir: Located at a distance of 800 meter from Gopiballavpur, this temple is also known as ‘Gupta Vrindavan’ by Vaishnavas. This temple houses idols of Shri Radha Govind Ji, Smt. Radha Rani, Jagannatha Mahaprabhu, Balabhadra and Subadhra.
How to reach:
By Air: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at Kolkata is the nearest airport to Gopiballavpur located at 192 km away via NH 16 and NH 49. From Kolkata Airport tourists can either hire a car to reach Gopiballavpur directly or one can also avail train service upto Jhargram and from there by a local car upto Gopiballavpur.
By Train: Jhargram Railway Station is the nearest rail head to Gopiballavpur located at 48 km away. From Howrah Station there are several trains available to Jhargram. From Jhargram Station tourists need to hire a local vehicle to reach Gopiballavpur. Other than Jhargram tourists can also opt to avail train services to Kharagpur and from there by local buses one can reach Gopiballavpur located at 57 km away.
By Road: Gopiballavpur is easily accessible by road from Kolkata and the neighbouring states of Odisha and Jharkhand. From Esplanade area of Kolkata deluxe bus services are available to Gopiballavpur. Night service buses also run from Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and Puri to Gopiballavpur. Apart from these several buses ply from Kharagpur station to Gopiballavpur. Buses on State Highway 09 (SH 9) running from Durgapur to Nayagram also passes through Gopiballavpur. The route to Gopiballavpur from Kolkata is via Howrah – Panchla – Bagnan – Kolaghat – Panskura – Jakpur – Kharagpur – Manikpara – Lodhasuli – Gopiballavpur.
Gopiballavpur Hotels