Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday laid the foundation stone for the proposed Mahakal Mahatirtha Mandir in Siliguri, unveiling plans for what is billed as the world’s tallest Mahakal Shiva temple.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mamata said the temple complex would be constructed in the Matigara-Lakshmi Township area and spread over 17.41 acres. “It will be capable of accommodating nearly one lakh devotees at a time,” she added, claiming it would rank among the world’s largest Mahakal temples.
According to the project blueprint, the temple will follow traditional architectural principles. Four deities will be installed at the corners of the complex—Lord Ganesha in the southwest, Kartikeya in the northwest, Shakti in the northeast, and Vishnu-Narayana in the southeast.
The complex will also include a prasad distribution centre, souvenir arcade, cafeteria, offering complex, and separate accommodation facilities for priests. A major attraction will be the world’s tallest Mahakal statue, standing 216 feet, with a 108-foot bronze idol mounted on a 108-foot pedestal. Two Nandi shrines will be located on the eastern and western sides of the pedestal.
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Further, the complex will feature 12 Abhishek Lingam temples along its boundary, replicas of the 12 Jyotirlingas of India, and a museum and cultural hall showcasing the history of Mahakal and Shaivite traditions. Two circumambulation paths will accommodate around 10,000 devotees, while two large assembly halls will seat over 6,000 people each.
Mamata’s announcement follows other major religious initiatives such as the Jagannath Temple in Digha and Kolkata’s Durga Angan in New Town. Officials said the Mahakal Mahatirtha Mandir forms a key part of a broader plan to develop North Bengal as a religious and tourism hub.
However, the project has drawn political criticism. Suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir objected to the foundation stone ceremony, saying, “We will not allow temples to be built with government funds. Once the election process begins, no further temples should be constructed using state government resources.”
Kabir, who recently launched a new political party, claimed no future government would come to power without the support of his party’s 100 MLAs and alleged the TMC’s seat tally would fall below 100, adding that his objective was to remove what he termed a “corrupt government” from power.
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