Bakreshwari, Birbhum

The Bakreshwar Shakti Pitha at Bakreshwar in Birbhum district, West Bengal, 60 kilometres from Shantiniketan — one of the four Birbhum Shakta Pithas (Tarapith, Bakreshwar, Kankalitala and Nalhati) that cluster in a 50-kilometre radius. The temple is said to be where Sati's mind (manas) or forehead fell. Nine hot sulphur springs around the temple — Bhairav Kund, Agni Kund, Soubhagya Kund and six others — give the shrine its distinctive bathing geography. The goddess Bakreshwari is paired with Shiva Bakranath (Vishvanatha). The temple's foundation is traditional 10-century Pala; the current structure is 18-19th century Burdwan patronage. The temple's annual Shivaratri festival in February and the Nabami (October) festival draw over 100,000 pilgrims. The 2015 West Bengal government Bakreshwar Thermal Power Station (1,050 MW) uses the hot springs for geothermal supplementation.