West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee pours milk on Shivling at Mahakal Temple during a visit to assess flood and landslide affected areas in Darjeeling, October 16, 2025 | Photo credit: ANI
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday (October 16, 2025) announced the construction of the Mahakal Temple at Siliguri in Darjeeling district. This is the third major temple construction project undertaken by the West Bengal government after the Jagannath Temple in Digha and the Durga Angan in Rajarhat.
“I have also asked the DM (District Magistrate, Darjeeling) to look for land for a convention center in Siliguri and I will build a big Mahakal temple next to it. It will have the tallest tower. We will have to set up a trust for that, but we (West Bengal government) will do everything, we will take everyone, including private players, who are willing to join us,” media chief Darjee said. The Trinamool Congress president announced the construction of the Mahakal Temple in Siliguri after visiting the famous Mahakal Temple in the Darjeeling hills.
After inaugurating the ₹ 250 crore Jagannath temple in Digha earlier this year, Mrs. Banerjee announced the Durga Angan in Rajarhat. On Thursday (October 15), she said the task of setting up a trust for the temple was completed and looked at the architecture of the temple.
The announcement to build a third temple within a year assumes significance as it comes with a “soft Hindutva” push from the West Bengal ruling party. Political observers say the move to build temples is an attempt to counter “aggressive Hindutva” pressure from the BJP.
The Chief Minister, who was overseeing the rescue operations in Darjeeling, on Thursday urged tourists to return to the Queen of the Hills. Floods and landslides hit Darjeeling and adjoining districts of North Bengal earlier this month and the state government rescued hundreds of tourists.
“Tourists started coming and I met some of them. After the floods, the inflow of tourists stopped. We rescued about 1,500 tourists (during the floods),” Ms. Banerjee said.
The Chief Minister said that two roads leading to Darjeeling – one from Tindharia and the other from Pankhabari – have been opened and the road leading from Rohini will be opened in 15 to 20 days. “I encourage tourists to come to Darjeeling,” she said.
Published – 16 Oct 2025 19:19 IST
