GONGONI (GANGANI) - THE GRAND CANYON OF BENGAL

Gangani (gongoni), which is popularly known as the “Grand Canyon of Bengal” is situated near the small town Garhbeta of west medinipur district in west Bengal. This beautiful place is situated on the banks of river shilabati which is locally known as “shilai River”. Gongoni is locally known as “gongoni danga” or “gongoni khola”. The place projects the beautiful handi work of Mother Nature, who has build a fascination gorge of red soil which resembles miniature verson of the “Grand Canyon of Arizona” in USA. The place got this beauty through years of soil erosion with the assistance of the river. During monsoon season the river flows through the gorge and the entire stretch becomes picturesque.

The summers are warm with the maximum temperature rising to 42 degree Celsius. The winter season remains comfortable and the minimum temperature of this season is 10 degree Celsius.

The prime attraction of this place is the “ Shilai River” and the beautiful river gorge of gongoni, but there are lots of old temples in and around garhbeta. The place gongoni is pleasant and beautiful in each and every time of the year. But during monsoons when the river enters the gorge the place becomes more beautiful. At this time the fisherman are found around the place with their fishing nets.

There is a local folklore that Pandava prince Bheem (As in Hindu epic Mahabharata), stayed here the demon Bokasura who lived in this Canyon.

There is a mass of earth in the gorge, which looks like huge temple with a small cave at this bottom. Standing in front of this structure, it is hard to believe that this is a natural rock formation. Local people say that this was the cave where demon bokasura stayed and it is where the fight took place.

Either it is nothing or it is something more than extraordinary. The scenic beauty can mesmerise on the field overlooking the colossal ruins of gongoni. It is nature’s best creation at its best. With the Shilaboti river flowing through a deep gorge and the adjoining places taking the form of different shapes and figures because of erosion, it’s a treat of eye. The formations of gongoni on the wall of the gorge spreading from east and west are something similar to the archaeological sculptures of Ajanta and Ellora but the only difference is that the ones at gongoni were not created by human hands. There was a pagoda shaped formation that caught the attention from a distance. Unless known before hand one would never be able to identify that it was an effect of erosion on rocks, not a man made shrine. It is really a astonishing how effortlessly nature can make such creations.

When the evening falls slowing the red colour of the walls of the gorge of gongoni was further depended by the rays of the setting sun. The whole place seemed to be on fire. Slowly the light died and soon an absolute darkness engulfed the place. It is a very much popular shooting place. Now there shooting is going on.

In a word, gongoni is the example of nature’s beautiful art which can make a person mesmerised at a glance.