Nabadwip is a pilgrimage city in Nadia district, 65 km from Kolkata on the Bhagirathi River. It was the medieval capital of the Sena dynasty and for five centuries served as one of Bengal's great centres of Sanskrit learning — the "Oxford of Bengal" in the old descriptions. More importantly for the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who come each year, it is the birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486–1533), the saint who transformed Vaishnava devotional practice across Bengal and beyond. His movement, Gaudiya Vaishnavism, has spread worldwide through ISKCON, and the town draws pilgrims from every continent.
The name Nabadwip means "nine islands" in Bengali — the town sits at the meeting of the Bhagirathi and Jalangi rivers where the land was historically divided into nine segments. The main temple of Poramatala Mahaprabhu Mandir anchors the old town; the parallel Dhameshwar Mandir sits closer to the river. The Ganga ghats come alive at first light with pilgrims bathing and naukas crossing to the eastern bank. The traditional Parikrama circuit, walked formally only at Gaura Purnima, covers all nine of the sacred islands.
Across the Bhagirathi, Sri Mayapur is the ISKCON world headquarters and one of the most impressive temple complexes in eastern India. The vast Temple of the Vedic Planetarium under construction at its centre will, when finished, have a dome larger than that of St Peter's in Rome. The Yogapitha within the complex is venerated by the modern Gaudiya movement as the precise spot of Chaitanya's birth.
The main festival is Rash Utsav (Rash Purnima) in November, when elaborately painted idols crowd every neighbourhood and the town becomes a destination for devotees and curious visitors alike. Gaura Purnima, the birth anniversary of Chaitanya, is celebrated in February or March with a massive procession.
Nabadwip is easily reached from Sealdah station in Kolkata (about 1.5 hours). Krishnanagar is 15 km away and makes a logical combination visit.