The Jainti river valley in the Buxa Tiger Reserve is one of the most beautiful and sere places in the country. The river Jainti zigzags through the hills of the tiger reserve. Apart from the beauty of the place and numerous birds which makes it a favorite of the bird watchers, the Jainti River Valley is also famous for the shrine of the Jainti Mahakaal.
A Mahakaal is generally referred to the Shrine of the Lord Shiva in the Hills of the Himalayas. These caves are mostly hard to reach and very small. The Jaini Mahakaal is no different. In order to reach the cave formations where the abode of the Lord is, you need to do a steep climb of about a thousand feet from the river bed.
The stalactite and stalacmite cave formations have several caves the most important being that of the Mahakaal, the Mahakaali and Paglaa Baba. The Mahakaal cave is a very small one and to enter it is in itself an ordeal. The opening to the cave is so small that if you do not follow specific steps while entering and coming out, you can get stuck in a very awkward position. While entering the cave, first your left hand, then you head, after that your left leg, right hand and at last your right leg should go in otherwise you are doomed. Its the other way when you come out.
The priest who used to worship the deity when we went there in 2007 would sit there day long and bless the pilgrims to the shrine. When I saw the place I was awed by the nature of it and asked him, "Baba, how old is this place? Since when is the Mahakaal being worshipped here?" I had thought that he would say something around a hundred or a thousand years but the answer was "Since the Satya Yuga." Now that is an answer.
This place is very popular among the trekkers in the region. It is also accessible to the casual visitor from Rajabhaatkwaowa.
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