After establishing many temples all over the world, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada returned to India in August 1970. He established ISKCON’s first center in India in Kolkata at 3C Albert Road, Kolkata 700017.He came to Kolkata along with his foreign disciples.Shaven headed Westerners, with sikhas, Vaisnava tilaka, saffron robes, playing mridangas and karatalas, chanting Hare Krishna, quoting Sanskrit verses eloquently created sensation in Kolkata. Hundreds of people would gather to have a glimpse of these Western devotees.Sankirtan was performed at places like Dalhousie Square, Chowringee and at other different places. Srila Prabhupada unfolded the Life Membership program in Kolkata. The members were entitled for several benefits including copies of Srila Prabhupada books and free accommodation in ISKCON centers around the world. The first deity in India was installed in Kolkata and worship started from this temple in May 1971. HH Tamala Krishna Goswami, Srila Prabhupadas one of the most beloved disciples, was the second president of ISKCON Kolkata.The first Rath Yatra of ISKCON in India was celebrated in Kolkata on 12th July 1972. The Rath Yatra procession began from 3C Albert Road and culminated at Mallicks Thakurbari at 12 M.G. Road. Hundreds of thousands of people participated in this wonderful event. Whenever in Kolkata, Srila Prabhupada resided at 3C Albert Road.He used to stay in a small room located beside the temple hall. A dictating machine, a small typewriter, Srimad Bhagavatam and a picture of his beloved spiritual master, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati used to be always there in his room.He met his guests in this room and gave many instructions to his disciples from here. He took many important decisions while being in Kolkata, notable among them is the purchase of Mayapur land for Rs 14, 500. His personal belongings are still preserved in the room where he stayed.

Raghunatha dasa brought chipped rice, yogurt, and milk. Sweetmeats, sugar, bananas and ether eatables and placed them all around. As soon as they heard that a festival was going to be held, all kinds of brahmanas and other gentlemen began to arrive. Thus there were innumerable people. Seeing the crowd increasing, Raghunatha dasa arranged to get more eatables from other villages. He also brought two to four hundred large, round pots. He also obtained five or seven especially large earthen pots, and in these pots a brahmana began soaking chipped rice for the satisfaction of Lard Nityananda. In one place, chipped rice was soaked in hot milk in each of the large pots. Then half the rice was mixed with yogurt, sugar and bananas. The other half was mixed with condensed milk and a special type of banana known as canpa-kala. Then sugar, clarified butter and camphor were added. After Nityananda Prabhu had changed His cloth far a new one and sat on a raised platform, the brahmana brought before Him the seven huge pots. On that platform all the most important associates of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, as well as ether important men, sat down in a circle around the Lord. Among them were Ramadasa, Sundarananda, Gadadhara dasa, Murari, Kamalakara, Sadasiva and Purandara. Dhananjaya, Jagadisa, Paramesvara dasa, Mahesa, Gauridas and Hoda Krsnadasa were also there, Similarly, Uddharana Datta Thakura and many other personal associates of the Lord sat on the raised platform with Nityananda Prabhu. No one could count them all. Hearing about the festival, all kinds of learned scholars, brahmanas and priests went there, Lord Nityananda Prabhu honored them and made them sit on the raised platform with Him. Everyone was offered two earthen pots. In one was put chipped rice with condensed milk and in the ether chipped rice with yogurt. All the other People sat in groups around the platform. No one could count how many people there were. Each and every one of them was supplied two earthen pots, one of chipped rice soaked in yogurt and the other of chipped rice soaked in condensed milk. How to Reach: Nearest airport is Netaji Subhas Chandra International Airport at Dum Dum 10 Km. Railway station: Sodepur and Agrapara, Bus stop: Sodepur station Road, Agrapara, Panihati, Sukchar on B.T. Road, Ferry: Panihati Konnagar Ferry service.

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is the spiritual institution founded by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in July 1966 as a continuation of the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya sampradaya. ISKCON was personally directed by its Founder-Acarya Srila Prabhupada until his departure on November 14, 1977. ISKCON belongs to the Gaudiya-Vaishnava sampradaya, or denomination, a monotheistic tradition within the broad Hindu culture. It is scripturally based on the 5,000-year-old Sanskrit text Bhagavad-gita, or Song of God. ISKCON traces its lineage directly to the speaker of that sacred book, Lord Krishna, who is revered as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and to Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a 16th century incarnation of God who emphasized the chanting of Hare Krishna as the most effective means of achieving self-realization and love of God in this age. This nonsectarian, monotheistic movements mission is to advance the well-being of society by promoting the science of Krishna consciousness. To that end, Srila Prabhupada enunciated ISKCON's mission statement in seven purposes: (1) To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large and to educate all peoples in the techniques of spiritual life in order to check the imbalance of values in life and to achieve real unity and peace in the world. (2) To propagate a consciousness of Krishna as it is revealed in the Bhagavad-Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam. (3) To bring the members of the Society together with each other and nearer to Krishna, the prime entity, and thus to develop the idea, within the members, and humanity, at large, that each soul is part and parcel of the quality of Godhead (Krishna). (4) To teach and encourage the Sankirtan movement of congregational chanting of the holy name of God as revealed in the teachings of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. (5) To erect for the members, and for society at large, a holy place of transcendental pastimes, dedicated to the personality of Krishna. (6) To bring the members closer together for the purpose of teaching a simpler and more natural way of life. (7) With a view towards achieving the aforementioned purposes, to publish and distribute periodicals, magazines, books and other writings. Under Srila Prabhupada's guidance, ISKCON has grown from a small group of disciples assembling in a New York City store front into an international society with scores of centers. At present, there are more than three-hundred ISKCON centers worldwide.

Mayapur is located on the banks of the Ganges river, at the point of its confluence with the Jalangi, near Nabadvip, 130 km north of Kolkata. The headquarters of ISKCON are situated in Mayapur and it is considered a holy place by a number of other traditions within Hinduism, but is of special significance to followers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism as the birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, regarded as a special incarnation of Krishna in the mood of Radha. It is visited by over a million pilgrims annually.

Founded by Acharya of the Gaudiya Math named Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja, the Math is dedicated to Radha Govinda and has four altars dedicated to the Vaishnava acharyas namely Sri Nimbarka, Sri Madhvacarya, Sri Ramanujacarya and Sri Visnuswami.

One of the most popular temples of Navadwipa, Radha Rani Temple is a symbol of Goddess Radha's love for Lord Krishna. The tale behind the temple is that Radha got angry with Lord Krishna and went into the jungle to avoid him. Lord Krishna spent many days looking for her and finally found her on a full moon night. Hence, devotees have a special belief of visiting this town on full moon nights, to commemorate their eternal love.

Established under Lord Mahaprabhu, the temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna. It has an exhibition section showcasing the life and work of Shree Chaitanya. This temple has 3 main altars, Sri Sri Radha Madhava, Panca-tattva and Lord Narasimha Deva. These Pancha Tattva deities are the largest deities of Pancha tattva in the world. The Panca-tattva comprises Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu, Advaita Acharya, Gadadhara Pandit, and Srivas Thakur.

Chand Kazi, a person with Islamic faith, was the magistrate of Navadvipa who opposed the Harinam Sankirtana movement in Mayapur and broke the mridanga of Srivash Pandit, who led the Sankritana. Later Kazi became an ardent disciple of Shree Chaitanya Prabhu and the Samadhi commemorates his transformation.

Sri Gaura Gadadhara Gaudiya Math is an ancient temple situated at Champahati in one of the islands in Nabadwipa known as Koladvipa, was established by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Maharaja. It is home to Lord Gaura and Gadadhara.

This temple is the birth place of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and the structure is built in white marbled towers 30 m high. Yoga Peeth in Mayapur is a centre of excellence teaching Yoga, Vedas and meditation. It is assumed that Chaitanya was born under a neem tree. This tree is still seen there in the premise of Yoga Peeth. There is a hut which contains the clay models and statues displaying the life and philosophies of Saint. A small shrine devoted to Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur who raised the fund for building the original temple is also located nearby.