Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Cooch Behar’s Madhupur Satra on Saturday, declaring a ₹35 crore investment to overhaul the historic Vaishnavite monastery and inviting West Bengal’s ministers to co‑lead the effort. He was accompanied by West Bengal Sports Minister Nishith Pramanik, a delegation of Assam cabinet ministers and senior officials.
The satra, a shrine linked to the final days of saint‑reformer Srimanta Sankardeva, has long been a pilgrimage centre for Assam’s Vaishnavite community. Sarma highlighted its cultural significance, noting that a similar scale of development has been achieved at Batadrava Than in Nagaon.
Sarma said the plan could extend to nearby satras such as Baikunthpur and Baripur if additional land is secured; the current 16‑bigha (about five acres) footprint would limit the scope otherwise. He urged a West Bengal delegation to visit Batadrava Than to cement the historical bond between the two states.
Local devotees, including 72‑year‑old Kiran Das, welcomed the funding, hopeful that the restored site will attract tourism and preserve Sankardeva’s legacy. Pramanik pledged West Bengal’s cooperation, stating the joint project will boost regional religious tourism and strengthen inter‑state ties. The next step is a joint committee meeting slated for October 5 to outline detailed construction phases.