Bankura

Bankura
Temple city of Bengal
City
Ekteshwar Shiva Temple
Bankura
Location in West Bengal, India
Coordinates: 23°15′N 87°04′E / 23.25°N 87.07°E / 23.25; 87.07Coordinates: 23°15′N 87°04′E / 23.25°N 87.07°E / 23.25; 87.07
Country India
State West Bengal
District Bankura
Area
 • Total 6,882 km2 (2,657 sq mi)
Elevation 78 m (256 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 137,386[1]
 • Density 523/km2 (1,350/sq mi)
Languages
 • Official Bengali, English
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN 722101, 722102
Telephone code 03242
Lok Sabha constituency Bankura
Vidhan Sabha constituency Bankura
Website www.bankura.gov.in

Bankura (pronounced [bænˈkʊərə]) is a city and a municipality in Bankura Sadar subdivision of Bankura district in the state of West Bengal, India. It is the headquarter of Bankura district.

Etymology

In the Mahabharata, Bankura was described as Suhmobhumi. The word Larh or Rarh (in Nagari: rāḍh) was introduced after 6th century A.D. It comes from the old Austric word ráŕhá or ráŕho which means “land of red soil”.[2] In ancient times "China called Ráŕh by the name of 'Láti'".[2] In Santali, lar means thread, rarh means tune and larh means snake. Perhaps the Jain and Greek scholars used this original Austric word Larh to indicate this dry forest region which was very difficult. The popularity of Manasa Puja, the worship of Snake-Goddess Manasa, shows this opinion might have some relevance. According to Nilkantha, a famous commentator of the Mahabharata, the words suhmo[bhumi] (Sanskrit: suhma-bhūmi) and Rarh are synonymous.

Scholars differs in their opinion about the etymology of the name Bankura. In the words of the Kol-Mundas, orah or rah means habitation. Many places of Rarh have an added rah at the end of their names. One of the most influential gods of the district Dharmathakur is called Bankura Roy. The name of the district may come from his name. Linguist Suniti Kumar Chatterjee thinks that the name came from the word banka (zig-zag), and its word-corruption banku, which means extremely beautiful, and he who must be worshiped. In 1979, the word “Bancoorah” was found in the map of Renal. In 1863, Gastrel referred this region as Bancoonda.

Bir Hambir was the 49th king of Bagdi Malla dynasty. There is a story that he had twinty two sons. Bir Bankura was one of them. Raja Bir Hambir divided his kingdom into 22 tarafs or circles and gave one to his each son. Taraf Jaybelia fell to the lot of Bir Bankura. He developed a town in his taraf and the town was later named as 'Bankura' after its founder's name.[3]

Geography

Bankura district is located in the western part of the state of West Bengal. It is a part of Bardhaman Division of the State and is included in the area known as "Rarh" in Bengal. Bankura district is situated at 23°15′N 87°04′E / 23.25°N 87.07°E / 23.25; 87.07. The Damodar River flows along the Northern boundary of the district. Bankura district is bounded by Bardhaman district in the north, Purulia district in the west and Paschim Medinapure district in the south.

The seasons in Bankura are generally distributed as hot summer (April–May), monsoon (June–September) and 'Cold season' (November–February). The humidity is usually medium to high throughout the year and the rainfall, though not heavy, is usually well distributed. The average annual rainfall received by the district is around 1,300 mm. The rainy months are generally July and August. 21.5% of the total geographical area of the district is made up of forest land, covering a total of 148,177 hectares. Net cultivable area of the district is 4.30 lakh hectares.

Demographics

In the 2011 census, [1]Bankura city had a population of 137,386 of which 69,843 were males and 67,543 were females, giving a sex ratio of 967. The literacy rate was 86.12% and there were 12,148 children 0-6 years old

Religions in Bankura
Religion Percent
Hindus
 
 90.42%
Muslims
 
 8.08%
Others†
 
 1.5%


Police stations

Bankura police station has jurisdiction over Bankura municipality, Bankura I and Bankura II CD Blocks. The area covered is 439 km2. There are 3 town outposts and an outpost at Rajagram.[4][5]

Bankura Sadar Division woman police station, started in 2014, has jurisdiction over whole of Bankura Sadar subdivision.[6]

Transport

Bankura Railway Junction is managed by the South Eastern Railways and is on the Adra-Midnapore rail route. It is in Bankura city. Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express, Rupashi Bangla Express, Aranyak Express, Puri-New Delhi(Nandan Kanan) Superfast Express, Ernakulam-Patna Express, Howrah-LTT Samarsata Express and Purulia-Howrah Express pass through this station. It is the originating and terminating station of Bankura Damodar Railway[7] which will connect to Howrah-Bardhaman Chord section. Computerized reservation facility is available. Going towards north-west, Adra Junction Railway Station is the nearest main station and moving to south, Midnapore Railway Station is the major station next to Bankura.[8]

The Bankura Railway Station and bridge over Dhaleshwari River were built by Gujarati Railway Contractors of the town Jeewan Gangji Savaria and Lalji Raja Vadher in 1900 working for Bengal Nagpur Railway.

National Highway 14 (India) running from Morgam (in Murshidabad district) to Kharagpur (in Paschim Medinipur district), State Highway 9 (West Bengal) running from Durgapur (in Paschim Bardhaman district) to Nayagram (in Jhargram district) and State Highway 5 (West Bengal) running from Rupnarayanpur (in Bardhaman district) to Junput (in Purba Medinipur) pass through Bankura. NH 14 links Bankura to NH 12 and NH 16. Both NH 14 and SH 9 link Bankura to NH 19 (Grand Trunk Road).[9][10]

Tourism

Bankura has gained much popularity among tourists hailing from India. The place has a rich cultural and traditional heritage. It is known for its paintings, music and other arts. The place has contributed toward modern Bengal art and architecture[11] The tourist spots can be divided into four zones.[12]

Eastern Zone

Jor Mandir
  • Bishnupur is a tourist spot of Bankura district. It is 152 km from Kolkata and 34 km from Bankura Town. This place has a historical importance as it was the capital of Mallabhum. It is known for terracotta temples and Baluchari sarees. It is popular for classical music dalmadal and painting. There are approximately 16 temples, most of which are made in the decade of Mallaraja. Temples of Bishnupur include Jor Mandir, Rasmancha, Radhamadhab Temple, Kalachand Temple, Madan Mohan Temple, Radha-Gobinda Temple and Shyam Ray Temple.
  • Joyrambati is 98 km from Kolkata.[13] It is a holy place as it was the birthplace of Sree Sree Maa Sarada Devi. Temple of Singha Bahani Devi and Mayerepukur are also visiting sites.
Gokulchand Temple,Gokulnagar.

Western Zone

  • Susunia Hill is also a tourist spot of Bankura District. It is 50 km[14] from Bisnupur and 21 km from Bankura town . It is known for a natural spring and a historical stone engraving .
  • Biharinath Hill is the tallest (448 m)[12] of Bankura District. It is in the northwestern edge of the district. It is 57 km from Bankura Town. It was an ancient centre of Jainism, and known for its natural environment.[14] Biharinath has hills, dense forest, water bodies, river Damodar, and a temple of Lord Shiva.

South Zone

Mukutmanipur dam
  • Mukutmanipur is a tourist spot of Bankura District. It is 55 km[14] from Bankura District headquarters. It is the second biggest earthen dam of India.[12]
  • Jhilimili has a dense natural forest. It lies 70 km from Bankura Town.

Northern Zone

  • Durgapur Barrage
  • Gandoa Dam
  • Koro Pahar (Amar Kanan)

Education

University

Colleges

Schools

  • Mirjapur High school
  • Taldangra Fulmati High School
  • Taldangra Girls High School
  • Patrasayer Bamira Gurudas Institution
  • Bheduasole High School, Bheduasole, Indpur
  • Indpur Goenka High School, Bangla, Indpur
  • Bankura Zilla School
  • Bankura Goenka Vidyayatan, Kuchkuchia, Bankura
  • Bankura Municipal High School
  • Bankura Kalitala Girls High School
  • Mission Girls High School, Bankura
  • Bankura Town High School.
  • Bankura Banga Vidyalay
  • Bankura Hindu High School
  • Bankura Christian Collegiate School
  • Rajgram Vivekananda Hindu Vidyalaya
  • Madhuban Goenka Vidyalaya
  • Kuchiakol R B institution
  • Simlapal Madan Mohan High School
  • Hirbandh High School
  • Chuagara Sammilani Vidyapith
  • Sonamukhi B.J High School, Sonamukhi
  • Barjora Girls high School, Barjora
  • Barjora Boys High School, Barjora
  • Barjora Gramin Junior High School,Barjora
  • Beliatore High School,Beliatore
  • Godardihi High School,Godardihi
  • Dadhimukha High School,Dadhimukha
  • Danga Primary School, Barjora
  • Nutangram High School, Nutangram
  • Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Kalpathar
  • MDB DAV Public School, Bankura
  • Saraswati Devi International School, Puabagan, Bankura
  • Shyampur High School
  • West Point School, Bankura
  • Araldihi High School, Araldihi, Indpur
  • Fulkushma High school, fulkushma, Bankura
  • Fulkushma nityabala Balika vidyalaya, fulkushma, Bankura

Healthcare

  • Bankura Sammilani Medical College and Hospital is the most important hospital of the district equipped with all major departments and diagonostic facilities.
  • Bankura Sub-Divisional Hospital is an important hospital. It has a paediatric ward, blood test and OT.[15]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Bankura City Census 2011 data". census2011.co.in. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  2. 1 2 P.R. Sarkar Rarh - The Cradle of Civilization, Ananda Marga Publications, 1981, Kolkata
  3. ↑ "Etymology of Bankura district".
  4. ↑ "District Statistical Handbook 2014 Bankura". Tables 2.1, 2.2. Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  5. ↑ "Bankura PS". Bankura District Police. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  6. ↑ "Bankura women PS Sadar subdivision". Bankura District Police. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  7. ↑ http://www.banglalive.com/Feature/FeatureDetail/6895/%5Bpermanent+dead+link%5D
  8. ↑ ((www.india9.com))
  9. ↑ "Rationalisation of Numbering Systems of National Highways" (PDF). New Delhi: Department of Road Transport and Highways. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  10. ↑ "List of State Highways in West Bengal". West Bengal Traffic Police. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  11. ↑ http://www.maharashtraweb.com/WestBengal/cities/maps/bankuramap.asp
  12. 1 2 3 "Tourism, Bankura". Archived from the original on 25 September 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  13. ↑ "Kolkata to Jairambati". Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  14. 1 2 3 "West Bengal Tourism, Bankura". Archived from the original on 14 August 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  15. ↑ "Health Information of Bankura". Retrieved 8 September 2012.
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