Susunia

Susunia
Front view of Susunia hill
Highest point
Elevation 442 m (1,450 ft)
Geography
Location Chhatna, Bankura district, West Bengal, India
Parent range Chota Nagpur Plateau

Susunia (Bengali: শুশুনিয়া) is a hill of southern West Bengal, India. It is known for its holy spring, flora and the rock faces on which many mountaineers of the region started their journey. It is also a reserve for medicinal plants. Susunia is a part of the Eastern Ghats and is situated at the north-western part of Bankura District.[1]

History

Susunia Hill is a known archeological and fossil site. Fossil remains of Asiatic lion, giraffe, hyena and other animal species have been discovered from areas around. The so claimed 'oldest' rock inscription of West Bengal is located here. There is an ancient carved monolith (Narasingha stone) standing at the point where the spring water is coming out of another stone gargoyle or curved projected spout. It is also used as a location for camping and rock-climbing.

Susunia village itself is home to stone-carving craftsmen. Susunia is an important archaeological site in Bankura district, yielding stone age tools.[2] It is believed that there earlier was a fort built by King Chandravarman. Some 4th-century inscriptions are there, referring to a place called Pushkarana, once the capital of Chandravarman. Modern-day Pakhanna is considered to be ancient Pushkarana.The rock-edict reads that- The dovotee of 'Chakkaswami' (Lord Vishnu), the King of Pushkarana, son of the King Simhavarmana, King Chandravarmana offers the revenue of the village named 'Dhoso' for the purpose of worship to his Lord Vishnu. There is a symbol of 'Wheel' or 'Chakra' near the rock-edict and towards the lower left side of the wheel, there is another line written in a script,not deciphered yet, probably the obscure 'Samkhalipi'(Conch shaped Script!), as opined by some experts.[3][4] [5]

Susunia hill from the top

Susunia is a rock climbing centre.[6] It is 10 km North-East of Chhatna. Chhatna is 13 km from Bankura town on the Bankura-Purulia road.[7]

View of eastern side of the hill from the top

Culture

Two villages in the vicinity of Susunia have Dhokra crafsmen - Netkamla in the Saltora police station area and Bindhyajam in the Chhatna police station area.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Social Search, 1995. Published by Bankura Exploration Nature Academy, Kenduadihi, Bankura 722102, West Bengal, India.
  2. ↑ Mukherjee, Shyam Chand (2012). "Shushunia". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  3. ↑ "Susunia". seemyindia. Archived from the original on 2007-10-16. Retrieved 2008-03-19.
  4. ↑ Majumdar, R.C., History of Ancient Bengal, pp. 32, 444, Tulshi Prakashani.
  5. ↑ Pahar Susunia by Kisore Dhara. Published by Chalo Jai. 2006
  6. ↑ "Rock Climbing". Retrieved 2008-03-19.
  7. ↑ "Vishnupur". WB Tourism. Archived from the original on 29 March 2008. Retrieved 19 March 2008.
  8. ↑ Ghosh, Binoy, Paschim Banger Sanskriti, (in Bengali), part I, 1976 edition, pp. 408-409, Prakash Bhaban

Coordinates: 23°24′N 86°59′E / 23.400°N 86.983°E / 23.400; 86.983

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