Garia

Garia is a large area bordering South 24 Parganas district and Kolkata district of South Bengal.  It is situated on the banks of Adi Ganga, the southern suburb of Kolkata City.  This is a very ancient town.  The most popular way of naming this area is that, it is home to the Gaudiya Vaishnav community. In the Fifteen Century the great social reformer of Bengal Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu traveled through Adi Ganga on his Nilachal Yatra, stopped near the present Garia, and from then on started Vaishnavas or Baishnabs lives in the area.  The Baishnabghata and Kamdahari around Garia are bound to be the same source of Etymological history.

Conversely, Garia received its name from one types of Mangrove trees called Kandelia candel, which was called Guriya (Bengali : গুড়িয়া) in Native Sundarbani Language. It is said that in ancient times the Sundarbans extended North to the Sealdah and This area had maximum of this trees, So this area came to known as Garia.

According to others, Garia gets its name from a Muslim community of Gauda, Gauriyā Who lived near by.  It is said that they are currently living in the northern part of Patuli.  However, this name-source isn't well accepted by many scholars.

Garia is one of the oldest settlements around the region. Tolly's Nullah (canal), which connects Kolkata to the Bidyadhari River to the east, runs through the middle of Garia. It was primarily a peaceful residential neighbourhood before the partition of India, which changed the very fabric of the area.

Overnight refugees came and settled down in the farm lands and country houses of the rich landowners of Kolkata in Garia, increasing the population of the area by many thousands.

Garia became another refugee settlement along with Jadavpur and Tollygunge in the southern fringes of the city. Slowly, after the initial upheaval, development of the area started and it grew to become a peaceful neighbourhood. But again another change was coming to the region. With the expansion of Kolkata to the east and the south during the 1990s, the area witnessed its latest change. Garia was the southern end of the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass, the next 'Chowringhee' of Kolkata. This road connected Garia to the northern parts of the city and the newly developing areas like Salt Lake and New Town, and also to the Dum Dum Airport; thus opening the way for rapid commercialization of the area. Already home to two major bus terminus, Garia became the transport and commercial hub for the region.

First settlements were on the north of the meeting point of N.S.C. Bose Road, Garia main road & Raja Subodh Chandra Mullick road; Garia More as it is known till day. Kanungo Park, planned by Late Sri Manindra Lal Das an Officer of The Directorate of Settlement Department of West Bengal, from which Milan park was later carved out was the first planned settlement at Garia. This locality is now home to some of the finest upcoming apartment complexes in the city, and is a heaven for people looking to get away from the congestion of Kolkata. Hiland Park, Avani's Victoria Greens, Westwind, Orbit City, Sunny Seasons, Victoria Greens, Sugam Park, Sherwood Estate and Bengal Ambuja's Upohar are the most famous apartment complexes in Garia. Apartment complexes like Sugam Sudhir, PS Srijan Ozone, Modello Highs are close to completion and will be the newest additions to posh housing complexes. However, increasing population day by day, and the upcoming projects and a vast number of residential flats and increased traffic have made Garia almost the same as the other congested places of Kolkata, at present. Metro railway has added a new feather in terms of communication which connects Central & North Kolkata to save time & have a comfortable journey.

One of Kolkata's red-light districts is situated in Garia.[5]

Garia includes the neighbourhoods of Kanungo Park, New Garia, Chak Garia, Garia Park, Baghajatin, Ajoy Nagar, Baishnabghata-Patuli, Techno City, Panchpota, Model Town, Ganguly Bagan, Ramgarh, Tentulberia, East Tentulberia, Ramgarh, Briji, Dhalai Bridge, Kamalgazi, Mahamayatala, Pearabagan, Boral, Sreenagar, Nayabad, Panchasayar, Kandarpopur town, Fartabad, Garia railway station, Balia, Sreerampur and certain parts of New Ajoynagar.

Baishnabghata Patuli Township

Ashabari Housing Complex in Baishnabghata Patuli Township

Main article: Baishnabghata Patuli Township

Baishnabghata-Patuli Township is a township located in the northern part of Garia. Baishnabghata-Patuli Township is a World Bank–funded project on the EM Bypass. Currently, it is one of the most promising parts of south Kolkata.

Tetultala

Tinni Apartment, 130 Garia Main Road, Kolkata 700084 West Bengal, India

This is a residential place between Mahamayatala and Hindustan More. There is a sweet shop named Hindustan Sweets and Patton's factory nearby. Various residential buildings and housing complexes are situated in this locality such as Sanghati Abasan, Victoria Enclave, Tinni Apartment, Puskar Abasan, Basundhara Apartment,Luv kush Apartment, Mondal Para Sabuj Sangha club is also there and this area developing very faster, etc. In this area, one new temple is also established and it has become famous also, it is called a "Bajrangbali Temple". Nowadays this place is very crowded.

The converging point of Raja S.C.Mullick Road, N.S.C.Bose Road & Garia Main Road is known as "Garia More", adjacent to Kanungo Park & Garia Traffic Guard of Kolkata Police. It is the point where Garia started evolving post Independence.

Railway connectivity of Garia

New Garia Metro Station

Garia is home to four major bus termini (popularly named as No.5, No.6, S-7, S-21). Besides 45, 45B, 80A, 80B, 218, 228, KB17, SD5, AC5, AC6, AC37, AC37A, AC37C, AC50, AC50A, S14, S15G, S37, S55, BARASAT- BARUIPUR etc. buses connect Garia with all parts of the city. All varieties of bus services are available here.[6]

Kavi Nazrul connects this locality to the Kolkata Metro network. Two more stations - Shahid Khudiram (Near E M Bypass and Garia Station Road crossing popularly known as Dhalai Bridge, meaning concrete bridge) & Kavi Subhash (at New Garia, the terminal station in this route near Panchasayar, in between Baghajatin railway station & Garia railway station and just beside New Garia railway station) have become operational from 7 October 2010.[7][8]

Garia is served by the Garia Railway Station.

• Eastern Metropolitan Bypass
• Netaji Subash Chandra Bose Road
• Raja SC Mullick Road
• Garia Main Road
• Garia Station Road
• Boral Main Road

Garia is one of the major shopping areas of Kolkata.[10] It is home to many shopping malls and departmental stores. Some of them are :

• Metropolis Mall, Hiland Park, EM Bypass, Chak Garia.[11]
• Big Bazaar, Orbit Mall, Garia.[12]
• Spencer's, Garia Station Road.[13]
• Spencer's Express, Baishnabghata Patuli Township.[14]
• Spencer's Express, Tolly Heights, Naktala.[15]
• Proyozonio.[16]
• Bizarre Bazar.[17]
• Sonar Bangla Shopping Complex.[18]
• Pooja Plaza (Near Garia Bazaar)
• Parnashree Market (Near Garia Main Road)
• New Raghunath market
• Brand Factory (Near Mahamayatala, Garia)

Peerless Hospital

• The Apollo Clinic[19]
• Bengal Rural Welfare Service (BRWS) Hospital, junction of Raja Subodh Mullick Road and Baishnabghata Connector.
• Banchbo Healing Touch[20]
• Peerless Hospital, at Panchasayar.
• Remedy Hospital, at Kalitala
• Lifeline Hospital, at Pratapgarh.
• Namita Biswas Memorial Eye Hospital at Garia Station.
• Hindusthan Health Point, at Hindusthan Bus Stop.
• Sevangan nursing home.
• Welkin diagnostic center.
• Smilz Dental Treatment Facility, Garia Park[21]
• Remedy diagnostic center.
• Medich Health Clinic & Diagnostic Centre
• Care & cure diagnostic center.
• Friends Diagnostic Private Limited.
• Mother Teresa Memorial TB Hospital & Research Centre.[22]
• Neotia Mediplus Super Speciality Clinic ( A unit of Park Hospitals)168 Garia Main Road, Kolkata 700084 (Opp. 228 bus stand)

Netaji Subhash Engineering College

Garia is home to several academic, research and professional institutions and schools. Major colleges, schools and research institutions located here includes:

• Netaji Subhash Engineering College
• Indian Centre for Space Physics, Garia Station Road[23]
• Dinabandhu Andrews College-affiliated to Calcutta University.[24]
• Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute
• Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta[25]
• Seacom Marine College[26]
• National Institute of Hotel Management, Kolkata
• Sammilani Mahavidyalaya[27]
• K.K. Das College[28]
• Future Institute of Engineering and Management
• Swami Vivekananda Institute of Science & Technology
• Neotia Academy Of Nursing, Chak Garia[29]
• Indus Valley World School[30]
• Welland Gouldsmith School[31]
• Techno India Group Public School[32]
• Techno Model School[33]
• Miranda High School[34]
• B.D. Memorial Institute-Mahamayatala[35]
• Garia Baroda Prasad High School
• Garia Harimati Devi U. Balika School
• Garia Vidyabhavana South School[36]
• Kids World School
• Ideal commercial College
• Garia Madrasah Badrul Uloom Quraniya - Islamic Educational Institute
• Balia Nafar Chandra Balika Vidyalaya
• Tentulberia Anukul Chandra High School

• BANCHBO - NGO of West Bengal. Work in the field of Education of children, Elderly care, Women Empowerment.
• Boral Kalpataru Seva Samity - Work in the field of Medicine. Provides free health checks and medicine. Govt registration Num S/2L/38619.
• Grace and Glory of God(Kamalgazi)-Work in the field of Education of children, Elderly care, Women Empowerment, providing daily requirements to the needy.

• Hiland Park is the second tallest tower in Kolkata (after South City) and is located in Chak Garia on the E. M. Bypass.
• The Conclave Club Verde Vista, Chak Garia.
• Garia Bazaar is one of the largest wholesale fish and vegetable markets in Kolkata.
• Sant Sri Asaramji Ashram, near Netaji Subhash Engineering College.
• Bharat Sevashram Sangha, which is located near Briji.
• Very old twin temples at Garia Burning Ghat. Srimanta Saudagar (the son of Chand Saudagar) built these two temples (dedicated to Kali and Mahakal Shiva).
• Garia Buddha Temple.
• Baroda Avenue Kali Temple (one of the oldest Kali temples of Garia).
• A very old temple namely of historical importance (said to be as old as the reigns of the Sen rulers of Bengal, however the old construction has been ruined) - Tripurasundari Temple near Boral High School.
• Kaliganga (canal, a branch from the Ganga).
• Shri Shri Baba Lokenath Mandir (near the newly inaugurated 'Kavi Nazrul' Metro Station).
• Bipattarini Mandir (Small incarnation of original Bipattarini Temple situated at Rajpur, South 24 Pgs). Those who are unable to visit Rajpur may visit this temple at Garia.
• Mahamaya Mandir near Mahamayatala petrol pump on the Garia Main Road.
• Jora Mandir near Kali ganga canal consisting a pair of temples.
• Baishnab Ghata Putul Park.
• Shree Guru Asram, Naktala.
• Sheetala Mata Mandir, Near Boral Chowk (Near Narayan Mistanna Bhandar).
• Floating Market, Patuli.

• Durga Puja is celebrated at Garia with great pomp. Nabadurga, Panchadurga, Mahamayapur Mondal Para sabuj Sangha Durgotsav, Durga puja of Jatra Shuru Sangha, Kanungo Park, Srirampur Kalyan Samity, Milan Park, Sangathani Sangha, Moitri Sangha, Kalyan Parisad and many pujas of housing societies needs special appreciation. People from all corners of the city comes and enjoy these pujas at Garia.
• Buddha Jayanti- celebration of 3 important event of Lord Buddha's life (Birth, Buddhata, Maha Parinirvan)at Garia Buddha Temple on Buddha Purnima Day.
• Kathina Chivara Dana- special occasion for Buddhist specially for Buddhist monk after completion of 3 months of Varsha Mash at Garia Buddha Temple.
• Baishnabghata Patuli Boi Mela- Book Fair at Kendua Shanti Sangha ground at December since 2012.
• Seva Utsav, organized by Dakshin Kalikata Krira O Sanskriti Parishad. It is successfully running for last 35th year. Activities are Free Eye Operation camp, Free Medical Camp, Various Cultural Competition & Programme, Torch relay, Various Exhibition, workshop, Demonstration, All Bengal Yogasan Competition, Baul Mela, Kavi Sammelan, Seminars, etc.
• Rakhi Utsav, Annual function of Sreerampur Kalyan Samity.
• West Bengal Art and Handicrafts Fair (sponsored by the Govt. of West Bengal).
• Old Rath Yatra fair at Rathtala and many other local fairs round the year.
• Puja Rating & Ride by Under Privileged & Street Children & also by Senior Citizen on Sasti/Saptami of Durga Puja organised by Banchbo.
• International Senior Citizen Day on 1 October of every year organized by Banchbo Healing Touch.
• World Diabetes Day on 14 November of every year organized by Banchbo Healing Touch.
• World Environment Day on 5 June of every year organized by Banchbo & METTA PARISHAD - Youth Wing of Garia Bauddha Sanskriti Samsad.
• Doctors' Day on 1 July of every year organized by Banchbo & KENDUA SHANTI SANGHA.

Rakhi Utsav organized by "Garia Manabik" a NGO held every year at Kishore Kalyan Samsad ground Garia, Kamdohari Narkelbagan, Celebrities and dignitaries from different fields and society attend this ceremony.

In early 1953, the principal photography of the Satyajit Ray's debut film Pather Panchali was done at Boral, then a small village on the outskirts of Kolkata, now a locality of Garia. A decade later, Ray again shot a scene of Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne in the dense bamboo groves near a local pond.[37]

• Ashapurna Devi, legendary and highly acclaimed novelist and poet
• Anurag Basu, Bollywood film director
• Kaushik Ganguly, film director
• Churni Ganguly, actress
• Locket Chatterjee, actress
• Rashid Khan, famous classical singer
• Srijato, poet
• Sunil Ganguly, guitarist
• Kabir Suman (Renowned Poet, Singer, Musician & Socio-Political Activist)

• New Garia
• Kolkata Metro Railway Routes (North South Corridor)
• Kolkata Suburban Railway
• Eastern Metropolitan Bypass

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Garia.

Kolkata/Southern fringes travel guide from Wikivoyage

• Garia at Google Maps
• Garia at Yahoo Maps
• Garia at Bing Maps
• Garia at mapsofindia.com