Nabadwip

Prior to Gour, Nabadwip was the capital of Sena dynasty during the reigns of Ballal Sen and Lakshman Sen. They ruled Bengal from here in the period from 1159 to 1206.[3] In 1202, Nabadwip was attacked and invaded by Bakhtiyar Khilji who plundered Nabadwip. The Lakshman Sen, the old King, being afraid left the Capital. This victory paved the way for Muslim rule in Bengal.[4] Nabadwip and Nadia were great centres of learning and intellectual prowess. For five centuries, it was referred to as "Oxford of East".[5] [6][7][8]

The name of the city is derived from the conjugation of the Bengali words /naba/ (new) and /dwipa/ (island) meaning New-island. In the down stream of the river Ganga, the alluvial deposits carried over during its course that starts at the Himalayas, were gradually deposited, forming a new island which is present day's Nabadwip. The name Nabadwip and Nadia has the same connotation of the same geographical location flanked at west and north by the Ganga at earlier times. The claim that the name Nabadwip refers to an area comprising nine islets has no ground. There are many historical references in this respect. Actually the misconception around the nomenclature of the name "Nabadwip" arose since the publication of the book "Bhakti Ratnakar" of Narahari Chakraborty. Narahari Chakraborty's claim, however, is not supportable from the perspective of geographical definition of the term Island. He might have made-up the idea of "nine islands" since "naba" in Bengali also means 'nine'. Hence "Nabadwip" i.e. nine islands, namely Antardwip, Simantadwip, Rudradwip, Madhyadwip, Godrumdwip, Ritudwip, Jahnudwip, Modadrumdwip, and Koladwip. However again, it is to mention that all these islands are loosely scattered over a vast geographical area that the Historians do not approve of the idea as being "Nabadwip".

• Bablari Dewanganj
• Char Brahmanagar
• Char Maijdia
• Gadigachha
• Majdia
• Nabadwip
• Tiorkhali
• Tegharipara

In the 2011 census, Nabadwip Urban Agglomeration had a population of 175,474, out of which 90,810 were males and 84,664 were females. The 0–6 years population was 8,388. In education section, total literates in Nabadwip city are 102,793 of which 55,569 are males while 47,224 are females. Average literacy rate of Nabadwip city is 87.75 percent of which male and female literacy was 91.14 and 84.07 percent. Total children (0-6) in Nabadwip city are 8,388 as per figure from Census India report on 2011. There were 4,329 boys while 4,059 are girls. The child forms 6.68% of total population of Nabadwip City.[9]

Nabadwip PS Map

As of 2001 India census,[10] Nabadwip had a population of 115,036. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Nabadwip has an average literacy rate of 75%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 80%, and female literacy is 70%. In Nabadwip, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Nabadwip police station has jurisdiction over Nabadwip municipality and Nabadwip CD Block.[12][13] The total area covered by the police station is 102.94 km² and the population covered is 260,843 (2001 census).[14]

There are a total of 18 high and higher secondary schools in Nabadwip, Notables among them are Nabadwip Bakultala High School, Nabadwip Hindu School (1873),Nabadwip Siksha Mandir (H.S), R.C.B Saraswatmandir, Jatiya Vidyalaya, Tarasundari Girls High School, Nabadwip Bakultala Girls High School, Nabadwip Balika Vidyalaya ,Sudarshan High School and Techno India School

e.t.c

Nabadwip Bakultala High School

There is a college namely Nabadwip Vidyasagar College (in the name of the Great Social Reformer and the Father of Bengali Prose) affiliated under University of Kalyani.

In summer, i.e. from April to June, the weather remains hot and temperature ranges from maximum of 35 °C to minimum of 26 °C.

Monsoon season prevails during beginning-June to mid-September. Also retrieving monsoon from mid-October till mid-November[15]

The weather is quite pleasant, the summers and winters are moderate. The level of moisture increases during summers.

Nabadwip Homœo Study circle (NHSC)

There are also a number of medical associations-

• Nabadwip Homœo Study circle
• Indian Medical Association &c.

The temple at Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's birthplace in Mayapur near Nabadwip, established by Bhaktivinoda Thakur in 1880s.

Sri Chaitanya and Nityananda, is shown performing a 'kirtan' in the streets of Nabadwip, Bengal.

Gourangini Mata in rash jatra

Festivals which are popular in Nabadwip

• Pohela Boishakh or Bangla New Year (14/15 April)
• Rath Yatra (July)

Although Ratha Yatra is the main festival of Odisha still Nabadwip have a pride of Ratha Yatra because of Chaitanya Deb. Nearly 20-25 Ratha Chariots are bloom in this occasion. here in Nabadwip one can found some exceptions like full hand idols of Lord Jagannatha. Here another speciality is a fruit called "Notkona" which is specially found in this eve, mainly brought from Assam. This Fruit is a vital part of Eastern part of Bengali.

The Ratha-Yatra of Jagannath In Nabadwip features unusual images with hands.[16]

[16]

• Ganga puja (June)
• Jhulan Purnima (August)
• Durga Puja (Sept/Oct)
• Ras Festival (রাস যাত্রা) (Oct-Nov)
• Annual Tourism (Nov to March)
• Saraswati Puja (Feb/March)
• Dol Purnima or Dol Yatra (Feb-Mar)
• Gaura-purnima, the birthday of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (Feb-Mar)
• Chaitra Sale (March/April).

নবদ্বীপ সাধারণ গ্রন্থাগার(Nabadwip Public Library)

• Nabadwip Public Library
• Adorsho Pathagar &c.
• Shilpi Gosthi Granthagar

Nabadwip Dham railway station is the main railway station of Nabadwip. The railway inaugurated in 1913. It is situated 105 km from Howrah on the Bandel-Katwa Branch Line.[17] Nabadwip Dham Railway Station is seventh longest railway station of India (2362ft). Bishnupriya railway station is another Halt station of Nabadwip, 107 km from howrah junction and 38 km from katwa junction.

Nabadwip Dham is 65 km from Bandel,105 km from Howrah and 112 km from Sealdah on the Bandel-Katwa-Azimganj section of Eastern Railway.[18] It has very good railway communication with North Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Odisha and Kolkata.[19]