Berhampore, West Bengal

Berhampore (), also known as Baharampur (), is a city and a municipality in the state of West Bengal, India. Berhampore is the administrative headquarters of the Murshidabad district. As of 2011 census, Berhampore is the seventh largest city in West Bengal. It is located about from Kolkata, the state capital.

Berhampore is one of the most important business, administrative, educational and political hub of Bengal as well as of India. It is one of the most popular urban agglomerations of West Bengal state. Berhampore was the first centre of East India Company in India. Not only the British but also the Dutch and the French established their companies in this city and, as a result, it grew as a production hub of India. It is famous for its famous sweets such as Chanabora, Manohara, Rasgulla and many more. The city is divided into five administrative regions: Gora Bazar, Khagra, Indraprastha, Cossimbazar, Haridasmati. Berhampore was a part of Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 which took place at Berhampore Cantonment region (Barrack Square). The city was used by many foreign traders as their production hub. Before becoming a city many janpadas such as Saidabad; Farasdanga; Kalikapur had become famous. Cossimbazar had also become world famous for its muslin clothes. This city used to be the headquarters of Rajshahi administrative region till 1875.

History

Berhampore was fortified in 1757 by the East India Company, after the Battle of Plassey in June 1757, and it continued as a cantonment until 1870. But the foundation of the city of Berhampore remains questionable.

Karnasubarna, which is the origin city of Berhampore, has a history dating back to 600 AD. Many buildings from the late 1600s can still be seen. It used to be known as Brahmapur because many of the Brahmin families settled here. The cantonment was constituted as a municipality in 1876 and was the headquarters of Murshidabad district. The Berhampore College was founded in 1853 and in 1888 made over to a local committee, mainly supported by Rani Swarnamayi.
On 27 February 1857, the first major armed battle of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 took place in Barrack Square, Berhampore. Berhampore was ruled by Raja Krishnath, his ancestors and successors (he was succeeded by his sister's side of the family as he did not have any direct descendants). In 1901, Berhampore had a population of 24,397, and included the ancient town of Kasim Bazar.

Geography

Location

Berhampore is located at . It has an average elevation of 18 metres (59 feet).

The city is located approximately 200 km north of Kolkata by road at and is situated on the eastern side of the Bhagirathi River, a major distributary of the Ganges which is known as the Hooghly River in its lower reaches.

Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivisions. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.

Localities

* Panchanantala
* Laldighi
* Indraprastha
* Ranibagan
* Khagra
* Madhupur
* Barishal Colony
* Saidabad
* Gorabazar
* Cossimbazar
* Manindra Nagar
* Bhatpara
* Raninagar
* Chunakhali
* Radharghat
* Bishnupur
* Sharma Para
* Haridasmati
* Hatinagar
* Nimtala
* Bhakuri
* Banjetia
* Chaltia
* Ajodhya Nagar

Civic administration

Municipality

Berhampore municipality is eighth oldest municipality of West bengal after that of Kolkata, Uttarpara, Shantipur, Howrah, Krishnanagar, Burdwan, and Basirhat.

Police station

Berhampore police station has jurisdiction over Berhampore municipal area and a part of Berhampore CD Block.

Climate

Demographics

In the 2011 census, Berhampore Urban Agglomeration had a population of 305,609, out of which 156,489 were males and 149,120 were females. The 0–6 years population was 23,182. Effective literacy rate for the 7+ population was 88.38. Bengali is the predominant language, spoken by 98.02% of the population. Hindi is spoken by 1.46%.

Indian census, Berhampore had a population of 160,168. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Berhampore has an average literacy rate of 79%, higher than the national average of 59.5%, with 53% of the males and 47% of females literate. 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Economy

Initially, most of the residents of this city were employees and there were few agricultural as well as silk traders. Gradually, the importance of the city increased due to its geographic location. Due to its historical importance, this city also earns a good number of tourists, thus making tourism another prominent industry there.

Major industries include agricultural related industries like rice and oil-seed milling. Home-crafts like silk weaving, ivory carving, and precious metal working are other important industries in this city. Khagra, a neighbourhood in Bahrampur is renowned for its manufacture of bell-metal and brass utensils, as well as ivory, and wood carving. A famous type of metal used to make bells called "Khagrai Kansha" is made in the city. This is a type of brass that is used to make utensils like dishes & bowls.

Berhampore is famous for the sweet chhanabora, the savoury khaja, and the sweet manohara. It is also known for Murshidabad silk (tassar).

Transport

Rail – Berhampore is 186 km from Kolkata by train. The train station is named as (BPC), and it stands on the Sealdah–Lalgola line of the Eastern Railway. Main trains are the Bhagirathi Express (13103/13104), Hazarduari Express (13113/13114), and Dhano Dhanye Express (13117/13118). Other passenger trains include Sealdah–Lalgola passenger, Sealdah–Berhampore Court MEMU passenger, Ranaghat Jn–Lalgola EMU Locals, Krishnanagar City Jn–Lalgola EMU Locals. In the northern part of the town there is another railway station named , which is the next railway station on the Sealdah–Lalgola route.

Khagraghat Road (KGLE) station stands on the Howrah–Azimganj Junction line of the Eastern Railway. Main trains of this line are Sealdah–New Alipurduar Teesta–Torsa Express, Howrah–Dibrugarh Kamrup Express, Kolkata–Radhikapur Express, Hatey Bazare Express, Howrah–Malda Town Intercity Express, Puri–Kamakhya express via Howrah, Digha–New Jalpaiguri Paharia express, and Nabadwip Dham–Malda Town Express.

Road – As Berhampore is the administrative headquarters of the Murshidabad district and stands just in a central position of West Bengal, it acts as the link between North Bengal and South Bengal. This town is well connected by NH 12 (previously NH 34). The local transportation is heavily dependent on rickshaws and E-rickshaws (known as tuk-tuk or toto car). There are bus services on regular basis from South Bengal to North Bengal and vice versa.

There are two bus terminals in the city – one for the government bus services and the other bus terminus for private buses is called 'Mohona'. There are regular bus services to Kolkata (Esplanade). Bus services are also available to other parts of West Bengal such as Durgapur, Sainthia, , Asansol, Burdwan, Bankura, Jhargram, Bolpur, Rampurhat, Nalhati, Kirnahar, Malda, Siliguri, Balurghat, Gangarampur, Krishnanagar, Ranaghat. Bus service is also available to Dumka (Jharkhand).

Water – Berhampore city is situated on the banks of Bhagirathi. Berhampore north to Berhampore south is connected via launchboats. Regular boat transport is also available from Berhampore to other towns of Murshidabad such as Azimganj and Jiaganj.

Tourist spots

Berhampore is a famous place for tourists in West Bengal. It gets tourists' flow from locals as well as from foreigners, being the first headquarters of the East India Company and having a long history enriched by the Nawabs of Bengal, Sultans of Bengal, Zamindar and other European colonial forces such as Dutch, Portuguese, English (British Raj) and French.

Arts and culture

Having patronage from the Nawabs, artists from various field of arts sowed the seed of cultural heritage in this place. Elegant pieces of hand-craft arts can also be found in this region, namely the handcraft in making of carpet, bamboo and jute crafts, and miniature paintings.

This city can be considered one of the cultural hubs of West Bengal. 'Rabindra Sadan' is the place where most of the indoor cultural activities take place. Theatre groups like Berhampore Repertory Theater, Rangasram, Chhandik, Jugagni, Berhampore Gangchil and Prantik are based out of this town. These groups organise theatre festivals throughout the year mostly during the winter season. These festivals allow people from the city, nearby towns and villages to witness performances from different theatre groups from all over the state, different states and even groups from across the border of Bangladesh.

Education

Schools

* Krishnath College School

* Berhampore J.N. Academy
* Gurudas Tarasundari Institution (GTI)
* Iswar Chandra Institution (ICI)
* Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Berhampore
* Lipika Memorial Girls' High school
* Maharani Kashiswari Girls High School
* Mahakali Pathshala
* Saidabad Manindra Chandra Vidyapith
* Shrish Chandra Vidyapith
* Mary Immaculate School
* Kendriya Vidyalaya Berhampore
* Prabharani Public School

University

* Murshidabad University

Colleges

* Berhampore College was initially founded in 1963 as Raja Krishnath College of Commerce, and was renamed in 1975. It is located in Berhampore.
* Berhampore Girls' College was established at Berhampore in 1946.
* Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute is a research station conducted by the Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, established at Berhampore in 1943. It conducts a regular post-graduate course in sericulture and tailor-made courses.
* Government College of Engineering & Textile Technology, Berhampore was established at Berhampore in 1927.
* Krishnath College (named Berhampore College until 1902) was established at Berhampore in 1853. In addition to undergraduate courses it offers post-graduate courses in physiology, sericulture and Sanskrit.
* Murshidabad College of Engineering & Technology was established at Berhampore in 1998.
* Murshidabad Institute of Technology was established in 1956.
* Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital was established at Berhampore in 2012.

* Monarch College of Art and Technology is a private college at Berhampore offering courses in animation film making and ceramic design.
* Prabharani Public School, established on the outskirts of Berhampore in 2003.
* Union Christian Training College, established at Berhampore in 1938.

Legacy

The city of Berhampore also shares its name with Berhampore at Wellington, New Zealand. The daughter of Major Paul married local land owner George Hunter. Major Paul was an Indian Army officer. George Hunter to show respect to his father in law gave Berhampore the name of the suburb.
The old house of the "De" family (relatives of the Cossimbazar Raj) at Churamani Chowdhury Lane is also one of the oldest buildings in Berhampore and was at one point of time the property of the Cossimbazar Raj.

Notable people

*Atin Bandyopadhyay, writer
*Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Politician and social worker
*R. D. Banerji, (AKA Rakhaldas Bandyopadhyay), Indian archaeologist
* Nabarun Bhattacharya, writer
* Arup Chandra, poet, writer
*Tridib Chaudhuri, politician
*Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, politician
* Renu Pada Das, politician
* Manju Dey, actress
*Mahasweta Devi

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