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==History== | ==History== | ||
Archaeological excavations at [[Dihar]], near [[Bishnupur, Bankura|Bishnupur]], indicate the earliest human settlement in this area on the southern bank of the [[Dwarakeswar River]] around 1,000 BC. <ref name= | Archaeological excavations at [[Dihar]], near [[Bishnupur, Bankura|Bishnupur]], indicate the earliest human settlement in this area on the southern bank of the [[Dwarakeswar River]] around 1,000 BC.<ref name="admin1">{{cite web| url = https://bankura.gov.in/history/ | title= Bankura | work= Our District - History |publisher= Government of West Bengal | access-date = 2 July 2023}}</ref> | ||
[[Romesh Chunder Dutt]] wrote, “The ancient Rajas of Bishnupur trace back their history to a time when Hindus were still reigning in Delhi, and the name of the Musalmans was not yet heard in India. Indeed, they could already count five centuries of rule over the western frontier tracts of Bengal before Bakhtiyar Khilji wrested the province from the Hindus. The Musalman conquest of Bengal, however, made no difference to the Bishnupur princes… these jungle kings were little known to the Musalman rulers of the fertile portions of Bengal, and were never interfered with. For long centuries, therefore, the kings of Bishnupur were supreme within their extensive territories. At a later period of Musalman rule, and when the Mughal power extended and consolidated itself on all sides, a Mughal army sometimes made its appearance near Bishnupur with claims of tribute, and tribute was probably sometimes paid. Nevertheless, the Subahdars of Murshidabad, never had that firm hold over the Rajas of Bishnupur which they had over the closer and more recent Rajaships of Burdwan and Birbhum. As the Burdwan Raj grew in power, the Bishnupur family fell into decay; Maharaja Kirti Chand of Burdwan attacked and added to his zamindari large slices of his neighbour’s territories. The Marathas completed the ruin of the Bishnupur house, which is an impoverished zamindari in the present day.” <ref name= | [[Romesh Chunder Dutt]] wrote, “The ancient Rajas of Bishnupur trace back their history to a time when Hindus were still reigning in Delhi, and the name of the Musalmans was not yet heard in India. Indeed, they could already count five centuries of rule over the western frontier tracts of Bengal before Bakhtiyar Khilji wrested the province from the Hindus. The Musalman conquest of Bengal, however, made no difference to the Bishnupur princes… these jungle kings were little known to the Musalman rulers of the fertile portions of Bengal, and were never interfered with. For long centuries, therefore, the kings of Bishnupur were supreme within their extensive territories. At a later period of Musalman rule, and when the Mughal power extended and consolidated itself on all sides, a Mughal army sometimes made its appearance near Bishnupur with claims of tribute, and tribute was probably sometimes paid. Nevertheless, the Subahdars of Murshidabad, never had that firm hold over the Rajas of Bishnupur which they had over the closer and more recent Rajaships of Burdwan and Birbhum. As the Burdwan Raj grew in power, the Bishnupur family fell into decay; Maharaja Kirti Chand of Burdwan attacked and added to his zamindari large slices of his neighbour’s territories. The Marathas completed the ruin of the Bishnupur house, which is an impoverished zamindari in the present day.” <ref name="admin1"/><ref>{{cite web| url = https://cdn.s3waas.gov.in/s38e82ab7243b7c66d768f1b8ce1c967eb/uploads/2020/07/2020070858.pdf | title= Bankura - Our District - District Gazetteers (old) - History | work= Chapter II History: Rise and Fall of the Bishnupur Raj |publisher=Government of West Bengal | access-date = 2 July 2023}}</ref> | ||
in 1806, the Maharaja of Burdwan bought the Bishnupur Raj.<ref name= | in 1806, the Maharaja of Burdwan bought the Bishnupur Raj.<ref name="admin1"/> | ||
Bankura district was carved out of the older Bardhaman district in 1837. <ref>{{cite web| url = https://paschimbardhaman.gov.in/history/ | title= Paschim Bardhaman | work= History |publisher= Government of West Bengal| access-date = 2 July 2023}}</ref> | Bankura district was carved out of the older Bardhaman district in 1837.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://paschimbardhaman.gov.in/history/ | title= Paschim Bardhaman | work= History |publisher= Government of West Bengal| access-date = 2 July 2023}}</ref> | ||
==Geography== | ==Geography== | ||
Bankura district covers an area of 6,882 sq km.<ref name= | [[File:Bakura District.svg|400px|thumb|Map of Bankura district showing blocks and municipalities. The blue line at the top is Damodar river.]] | ||
Bankura district covers an area of 6,882 sq km.<ref name="admin3">{{cite web| url = https://bankura.gov.in/| title= Bankura | work= Home – District at a Glance |publisher= Government of West Bengal| access-date = 2 July 2023}}</ref> | |||
According to Sujit Das, Bankura district “is located on the eastern slope of [[Chota Nagpur Plateau]].” <ref>{{cite web| url = https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40808-017-0396-7 | title= Delineation of groundwater potential zone in hard rock terrain in Gangajalghati block, Bankura district, India using remote sensing and GIS techniques | work= Sujit Das |publisher= Springer Link | access-date = 2 July 2023}}</ref> Bankura district has two distinct topographical regions. The western part is an undulating country with rocky hills, covered with forests. It gradually slopes down to the flat plains in the east and north-east. <ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.academia.edu/14945012/CLASSIFICATION_AND_ANALYSIS_OF_LAND_FOR_ASSESSING_LANDSCAPE_ECOLOGY_A_CASE_STUDY_ON_BANKURA_DISTRICT_WEST_BENGAL_INDIA| title= Classification and analysis of land for landscape ecology: a Case Study of Bankura District, West Bengal, India | work= Amborish Das |publisher= International Multidisciplinary Research Journal | access-date = 2 July 2023}}</ref> | According to Sujit Das, Bankura district “is located on the eastern slope of [[Chota Nagpur Plateau]].” <ref>{{cite web| url = https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40808-017-0396-7 | title= Delineation of groundwater potential zone in hard rock terrain in Gangajalghati block, Bankura district, India using remote sensing and GIS techniques | work= Sujit Das |publisher= Springer Link | access-date = 2 July 2023}}</ref> Bankura district has two distinct topographical regions. The western part is an undulating country with rocky hills, covered with forests. It gradually slopes down to the flat plains in the east and north-east.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.academia.edu/14945012/CLASSIFICATION_AND_ANALYSIS_OF_LAND_FOR_ASSESSING_LANDSCAPE_ECOLOGY_A_CASE_STUDY_ON_BANKURA_DISTRICT_WEST_BENGAL_INDIA| title= Classification and analysis of land for landscape ecology: a Case Study of Bankura District, West Bengal, India | work= Amborish Das |publisher= International Multidisciplinary Research Journal | access-date = 2 July 2023}}</ref> | ||
While the [[Damodar River|Damodar]] forms the border with [[Paschim Bardhaman district|Paschim Bardhaman]] and [[Purba Bardhaman district|Purba Bardhaman]] districts, some of the other rivers in this district are: [[Dwarakeswar River|Dwarakeswar]], [[Kangsabati River|Kangsabati]], [[Shilabati River|Shilabati]], [[Gandheswari River|Gandheswari]] and [[Sali River (West Bengal)|Sali]]. <ref name= | While the [[Damodar River|Damodar]] forms the border with [[Paschim Bardhaman district|Paschim Bardhaman]] and [[Purba Bardhaman district|Purba Bardhaman]] districts, some of the other rivers in this district are: [[Dwarakeswar River|Dwarakeswar]], [[Kangsabati River|Kangsabati]], [[Shilabati River|Shilabati]], [[Gandheswari River|Gandheswari]] and [[Sali River (West Bengal)|Sali]].<ref name="admin2">{{cite web| url = https://bankura.gov.in/agriculture/ | title= Bankura | work= Departments-Agriculture |publisher= Government of West Bengal | access-date = 2 July 2023}}</ref> | ||
Bankura district is bounded by [[Paschim Bardhaman district|Paschim Bardhaman]] and [[Purba Bardhaman district|Purba Bardhaman]] districts on the north, [[Hooghly district|Hooghly]] district on the east, [[Paschim Medinipur district|Paschim Medinipur]] district on the south and Purulia district on the west.<ref name= | Bankura district is bounded by [[Paschim Bardhaman district|Paschim Bardhaman]] and [[Purba Bardhaman district|Purba Bardhaman]] districts on the north, [[Hooghly district|Hooghly]] district on the east, [[Paschim Medinipur district|Paschim Medinipur]] district on the south and Purulia district on the west.<ref name="disaster">{{cite web| url = http://www.wbdmd.gov.in/writereaddata/uploaded/DP/Bankura1.pdf | title= District Disaster Management Plan: Bankura 2016 | work= District Profile |publisher= | access-date = 2 July 2023}}</ref> | ||
[[Administrative divisions of India|Subdivisions]] in Bankura district are: [[Bankura Sadar subdivision]], [[Khatra subdivision]] and [[Bishnupur subdivision]]. <ref name= | [[Administrative divisions of India|Subdivisions]] in Bankura district are: [[Bankura Sadar subdivision]], [[Khatra subdivision]] and [[Bishnupur subdivision]].<ref name="admin2"/> | ||
[[Community Development Block|Community development blocks]] in Bankura district are: [[Bankura I]], [[Bankura II]], [[Chhatna (community development block)|Chhatna]], [[Saltora (community development block)|Saltora]], [[Mejia (community development block)|Mejia]], [[Gangajalghati (community development block)|Gangajalghati]], [[Barjora (community development block)|Barjora]], [[Onda (community development block)|Onda]], [[Indpur (community development block)|Indpur]], [[Khatra (community development block)|Khatra]], [[Hirbandh (community development block)|Hirbandh]], [[Ranibandh (community development block)|Ranibandh]], [[Taldangra (community development block)|Taldangra]], [[Simlapal (community development block)|Simlapal]], [[Raipur, Bankura (community development block)|Raipur]], [[Sarenga, Bankura (community development block)|Sarenga]], [[Bishnupur, Bankura (community development block)|Bishnupur]], [[Sonamukhi (community development block)|Sonamukhi]], [[Patrasayer (community development block)|Patrasayer]], [[Indas (community development block)|Indas]], [[Joypur, Bankura (community development block)|Joypur]] and [[Kotulpur (community development block)|Kotulpur]].<ref name= | [[Community Development Block|Community development blocks]] in Bankura district are: [[Bankura I]], [[Bankura II]], [[Chhatna (community development block)|Chhatna]], [[Saltora (community development block)|Saltora]], [[Mejia (community development block)|Mejia]], [[Gangajalghati (community development block)|Gangajalghati]], [[Barjora (community development block)|Barjora]], [[Onda (community development block)|Onda]], [[Indpur (community development block)|Indpur]], [[Khatra (community development block)|Khatra]], [[Hirbandh (community development block)|Hirbandh]], [[Ranibandh (community development block)|Ranibandh]], [[Taldangra (community development block)|Taldangra]], [[Simlapal (community development block)|Simlapal]], [[Raipur, Bankura (community development block)|Raipur]], [[Sarenga, Bankura (community development block)|Sarenga]], [[Bishnupur, Bankura (community development block)|Bishnupur]], [[Sonamukhi (community development block)|Sonamukhi]], [[Patrasayer (community development block)|Patrasayer]], [[Indas (community development block)|Indas]], [[Joypur, Bankura (community development block)|Joypur]] and [[Kotulpur (community development block)|Kotulpur]].<ref name="admin2"/> | ||
==Demographics== | ==Demographics== | ||
Bankura district has a population of 3,596,292.<ref name= | Bankura district has a population of 3,596,292.<ref name="admin3"/> 91.67% of the population live in rural areas and 8.33% live in urban areas. The literacy rate (excluding the population below 6 years) is 70.26%.<ref name="disaster"/> | ||
==Economy== | ==Economy== | ||
===Agriculture=== | ===Agriculture=== | ||
Bankura district is an agricultural district. 65.27% of the population is engaged in agriculture of which 21.12% are cultivators 44.15% are agricultural labourers. The district receives an annual rainfall of 1385 mm.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.researchgate.net/publication/357648049_IDENTIFICATION_OF_AGRICULTURAL_PRODUCTIVITY_REGIONS_AND_ITS_MAJOR_DETERMINANTS_A_CASE_STUDY_FROM_BANKURA_DISTRICT_WEST_BENGAL | title= Identification of agricultural productivity regions and its major determinants: a case study from Bankura district, West Bengal | work= Arindam Sutradhar |publisher= Research Gate| access-date = 2 July 2023}}</ref>The district is monsoon dependent and receives an overwhelming portion of it from June to September. In spite of there being cases of flooding during the monsoons, the district is known as being drought prone, particularly in the northwest part of the district. <ref name= | Bankura district is an agricultural district. 65.27% of the population is engaged in agriculture of which 21.12% are cultivators 44.15% are agricultural labourers. The district receives an annual rainfall of 1385 mm.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.researchgate.net/publication/357648049_IDENTIFICATION_OF_AGRICULTURAL_PRODUCTIVITY_REGIONS_AND_ITS_MAJOR_DETERMINANTS_A_CASE_STUDY_FROM_BANKURA_DISTRICT_WEST_BENGAL | title= Identification of agricultural productivity regions and its major determinants: a case study from Bankura district, West Bengal | work= Arindam Sutradhar |publisher= Research Gate| access-date = 2 July 2023}}</ref> The district is monsoon dependent and receives an overwhelming portion of it from June to September. In spite of there being cases of flooding during the monsoons, the district is known as being drought prone, particularly in the northwest part of the district.<ref name="disaster"/> | ||
Agricultural inputs such as fertliser, organic manures and pesticides are used and farmers now use agricultural inputs like tractors, power tillers, threshers and pump sets. <ref name= | Agricultural inputs such as fertliser, organic manures and pesticides are used and farmers now use agricultural inputs like tractors, power tillers, threshers and pump sets.<ref name="admin2"/> | ||
The main crops are paddy, potatoes, wheat, vegetables, mustard, til etc. <ref name= | The main crops are paddy, potatoes, wheat, vegetables, mustard, til etc.<ref name="admin2"/> | ||
===Industry=== | ===Industry=== | ||
[[Mejia Thermal Power Station]] is a 1,340 mega-watt (MW), owned by [[Damodar Valley Corporation]] and located at [[Durlabhpur]].<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.gem.wiki/Mejia_power_station | title= Mejia Power Station | work= |publisher= Global Energy Monitor Wiki| access-date = 2 July 2023}}</ref> | [[Mejia Thermal Power Station]] is a 1,340 mega-watt (MW), owned by [[Damodar Valley Corporation]] and located at [[Durlabhpur]].<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.gem.wiki/Mejia_power_station | title= Mejia Power Station | work= |publisher= Global Energy Monitor Wiki| access-date = 2 July 2023}}</ref> | ||
===Poverty=== | |||
In Bankura district, 58.8% of the population is below the poverty line. It is one of the 100 districts in India with the highest poverty rates.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-100-Districts-in-India-with-the-Highest-Poverty-Rates_tbl2_40771948 | title= Table 1 | work= Vani Barooah |publisher=Research Gate | access-date = 9 July 2023}}</ref> | |||
==Transport== | ==Transport== | ||
[[National Highway 14 (India)|National Highway 14]], running from [[Morgram]] to Kharagpur, passes through this district.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dorth.gov.in/writereaddata/sublinkimages/finaldoc6143316640.pdf|title=Rationalisation of Numbering Systems of National Highways|publisher=Department of Road Transport and Highways|access-date= 2 July 2023|location=New Delhi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201124738/http://dorth.gov.in/writereaddata/sublinkimages/finaldoc6143316640.pdf|archive-date=1 February 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> | [[National Highway 14 (India)|National Highway 14]], running from [[Morgram]] to Kharagpur, passes through this district.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dorth.gov.in/writereaddata/sublinkimages/finaldoc6143316640.pdf|title=Rationalisation of Numbering Systems of National Highways|publisher=Department of Road Transport and Highways|access-date= 2 July 2023|location=New Delhi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201124738/http://dorth.gov.in/writereaddata/sublinkimages/finaldoc6143316640.pdf|archive-date=1 February 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> | ||
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==Culture== | ==Culture== | ||
{{Main|Culture of Bankura district}} | |||
Bankura district is a land of temples. Almost all temples in Bishnupur town are [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnavite]], but many of those scattered in the areas of the district spread outside the town are [[Shaivism|Shaivite]], with traces of [[Jainism]] and [[Buddhism]]. While some of the older temples were built of laterite the area has numerous brick built temples, some with exquisite [[terracotta]] carvings.<ref>Ghosh, Binoy, ''Paschim Banger Sanskriti'' (Culture of West Bengal), (in Bengali), pp. 337-346, part I, 1976 edition, Prakash Bhaban</ref> | Bankura district is a land of temples. Almost all temples in Bishnupur town are [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnavite]], but many of those scattered in the areas of the district spread outside the town are [[Shaivism|Shaivite]], with traces of [[Jainism]] and [[Buddhism]]. While some of the older temples were built of laterite the area has numerous brick built temples, some with exquisite [[terracotta]] carvings.<ref>Ghosh, Binoy, ''Paschim Banger Sanskriti'' (Culture of West Bengal), (in Bengali), pp. 337-346, part I, 1976 edition, Prakash Bhaban</ref> | ||
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[[Bankura horse]], the famous handicraft of Bankura district, produced at [[Panchmura]] is the logo of All India Handicrafts.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bangalinet.com/art&craft_bankura.htm| title = Bankura’s Horses| access-date = 4 July 2023 | work = | publisher = bengalinet}}</ref> | [[Bankura horse]], the famous handicraft of Bankura district, produced at [[Panchmura]] is the logo of All India Handicrafts.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bangalinet.com/art&craft_bankura.htm| title = Bankura’s Horses| access-date = 4 July 2023 | work = | publisher = bengalinet}}</ref> | ||
See also – [[List of temples in Bishnupur]] | See also – [[List of temples in Bishnupur]] | ||
==Healthcare== | ==Healthcare== | ||