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'''Banalakshmi''' ({{lang-bn|'''বনলক্ষ্মী'''}}) or '''Banalakshmi Unmesh Samiti''' ('''বনলক্ষ্মী উন্মাদ সমিতি''') is a '''Krishi Ashram''' ('''কৃষি আশ্রম''') run as a small '''Non-Governmental Organization''' ('''NGO''') in the [[Birbhum]] (বীরভূম) district of [[West Bengal]]. It is located near [[Santiniketan]] (শান্তিনিকেতনে), the education centre set up by [[Rabindranath Tagore]]. It is connected by a highway to [[Ilambazar]] (ইলামবাজার) and [[Bolpur]] (বোলপুর). The bus stop name is Banabhila ({{lang-bn|বনভিলা}}). The Choupahari sal forests ({{lang-bn|চৌপাহাড়ীর শাল জঙ্গল}}), commonly known as Ilambazar forest, ({{lang-bn|ইলামবাজার জঙ্গল}})  starts from here.
{{multiple|
[[File:Banalakshmi Entrence.jpg|thumbnail|right]]
{{refimprove|date=January 2025}}
{{NPOV|date=December 2024}}
{{notability|date=December 2024}}
}}
'''Banalakshmi''' ({{langx|bn|বনলক্ষ্মী}}) or "Vanalakshmi Unmesh Samiti" is a Krishi Ashram and a small NGO in the [[Birbhum]] district of [[West Bengal]]. It is located near to the [[Santiniketan]], the education centre set up by [[Rabindranath Tagore]]. It is connected by a highway to [[Ilambazar]] and [[Bolpur]].<ref>{{cite news |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=October 9, 2021 |title=পুজোয় জমজমাট ইলামবাজারের ‘বনলক্ষ্মী’ |url=https://www.bartamanpatrika.com/detailNews.php?cID=13&nID=323717&P=1 |trans-title=Crowded with worshippers at Petpur's 'Banalakshmi' in Ilambazar |work=[[Bartaman]] |language=Bangla |access-date=January 19, 2025}}</ref> The bus stop name is Banabhila ({{langx|bn|বনভিলা}}). The Choupahari sal forests ({{langx|bn|চৌপাহাড়ীর জঙ্গল}}) or commonly known as Ilambazar forests ({{langx|bn|ইলামবাজার জঙ্গল}})  starts from here.  Address is Vanalakshmi Unmesh Samiti, Banabhila, P.O. Dwaranda (via Sriniketan P.O.), Birbhum-731236.  It is around 13/14 km towards Ilambazar from Shantiniketan.
[[File:Banalakshmi Entrence.jpg|thumbnail|Banalakshmi entrance]]


==History==
==History==
'Banalakshmi' means the richness ('Lakshmi' - লক্ষী) of forest ('Bana' - বন). Here forest implies nature in general. It was the brainchild of [http://www.indiawaterportal.org/sites/indiawaterportal.org/files/uploads/2009/07/founder.doc '''Niranjan Sanyal'''], a scion of the Mymensingh and Puthia Raj families, whose idea was to set up a farm on the barren lands of Birbhum in 1963 (১৩৭০). Relinquishing his claims to his ancestral entitlements, he came out with his mother, Kohinoor Debi, to set up a farm at the edge of a sal (শাল) forest close to Sriniketan (শ্রীনিকেতন). The farm was to evolve in to an ecosphere - bettering the lives of the local people through the optimum utilization of natural resources. In 1964 (১৩৭১) Parbati Bhattacharya (পার্বতী ভট্টাচার্য) had joined this mission and devoted her life to the development of the farm. There were two others who were inspired by this vision. They were Sumitra Sinha (সুমিত্রা সিংহ) from neighbouring Vishwabharati University (বিশ্বভারতী বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়) in Santiniketan (শান্তিনিকেতনে) and Kannan Pal (কানন পাল), a trained nurse from Kundagaon (কুন্দগাঁও) (near Jagdalpur) (জগদলপুর) in undivided Madhya Pradesh (মধ্য প্রদেশ). They joined the farm within a few years of its setting up. Since its inception, when it was completely devoid of vegetation, it has been continuously growing and today it is a large green reserve and a center for rural development.
The word 'Banalakshmi' literally means the richness (''Lakshmi'') of forest (''Bana'') (nature in general). It is the brainchild of [http://www.indiawaterportal.org/sites/indiawaterportal.org/files/uploads/2009/07/founder.doc Niranjan Sanyal] who first conceived the idea of a natural paradise on barren lands of Birbhum in 1963. Bonani Chakraborty joined with him to carry forward this idea and his dream. The idea was that it would evolve like an ecosphere&mdash;bettering the life of people by optimum utilization of natural resources. In 1964 Dr. Parbati Bhattacharyya joined with his mission and devoted her life to Banalakshmi. Later Sumitra Sinha from Vishwabharati University in neighbouring Santiniketan, joined Banalakshmi. She was inspired by Niranjan babu. There were two others too, Kannan Paul (a trained nurse) and her brother Mrinal Paul, both were brought by Mr. Sanyal, Bonani Chakraborty and her sister from Kundagaon (near Jagdalpur) in undivided Madhya Pradesh and joined Banalakshmi within a few years time. Since its inception, when it was completely devoid of any vegetation, it has been continuously growing and today it is a large green reserve and a center for rural development.


==Vegetation==
==Vegetation==
It is spread over an estimated area of 40 (৪০) [[bigha]] (বিঘা) (around 13 (১৩) acres). It has vegetation grown on [[laterite]] soil which is the abundant red soil found in Birbhum. It has large forested tracts, orchards of various fruits, such as mango (আম) and guava and multiple crop cultivation all the year round. The place is admirable for its scenic beauty too. The road leading to Banalakshmi is also lined by dense to sporadic occurrence of tropical desiduous trees such as [[Shorea robusta|sal]] (শাল) and [[eucalyptus]] (ইউক্যালিপ্টাস).
It is spread over an estimated area of 40 [[bigha]] (around 13 acres). It has vegetation grown on [[laterite]] soil which is the abundant red soil variety found in Birbhum. It has large forested tracts, orchards of various fruits&mdash;like mango and guava&mdash;and multiple crop cultivation the year round. The road leading to Banalakshmi is also lined by dense to sporadic occurrence of tropical deciduous trees like [[Shorea robusta|sal]] and [[eucalyptus]].


==Economy==
==Economy==
It is a center of a small cottage industry. Various products like honey, squash and handicrafts are prepared and sold here. It is also an attractive tourist destination in the district.
It is a center of a small cottage industry. Various products like honey, squash and handicrafts are prepared and sold. It is also a tourist destination in the district.{{fact|date=December 2024}}


==Contact==
==References==
{{reflist}}


•'''Address''': Banalakshmi Unmesh Samiti, Banabhila, P.O. Dwaranda (via Sriniketan P.O.), Birbhum-731236.
==External links==
•'''Contact Nos.''': +919434233376 & +919434557527.
* For details about Banalakshmi see the [https://archive.today/20141015122028/http://www.ecoearthcare.com/storyd.asp?sid=1038&pageno=1 article on "Of Forests"] by Dr. Rina Mukherjee
•'''Distance''': 13/14 km towards Shantiniketan to Ilambazar.
* [http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/team-bhp-meet-section/28104-kolkata-shantiniketan-meet-nov-2007-a-6.html Banalakshmi Blog]


==External links==
*For more details see [https://archive.today/20141015122028/http://www.ecoearthcare.com/storyd.asp?sid=1038&pageno=1 Dr. Rina Mukherjee, ''Of Forests'']
*[http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/team-bhp-meet-section/28104-kolkata-shantiniketan-meet-nov-2007-a-6.html Banalakshmi Blog]
{{Birbhum topics}}
{{Birbhum topics}}
[[Category:Tourist attractions in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Birbhum district]]
[[Category:Birbhum district]]
{{Birbhum-geo-stub}}

Latest revision as of 09:11, 19 January 2025

Banalakshmi (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.) or "Vanalakshmi Unmesh Samiti" is a Krishi Ashram and a small NGO in the Birbhum district of West Bengal. It is located near to the Santiniketan, the education centre set up by Rabindranath Tagore. It is connected by a highway to Ilambazar and Bolpur.[1] The bus stop name is Banabhila (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.). The Choupahari sal forests (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.) or commonly known as Ilambazar forests (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.) starts from here. Address is Vanalakshmi Unmesh Samiti, Banabhila, P.O. Dwaranda (via Sriniketan P.O.), Birbhum-731236. It is around 13/14 km towards Ilambazar from Shantiniketan.

Banalakshmi entrance

History[edit | edit source]

The word 'Banalakshmi' literally means the richness (Lakshmi) of forest (Bana) (nature in general). It is the brainchild of Niranjan Sanyal who first conceived the idea of a natural paradise on barren lands of Birbhum in 1963. Bonani Chakraborty joined with him to carry forward this idea and his dream. The idea was that it would evolve like an ecosphere—bettering the life of people by optimum utilization of natural resources. In 1964 Dr. Parbati Bhattacharyya joined with his mission and devoted her life to Banalakshmi. Later Sumitra Sinha from Vishwabharati University in neighbouring Santiniketan, joined Banalakshmi. She was inspired by Niranjan babu. There were two others too, Kannan Paul (a trained nurse) and her brother Mrinal Paul, both were brought by Mr. Sanyal, Bonani Chakraborty and her sister from Kundagaon (near Jagdalpur) in undivided Madhya Pradesh and joined Banalakshmi within a few years time. Since its inception, when it was completely devoid of any vegetation, it has been continuously growing and today it is a large green reserve and a center for rural development.

Vegetation[edit | edit source]

It is spread over an estimated area of 40 bigha (around 13 acres). It has vegetation grown on laterite soil which is the abundant red soil variety found in Birbhum. It has large forested tracts, orchards of various fruits—like mango and guava—and multiple crop cultivation the year round. The road leading to Banalakshmi is also lined by dense to sporadic occurrence of tropical deciduous trees like sal and eucalyptus.

Economy[edit | edit source]

It is a center of a small cottage industry. Various products like honey, squash and handicrafts are prepared and sold. It is also a tourist destination in the district.[citation needed]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. "পুজোয় জমজমাট ইলামবাজারের 'বনলক্ষ্মী'" [Crowded with worshippers at Petpur's 'Banalakshmi' in Ilambazar]. Bartaman (in Bengali). 9 October 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2025.

External links[edit | edit source]


Template:Birbhum-geo-stub