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{{Short description|City in West Bengal, India}} | |||
{{About|the municipality in West Bengal, India}} | {{About|the municipality in West Bengal, India}} | ||
{{Use Indian English|date= | {{Use Indian English|date=January 2026}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date= | {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}} | ||
<!-- See [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Indian cities]] for details --> | |||
| name = Bardhaman | {{Infobox settlement | ||
| name = Bardhaman <!-- Please do not add any Indic script in this infobox, per [[Wikipedia:NOINDICSCRIPT]] policy --> | |||
| other_name = Burdwan | | other_name = Burdwan | ||
| settlement_type = City | | settlement_type = City | ||
| image_skyline = Burdwan | | image_skyline = {{multiple image | ||
| | | border = infobox | ||
| | | space = 1 | ||
| total_width = 275 | |||
| perrow = 1/2/2/1 | |||
| image1 = Burdwan Flyover.png | |||
| image2 = Bijoy Chand Hospital.jpg | |||
| image3 = Meghnad Saha Planetarium Burdwan.jpg | |||
| image4 = Sarbamangala temple.jpg | |||
| image5 = 108 shiv temple.jpg | |||
| image6 = UITBU.jpg}} | |||
| nickname = Royal Heritage City of West Bengal | | nickname = Royal Heritage City of West Bengal | ||
| pushpin_map = India West Bengal#India3#Asia | | pushpin_map = India West Bengal#India3#Asia | ||
| coordinates = {{coord|23|14|N|87|52|E|display=inline,title}} | | coordinates = {{coord|23|14|N|87|52|E|display=inline,title}} | ||
| subdivision_type = Country | | subdivision_type = Country | ||
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}} | | subdivision_name = {{flag|India}} | ||
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]] | | subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]] | ||
| subdivision_type2 = [[ | | subdivision_name1 = [[West Bengal]] | ||
| | | subdivision_type2 = [[Administrative divisions of West Bengal|Division]] | ||
| | | subdivision_name2 = [[Burdwan division]] | ||
| | | subdivision_type3 = [[List of districts of India|District]] | ||
| subdivision_name3 = [[Purba Bardhaman district|Purba Bardhaman]] | |||
| subdivision_type4 = Subdivision | |||
| subdivision_name4 = [[Bardhaman Sadar South subdivision|Bardhaman South]]<br/>[[Bardhaman Sadar North subdivision|Bardhaman North]] | |||
| established_date = 1865 | | established_date = 1865 | ||
| government_type = [[Municipal council (India)|Municipality]] | |||
| government_type = [[Municipal | | governing_body = Bardhaman Municipality | ||
| governing_body = | | leader_title = [[Mayor (India)|Chairman]] | ||
| leader_title = Chairman | | leader_name = Paresh Chandra Sarkar ([[Trinamool Congress|TMC]])<ref>{{cite web |title=Burdwan Municipality |url=http://www.burdwanmunicipality.gov.in/chairman-in-council.php |website=www.burdwanmunicipality.gov.in |access-date=30 December 2020}}</ref>| unit_pref = Metric | ||
| leader_name = Paresh Chandra Sarkar | | area_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|title=Burdwan Municipality - Area of Populations|url=http://burdwanmunicipality.gov.in/about.php?subject=Area%20of%20Populations|website=burdwanmunicipality.gov.in|access-date=24 November 2020}}</ref> | ||
| area_total_km2 = 26.30<ref>{{cite web|title=Area of Populations|url=https://burdwanmunicipality.gov.in/about.php?subject=Area%20of%20Populations|website=Burdwan Municipality| publisher=Government of West Bengal|access-date=13 November 2025|quote=As per 2001 census, the population and the area of Burdwan Municipality are 2,85,602 and 26.30 sq. km.}}</ref> | |||
| unit_pref = Metric | |||
| area_footnotes = | |||
| area_total_km2 = 26.30 | |||
| area_metro_km2 = 157.62 | | area_metro_km2 = 157.62 | ||
| area_metro_footnotes = | | area_metro_footnotes = <ref name='BDA'>{{cite web |title=Burdwan Development Authority |url=https://www.bdaburdwan.org/bda-glance.html |website=www.bdaburdwan.org |access-date=1 February 2021}}</ref> | ||
| elevation_footnotes = | | elevation_footnotes = | ||
| elevation_m = 30 | | elevation_m = 30 | ||
| population_total = 347,016 | | population_total = 347,016 | ||
| population_as_of = 2011 | | population_as_of = 2011 | ||
| population_footnotes = | | population_footnotes = <ref name=CensusCities/> | ||
| population_density_km2 = auto | | population_density_km2 = auto | ||
| population_metro = 407,000 | | population_metro = 407,000 | ||
| population_metro_footnotes = | | population_metro_footnotes = <ref name='BDA'/> | ||
| population_rank = | | population_rank = | ||
| population_demonym = | | population_demonym = | ||
| demographics_type1 = Languages | | demographics_type1 = Languages | ||
| demographics1_title1 = Official | | demographics1_title1 = Official | ||
| demographics1_info1 = [[Bengali language|Bengali]] | | demographics1_info1 = [[Bengali language|Bengali]]<ref>{{cite web|title=52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India |url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|website=Nclm.nic.in|publisher=[[Ministry of Minority Affairs]]|access-date=28 August 2019|page=85|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525141614/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|archive-date=25 May 2017}}</ref><ref name="wblangoff">{{cite web|title=Fact and Figures|url=https://wb.gov.in/portal/web/guest/facts-and-figures;jsessionid=JzdD9RHb7aMY5esZPtcsIVLy|website=Wb.gov.in|access-date=28 August 2019}}</ref> | ||
| demographics1_title2 = Additional official | | demographics1_title2 = Additional&nbsp;official | ||
| demographics1_info2 = English | | demographics1_info2 = English<ref name="wblangoff"/> | ||
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]] | | timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]] | ||
| utc_offset1 = +5:30 | | utc_offset1 = +5:30 | ||
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| area_code = +91-342 | | area_code = +91-342 | ||
| area_code_type = Telephone code | | area_code_type = Telephone code | ||
| registration_plate = WB-42 | | registration_plate = WB-41, WB-42 | ||
| website = {{URL|burdwanmunicipality.gov.in/}} | | website = {{URL|burdwanmunicipality.gov.in/}} | ||
| footnotes = | | footnotes = | ||
| official_name = | | official_name = | ||
}} | }}'''Bardhaman''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ɔr|d|ə|ˌ|m|ɑː|n|}}, {{IPA|bn|ˈbɔrˌd̪ʱo.man|lang|}}), officially '''Bardhaman Sadar''', is a city and municipality located on the northern bank of the [[Damodar River|Damodar]] river in the state of [[West Bengal]], India. It is the headquarters of [[Purba Bardhaman district]], having become a district capital during the [[British India|period of British rule]]. '''Burdwan''', an alternative name for the city, has remained in use since then. | ||
'''Bardhaman''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ɔr|d|ə|ˌ|m|ɑː|n|}}, {{IPA | |||
==Etymology== | ==Etymology== | ||
The history of Burdwan is known from about 5000 BC (the Mesolithic or Late Stone Age).{{ | The history of Burdwan is known from about 5000 BC (the Mesolithic or Late Stone Age).<ref>{{Cite web |title=History and Background |url=https://purbabardhaman.nic.in/history/ |website=Purba Bardhaman District, Government of West Bengal, India |access-date=30 April 2024}}</ref> The origin of this name dates back to the sixth century BCE and is ascribed to Vardhamāna or [[Mahavira|Mahāvīra]] (599-527 BCE), the 24th [[Tirthankara|Tīrthāṅkara]] of [[Jainism]], who spent some time in Astikagrama, according to the Jain scripture of [[Kalpa Sūtra]]. This place was renamed as ''Vardhamana'' in his honour. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
The city owes its historical importance to being the headquarters of the Maharajas of Burdwan, the premier noblemen of lower Bengal, whose rent-roll was upwards of 300,000. [[Bardhaman Raj]] was founded in 1657 by Sangam Rai, of a Hindu Khatri family of Kotli in [[Lahore]], [[Punjab region|Punjab]], whose descendants served in turn the [[Mughal Emperor]]s and the [[British government]]. The [[East Indian Railway]] from [[Howrah]] was opened in 1855. The great prosperity of the raj was due to the excellent management of Maharaja Mahtab Chand (died 1879), whose loyalty to the government especially during the "Hul" ([[Santhal rebellion]]) of 1855-56 and the [[Indian rebellion of 1857]] was rewarded with the grant of a coat of arms in 1868 and the right to a personal salute of 13 guns in 1877. Maharaja [[Bijaychand Mahtab]] (born 1881), who succeeded his adoptive father in 1888, earned great distinction by the courage with which he risked his life to save that of [[Sir Andrew Fraser]], the lieutenant-governor of Bengal, on the occasion of the attempt to assassinate him made by freedom fighters of Bengal on 7 November 1908.<ref name=EB1911>{{EB1911|inline=1|wstitle=Burdwan|volume=4|page=811}}</ref> | |||
Mahtab Chand Bahadur and later Bijoy Chand Mahtab struggled their best to make this region culturally, economically and ecologically healthier. The chief educational institution was the Burdwan Raj College, which was entirely supported out of the maharaja's estate. [[Kamalakanta Bhattacharya (West Bengal)|Sadhak Kamalakanta]] as composer of devotional songs and Kashiram Das as a poet and translator of the great [[Mahabharata]] were possibly the best products of such an endeavour. Pratap Chandra Roy was the publisher of the first translation in the world to translate [[Mahabharata]] in English (1883–1896). | Mahtab Chand Bahadur and later Bijoy Chand Mahtab struggled their best to make this region culturally, economically and ecologically healthier. The chief educational institution was the Burdwan Raj College, which was entirely supported out of the maharaja's estate. [[Kamalakanta Bhattacharya (West Bengal)|Sadhak Kamalakanta]] as composer of devotional songs and Kashiram Das as a poet and translator of the great [[Mahabharata]] were possibly the best products of such an endeavour. Pratap Chandra Roy was the publisher of the first translation in the world to translate [[Mahabharata]] in English (1883–1896).<ref name=tra>{{cite book |title=The Mahabharata Book 1: Adi Parva |author= Kisari Mohan Ganguli tr.|chapter= Translator's Preface|year=1883|page=xii |chapter-url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01001.htm}}</ref> The society at large also continued to gain the fruits. We find, among others, the great rebel poet [[Kazi Nazrul Islam]] and Kala-azar-famed U. N. Brahmachari as the relatively recent illustrious sons of this soil. [[Batukeshwar Dutt]] an Indian revolutionary and independence fighter in the early 1900s was born on 18 November 1910 in a village Oari in Burdwan district. He is best known for having exploded a few bombs, along with [[Bhagat Singh]], in the Central Legislative Assembly in New Delhi on 8 April 1929. The city became an important centre of North-[[Indian classical music]] as well. | ||
==Geography== | ==Geography== | ||
{{OSM Location map | {{OSM Location map | ||
| width=525| height=350| zoom=13 | | width=525| height=350| zoom=13 | ||
| coord={{coord|23|14|50|N|87|51|15|E}}| float=left|caption='''Bardhaman''' | | coord={{coord|23|14|50|N|87|51|15|E}}| float=left|caption='''Bardhaman'''<br />R: temple, mosque, P: park, F: facility, C: university, college, museum, H: historical site <br />Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly | ||
|mark-coord1={{coord|23|14|25|N|87|52|3|E}} | label-pos1=right|label1= Curzon Gate| numbered1=H | mark-title1=[[Curzon Gate, Bardhaman]] (H)|label-color1=#800000 |label-size1=12| mark-size1=13|shape1=l-circle|shape-color1=#AA6666|shape-outline1=white|label-offset-x1=2 | |mark-coord1={{coord|23|14|25|N|87|52|3|E}} | label-pos1=right|label1= Curzon Gate| numbered1=H | mark-title1=[[Curzon Gate, Bardhaman]] (H)|label-color1=#800000 |label-size1=12| mark-size1=13|shape1=l-circle|shape-color1=#AA6666|shape-outline1=white|label-offset-x1=2 | ||
|mark-coord2={{coord|23|14|22|N|87|51|12|E}} | label-pos2=right|label2=Rajbati | mark-title2= Rajbati (H)| numbered2=H| shape-color2=#AA6666|label-offset-y2=-2 | |mark-coord2={{coord|23|14|22|N|87|51|12|E}} | label-pos2=right|label2=Rajbati | mark-title2= Rajbati (H)| numbered2=H| shape-color2=#AA6666|label-offset-y2=-2 | ||
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===Location=== | ===Location=== | ||
The region has an average elevation of 40 metres (131 ft). The city is situated 1100 km from [[New Delhi]] and a little less than 100 km north-west of [[Kolkata]] on the [[Grand Trunk Road]] ([[National Highway 19 (India)|National Highway 19]]) and Eastern Railway. The chief rivers are the [[Damodar River|Damodar]] and the Banka. | The region has an average elevation of 40&nbsp;metres (131&nbsp;ft). The city is situated 1100&nbsp;km from [[New Delhi]] and a little less than 100&nbsp;km north-west of [[Kolkata]] on the [[Grand Trunk Road]] ([[National Highway 19 (India)|National Highway 19]]) and Eastern Railway. The chief rivers are the [[Damodar River|Damodar]] and the Banka.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/28/Barddhaman.html|title=Maps, Weather, and Airports for Barddhaman, India|work=fallingrain.com|access-date=25 July 2016}}</ref> | ||
The first epigraphic reference to the name of this place occurs in a sixth-century AD copper plate found in Mallasarul village under Galsi Police Station. Archeological evidences suggest that this region, forming a major part of [[Rarh region|Radh Bengal]], could be traced even back to 4000 BCE. | The first epigraphic reference to the name of this place occurs in a sixth-century AD copper plate found in Mallasarul village under Galsi Police Station. Archeological evidences suggest that this region, forming a major part of [[Rarh region|Radh Bengal]], could be traced even back to 4000 BCE. | ||
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===Police stations=== | ===Police stations=== | ||
Burdwan police station has jurisdiction over Bardhaman municipal area and [[Burdwan I]] and [[Burdwan II]] CD Blocks. The area covered is 192.15 km | Burdwan police station has jurisdiction over Bardhaman municipal area and [[Burdwan I]] and [[Burdwan II]] CD Blocks. The area covered is 192.15&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>. There are out posts at Barabazar, Muradpur, Keshabganj, Nutanganj and Birhata.<ref name=ps1>{{cite web | url = http://wbpspm.gov.in/publications/District%20Statistical%20Handbook | title = District Statistical Handbook 2014 Bardhaman | work = Tables 2.1, 2.2 | publisher = Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal | access-date = 23 September 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190121045803/http://www.wbpspm.gov.in/publications/District%20Statistical%20Handbook | archive-date = 21 January 2019 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name=ps2>{{cite web | url = https://purbabardhamanpolice.org/ps | title = Purba Bardhaman District Police | work = Police Station | publisher = West Bengal Police | access-date = 23 September 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180927234333/http://purbabardhamanpolice.org/ps | archive-date = 27 September 2018 | url-status = usurped }}</ref> | ||
Women police station Burdwan has jurisdiction over Bardhaman municipal area and [[Burdwan I]] and [[Burdwan II]] CD Blocks. The area covered is 192.15 km. | Women police station Burdwan has jurisdiction over Bardhaman municipal area and [[Burdwan I]] and [[Burdwan II]] CD Blocks. The area covered is 192.15&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name=ps1/><ref name=ps2/> | ||
==Demographics== | ==Demographics== | ||
{{Historical population | |||
| source = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.macrotrends.net/cities/21405/Barddhaman/population|title=Barddhaman, India Metro Area Population 1950-2020}}</ref> | |||
| 1951 | 76000 | |||
| 1961 | 109000 | |||
| 1971 | 144000 | |||
| 1981 | 170000 | |||
| 1991 | 246000 | |||
| 2001 | 287000 | |||
| 2011 | 347016 | |||
}} | |||
{{bar box|width = 300px | {{bar box|width = 300px | ||
|barwidth = 250px |cellpadding="0" | |barwidth = 250px |cellpadding="0" | ||
|title=Religion in Bardhaman | |title=Religion in Bardhaman<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW19C-01%20MDDS.XLS|title=C-1 Population By Religious Community - Bardhaman (M)|access-date=17 August 2020}}</ref> | ||
|titlebar=#Fcd116 | |titlebar=#Fcd116 | ||
|left1=Religion | |left1=Religion | ||
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|float=right | |float=right | ||
|bars= | |bars= | ||
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism]]| | {{bar percent|[[Hinduism]]|Orange|83.42}} | ||
{{bar percent|[[Islam]]|#009000|14.88}} | {{bar percent|[[Islam]]|#009000|14.88}} | ||
{{bar percent|Not stated|Blue|1.19}} | {{bar percent|Not stated|Blue|1.19}} | ||
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}} | }} | ||
In the 2011 census, Bardhaman Urban Agglomeration had a population of 347,016, out of which 177,055 were males and 169,961 were females. 25,069 people were between the ages of 0–6 years. Effective literacy rate for the 7+ population was 88.62%.<ref name=CensusCities>{{cite web| url = http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_3_PR_UA_Citiees_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf | title = Urban Agglomerations/Cities having population 1 lakh and above|work= Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011 |access-date = 21 October 2011 }}</ref> | |||
| | {{Pie chart | ||
| | |thumb = right | ||
| | |caption = Languages spoken in Bardhaman city (2011)<ref>[https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16T/DDW-C16-TOWN-STMT-MDDS-2000.XLSX 2011 census data] censusindia.gov.in</ref> | ||
| | |label1= [[Bengali language|Bengali]] | ||
| | |value1= 87.00 | ||
| | |color1 = orchid | ||
| | |label2= [[Hindi language|Hindi]] | ||
|value2 = 11.54 | |||
|color2 = orange | |||
|label3 = [[Santali language |Santali]] | |||
|value3 = 0.57 | |||
|color3 = red | |||
|label4 = [[ Urdu language| Urdu ]] | |||
|value4 = 0.36 | |||
|color4 = green | |||
|label5 = [[ Punjabi language | Punjabi]] | |||
|value5 = 0.18 | |||
|color5 = black | |||
|label6 = Others | |||
|value6 = 0.30 | |||
|color6 = white | |||
}} | }} | ||
{{See also|List of cities in West Bengal}} | |||
{{See also|List of cities in West Bengal }} | |||
==Climate== | ==Climate== | ||
The [[Köppen Climate Classification]] sub-type for this climate is "[[Tropical savanna climate|Aw]]" (tropical savanna climate). | The [[Köppen Climate Classification]] sub-type for this climate is "[[Tropical savanna climate|Aw]]" (tropical savanna climate). | ||
{{Weather box | {{Weather box | ||
|location = | | location = Bardhaman (1991–2020) | ||
|single line = | | metric first = yes | ||
| | | single line = yes | ||
|Jan high | | width = auto | ||
|Feb high | | Jan record high C = 36.6 | ||
|Mar high | | Feb record high C = 38.8 | ||
|Apr high | | Mar record high C = 40.4 | ||
|May high | | Apr record high C = 46.0 | ||
|Jun high | | May record high C = 46.5 | ||
|Jul high | | Jun record high C = 45.2 | ||
|Aug high | | Jul record high C = 39.8 | ||
|Sep high | | Aug record high C = 37.2 | ||
|Oct high | | Sep record high C = 38.0 | ||
|Nov high | | Oct record high C = 36.0 | ||
|Dec high | | Nov record high C = 35.0 | ||
|year high | | Dec record high C = 33.0 | ||
|Jan low | |year record high C = 46.5 | ||
|Feb low | | Jan high C = 25.3 | ||
|Mar low | | Feb high C = 29.4 | ||
|Apr low | | Mar high C = 33.4 | ||
|May low | | Apr high C = 36.6 | ||
|Jun low | | May high C = 36.6 | ||
|Jul low | | Jun high C = 35.4 | ||
|Aug low | | Jul high C = 33.0 | ||
|Sep low | | Aug high C = 32.8 | ||
|Oct low | | Sep high C = 32.6 | ||
|Nov low | | Oct high C = 32.2 | ||
|Dec low | | Nov high C = 30.3 | ||
|year low | | Dec high C = 26.9 | ||
| | |year high C = 32.3 | ||
|Jan | | Jan low C = 11.9 | ||
|Feb | | Feb low C = 16.4 | ||
|Mar | | Mar low C = 20.3 | ||
|Apr | | Apr low C = 24.5 | ||
|May | | May low C = 25.6 | ||
|Jun | | Jun low C = 26.2 | ||
|Jul | | Jul low C = 25.9 | ||
|Aug | | Aug low C = 25.6 | ||
|Sep | | Sep low C = 25.0 | ||
|Oct | | Oct low C = 23.3 | ||
|Nov | | Nov low C = 17.9 | ||
|Dec | | Dec low C = 13.6 | ||
|year | |year low C = 21.7 | ||
|Jan rain days= | | Jan record low C = 4.4 | ||
|Feb rain days= | | Feb record low C = 5.9 | ||
|Mar rain days= | | Mar record low C = 11.7 | ||
|Apr rain days= | | Apr record low C = 14.6 | ||
|May rain days= | | May record low C = 15.4 | ||
|Jun rain days= | | Jun record low C = 18.6 | ||
|Jul rain days= | | Jul record low C = 19.4 | ||
|Aug rain days= | | Aug record low C = 17.0 | ||
|Sep rain days= | | Sep record low C = 16.0 | ||
|Oct rain days= | | Oct record low C = 15.4 | ||
|Nov rain days= | | Nov record low C = 9.8 | ||
|Dec rain days= | | Dec record low C = 4.4 | ||
|source 1 = | |year record low C = 4.4 | ||
{{cite web | | rain colour = green | ||
|url = | | Jan rain mm = 9.3 | ||
| | | Feb rain mm = 21.7 | ||
| | | Mar rain mm = 29.2 | ||
| | | Apr rain mm = 60.2 | ||
}} | | May rain mm = 93.3 | ||
| Jun rain mm = 216.7 | |||
| Jul rain mm = 312.1 | |||
| Aug rain mm = 265.7 | |||
| Sep rain mm = 221.0 | |||
| Oct rain mm = 117.0 | |||
| Nov rain mm = 9.8 | |||
| Dec rain mm = 6.3 | |||
|year rain mm = 1362.4 | |||
| Jan rain days = 0.8 | |||
| Feb rain days = 1.7 | |||
| Mar rain days = 2.2 | |||
| Apr rain days = 3.1 | |||
| May rain days = 5.8 | |||
| Jun rain days = 10.3 | |||
| Jul rain days = 15.1 | |||
| Aug rain days = 13.9 | |||
| Sep rain days = 11.2 | |||
| Oct rain days = 5.8 | |||
| Nov rain days = 0.8 | |||
| Dec rain days = 0.6 | |||
|year rain days = 71.2 | |||
|time day = 17:30 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]] | |||
| Jan humidity = 61 | |||
| Feb humidity = 62 | |||
| Mar humidity = 59 | |||
| Apr humidity = 62 | |||
| May humidity = 65 | |||
| Jun humidity = 73 | |||
| Jul humidity = 81 | |||
| Aug humidity = 80 | |||
| Sep humidity = 81 | |||
| Oct humidity = 78 | |||
| Nov humidity = 67 | |||
| Dec humidity = 61 | |||
|year humidity = 70 | |||
|source 1 = [[India Meteorological Department]]<ref>{{cite web | |||
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Climatological%20Tables%201991-2020.pdf | |||
| title = Climatological Tables of Observatories in India 1991-2020 | |||
| publisher = [[India Meteorological Department]] | |||
| access-date = 8 April 2024 | |||
}}</ref>}} | |||
==Culture== | ==Culture== | ||
{{unreferenced section|date=March 2014}} | {{unreferenced section|date=March 2014}} | ||
Bardhaman has a multi-cultural heritage. The [[deul]]s (temples of [[rekha]] type) found here are reminiscent of Bengali Hindu architecture. The old temples bear signs of ancient [[Hinduism]], mostly belonging to the [[Shakti|Sakta]] and [[Vaishnava]] followers. | |||
The Kankaleswari [[Kali]] is also located in the city of | The Kankaleswari [[Kali]] is also located in the city of Bardhaman. Bardhaman experienced and survived numerous violent conflicts, due to [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]], [[Pashtun people|Pashtun]] and [[Maratha]] invaders. The city of Bardhaman was visited by notables of the [[Delhi Sultanate]] from Raja Todarmal to [[Daud Khan Karrani|Daud Karrani]], from [[Sher Afghan Khan]] and Kutub-ud-din to Ajimuswan to the future Mughal emperor [[Shah Jahan]] while he was still a rebel. Bardhaman also has a number of Bengali Christians, and although they are a minority, there are many churches in the city. | ||
==Foods== | ==Foods== | ||
* [[Sitabhog]] and [[Mihidana]] are two famous sweets of | * [[Sitabhog]] and [[Mihidana]] are two famous sweets of Bardhaman, introduced first in honour of the Raj family.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cadburydessertscorner.com/articles/a-brief-history-of-sitabhog-and-mihidana-burdwans-sweet-treasured-gems|title=A Brief History of Sitabhog and Mihidana, Burdwan’s Sweet Treasured Gems|website=Cadbury Desserts Corner|access-date=26 January 2026}}</ref> | ||
==Transport== | ==Transport== | ||
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* The [[Grand Trunk Road]] runs across the city; [[National Highway 19 (India)|NH 19]] (old numbering NH 2) bypasses the city. [[South Bengal State Transport Corporation]] (SBSTC) and private operators operate buses from Arambag, Asansol, Baharampur, Bankura, [[Bolpur]], Esplanade, [[Kirnahar]], Purulia, Saltlake and Tarakeswar. It takes around 2–2.5 hours. Bardhaman is well connected by bus with numerous places all around. Most of the buses arrive and leave from Alisha Bus Stand and Nababhat Bus Stand. Burdwan also has a facility of bus service known as Town Service which connects different areas within the city. | * The [[Grand Trunk Road]] runs across the city; [[National Highway 19 (India)|NH 19]] (old numbering NH 2) bypasses the city. [[South Bengal State Transport Corporation]] (SBSTC) and private operators operate buses from Arambag, Asansol, Baharampur, Bankura, [[Bolpur]], Esplanade, [[Kirnahar]], Purulia, Saltlake and Tarakeswar. It takes around 2–2.5 hours. Bardhaman is well connected by bus with numerous places all around. Most of the buses arrive and leave from Alisha Bus Stand and Nababhat Bus Stand. Burdwan also has a facility of bus service known as Town Service which connects different areas within the city. | ||
* Sadarghat Road also connects Bardhaman with Bankura (indirectly) and Hooghly (directly) district. | * Sadarghat Road also connects Bardhaman with Bankura (indirectly) and Hooghly (directly) district. | ||
====Rickshaws==== | ====Rickshaws==== | ||
* Cycle rickshaws and E-Rickshaws (Toto) are available for travel within the city. | * Cycle rickshaws and E-Rickshaws (Toto) are available for travel within the city. | ||
* Also available mini bus within city and surrounding. Intracity connector by SBSTC under JNNURM project has been provided. | * Also available mini bus within city and surrounding. Intracity connector by SBSTC under JNNURM project has been provided. | ||
* | *Rapido's bike service is also active in the city. | ||
=== Rail === | |||
* The main Howrah-Delhi rail track passes through Bardhaman, and the city is served by [[Bardhaman railway station]]. The Howrah Rajdhani Express (via Patna) has a scheduled stop at Bardhaman. One can take a [[Howrah–Barddhaman chord line]] local train from Howrah to reach Bardhaman in two hrs. One can also travel along the Sahibganj Loop, which branches off, one station after Bardhaman. The narrow gauge line to Katwa was upgraded to broad gauge in 2013, up to Balgona, which has been extended to Katwa. It is well connected to major cities like [[Kolkata]], [[Ranchi]], [[Patna]], [[Durgapur]], [[Asansol]], [[Siliguri]], [[Dhanbad]]. | |||
=== Air === | |||
The closest domestic airport that serves the city is [[Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport]]. The airport is located in [[Andal, Paschim Bardhaman|Andal]]. It is roughly {{convert|75|km|mi}} from the Nababhaat City Bus Terminus. | |||
The nearest international airport is [[Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport]] at [[Dum Dum]] in Kolkata which is {{convert|97|km|mi}} away. | |||
==Education== | ==Education== | ||
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===Colleges=== | ===Colleges=== | ||
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a college to this list if it already has its own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦---> | |||
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order ♦♦♦---> | |||
* [[Burdwan Dental College and Hospital]] | * [[Burdwan Dental College and Hospital]] | ||
* [[Burdwan Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital]] | * [[Burdwan Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital]] | ||
* [[Burdwan Medical College]] | * [[Burdwan Medical College]] | ||
* [[Burdwan Raj College]] | * [[Burdwan Raj College]] | ||
* [[Maharajadhiraj Uday Chand Women's College]] | * [[Maharajadhiraj Uday Chand Women's College]] | ||
* [[M.B.C. Institute of Engineering and Technology]] | * [[M.B.C. Institute of Engineering and Technology]] | ||
* [[St. Xavier's College, Burdwan]] | |||
* [[University Institute of Technology, Burdwan University]] | * [[University Institute of Technology, Burdwan University]] | ||
* [[Vivekananda Mahavidyalaya]] | * [[Vivekananda Mahavidyalaya]] | ||
===Schools=== | ===Schools=== | ||
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a school to this list if it already has its own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦---> | |||
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order ♦♦♦---> | |||
* [[ | * [[Bardhaman Bidyarthi Bhaban Girls' High School]] - West Bengal Board | ||
* [[Burdwan Municipal Girls' High School]] - West Bengal Board | * [[Burdwan Municipal Girls' High School]] - West Bengal Board | ||
* [[Burdwan Municipal High School]] - established in 1883 by [[Debendranath Tagore]] | * [[Burdwan Municipal High School]] - established in 1883 by [[Debendranath Tagore]] | ||
| Line 263: | Line 326: | ||
==Places of interest== | ==Places of interest== | ||
<gallery mode="packed" style="font-size:88%; line-height:130%; border-bottom:1px #aaa solid;" heights="150"> | |||
Image:Sarbamangala temple.jpg|Sarbamangala Temple | Image:Sarbamangala temple.jpg|Sarbamangala Temple | ||
Image:108 shiv temple.jpg|108 Shiva Temple | Image:108 shiv temple.jpg|108 Shiva Temple | ||
Image:Golapbag.jpg|Hawa Mahal (Golapbag) | Image:Golapbag.jpg|Hawa Mahal (Golapbag) | ||
File:Burdwan University.jpg|University of Burdwan Golden Jubilee Building | |||
File:Meghnad Saha Planetarium.jpg|Meghnad Saha Planetarium, Golapbag, Bardhaman | File:Meghnad Saha Planetarium.jpg|Meghnad Saha Planetarium, Golapbag, Bardhaman | ||
File:Burdwan Church 14 06 2012.jpg|Christ Church | File:Burdwan Church 14 06 2012.jpg|Christ Church | ||
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Image:Science centre bardhaman.jpg|Science Centre | Image:Science centre bardhaman.jpg|Science Centre | ||
File:Maa Kankaleshwari at her temple.jpg|Maa Kankaleshwari at her temple | File:Maa Kankaleshwari at her temple.jpg|Maa Kankaleshwari at her temple | ||
Image:Pir | Image:The Mosque of Pir Bahram Sakka at Bardhaman town at Purba Bardhaman district in West Bengal 09.jpg|[[Mazar (mausoleum)|Mazar]] of [[Sufi]] [[Pir (Sufism)|Pir]] Baharam Sakka | ||
File:Damodareshwar Shiva Temple, Burdwan.jpg|Damodareshwar Shiva Temple, Damodarpally, Burdwan | File:Damodareshwar Shiva Temple, Burdwan.jpg|Damodareshwar Shiva Temple, Damodarpally, Burdwan | ||
File:Burdwan Arcade.jpg|Burdwan Arcade | File:Burdwan Arcade.jpg|Burdwan Arcade | ||
File:Krishok Setu, Damodar River.jpg|Damodar River | File:Krishok Setu, Damodar River.jpg|Damodar River | ||
</gallery> | |||
* '''Curzon Gate''' – the [[Curzon Gate, Bardhaman|Curzon Gate]] was built in 1902–1903, for the coronation of [[Bijay Chand Mahtab|Maharaja Bijay Chand Mahatab]]. The former royal palace is located a | * '''Curzon Gate''' – the [[Curzon Gate, Bardhaman|Curzon Gate]] was built in 1902–1903, for the coronation of [[Bijay Chand Mahtab|Maharaja Bijay Chand Mahatab]]. The former royal palace is located a kilometre from the gate.<ref name=census2011>{{cite web | url = http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/1909_PART_B_DCHB_BARDDHAMAN.pdf | title = Census of India 2011: District Census Handbook, Barddhaman, Series-20, Part-XIIB | work= Motif | publisher = Diretorate of Census Operations, West Bengal |access-date = 10 March 2017}}</ref> The pomp and grandeur of [[George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston|Lord Curzon's]] visit to Bardhaman in 1904 established the name of the gate as Curzon Gate. It is also known as Bijay Toran.<ref name=census2011/><ref name="chattopadhyay">Chattopadhyay, Akkori, ''Bardhaman Jelar Itihas O Lok Sanskriti'' (History and Folk lore of Bardhaman District.), {{in lang|bn}}, Vol II, pages 565-576, Radical Impression. {{ISBN|81-85459-36-3}}</ref> | ||
* '''Tombs of Sher Afgan and Qutbuddin Khan Koka''' - [[Nur Jahan|Mehr-un-Nissa]], then wife of [[Sher Afgan Khan|Sher Afgan]], [[jagir]]dar of Bardhaman, was once a resident of Bardhaman. It is said that the [[Mughal emperors|Mughal emperor]] [[Jahangir]] had fallen in love with her and was determined to marry her. He tried to get her with the help of his foster-brother and [[subahdar]] of Bengal, Qutbuddin Khan Koka. Sher Afgan died during a fight with Qutbuddin Khan Koka, who also was killed. Both were buried side by side at Bardhaman in 1607 (or 1610 according to some sources), in the same place as Pir Baharam Sikka, a Persian Sufi saint. Mehr-un-Nissa ultimately emerged as the Empress Nur Jahan.<ref>Ghosh, Binoy, ''Paschim Banger Sanskriti'', {{in lang|bn}}, part I, 1976 edition, pages 103-104, Prakash Bhaban</ref><ref name="tourism">{{cite web| url = http://purbabardhaman.gov.in/general_info/tourism.php |title = Purba Bardhaman district| work= Tourism|publisher= District Administration | access-date = 12 February 2019}}</ref> | |||
* '''Rajbari''' – the palace of the Bardhaman Raj family, was built by Mahatabchand in the 19th century, at a site that is earlier believed to have a [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] fort. The Rajbari was built by the Kolkata-based [[Martin Burn|Burn and Company]]. The main hall has many valuable paintings. | * '''Rajbari''' – the palace of the Bardhaman Raj family, was built by Mahatabchand in the 19th century, at a site that is earlier believed to have a [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] fort. The Rajbari was built by the Kolkata-based [[Martin Burn|Burn and Company]]. The main hall has many valuable paintings.<ref name="chattopadhyay"/> [[Uday Chand Mahtab]] handed over the Rajbati to the state government. It now houses the administrative offices of the [[University of Burdwan]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.buruniv.ac.in/bunew/Template.php?page=AboutUs&subpage=History | title = The University of Burdwan | work = History of Burdwan University | publisher = BU | access-date = 3 March 2019 | archive-date = 6 March 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043231/http://www.buruniv.ac.in/bunew/Template.php?page=AboutUs&subpage=History | url-status = dead }}</ref> | ||
* '''Golapbag, Ramna Bagan and Deer Park''' – Golapbag was developed as a botanical and zoological garden in the 19th century. It contained lakes for boating and Hawa Mahal. Several academic sections of the University of Burdwan are located there. Ramna Bagan once had a Brahmo Samaj. It now has a deer park.<ref name="chattopadhyay"/> | |||
* ''' | * '''Sarbamangala temple''' - the temple of Sarbamangala, the presiding deity of the Bardhaman Raj and believed to have been found on the sand-bed of the [[Damodar River]].<ref name="tourism"/> It is a [[Navaratna (architecture)|navaratna]] temple with a [[nata mandir]] that has a [[terracotta]] [[Durga]] panel.<ref name="chattopadhyay"/> | ||
* '''Bardhamaneswar Shiva temple''' - the [[Shiva]] temple has a huge idol.<ref name=tourism/> Many believe that the Shiva lingam in the temple was established by [[Chand Sadagar]] of [[Manasamangal]] fame.<ref name="chattopadhyay"/> | |||
* '''Kamalakanta Kalibari''' - it is a [[Kali]] temple associated with the poet-devotee [[Kamalakanta Bhattacharya (West Bengal)|Sadhak Kamalakanta]].<ref name="tourism"/> | |||
* '''108 Shiva temple complex''' - the [[Shiva]] temple complex, constructed by Maharani Bishnu Kumari, at Nawabhat, near Bardhaman, has a picturesque setting.<ref name="tourism"/> The temple complex, built in 1788, fell into disrepairs and was thoroughly renovated by the Birla Public Welfare Trust.<ref name="chattopadhyay"/> | |||
* '''Kankaleshwari Mandir''' – the temple at Kanchanagar, has a deity resembling a human skeleton. | * '''Kankaleshwari Mandir''' – the temple at Kanchanagar, has a deity resembling a human skeleton.<ref name="tourism"/> It is a navaratna temple with terracotta carvings. The idol is that of a six feet tall eight armed goddess [[Chamunda]].<ref name="chattopadhyay"/> | ||
* '''Tomb of Khwaja Anwar Berh''' - the tomb of the Mughal warrior, buried at Poddarhat in 1315 Hijri, is a fine example of Mughal architecture. | * '''Tomb of Khwaja Anwar Berh''' - the tomb of the Mughal warrior, buried at Poddarhat in 1315 Hijri, is a fine example of Mughal architecture.<ref name="chattopadhyay"/><ref name="tourism"/> | ||
* '''Shershahi Kalo Masjid'''- the mosque in the Puratan Chak (Payrakhana Road) area was built during the reign of [[Sher Shah Suri]]. | * '''Shershahi Kalo Masjid'''- the mosque in the Puratan Chak (Payrakhana Road) area was built during the reign of [[Sher Shah Suri]].<ref name="chattopadhyay"/> | ||
* '''Shahi Jumma Masjid'''- the mosque with three minarets is a historical structure erected behind the Rajbati by [[Azim-ush-Shan]], grandson of [[Aurangzeb]] and then [[subahdar]] of Bengal, Bihar and Odisha. | * '''Shahi Jumma Masjid'''- the mosque with three minarets is a historical structure erected behind the Rajbati by [[Azim-ush-Shan]], grandson of [[Aurangzeb]] and then [[subahdar]] of Bengal, Bihar and Odisha.<ref name="chattopadhyay"/><ref name="tourism"/> | ||
* '''Burdwan Science Centre'''- a high standard science museum near the university campus. | * '''Burdwan Science Centre'''- a high standard science museum near the university campus.<ref name="tourism"/> | ||
* '''Meghnad Saha Planetarium'''- inaugurated in 1994, the main instrument was a gift from the Government of Japan to the University of Burdwan. The second planetarium in the state, built to international standards, it is named after the Indian scientist [[Meghnad Saha]]. Located near Golapbag, it has arrangement for six shows daily with 90 seats in each show. It is closed on Mondays. | * '''Meghnad Saha Planetarium'''- inaugurated in 1994, the main instrument was a gift from the Government of Japan to the University of Burdwan. The second planetarium in the state, built to international standards, it is named after the Indian scientist [[Meghnad Saha]]. Located near Golapbag, it has arrangement for six shows daily with 90 seats in each show. It is closed on Mondays.<ref name="chattopadhyay"/><ref name="tourism"/> | ||
* '''Birhata Kalibari (Boro Maa)''': The temple of 10 feet sculpture of goddess Kali made up of touchstone. The goddess is known locally as Boro Maa. The locality had been named after this temple as Kali Bazar. The temple has two parts bisected by a lane. One part contains Kali Mandir and the other, Durga Mandir. | * '''Birhata Kalibari (Boro Maa)''': The temple of 10 feet sculpture of goddess Kali made up of touchstone. The goddess is known locally as Boro Maa. The locality had been named after this temple as Kali Bazar. The temple has two parts bisected by a lane. One part contains Kali Mandir and the other, Durga Mandir. | ||
* '''Christ Church''': [[Christ Church Bardhaman]] is a | * '''Christ Church''': [[Christ Church Bardhaman]] is a church in Bardhaman near "Curzon Gate". | ||
* '''Town Hall''' : The Town Hall was built sometime between 1890 and 1894 and was handed to the Municipality of Bardhaman to help them preserve the remnants of Lala Bansogopal Nandey. | * '''Town Hall''' : The Town Hall was built sometime between 1890 and 1894 and was handed to the Municipality of Bardhaman to help them preserve the remnants of Lala Bansogopal Nandey.<ref>{{cite web |title=Burdwan Municipality |url=http://burdwanmunicipality.gov.in/ |access-date=11 April 2021}}</ref> The municipality board restored the hall in 1990 to its present form of 2400 square feet from its earlier form of 704 square feet with a seating capacity of 485 seats.<ref>{{cite web |title=Town Hall, Bardhaman |url=https://www.trawel.co.in/city/Bardhaman/town-hall-bardhaman |website=Trawel |access-date=11 April 2021 |archive-date=11 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411151110/https://www.trawel.co.in/city/Bardhaman/town-hall-bardhaman |url-status=dead }}</ref> | ||
==Notable people== | |||
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their OWN article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦---> | |||
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦---> | |||
* [[Khokan Das]] - politician and member of [[All India Trinamool Congress]] | |||
* [[Batukeshwar Dutt]] - Indian freedom fighter (from [[Khandaghosh]]) | |||
* [[Ankush Hazra]], actor in Bengali language films | |||
* [[Subhashree Ganguly]] - actress, model and the winner of Anandalok Nayikar Khonje 2006. | |||
* [[Mokbula Manzoor]] - Bangladeshi author and novelist. | |||
* [[Ankhi Mukherjee]] - Professor of English literature | |||
* [[Sandip Nandy]] - Indian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
{{Wikivoyage|Bardhaman}} | |||
{{Commons category|Bardhaman}} | |||
* [https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V09_108.gif ''Burdwan Town'', The Imperial Gazetteer of India, 1909, v. 9, p. 102.] | * [https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V09_108.gif ''Burdwan Town'', The Imperial Gazetteer of India, 1909, v. 9, p. 102.] | ||
* [http://bardhaman.gov.in/ Official website of Bardhaman District] | * [http://bardhaman.gov.in/ Official website of Bardhaman District] | ||
| Line 312: | Line 387: | ||
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090120171314/http://bardhamandarshan.org/ Bardhaman darshan (Official tourism website)] | * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090120171314/http://bardhamandarshan.org/ Bardhaman darshan (Official tourism website)] | ||
{{ | {{Bardhaman District}} | ||
{{Temple towns in West Bengal}} | {{Temple towns in West Bengal}} | ||
{{Municipalities of West Bengal}} | {{Municipalities of West Bengal}} | ||
Revision as of 18:42, 19 February 2026
<!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Indian cities for details -->
Bardhaman <!-- Please do not add any Indic script in this infobox, per Wikipedia:NOINDICSCRIPT policy -->
Burdwan | |
|---|---|
City | |
| Nickname: Royal Heritage City of West Bengal | |
Bardhaman <!-- Please do not add any Indic script in this infobox, per Wikipedia:NOINDICSCRIPT policy --> is located in West Bengal  Bardhaman <!-- Please do not add any Indic script in this infobox, per Wikipedia:NOINDICSCRIPT policy -->  Bardhaman <!-- Please do not add any Indic script in this infobox, per Wikipedia:NOINDICSCRIPT policy -->  Bardhaman <!-- Please do not add any Indic script in this infobox, per Wikipedia:NOINDICSCRIPT policy --> | |
| Coordinates: 23°14′N 87°52′E / 23.233°N 87.867°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | West Bengal |
| Division | Burdwan division |
| District | Purba Bardhaman |
| Subdivision | Bardhaman South<br/>Bardhaman North |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipality |
| • Body | Bardhaman Municipality |
| • Chairman | Paresh Chandra Sarkar (TMC)<ref>"Burdwan Municipality". www.burdwanmunicipality.gov.in. Retrieved 30 December 2020.</ref> |
| Area <ref>"Burdwan Municipality - Area of Populations". burdwanmunicipality.gov.in. Retrieved 24 November 2020.</ref> | |
| • City | 26.30<ref>"Area of Populations". Burdwan Municipality. Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 13 November 2,025. As per 2,001 census, the population and the area of Burdwan Municipality are 2,85,602 and 26.30 sq. km.</ref> km2 (Formatting error: invalid input when rounding sq mi) |
| • Metro <ref name='BDA'>"Burdwan Development Authority". www.bdaburdwan.org. Retrieved 1 February 2021.</ref> | 157.62 km2 (60.86 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 30 m (100 ft) |
| Population (2011)<ref name=CensusCities/> | |
| • City | 347,016 |
| • Metro <ref name='BDA'/> | 407,000 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Bengali<ref>"52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India" (PDF). Nclm.nic.in. Ministry of Minority Affairs. p. 85. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2019.</ref><ref name="wblangoff">"Fact and Figures". Wb.gov.in. Retrieved 28 August 2019.</ref> |
| • Additional official | English<ref name="wblangoff"/> |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 713101, 713102, 713103, 713104 713141,713149. |
| Telephone code | +91-342 |
| Vehicle registration | WB-41, WB-42 |
| Website | burdwanmunicipality |
Bardhaman (/ˈbɔːrdəˌmɑːn/, bn), officially Bardhaman Sadar, is a city and municipality located on the northern bank of the Damodar river in the state of West Bengal, India. It is the headquarters of Purba Bardhaman district, having become a district capital during the period of British rule. Burdwan, an alternative name for the city, has remained in use since then.
Etymology
The history of Burdwan is known from about 5000 BC (the Mesolithic or Late Stone Age).<ref>"History and Background". Purba Bardhaman District, Government of West Bengal, India. Retrieved 30 April 2024.</ref> The origin of this name dates back to the sixth century BCE and is ascribed to Vardhamāna or Mahāvīra (599-527 BCE), the 24th Tīrthāṅkara of Jainism, who spent some time in Astikagrama, according to the Jain scripture of Kalpa Sūtra. This place was renamed as Vardhamana in his honour.
History
The city owes its historical importance to being the headquarters of the Maharajas of Burdwan, the premier noblemen of lower Bengal, whose rent-roll was upwards of 300,000. Bardhaman Raj was founded in 1657 by Sangam Rai, of a Hindu Khatri family of Kotli in Lahore, Punjab, whose descendants served in turn the Mughal Emperors and the British government. The East Indian Railway from Howrah was opened in 1855. The great prosperity of the raj was due to the excellent management of Maharaja Mahtab Chand (died 1879), whose loyalty to the government especially during the "Hul" (Santhal rebellion) of 1855-56 and the Indian rebellion of 1857 was rewarded with the grant of a coat of arms in 1868 and the right to a personal salute of 13 guns in 1877. Maharaja Bijaychand Mahtab (born 1881), who succeeded his adoptive father in 1888, earned great distinction by the courage with which he risked his life to save that of Sir Andrew Fraser, the lieutenant-governor of Bengal, on the occasion of the attempt to assassinate him made by freedom fighters of Bengal on 7 November 1908.<ref name=EB1911>
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Burdwan". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 4 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 811.</ref>
Mahtab Chand Bahadur and later Bijoy Chand Mahtab struggled their best to make this region culturally, economically and ecologically healthier. The chief educational institution was the Burdwan Raj College, which was entirely supported out of the maharaja's estate. Sadhak Kamalakanta as composer of devotional songs and Kashiram Das as a poet and translator of the great Mahabharata were possibly the best products of such an endeavour. Pratap Chandra Roy was the publisher of the first translation in the world to translate Mahabharata in English (1883–1896).<ref name=tra>Kisari Mohan Ganguli tr. (1883). "Translator's Preface". The Mahabharata Book 1: Adi Parva. p. xii.</ref> The society at large also continued to gain the fruits. We find, among others, the great rebel poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and Kala-azar-famed U. N. Brahmachari as the relatively recent illustrious sons of this soil. Batukeshwar Dutt an Indian revolutionary and independence fighter in the early 1900s was born on 18 November 1910 in a village Oari in Burdwan district. He is best known for having exploded a few bombs, along with Bhagat Singh, in the Central Legislative Assembly in New Delhi on 8 April 1929. The city became an important centre of North-Indian classical music as well.
Geography
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Location
The region has an average elevation of 40 metres (131 ft). The city is situated 1100 km from New Delhi and a little less than 100 km north-west of Kolkata on the Grand Trunk Road (National Highway 19) and Eastern Railway. The chief rivers are the Damodar and the Banka.<ref>"Maps, Weather, and Airports for Barddhaman, India". fallingrain.com. Retrieved 25 July 2016.</ref>
The first epigraphic reference to the name of this place occurs in a sixth-century AD copper plate found in Mallasarul village under Galsi Police Station. Archeological evidences suggest that this region, forming a major part of Radh Bengal, could be traced even back to 4000 BCE.
Police stations
Burdwan police station has jurisdiction over Bardhaman municipal area and Burdwan I and Burdwan II CD Blocks. The area covered is 192.15 km<sup>2</sup>. There are out posts at Barabazar, Muradpur, Keshabganj, Nutanganj and Birhata.<ref name=ps1>"District Statistical Handbook 2014 Bardhaman". Tables 2.1, 2.2. Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2018.</ref><ref name=ps2>"Purba Bardhaman District Police". Police Station. West Bengal Police. Archived from the original on 27 September 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2018.</ref>
Women police station Burdwan has jurisdiction over Bardhaman municipal area and Burdwan I and Burdwan II CD Blocks. The area covered is 192.15 km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name=ps1/><ref name=ps2/>
Demographics
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 76,000 | — |
| 1961 | 109,000 | +43.4% |
| 1971 | 144,000 | +32.1% |
| 1981 | 170,000 | +18.1% |
| 1991 | 246,000 | +44.7% |
| 2001 | 287,000 | +16.7% |
| 2011 | 347,016 | +20.9% |
| Source: <ref>"Barddhaman, India Metro Area Population 1950-2020".</ref> | ||
In the 2011 census, Bardhaman Urban Agglomeration had a population of 347,016, out of which 177,055 were males and 169,961 were females. 25,069 people were between the ages of 0–6 years. Effective literacy rate for the 7+ population was 88.62%.<ref name=CensusCities>"Urban Agglomerations/Cities having population 1 lakh and above" (PDF). Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2011.</ref>
Climate
The Köppen Climate Classification sub-type for this climate is "Aw" (tropical savanna climate).
| Climate data for Bardhaman (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 36.6 (97.9) |
38.8 (101.8) |
40.4 (104.7) |
46.0 (114.8) |
46.5 (115.7) |
45.2 (113.4) |
39.8 (103.6) |
37.2 (99.0) |
38.0 (100.4) |
36.0 (96.8) |
35.0 (95.0) |
33.0 (91.4) |
46.5 (115.7) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 25.3 (77.5) |
29.4 (84.9) |
33.4 (92.1) |
36.6 (97.9) |
36.6 (97.9) |
35.4 (95.7) |
33.0 (91.4) |
32.8 (91.0) |
32.6 (90.7) |
32.2 (90.0) |
30.3 (86.5) |
26.9 (80.4) |
32.3 (90.1) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 11.9 (53.4) |
16.4 (61.5) |
20.3 (68.5) |
24.5 (76.1) |
25.6 (78.1) |
26.2 (79.2) |
25.9 (78.6) |
25.6 (78.1) |
25.0 (77.0) |
23.3 (73.9) |
17.9 (64.2) |
13.6 (56.5) |
21.7 (71.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 4.4 (39.9) |
5.9 (42.6) |
11.7 (53.1) |
14.6 (58.3) |
15.4 (59.7) |
18.6 (65.5) |
19.4 (66.9) |
17.0 (62.6) |
16.0 (60.8) |
15.4 (59.7) |
9.8 (49.6) |
4.4 (39.9) |
4.4 (39.9) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 9.3 (0.37) |
21.7 (0.85) |
29.2 (1.15) |
60.2 (2.37) |
93.3 (3.67) |
216.7 (8.53) |
312.1 (12.29) |
265.7 (10.46) |
221.0 (8.70) |
117.0 (4.61) |
9.8 (0.39) |
6.3 (0.25) |
1,362.4 (53.64) |
| Average rainy days | 0.8 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 3.1 | 5.8 | 10.3 | 15.1 | 13.9 | 11.2 | 5.8 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 71.2 |
| Average relative humidity (%) (at 17:30 IST) | 61 | 62 | 59 | 62 | 65 | 73 | 81 | 80 | 81 | 78 | 67 | 61 | 70 |
| Source: India Meteorological Department<ref>"Climatological Tables of Observatories in India 1991-2020" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. Retrieved 8 April 2024.</ref> | |||||||||||||
Culture
 | This section does not cite any sources. (March 2014) |
Bardhaman has a multi-cultural heritage. The deuls (temples of rekha type) found here are reminiscent of Bengali Hindu architecture. The old temples bear signs of ancient Hinduism, mostly belonging to the Sakta and Vaishnava followers.
The Kankaleswari Kali is also located in the city of Bardhaman. Bardhaman experienced and survived numerous violent conflicts, due to Mughal, Pashtun and Maratha invaders. The city of Bardhaman was visited by notables of the Delhi Sultanate from Raja Todarmal to Daud Karrani, from Sher Afghan Khan and Kutub-ud-din to Ajimuswan to the future Mughal emperor Shah Jahan while he was still a rebel. Bardhaman also has a number of Bengali Christians, and although they are a minority, there are many churches in the city.
Foods
- Sitabhog and Mihidana are two famous sweets of Bardhaman, introduced first in honour of the Raj family.[citation needed]<ref>"A Brief History of Sitabhog and Mihidana, Burdwan's Sweet Treasured Gems". Cadbury Desserts Corner. Retrieved 26 January 2026.</ref>
Transport
Road
- The Grand Trunk Road runs across the city; NH 19 (old numbering NH 2) bypasses the city. South Bengal State Transport Corporation (SBSTC) and private operators operate buses from Arambag, Asansol, Baharampur, Bankura, Bolpur, Esplanade, Kirnahar, Purulia, Saltlake and Tarakeswar. It takes around 2–2.5 hours. Bardhaman is well connected by bus with numerous places all around. Most of the buses arrive and leave from Alisha Bus Stand and Nababhat Bus Stand. Burdwan also has a facility of bus service known as Town Service which connects different areas within the city.
- Sadarghat Road also connects Bardhaman with Bankura (indirectly) and Hooghly (directly) district.
Rickshaws
- Cycle rickshaws and E-Rickshaws (Toto) are available for travel within the city.
- Also available mini bus within city and surrounding. Intracity connector by SBSTC under JNNURM project has been provided.
- Rapido's bike service is also active in the city.
Rail
- The main Howrah-Delhi rail track passes through Bardhaman, and the city is served by Bardhaman railway station. The Howrah Rajdhani Express (via Patna) has a scheduled stop at Bardhaman. One can take a Howrah–Barddhaman chord line local train from Howrah to reach Bardhaman in two hrs. One can also travel along the Sahibganj Loop, which branches off, one station after Bardhaman. The narrow gauge line to Katwa was upgraded to broad gauge in 2013, up to Balgona, which has been extended to Katwa. It is well connected to major cities like Kolkata, Ranchi, Patna, Durgapur, Asansol, Siliguri, Dhanbad.
Air
The closest domestic airport that serves the city is Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport. The airport is located in Andal. It is roughly 75 kilometres (47 mi) from the Nababhaat City Bus Terminus.
The nearest international airport is Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at Dum Dum in Kolkata which is 97 kilometres (60 mi) away.
Education
University
The University of Burdwan was formally inaugurated on 15 June 1960 by Sukumar Sen, its first Vice-chancellor. It was after the abolition of the Zamindari system in the fifties that Uday Chand Mahtab, the last representative of the Burdwan Raj, left his entire property in Burdwan to the state government. This, coupled with the initiative of the then Chief Minister of West Bengal, Bidhan Chandra Roy, facilitated the establishment of this university. Presently, the administrative works are mostly done at the Rajbati (the palace of Barddhamana Maharaja) campus; on the other hand, academic activities centre on the Golapbag campus. With social responsibilities in mind, the university actively patronised the construction of a science centre and the Meghnad Saha Planetarium.
Colleges
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- Burdwan Dental College and Hospital
- Burdwan Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital
- Burdwan Medical College
- Burdwan Raj College
- Maharajadhiraj Uday Chand Women's College
- M.B.C. Institute of Engineering and Technology
- St. Xavier's College, Burdwan
- University Institute of Technology, Burdwan University
- Vivekananda Mahavidyalaya
Schools
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- Bardhaman Bidyarthi Bhaban Girls' High School - West Bengal Board
- Burdwan Municipal Girls' High School - West Bengal Board
- Burdwan Municipal High School - established in 1883 by Debendranath Tagore
- St. Xaviers School - CISCE
Places of interest
<gallery mode="packed" style="font-size:88%; line-height:130%; border-bottom:1px #aaa solid;" heights="150">
Image:Sarbamangala temple.jpg|Sarbamangala Temple Image:108 shiv temple.jpg|108 Shiva Temple Image:Golapbag.jpg|Hawa Mahal (Golapbag) File:Burdwan University.jpg|University of Burdwan Golden Jubilee Building File:Meghnad Saha Planetarium.jpg|Meghnad Saha Planetarium, Golapbag, Bardhaman File:Burdwan Church 14 06 2012.jpg|Christ Church Image:Damodar River.jpg|Damodar River Image:Curzon Gate.jpg|Curzon Gate Image:Burdwan Palace.jpg|Inside view of the palace of Burdwan Maharaja Image:Science centre bardhaman.jpg|Science Centre File:Maa Kankaleshwari at her temple.jpg|Maa Kankaleshwari at her temple Image:The Mosque of Pir Bahram Sakka at Bardhaman town at Purba Bardhaman district in West Bengal 09.jpg|Mazar of Sufi Pir Baharam Sakka File:Damodareshwar Shiva Temple, Burdwan.jpg|Damodareshwar Shiva Temple, Damodarpally, Burdwan File:Burdwan Arcade.jpg|Burdwan Arcade File:Krishok Setu, Damodar River.jpg|Damodar River </gallery>
- Curzon Gate – the Curzon Gate was built in 1902–1903, for the coronation of Maharaja Bijay Chand Mahatab. The former royal palace is located a kilometre from the gate.<ref name=census2011>"Census of India 2011: District Census Handbook, Barddhaman, Series-20, Part-XIIB" (PDF). Motif. Diretorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 10 March 2017.</ref> The pomp and grandeur of Lord Curzon's visit to Bardhaman in 1904 established the name of the gate as Curzon Gate. It is also known as Bijay Toran.<ref name=census2011/><ref name="chattopadhyay">Chattopadhyay, Akkori, Bardhaman Jelar Itihas O Lok Sanskriti (History and Folk lore of Bardhaman District.), (in Bengali), Vol II, pages 565-576, Radical Impression. ISBN 81-85459-36-3</ref>
- Tombs of Sher Afgan and Qutbuddin Khan Koka - Mehr-un-Nissa, then wife of Sher Afgan, jagirdar of Bardhaman, was once a resident of Bardhaman. It is said that the Mughal emperor Jahangir had fallen in love with her and was determined to marry her. He tried to get her with the help of his foster-brother and subahdar of Bengal, Qutbuddin Khan Koka. Sher Afgan died during a fight with Qutbuddin Khan Koka, who also was killed. Both were buried side by side at Bardhaman in 1607 (or 1610 according to some sources), in the same place as Pir Baharam Sikka, a Persian Sufi saint. Mehr-un-Nissa ultimately emerged as the Empress Nur Jahan.<ref>Ghosh, Binoy, Paschim Banger Sanskriti, (in Bengali), part I, 1976 edition, pages 103-104, Prakash Bhaban</ref><ref name="tourism">"Purba Bardhaman district". Tourism. District Administration. Retrieved 12 February 2019.</ref>
- Rajbari – the palace of the Bardhaman Raj family, was built by Mahatabchand in the 19th century, at a site that is earlier believed to have a Mughal fort. The Rajbari was built by the Kolkata-based Burn and Company. The main hall has many valuable paintings.<ref name="chattopadhyay"/> Uday Chand Mahtab handed over the Rajbati to the state government. It now houses the administrative offices of the University of Burdwan.<ref>"The University of Burdwan". History of Burdwan University. BU. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.</ref>
- Golapbag, Ramna Bagan and Deer Park – Golapbag was developed as a botanical and zoological garden in the 19th century. It contained lakes for boating and Hawa Mahal. Several academic sections of the University of Burdwan are located there. Ramna Bagan once had a Brahmo Samaj. It now has a deer park.<ref name="chattopadhyay"/>
- Sarbamangala temple - the temple of Sarbamangala, the presiding deity of the Bardhaman Raj and believed to have been found on the sand-bed of the Damodar River.<ref name="tourism"/> It is a navaratna temple with a nata mandir that has a terracotta Durga panel.<ref name="chattopadhyay"/>
- Bardhamaneswar Shiva temple - the Shiva temple has a huge idol.<ref name=tourism/> Many believe that the Shiva lingam in the temple was established by Chand Sadagar of Manasamangal fame.<ref name="chattopadhyay"/>
- Kamalakanta Kalibari - it is a Kali temple associated with the poet-devotee Sadhak Kamalakanta.<ref name="tourism"/>
- 108 Shiva temple complex - the Shiva temple complex, constructed by Maharani Bishnu Kumari, at Nawabhat, near Bardhaman, has a picturesque setting.<ref name="tourism"/> The temple complex, built in 1788, fell into disrepairs and was thoroughly renovated by the Birla Public Welfare Trust.<ref name="chattopadhyay"/>
- Kankaleshwari Mandir – the temple at Kanchanagar, has a deity resembling a human skeleton.<ref name="tourism"/> It is a navaratna temple with terracotta carvings. The idol is that of a six feet tall eight armed goddess Chamunda.<ref name="chattopadhyay"/>
- Tomb of Khwaja Anwar Berh - the tomb of the Mughal warrior, buried at Poddarhat in 1315 Hijri, is a fine example of Mughal architecture.<ref name="chattopadhyay"/><ref name="tourism"/>
- Shershahi Kalo Masjid- the mosque in the Puratan Chak (Payrakhana Road) area was built during the reign of Sher Shah Suri.<ref name="chattopadhyay"/>
- Shahi Jumma Masjid- the mosque with three minarets is a historical structure erected behind the Rajbati by Azim-ush-Shan, grandson of Aurangzeb and then subahdar of Bengal, Bihar and Odisha.<ref name="chattopadhyay"/><ref name="tourism"/>
- Burdwan Science Centre- a high standard science museum near the university campus.<ref name="tourism"/>
- Meghnad Saha Planetarium- inaugurated in 1994, the main instrument was a gift from the Government of Japan to the University of Burdwan. The second planetarium in the state, built to international standards, it is named after the Indian scientist Meghnad Saha. Located near Golapbag, it has arrangement for six shows daily with 90 seats in each show. It is closed on Mondays.<ref name="chattopadhyay"/><ref name="tourism"/>
- Birhata Kalibari (Boro Maa): The temple of 10 feet sculpture of goddess Kali made up of touchstone. The goddess is known locally as Boro Maa. The locality had been named after this temple as Kali Bazar. The temple has two parts bisected by a lane. One part contains Kali Mandir and the other, Durga Mandir.
- Christ Church: Christ Church Bardhaman is a church in Bardhaman near "Curzon Gate".
- Town Hall : The Town Hall was built sometime between 1890 and 1894 and was handed to the Municipality of Bardhaman to help them preserve the remnants of Lala Bansogopal Nandey.<ref>"Burdwan Municipality". Retrieved 11 April 2021.</ref> The municipality board restored the hall in 1990 to its present form of 2400 square feet from its earlier form of 704 square feet with a seating capacity of 485 seats.<ref>"Town Hall, Bardhaman". Trawel. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.</ref>
Notable people
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- Khokan Das - politician and member of All India Trinamool Congress
- Batukeshwar Dutt - Indian freedom fighter (from Khandaghosh)
- Ankush Hazra, actor in Bengali language films
- Subhashree Ganguly - actress, model and the winner of Anandalok Nayikar Khonje 2006.
- Mokbula Manzoor - Bangladeshi author and novelist.
- Ankhi Mukherjee - Professor of English literature
- Sandip Nandy - Indian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
References
External links
- Burdwan Town, The Imperial Gazetteer of India, 1909, v. 9, p. 102.
- Official website of Bardhaman District
- Official website of MGNREGS Cell, Bardhaman District
- Bardhaman Utsav (Annual cultural programme of Bardhaman)
- Bardhaman Municipality
- Bardhaman darshan (Official tourism website)
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