Created by Chandan Guha
Last edited May 25, 2021
Achkoda
Village
Location in West Bengal, India
Achkoda is located in India
Achkoda
Achkoda
Achkoda (India)
Coordinates: 23°38′19″N 86°38′16″E / 23.6385°N 86.6378°E / 23.6385; 86.6378
Country India
StateWest Bengal
DistrictPurulia
Population
 (2011)
 ā€¢ Total1,178
Languages
 ā€¢ OfficialBengali, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
723145
Telephone/STD code03251
Lok Sabha constituencyBankura
Vidhan Sabha constituencyRaghunathpur
Websitepurulia.gov.in

Achkoda (sometimes spelled Anchkoda) is a village in the Neturia CD block in the Raghunathpur subdivision of the Purulia district in the state of West Bengal, India.

Geography[edit | edit source]

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Location[edit | edit source]

Achkoda is located at 23°38′19″N 86°38′16″E / 23.6385°N 86.6378°E / 23.6385; 86.6378.

Area overview[edit | edit source]

Purulia district forms the lowest step of the Chota Nagpur Plateau. The general scenario is undulating land with scattered hills.[1] Raghunathpur subdivision occupies the northern part of the district. 83.80% of the population of the subdivision lives in rural areas. However, there are pockets of urbanization and 16.20% of the population lives in urban areas. There are 14 census towns in the subdivision.[2] It is presented in the map given alongside. There is a coal mining area around Parbelia[3] and two thermal power plants are there – the 500 MW Santaldih Thermal Power Station[4] and the 1200 MW Raghunathpur Thermal Power Station. The subdivision has a rich heritage of old temples, some of them belonging to the 11th century or earlier. The Banda Deul is a monument of national importance.[5][6] The comparatively more recent in historical terms, Panchkot Raj has interesting and intriguing remains in the area.[7][8]

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

Demographics[edit | edit source]

According to the 2011 Census of India, Achkoda had a total population of 1,178, of which 596 (51%) were males and 582 (49%) were females. There were 582 persons in the age range of 0-6 years. The total number of literate persons in Achkoda was 640 (62.75% of the population over 6 years).[9]

Culture[edit | edit source]

Achkoda, like Cheliyama, showcases aatchala-style temples with terracotta work on the walls. However, while there has been restoration at Cheliyama, Achkoda remains untouched. Achkoda ā€œseems to be at least five centuries old. Its panels are smaller in size (than those at Cheliyama) and some of them depict tribal life.ā€[10]

Achkoda picture gallery[edit | edit source]

Terracotta carvings[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Houlton, Sir John, Bihar, the Heart of India, 1949, p. 170, Orient Longmans Ltd.
  2. ↑ "District Statistical Handbook 2014 Purulia". Tables 2.1, 2.2. Department of Planning and Statistics, Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  3. ↑ "Area wise Closed User Group (CUG) Telephone Numbers" (PDF). Sodepur Area. Eastern Coalfields Limited. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  4. ↑ "Santaldih Thermal Power Station - WBPDCL". WBPDCL. Archived from the original on 2010-01-11. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
  5. ↑ "Old temple at Banda (locally known as deul)". ASI, Kolkata Circle. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  6. ↑ "List of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains of West Bengal - Archaeological Survey of India". Item no. 134. ASI. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  7. ↑ "Capital in shambles: Garh Panchakot, Purulia". Heritage in Peril. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  8. ↑ "Historical ruins". Trek Earth. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  9. ↑ "C.D. Block Wise Primary Census Abstract Data(PCA)". West Bengal – District-wise CD Blocks. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  10. ↑ Gupta, Amitabha. "Rediscover Purulia's Timeless Heritage". Outlook traveller, 22 August 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2020.

External links[edit | edit source]

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