Unpopular but Attracting Tourist Place with great Historical Importance in Bardhaman District. Part-1
Bardhaman
Maratha’s armed force from Nagpur under Bhaskar Pandit had gone into Bengal in 1740. Around then, Alivardi Khan was the Nawab (Governor) of Bengal-Bihar-Orissa. He set out for Orissa to curb Shuja-ud-noise, appointee legislative head of Orissa and on his arrival venture from Cuttack; he withdrew to Barddhaman in April 1742 where the Marathas encompassed him. They remove his provisions and driven by hunger, he needed to endeavor a retreat to Murshidabad by means of Katwa. At Nigam Sarai, fourteen miles from Katwa, a frantic back watchman activity was battled and he figured out how to reach Katwa. From June 1742 Katwa become the headquarter of the Maratha Armed force. The west of the Bhagirathi under this area along these lines briefly went under the control of the Marathas.
The Marathas carried out unspeakable outrages on the defenseless populace of this area. An onlooker, Vaneshwar Vidhyalankar, the court pandit of the Maharaja of Barddhaman composed – ‘ Shahu Rajah’s soldiers are misanthrope of pity, slayers of pregnant ladies and newborn children, of Brahmins and poor people, furious in the soul, master in looting the property of each one and submitting each sort of corrupt act. …’. In 1742, while Bhaskar Pandit was observing Durga Puja at Katwa, Nawab Alibardi Khan fell upon him out of nowhere, in the wake of intersection the Ganga at Uddharanpur, a mile north of Katwa and drove him out of Bengal.
On walk 1743, Raghuji Bhonsle, the Raja of Nagpur accompanied by Bhaskar Pandit, showed up at Katwa to understand the chouth or 1/fourth of income which had been guaranteed by the Mughal Sovereign and within the sight of Peshwa Balaji Rao, Alivardi vowed to pay the chauth of Bengal. Be that as it may, in the following year, so as to dispose of Marathas, Alivardi welcomed Bhaskar Pandit and his officials and got them killed. In December 1745, a fight was battled among Alivardi and Raghuji Bhonsle at Katwa and Raghuji was vanquished and come back to Nagpur.
In November 1746, Alivardi came down to Barddhaman and in a seriously challenging fight, crushed Janoji Bhonsle, the child of Raghuji. A conclusion to the Maratha inconveniences couldn’t be affected before 1751, in which year a settlement of harmony was marked among Raghuji and Alivardi. Alivardi consented to pay 12 lakhs of rupees annually to Raghuji as the chauth of Bengal.
About Burdwan Town
The Region of Burdwan was set up in the year 1865. Around then the city region was 12.8 sq. km. with a populace of 39,818. According to the 2001 evaluation, the populace and the territory of Burdwan District are 2,85,602 and 26.30 sq. km. individually. At present, the district has 35 wards. Burdwan is the vital town and common station of the area.
Geology:
Barddhaman is situated at 23.25°N 87.85°E[1]. It has a normal rise of 40 meters (131 ft). The city is arranged 1100 km from New Delhi and somewhat less than 100 km north-west of Kolkata on the Terrific Trunk Street (NH-2) and Eastern Railroad. The central waterways are the Damodar and Banka.
Name:
Burdwan is an anglicized adaptation of the Sanskrit Vardhamana and the comparing Bôrdhoman in Bengali. The strict significance of the name is a prosperous and developing focus, to contend that this spot spoke to a wilderness province of the advancement of aryanisation through the upper Ganges Waterway Valley. In any case, the Aryans neglected to continue further east. In this way, the name was held.
A subsequent view holds that the root of this name goes back to 4000 BCE and is credited to Vardhamanswami or Mahavira, the twenty-fourth Jain Tirthankar, who invested some energy in Astikagrama, as indicated by the Jain sacred text of Kalpasutra. This spot was renamed as Vardhamana in his respect. The first epigraphic reference to the name of this spot happens in a sixth-century Advertisement copper-plate found in Mallasarul town under Galsi Police headquarters.
Archeological confirmations propose that this area, framing a significant piece of Radha Bengal, could be followed even back to 4000 BCE.
Culture:
Burdwan has a multi-social legacy. The deuls (sanctuaries of Rekha type) discovered here are suggestive of Bengali Hindu design. The old sanctuaries bear indications of Hinduism, for the most part having a place with the Sakta and Vaishnava devotees.
History:
During the time of Jahangir, this spot was named Badh-e-dewan (region base camp). The town owes its verifiable significance to being the home office of the Maharajas of Burdwan, the head aristocrats of lower Bengal, whose lease roll was as much as 300,000. Bardhaman Raj was established in 1657 by Sangam Rai, of the Kapoor Khatri group of Kotli in Lahore, Punjab, whose relatives served thusly the Mughal Heads and the English government. The East Indian Railroad from Howrah was opened in 1855. The extraordinary flourishing of the raj was because of the phenomenal administration of Maharaja Mahtab Chand (d. 1879), whose reliability to the legislature particularly during the “Hul” (Santhal disobedience) of 1855-56 and the Indian resistance of 1857was compensated with the award of a crest in 1868 and the privilege to an individual salute of 13 weapons in 1877. Maharaja Bijai Chand Mahtab (b. 1881), who succeeded his supportive dad in 1888, earned incredible differentiation by the fortitude with which he took a chance with his life to spare that of Sir Andrew Fraser, the lieutenant-legislative head of Bengal, on the event of the endeavor to kill him made by Bengali grumblers on 7 November 1908.
Mahtab Chand Bahadur and later Bijoy Chand Mahtab battled their best to make this district socially, monetarily and environmentally more advantageous. The boss instructive foundation was the Burdwan Raj school, which was completely bolstered out of the maharaja’s bequest. Sadhak Kamalakanta as a writer of reverential tunes and Kashiram Das as an artist and interpreter of the incomparable Mahabharata were potentially the best results of such an undertaking. The general public everywhere additionally kept on picking up natural products. We find, among others, the extraordinary insubordinate writer Kazi Nazrul Islam and Kala-azar-acclaimed U. N. Brahmachari as the moderately late famous children of this dirt. The town turned into a significant focus of North-Indian old-style music also.
Nourishment:
Sitabhog and Mihidana are two acclaimed desserts of Burdwan, presented first to pay tribute to the Raj family. Shaktigarh’s Langcha is another neighborhood claim to fame.Rice is the staple nourishment of Bengal and is the principal rural produce of the Burdwan region.
The New Burdwan:
Burdwan town, the core of the area is additionally developing at this point with an expanding number of individuals settling on better private spaces and higher expectations for everyday comforts. The Govt. of West Bengal is attempting to acquire numerous new tasks to encourage the development of Burdwan Township. Two enormous advancements on an Open Private Association are coming up on the NH 2 interfacing Kolkata and Delhi, on which Burdwan town lies. One of these is a Transport End, with retail and other friendliness administrations. The other is a Little Township at Goda, Burdwan. Likewise, on the interstate, this 250+ Section of the land scaled-down township is being Created by Bengal Shrachi Lodging Dev. Ltd. It will upset the manner in which individuals see private units in Burdwan. The Burdwan Improvement Authority is likewise assuming a major job in these PPP ventures.
Bardhaman additionally called Burdwan or Bardhaman – a significant interchanges place situated on the banks of the Damodar Stream, The town of Bardhaman is the locale central command. Burdwan has been a regional capital since the hour of the Mughals. During the Mughal time frame, the city was known as Sharifabad. It was later renamed “Bardhaman”, truly signifying “ever-expanding” given the success of the district.

During the time of Jahangir, this spot was named Badh-e-dewan (area capital). The city owes its chronicled significance to being the central station of the Maharajas of Burdwan, the chief aristocrats of lower Bengal. Bardhaman Raj was established in 1657 by Sangam Rai of a Hindu Khatri group of Kotli in Lahore, Punjab, whose relatives served, thusly, the Mughal Heads and the English government. The East Indian Railroad from Howrah was opened in 1855. The incredible thriving of the raj was because of the amazing administration of Maharaja Mahtab Chand (passed on 1879), whose devotion to the legislature particularly during the “Hul” (Santhal resistance) of 1855-56 and the Indian insubordination of 1857 was compensated with the award of a crest in 1868 and the privilege to an individual salute of 13 firearms in 1877. Maharaja Bijaychand Mahtab (brought into the world 1881), who succeeded his assenting father in 1888, earned the incredible qualification by the fearlessness with which he took a chance with his life to spare that of Sir Andrew Fraser, the lieutenant-legislative head of Bengal, on the event of the endeavor to kill him made by political dissidents of Bengal on 7 November 1908. Mahtab Chand Bahadur and later Bijoy Chand Mahtab battled their best to make this area socially, financially and naturally more beneficial. The boss instructive organization was the Burdwan Raj School, which was totally bolstered out of the maharaja’s home. Sadhak Kamalakanta as an author of reverential melodies and Kashiram Das as a writer and interpreter of the incomparable Mahabharata were conceivably the best results of such an undertaking. The general public everywhere likewise kept on picking up organic products. We find, among others, the incredible revolutionary artist Kazi Nazrul Islam and Kala-azar-acclaimed U. N. Brahmachari as the moderately ongoing distinguished children of this dirt. Batukeshwar Dutt an Indian progressive and autonomous contender in the mid-1900s was conceived on 18 November 1910 of every a town Omari in the Burdwan region.
Bardhaman is a city in West Bengal in India. Bardhaman, headquarters of East Bardhaman district, is the fifth largest city in West Bengal and growing fast. It is the largest agricultural center in the state, located in what has been traditionally called the “granary of Bengal”. It is a major transport center with rail and road connections all around. Since independence, it has emerged as a higher education hub. Bardhaman gets its name from Vardhamana Mahavira, the last Jain Tirthankara in 6th century BC, who is said to have traversed this region. Located in the fertile plains of Bengal, it has been the target of many an invader and witnessed many battles, the most touching being the battle between Sher Afgan and Qutubuddin Aibak in 1610, to determine the fate of Meherunissa, wife of Sher Afgan, who emerged as Noor Jehan. Both Sher Afgan and Qutubuddin Aibak lie buried in Bardhaman. In more recent history the Badhaman Raj family has played a more dynamic role in shaping the destiny of Bardhaman. Curzon Gate is an important landmark in Bardhaman and the Rajbati now houses Burdwan University.
The Grand Trunk Road runs across the city, NH 2 bypasses the city. South Bengal State Transport Corporation and private operators operate buses from Esplanade and Karunamoyee in Saltlake. It takes around 2-2½ hours. Bardhaman is well connected by bus with numerous places all around. All buses arrive and leave from Uttara (Nababhat) Bus Stand and Alisha Bus Stand.
By rail
The main Howrah-Delhi rail track passes through Bardhaman. One can take a local train from Howrah to reach in 2 hrs. One can also travel along the Sahibganj Loop, which branches off, one station after Bardhaman. The narrow-gauge line to Katwa is being upgraded (as of 2013) to a broad gauge.
Get around
Cycle rickshaws and e-rickshaws are available for travel within the city.City landmarks are :
1. Bardhaman District Court, 2. Bardhaman Railway Station, 3. Bardhaman Rajbari.( Now houses the Burdwan University administrative office), 4. Curzon Gate, 5. Krishak Setu across Damodar River 6. Bus Stand On GT Road, 7. Uttara Bus Terminal, 8.On NH 2, in the northern outskirts of the city, in the Nababhat neighborhood 108 shiv mandir, .Bardhamaneswar. A huge Shivlinga in Alamganj, 10. The University of Burdwan, Main campus at Golapbagh, 11. Krishnasayer Park, 12.Mazhar of Pir Baharam. 13. Meghnad Saha Planetarium. 14. Ramna agan. 15. Mini Zoo 16. Sarbamangala Temple. 17. Science Centre.

Bardhaman town is famous for two sweetmeat items: mihidana and sitabhog. There are plenty of shops selling these items on Grand Trunk Road and elsewhere.With an intermingling of religion, nature, man-made wonders and the notorious old-world appeal, Bardhaman is the perfect fit for an end of the week escape. Take a gathering containing the most different individuals. Indeed, even with nothing else being normal, they will all concede to one thing-Bardhaman’s Magnificence. Maybe the main spot in India that will figure out how to assuage each psyche and outlook, this Interesting Bengali town has its very own demeanor. Bardhaman is a town inside driving separation of Kolkata in the Indian province of West Bengal. Its history goes back to the sixth century BC, to the times of Mahavir and the underlying foundations of Jainism. Bardhaman additionally, for a huge piece of history, filled in as the central station of the English Domain in India.
The Sanctuaries in The City
Bardhaman the travel industry to great extent profits by the different sanctuaries in the city. Bengali Hindu culture is shown at its best in the numerous sanctuaries here. One of the more significant ones is the Altar of Sarvamangala.
Nourishment at Bardhaman
The Curzon Door and nurseries of the Maharaja Golapbagh are must-sees in Bardhaman. These are near some genuinely clamoring eating places where one can attempt the best in Bengali food with a Mughlai tinge. Sitabhog and Mihidana desserts are must-attempts and generally sold all over Bardhaman and the remainder of the state. They are especially tasty in Bardhaman. Head over to the opposite side of the road and you’ll locate some astonishing neighbourhood fish arrangements which the Bengalis are popular for.
Celebrations
Local people at Bardhaman are a carefree parcel and the city is enhanced delightfully during the Hindu celebrations of Holi, Diwali and during New Year. You might not have any desire to miss the Durga Puja and Dussera festivities here that happen directly before Diwali. Bengalis are known for their plain festival of Durga and Kali Puja. The nourishment and the pageantry in the city during this time are stand-out.
Instruction Center point
During the 60s, Bardhaman rose as a training center point in the eastern piece of the nation and understudies from over the state come to Bardhaman looking for better instruction. A portion of the main science instructing focuses and the College of Burdwan is situated here.
Visitor Places In And Around Bardhaman
On the off chance that you are very brave off, make it a point to visit Nawab Cap which includes a one of a kind 108 Shiva Sanctuaries which truly are 108 sanctuaries! They are all Shiva Lingam sanctuaries and the celebration of Mahashivratri is commended here with much pageantry!
Bardhaman vows to offer voyagers of all units something unique. Regardless of whether it’s the Tomb of the Afghan Sher or Ramana Bangan the woods office, Bardhaman is more or less intriguing. Its closeness makes it simple to get to and is an extraordinary day excursion to do while on a visit to Kolkata.
Step by step instructions to Reach Bardhaman
Bardhaman is a genuinely prestigious goal and it very well may be reached effectively by street, air, and railroads.
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 Bolpur, Asansol, Baharampur, Kirnahar, Bankura, Esplanade and Saltlake. It takes around 2–21⁄2 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.
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 local train from Howrah to reach 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.
RickshawsCycle 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.
Fanous Foods:Sitabhog and Mihidana are two famous sweets of Burdwan, introduced first in honour of the Raj family. Shaktigarh‘s langcha is another local speciality for Shaktigarh in the eastern part of Burdwan City.
Bardhaman Climate
Like most pieces of West Bengal, the atmosphere in this city is isolated into summer, rainstorms, and winter.
Hotel at Bardhaman Municipality Area:
Hotel Kalyani, Anita Cinema Lane, ☏ +91 342 2568702, +91 342 2564192.
Hotel Kandari (near Tinkonia Bus Stand), ☏ +91 342 2563458, +91 342 2560158.
Hotel Mainak, GT Road, Patal Bazar, ☏ +91 342 2562580. edit
Hotel Samrat, GT Road, Palika Bazar (opposite railway station), ☏ +91 342 2567757, +91 342 2565981.
Natraj Hotel (near Tinkonia Bus Stand), ☏ +91 342 2566180.
Hotel Barddhaman Inn, Nawabhat More, Bardhaman (3 KM from Barddhaman Rail Station), ☏ +91 342 2659471. Hotel Barddhaman Inn is near 108 Shiva Temple in Bardhaman.
(From Book’s of Pradip Kumar Ray)