Barakar

Barakar is a neighbourhood in Asansol in the Paschim Bardhaman district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is governed by the Asansol Municipal Corporation[1]It is situated at the border of the states of Jharkhand and West Bengal. The Grand Trunk Road passes through Barakar. The neighbourhood is located on the banks of the river Barakar.

Barakar
Neighbourhood in Asansol
Barakar River at Barakar
Barakar
Location in Asansol, West Bengal, India
Coordinates: 23.73°N 86.85°E / 23.73; 86.85
Country India
StateWest Bengal
DistrictPaschim Bardhaman
CityAsansol
Municipal CorporationAsansol Municipal Corporation
AMC wardsWard Nos. 66,67,68,69
Languages*
 • OfficialBengali, Hindi, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Lok Sabha constituencyAsansol
Vidhan Sabha constituencyKulti
Websitepaschimbardhaman.co.in

Geography
Cities, towns and ECL Areas in the western portion of Asansol Sadar subdivision in Paschim Bardhaman district
MC: municipal corporation, P: rural administrative centre, CT: census town, N: neighbourhood, OG: out growth, T: temple
Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly

Urbanisation

As per the 2011 census, 83.33% of the population of Asansol Sadar subdivision was urban and 16.67% was rural.[2] Asansol Sadar subdivision has 26 (+1 partly) Census Towns.

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.

Location

Asansol is composed of undulating laterite region. This area lies between two mighty rivers – the Damodar and the Ajay. They flow almost parallel to each other in the region – the average distance between the two rivers is around 30 km. For ages the area was heavily forested and infested with plunderers and marauders. The discovery of coal in the 18th century led to industrialisation of the area and most of the forests have been cleared.[3] At the western fringe of the area the Barakar forms the boundary with Jharkhand.

Asansol Municipal Corporation

According to the Kolkata Gazette notification of 3 June 2015, the municipal areas of Kulti, Raniganj and Jamuria were included within the jurisdiction of Asansol Municipal Corporation.[4]

*For language details see Salanpur (community development block)#Language and religion

Begunia temples

The area is known for its Siddheshvara Temple, an early (9C) Hindu religious structure of the Orissan style with a prominent shikhara. It later served as inspiration for other temples, devoted to Ganesh, Durga and Panchanana, built in the 16C.[5]

There are four temples in one complex known as Begunia temples. The fourth temple, last from the entrance, seems to be the oldest and was built around 8th-9th century. It is amongst the oldest rekh-deul temples in West Bengal. Two other temples are dated around 14th-15th century. The temples have Shiva lingams and idols of Ganesha and Durga. Many stone idols have been discovered in the complex. Some are Vishnu idols but others are Jain idols, possibly belonging to the older fourth temple. It is evident that Barakar was once a Buddhist and Jain religious centre. Thereafter, it became a Shaivite centre and was also a Vaishnavite centre at some point of time.[6]

  • Front view of Ganesh and Durga temples, photographed by JD Beglar in 1872
  • Panchanana temple, photographed around 1872
  • Siddheswara temple, photographed by JD Beglar in 1872
  • Hanuman Mandir, Barakar
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References
  1. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "District Statistical Handbook 2014 Burdwan". Table 2.2, 2.4(a). Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  3. Chattopadhyay, Akkori, Bardhaman Jelar Itihas O Lok Sanskriti (History and Folk lore of Bardhaman District.), (in Bengali), Vol I, pp 14-15, Radical Impression. ISBN 81-85459-36-3
  4. "The Kolkata Gazette" (PDF). Notification No. 335/MA/O/C-4/1M-36/2014 dated 3 June 2015. Department of Municipal Affairs, Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  5. G. Mitchell (1989). The Monuments of India, vol. I, p. 218. New York: Viking Penguin.
  6. Ghosh, Binoy, Paschim Banger Sanskriti, (in Bengali), part I, 1976 edition, pp. 219-221, Prakash Bhaban
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