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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%.

Climate

The Köppen Climate Classification sub-type for this climate is "Aw" (tropical savanna climate).

Culture

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.

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.
  • There is a flyover reducing traffic in station area starting from Mehedi Bagan. This flyover connects G. T. Road and Kalna-Katwa Road.

Rickshaws

  • Cycle rickshaws and E-Rickshaws (Toto) are available for travel within the city. Very few autos run too.
  • Also available mini bus within city and surrounding. Intracity connector by SBSTC under JNNURM project has been provided.
  • Rapido's bike and Toto 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 from the Nababhaat City Bus Terminus.

The nearest international airport is Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at Dum Dum in Kolkata which is 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. 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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. 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.

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

  • 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)