Social,
Environmental & Economic Sustainability
Our analysis of the rank of the district
Backwardness : 295
Sex Ratio Rank : 331
(Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : C
(HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 - 2006)
Disability : 13 (Census 2001)
Literacy Ratio : 122 (Census 2001)
Minority : Does not figure in MCD
Occurrence of High Arsenic in Ground Water
Brief About Hooghly District
LOCATION
The district is surrounded by the district Bankura and Burdwan
in the north, Nadia and North 24-Parganas in the east, Howrah
in the south and Midnapore district in the west i.e.
North : Bankura & Burdwan
East : Nadia & North 24- Parganas
South : Howrah
West : Midnapore
History
This district with its Headquarters located at Chinsurah
town is within the Burdwan Division of the State of West Bengal.
So far history goes, the name "Hooghly" is derived probably
from the 'HOGLA', a tall reed, which grows in abundance on the
riverbanks and in the marshy low lands below them.
At dawn of history this part of the country was probably included
in the territory held by the Suhmas, a tribe mentioned in juxtaposition
with the Angas, Vangas and Pundras in the Mahabharata and also
in the Mahabhashya, a grammar dating back to the second century
B.C.
In the third century B.C. the territory of the Suhmas was included
in the vast empire of Asoka, which extended over the whole of
Bengal as far as the mouth of the Ganges and upto Tamralipti (the
modern Tamluk). Several centuries later this tract became absorbed
with the rest of Bengal in the Gupta Empire, owing to a successful
campaign by Samudragupta in the fourth century.
In the beginning of the seventh century, it appears to have been
conquered by the powerful king of Bengal Sasanka of Gaur. In the
second quarter of that century it became part of the great emperor
Siladitya Harshabardhan. The northern and eastern part of the
district, however, passed into the hands of the Sena kings of
Bengal.
The district remained under the rule of indigenous rulers till
the 13th Century. The northern part of the district had passed
into the hand of the Mughal Rulers by 1298 A.D. Colonial forces
came later.
The Portuguese, the Dutch, the French, the Danes, the English
came to this district for business purpose and established "Kuthis".
They also settled in the district and utilised the district as
the "Window" to the foreign Settlers. Chandernagore
was under the French since 1696 till 1950. Chinsurah and Serampur
were under the Dutch and Danes respectively for a long period.
After the battle of Plassy, Mirkasim by an agreement donated
the Zamindery areas of Burdwan, Midnapur and Chittagang to the
British in the year 1760. The British introduced their own rule
to administer those areas according to their system.
For administrative purpose in 1795, the district of Burdwan was
divided into two parts, the Northern Division being called Burdwan
and the southern division Hooghli. The Bengal Presidency at that
time was divided into 14 districts of which Hugli was one.
Hooghly became a separate Collectorate in the year 1822 with
Mr. W.H. Belli being the first Collector. The present Collectorate
Building was constructed between 1827 and 1829 to accommodate
the British troops.
Source : Bengal District Gazetteer, Hooghly by L.S.S. O' Malley
CLIMATE OF HOOGHLY
Hooghly has a tropical savanna climate. The annual
mean temperature is 26.8°C, although monthly mean temperatures
range from 16°C to 33°C and maximum temperatures in Hooghly often
exceed 38°C. The main seasonal influence upon the climate is the
monsoon. Maximum rainfall occurs during the monsoon in August
and the average annual total is above 1,500mm. Moderate northwesterly
to northeasterly winds prevails for most of the year with a high
frequency of calms. Summer is dominated by strong southwesterly
monsoon winds. Winters are comfortable with temperatures lying
between 11 to 17°C.
Intensive cropping with remarkable feature of Hooghly District
In spite of the fact that Hooghly is one of the most important
industrial districts of West Bengal, about 70% of its population
depend on agriculture and represents an important and remarkable
place in the field of agriculture in West Bengal.
Due to massive population explosion and continuous increase of
pressure on land, the farmers of this district are engaged in
cultivation of all the major crops utilising the fullest potentiality
of land and natural resources. Though rice is the prime crop of
the district the agricultural economy largely depends on potato,
jute, vegetables and orchard and the cropping intensity of the
district has been escalated to 220%.
Vegetable is a prige crop in the blocks of Haripal, Singur, Chanditala,
Polba and Dhaniakhali being grown in a relay system throughout
the year. Though potato is cultivated in all the blocks of this
district Dhaniakhali, Arambagh, Goghat, Pursurah, Haripal, Polba-Dadpur,
Tarakeswar, Pandua and Singur contributed much of its production
of this district. Dhaniakhali, Haripal, Pandua, Arambagh and Pursurah
have maximum number of cold storages for potato in this district.
PLACES OF INTEREST OF HOOGHLY DISTRICT
Bandel, (the name came from the Bengali word "bandar"
which means "port") appears to have been the port of
Hooghly. at the time of Portuguese and Mughals. The only relies
of the Portuguese settlement are the Church(Basilica) and the
monastery. It is about 2 kms away from the station 'Bandel'. The
present church and monastery are said to be built in 1660 by Gomez
de Soto having the key stone of the old church bearing the date
1599 over the eastern gate of the Monastery. In front of the Church
stands a ship's mast which was presented by the captain of a vessel
which had encountered a storm in Bay of Bengal and save by the
grace of Virgin, the center of attraction. There is the statue
of" One lady of Happy Voyage" in the middle of the church.
The church has three altars, a small organ & several tomb
stones.
COMMUNICATION
By Rail :Bandel (Jn) station is the main station which is connected
with Howrah-Burdwan main line.From Howrah Bandel Local, Pandua
Local, Bardhaman Local and Katwa Local & Memari Local have
stopage at Bandel Station. Bandel is also connected with the Nahati
(Jn) Station of Sealdah section by Bandel-Naihati Local. From
Bandel St.to the Bandel Basilica(Church) auto rickshaw,mini bus
and richshaw is avilable. It will take ten to fiften minutes.
Launch Service is available from Naihati Ferry Ghat to Chinsurah
Ferrhy Ghat from 6 a.m.to 10 p.m.
The Imambara building having a masonry revetment is situated
on the bank of river Ganges at Chinsurah. The place is nearest
to the railway station "Hooghly" on the Howrah Bandel
main line and from Hooghly station the rickshaw or auto rickshaw
is available to reach the place.The building was started in the
year 1841 by Haji Mohammad Mahasin & was completed in the
year 1861 at the cost of Rs.2,17,413/- including a clock procured
from England at the cost of Rs.11,721/-. The two storied building
consisting ranged rooms having a wide entrance of main gate flanked
by two nos. of giant towers measuring 80 ft. tall & a massive
clock tower in between them. A mosque, the walls of which are
decorated by the texts from the Holy Koran and the interior of
the mosque is enriched with inlaid marble and careings, candle
and lanterns. The mosque is situated at the north side of the
building. At the south there is an enclosed compound where the
graves of Md. Mohasin & his relatives are present.
In Jangipara a Sufi settlement established during Akbar’s reign.
A mosque pre-dating the settlement was built by Muqlish Khan in
1375. Now a site for Muslim pilgrimage, especially during the
Pir’s Mela every year.
Kamarpukur Shri Ramkrishna Temple, Kamarpukur, Goghat: The birthplace
of Shri Ramkrishna. The temple, built in 1951, is a site of international
pilgrimage.
Shanderswartala : It is the
most important and oldest temple in Chinsurah. From the Chinsurah
Railway station it is about 5 Kms. to reach this temple. The visitors
can avail autorickshaw or paddle rickshaw to reach the place.
It is at the bank of the Ganges at the north of the Duttaghat.
At 16th century Digambar Halder placed the Lingam of Shiva &
afterwards the temple was established by Sidheswar Roychodhury.
Dutch Governors presented a 'Dhak' made of brass which is still
used in this temple. There is also a Durga tmeple which was established
on 1845.
Debanandapur : A village
of Hooghly district about 3 kms. west from Bandel Station is connected
by the auto service. It is the birth place of 'Katha Silpi' Sarath
Chandra Chattopadhay. This village is one of the seven important
villages named 'Sapta Gram' at the time of Mughals. On 17th September
1875 Sarat Chandra was born in this village. The dwelling house
of Katha Shilpi along with a separate drawing room is still present
in the village. A Library named Sarat Smrithi Pathagar including
a museum room containing the used things of the famous writer
is also present there. There are also four 'Atchala' temples of
19th century present in the village. An old'Dol Mancha' can be
seen for the interest in archaeology
Hangseswari Tample : This
is one of the very important temple amoung all the temples in
Hooghly District & & seven in West Bengal. The structure
of the temples is the representation of 'Tantrik Satchakrabhed'.
This 5 storied 'thirteen ratna' temple is situated near the Bansberia
and Tribeni railway station both of which is on the Howrah-Katwal
main line. Near to this temple there are also two other important
temple named Ananta Basudeba Temple, which is decorated with very
rich teracotta pointed plates and Swanbhaba Kali Temple built
by Nrisinhadeb in 1788.
Temples in Balagarh The Brindavan Jew temple in Guptipara is
actually a cluster of 4. 17th century terracotta temples. Local
legend has it that Clive visited this temple before the Battle
of Plassey and presented one of his swords to the mahanta. Guptipara
is also the site of a well-known Ratha Yatra. There is another
cluster of three temples – Anandamoyee, Horosundari and Nistarini
– at Somraa. The temple at Dakshineswar is said to be modeled
on these. The Rass Mancha at Sripur Bazaar, a product of Vaishnava
culture, has unique wood carvings
Nritya Gopal Smriti Mandir Built on the Grand Trunk Road in 1860
by the zamindar Harihar Seth, this building is an example of the
confluence of native and colonial styles of architecture. It now
houses a public library. Harihar Seth’s own house in Palpara was
built at the same time, with similar Tuscan columns and facades.
Antpur Math : In Jangipara,
Swami Vivekananda along with 8 other disciples of Ramkrishna Paramahansa
took his oath of asceticism here. Maintained by the Ramkrishna
Mission.
OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST :
It is situated at the middle place of Chinsurah town. The four
faces of which indicate the directions. In 1914 'British' emperor
the Edward established this steel made hollow clock tower resembling
a tomb. On the top of the tomb there is aflag hoisting point.
In the four sides of which there are four beautiful lamp sheds.
The clock is situated in the middle portion of the tomb
Suakhal & Moyur Mahal :
There are two picnic spots at the side of Delhi Road nearest to
the Bandel station. In both the places people can enter by giving
a nominal entry fee. In addition to other facilities boating also
can be enjoyed in both places. At Suakhal there is an interesting
science exhibition like talking robot, danger cave etc. This place
is maintained by Hooghly Zilla Parishad
Jafarganj Cemetery : About
half a mile from the Hazarduari Palace is Jafarganj the ruined
palace of Mir Jafar. The Cemetery contains the tombs of the Nawab's
Nazim, from Mir Jafar to Humayun Jah. Mir Jafar's father Syud
Ahmed Nazafi, Alivardi Khan's sister, Shahkhanum, Mir Jafar's
widows, Munni Begam and Babbu Begam, Mohamed Ali Khan, the brother
and Ismail Ali Khan and Asraf Ali Khan, the sons-in-law of Mir
Jafar, lie buried here. This cemetery was built by Mir Jafar,
over an area of 3.51 acres.
