Nadia district

History

Nabadwip, a town in Nadia district, is often referred to as “Oxford of Bengal”. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (b.1486–d.1534) was born in Nabadwip. One of the Indian schools of logic (tarkashastra) called Navya Nyaya system was developed in Nabadwip, which produced great logicians in the 15th century. Nabadwip was an important seat of political power in Bengal under Ballal Sen and later Lakshman Sen, kings of the Sena Empire, who ruled from 1159 to 1206. In 1202, Nabadwip was captured by Bakhtiyar Khilji. This victory paved the way for Muslim rule in Bengal. Nabadwip and some other places in Nadia were centres of learning and intellectual prowess. It was the place where Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a major Hindu saint, reformer was born and lived. The religious atmosphere of Nabadwip is a combination of Vaishnava, Shakta, Buddhist, Shaiva. The main festival of Nabadwip is "Rash Utsab" (Rasa lila). It is also known as "Pat Purnima" or "Rash Kali Puja" or "Shakta Rash". The varieties of Baishnaba, Shakta, Saiba Pratima (Idols) attracts every one.

Important towns

Krishnanagar is the district headquarters of Nadia. It is located on the bank of Jalangi River. Krishnanagar is named after Raja Krishnachandra Roy (1728–1782). This was also a cultural heritage town of ancient Bengal.

Nabadwip was the capital of Bengal under Ballal Sen and later Lakshman Sen, the famous rulers of the Sena Empire, who ruled from 1159 to 1206.

Kalyani is another important city and only smart city of this district. It was identified (and named) by Bidhan Chandra Roy to act as an alternative to the city of Kolkata, from which it is about 50 km away. Kalyani also known of education, industrial hub & medical hub in this district.

Ranaghat, situated 74 kilometres north of Kolkata on the bank of Churni River, is famous for its railway communication. Before the Indo -Bangladesh partition it was the most important junction station of Sealdah–Ranaghat line.

Santipur is a very old and popular city in Nadia district. This small town has been declared a city recently. The fort area of this city, also known as Daak-Gharh (calling or gathering room) is thought to have been built by Raja Krishnachandra of Nadia.

Chakdaha is also an important and old town of this district.

Birnagar is also an important town and oldest municipality of this district. Poet Nabinchandra Sen, writer Rajshekhar Basu (Parashuram) and Bhakti Vinod Thakur are famous person of Birnagar area.

Badkulla is also an important semi town of this district situated at a distance of 10 kilometres from district headquarters Krishnnaagar.

Bethuadahari is an important town of this district. This place is very much famous for Bethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary.

Tehatta is another important subdivisional town. It is the newest subdivision in the district of Nadia.

Palashi is a historical town of Nadia adjacent with Murshidabad District. This place is famous for the Battle of Plassey.

Shimurali is also an important city of Nadia district. It has renowned for its cleanness and simplicity and it has 150 year old teracotta temple near palpara. A government B.Ed college is there.

Important Villages

It has been reported that the following list of Villages are in Nadia District

Administrative subdivisions

The district comprises four subdivisions: Krishnanagar Sadar, Kalyani, Ranaghat and Tehatta. Krishnanagar Sadar subdivision consists of Krishnanagar municipality, Nabadwip municipality and seven community development blocks: Kaliganj, Nakashipara, Chapra, Krishnanagar–I, Krishnanagar–II, Nabadwip and Krishnaganj. Kalyani subdivision consists of Chakdaha municipality, Gayespur municipality, Kalyani municipality and two community development blocks: Chakdaha and Haringhata. Ranaghat subdivision consists of Shantipur municipality, Ranaghat municipality, Birnagar municipality and four community development blocks: Hanskhali, Shantipur, Ranaghat–I and Ranaghat–II. Tehatta subdivision consists of four community development blocks: Karimpur–I, Karimpur–II, Tehatta–I and Tehatta–II. Krishnanagar is the district headquarters. There are 19 police stations, 17 development blocks, 8 municipalities, 187 gram panchayats and 2639 villages in this district.

Other than municipality area, each subdivision contains community development blocks which in turn are divided into rural areas and census towns. In total there are 29 urban units: 8 municipalities and 15 census towns and two notified areas. Ranaghat, Aistala, Satigachha, Nasra and Cooper's Camp together forms Ranaghat urban agglomeration. Nabadwip, Char Maijdia and Char Brahmanagar forms Nabadwip UA. Chakdaha, Gopalpur and Parbbatipur forms Chakdaha UA. Krishnanagar and Baruihuda together forms Krishnanagar UA. Birnagar, Phulia and Taherpur together forms Birnagar UA.

Krishnanagar Sadar Subdivision

Kalyani subdivision

Ranaghat subdivision

Tehatta subdivision

Santipur is about 16 km from Krishnanagar, the headquarters of Nadia District, in West Bengal. The place has a prominent place in the history of Bengali literature. It is famous as the birthplace of Krittibas, who first translated the epic Ramayana from Sanskrit to Bengali in verses.

The residence of Krittibas is now converted into Krittibas Memorial Community Hall cum Museum Library. Adjacent to this is a Gofa, the place of worship of Thakur Haridas.

The Ganges River flows close to the town. Santipur is also famous for producing Tangail Saree and Raas Utsaab.

The town of Plassey has a memorial of the Battle of Plassey , which took place on 23 June 1757, on the riverbanks of the Bhagirathi River, about 150 km north of Calcutta, near Murshidabad, then the capital of the Nawab of Bengal. marking a decisive victory for the British East India Company over Siraj Ud Daulah, the last independent Nawab of Bengal and his French allies.

Assembly constituencies

The district is divided into 15 assembly constituencies:

1. Karimpur (assembly constituency no. 77),
2. Tehatta (assembly constituency no. 78),
3. Palashipara (assembly constituency no. 79),
4. Kaliganj (assembly constituency no. 80),
5. Nakshipara (assembly constituency no. 81),
6. Chapra (assembly constituency no. 82),
7. Krishnanagar Uttar (assembly constituency no. 83),
8. Nabadwip (assembly constituency no. 84),
9. Krishnanagar Dakshin (assembly constituency no. 85),
10. Santipur (assembly constituency no. 86),
11. Ranaghat Uttar Paschim (assembly constituency no. 87),
12. Krishnaganj (SC) (assembly constituency no. 88),
13. Ranaghat Uttar Purba (SC) (assembly constituency no. 89),
14. Ranaghat Dakshin (SC) (assembly constituency no. 90),
15. Chakdaha (assembly constituency no. 91),
16. Kalyani (SC) (assembly constituency no. 92) and
17. Haringhata (SC) (assembly constituency no. 93).

Krishnaganj, Ranaghat Dakshin, Kalyani, Haringhata, Ranaghat Uttar Purba and Kaliganj constituencies are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) candidates. Along with six assembly constituencies from Murshidabad district, Karimpur assembly constituency forms the Murshidabad (Lok Sabha constituency). Palashipara, Nakashipara, Kaliganj, Chapra, Krishnaganj, Krishnanagar East and Krishnanagar West constituencies form the Krishnagar (Lok Sabha constituency). Nabadwip, Shantipur, Hanskhali, Ranaghat East, Ranaghat West, Chakdaha and Haringhata assembly constituencies form the Nabadwip (Lok Sabha constituency), which is reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) candidates.

Impact of delimitation of constituencies

As per order of the Delimitation Commission in respect of the delimitation of constituencies in the West Bengal, the district will be divided into 17 assembly constituencies:

1. Karimpur (assembly constituency no. 77),
2. Tehatta (assembly constituency no. 78),
3. Palashipara (assembly constituency no. 79),
4. Kaliganj (assembly constituency no. 80),
5. Nakshipara (assembly constituency no. 81),
6. Chapra (assembly constituency no. 82),
7. Krishnanagar Uttar (assembly constituency no. 83),
8. Nabadwip (assembly constituency no. 84),
9. Krishnanagar Dakshin (assembly constituency no. 85),
10. Santipur (assembly constituency no. 86),
11. Ranaghat Uttar Paschim (assembly constituency no. 87),
12. Krishnaganj (SC) (assembly constituency no. 88),
13. Ranaghat Uttar Purba (SC) (assembly constituency no. 89),
14. Ranaghat Dakshin (SC) (assembly constituency no. 90),
15. Chakdaha (assembly constituency no. 91),
16. Kalyani (SC) (assembly constituency no. 92) and
17. Haringhata (SC) (assembly constituency no. 93).

Rail

Nabadwip Dham is 65 km from Bandel, 105 km from Howrah and 112 km from Sealdah on the Bandel-Katwa-Azimganj (B.A.K Loop Line) section of Eastern Railway. It has three Railway Stations as Nabadwip Dham (NDAE), Bishnupriya (VSPR) of Howrah Division and Nabadwip Ghat (NDF) of Sealdah Division.

Krishnanagar City Junction is 100 km from Sealdah on the Sealdah-Lalgola Section of Eastern Railway.Important express trains which has stoppage at Krishnanagar City Junction are

Ranaghat Junction is 74 km from Sealdah on the Sealdah-Lalgola Section of Eastern Railway.
Kalyani Junction is 46 km from Sealdah on the Sealdah Main route & 3 station inside the city- Silpanchal, Ghoshsapra & Simanta.

Santipur Junction is connected by a branch line to the main suburban network.

Demographics

According to the 2011 census Nadia district has a population of 5,168,488, roughly equal to the United Arab Emirates or the US state of Colorado. This gives it a ranking of 18th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 1,316 inhabitants per square kilometre (3,410/sq mi) . Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 12.24%. Nadia has a sex ratio of 947 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 75.58%.

Flora and fauna

In 1980 Nadia district became home to the Bethuadahari Wildlife Sanctuary, which has an area of 0.7 km² (0.3 sq mi).