Bardhaman district (also spelled Burdwan or Barddhaman) was a district in West Bengal. On 7 April 2017, the district was bifurcated into Purba Bardhaman district and Paschim Bardhaman district. The headquarters of the district was Bardhaman, and it housed the cities of Asansol and Durgapur.Great revolutionary Rashbehari Bose was born in village Subaldaha,Bardhaman district.
It was the seventh most populous district in India (out of 640) at the time of bifurcation.
Bardhaman is a city in West Bengal state in eastern India. It is the headquarters of Purba Bardhaman district, having become a district capital during the period of British rule.
Sports & nature
There are a number of coaching centers in Bardhaman as well which provide training and coaching in a variety ofsports such as cricket, football, basketball, table tennis etc.
Rajbati
Rajbati or Mahatabmanjil was built by Mahatab Chand Bahadur, back in in 1851.The imposing building houses the administrative office of the Bardhaman University.
Maharajdhiraj Uday Chand Women's College and the settlement office lie on the sides. Rajbati. When it was originally unveiled, it was the most beautiful building in all of Bhardaman. The charm is still very much in tact.
Golap Bagh

The Gopal Bagh which literally means the garden of roses is arguably the most beautiful tourist place in Bardhaman. It is the Botanical and Zoological garden established by the King Bijoy Chand Mahatab in 1884.
The place is believed to have nearly 150 different types of trees including mango, casuarina, eucalyptus, jaam and shimul. The place is full of structures, statues and beautifully landscaped areas. If you plan to visit Golap Bagh, then you should keep a few hours free.
108 Shiv Mandir

Perhaps the most unique and enticing structure in all of Bardhaman, the reason it's known as 108 Shiv Temple is because there literally are 108 small temples contracted side by side in a beautiful vertical pattern.
The temples are located in Nawabhat which was once famous for the battles of the Pathans and Mughals. The best and the most crowded time to see these temples is during Shivratri when the entire place is lit up with lights and decorations.
The Deer Park

The Deer Park is Bardhaman's very own mini dose of Wildlife. The park is numerous animals including deer, birds, leopards and tigers. The place also has a guest house if you wish to spend the night.
Christ Church

The red brick church was built back in 1816 under the supervision of Captain Charles Stuart of the East India Company.
The ancient church is still very well maintained, set in the midst of a well trimmed courtyard. The Church also has picked styles from British Architecture.
Krishnasayar Park and Lake

In 1691, the then king of Bhardam constructed a huge artificial lake.-Krishnasayar on nearly 33 acres of land. Later an equally beautiful park was built around it by the Krishasayar trustee board.
Competitions, Fairs and Carnivals are often held at the lake. Even otherwise, you can have a rowing experience at the lake or enjoy various flower or art exhibitions. The lake also has an aquarium with tens of fish varieties.
Meghna Saha Planetarium

Inaugurated in 1994, the planetarium has a unique story. it was built by a Japanese Optical Company with assistance from the Japanese and Indian governments.
Located at G.T Road, the planetarium has numerous automated models at display. If travelling with children, then this is the one place that combines leisure with education.
Kankeleshwari Kalibari

This amazingly intricate structure of Goddess Kali is located in Brishnu Mandir in Kanchan Nagar. The goddess Chamunda is depicted through this sculpture.
Made from precious stones and black rocks, the structure is so finely detailed that even the veins running through her many hands look real. The sculpture is also believed to be a symbol of the continuity of life as its made from the stones found on Damoder riverbed after the devastating floods of 1923.
Science Centre

Another endeavor by the University of Burdwan, along with the Central and State Governments, the science centre is the classic spectacle of scientific evolution.
numerous display along with interesting classes and seminars are arranged over here. The planetarium is located near the front gate of the Burdhaman University. This center is open for all from 11.30 am to 7 pm.
Sarbamangala Temple

The temple is highly revered by the natives of Bardhaman. It is also believed that the Goddess fulfills every wish of an earnest heart. This temple situated in Sarbamangala Road.
Sarbamangala is actually Goddess Durga in a different form. Another very interesting feature of the temple is that the statue of the goddess and the surrounding temple were built a few decades apart. The goddess was established in 1740 A.D. by the king Kirti Chand while the temple structure was built by king Mahatab Chand.
Damoder Riverside

The city of Bardhaman is located on the banks of River Damodar. Tourists can sit on the banks of the river and enjoy a picnic or they can hire a boat and enjoy the gentle waves, especially on a pleasant day.
But if you are in Bhardaman for a short while, the river is one of the few things you can consider skipping.
Tomb of Sher Afghan

Numerous tales surround Sher Afghan Khan, his rise to power and eventual demise. Sher Afghan Khan who was the 'tuyuldar' of Bardhaman during Mughal Emperor Jahangir's rule was accused of having conspired with Afghans against the king.
He was eventually killed in this confrontation and his wife, Mehrunissa, famously known as Nur Jahan, who was believed to have been extremely beautiful eventually married the King himself. His tomb is one of the most popular sights in Bardhaman. The tomb of Qutbuddin is adjacent to that of Sher Afghans.
Curzon Gate

The majestic Curzon Gate was famously erected in 1903, by the king of Burdwan Maharaja Bijoy Chand Mahatab to celebrate Lord Curzon's visit.
Though it is just an archway towering over the road, the majestic structure will easily grab your attention, especially at night. The Royal Palace is situated one km from the gate.
Kalyaneshwari Temple

Located on Grand Trunk road, a few km off Barakar, this beautiful temple dedicated to Goddess Kali has a unique story of its own. Built around many decades ago, the temple is believed to have been a haven for dacoits, where they stayed and also offered prayers.
The temple complex has many shops selling flowers, incense sticks and other things you may need for the pooja. The beautiful temple has been preserved in its simple original form with minimal renovation. The temple is also believed to fulfill wishes for offspring of childless women.
Culture and history info
A town in the state of West Bengal in the country’s eastern region, Bardhaman also known as Bardwan is the administrative headquarters of the districts of Birbhum, Bankura, Purulia, Hoogly & Bardhaman. It is situated at a distance of about 100 km from the state capital Kolkata and is connected by the National highway NH2 also called the Grand Trunk Road. The town of Bardhaman was a district capital during the reign of the Mughals and continued to remain as the district headquarters even during the British rule. Bardhaman is known as the ‘rice plate’ of Bengal due to its plentiful rice production. The eastern part of Bardhaman is essentially agrarian while the western part is mainly industrialised. Damodar and the Banka are the main rivers flowing through Bardhaman making the land fertile and ideal for cultivation. Bardhaman has a few tourist places in and around. The temples here which are known as 'deuls' are fine examples of Bengali Hindu architecture and most of them are temples belonging to the Sakta and Vaishnava communities. There are also many Shiva temples here. The renowned Shrine of Sarvamangala, which is believed to house the remains of Sati's body, is situated in Bardhaman. The Meghnad Saha Planetarium named after the famous scientist, the Burdwan Science Centre and the Krishnasayer Ecological Park are places which are popular and frequently visited. The Maithon dam and the Konkaleswari Kali Mandir are also well known landmarks in Bardhaman. The Botanical and Zoological garden called the Golap Bag, or the Garden of Rose was set up by King Bijoy Chand Mahatab and is a site which is popular as a place to spend a day out. The Curzon Gate also known as Vijay Toran, the beautiful Hawa Mahal in Golapbag, and the Tomb of Sher Afgan are popular sites which attract tourists with their history. The culture in Bardhaman is a mix of a different customs and traditions. The Bardhaman Utsav is an annual festival, which is held in the month of January. Organised by the Bardhaman Muncipal Corporation, the 13th edition of the festival will be held from 21st – 29th January, 2012. Cultural programmes including, dance, recitals and music will be performed everyday by local artists as well as others from different regions of the state from 5:00 pm at the Utsav Maidan in Shankharipukur. Dance and drawing competitions have also been organised on 22nd January for children and school students. The culture in Bardhaman is a mix of a different cultures and traditions. The place is known for its festivities and fairs and the Durga Puja is celebrated with much enthusiasm and furore. Being a rice producing part of the country, the staple food here is rice and a variety of sweets, like sitabhog and mihidana, which the state of West Bengal is famous for.

Origin of Name |
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The history of Burdwan is known from about 5000 BC and belonging to the Mesolithic or Late Stone Age. The name Burdwan is an anglicized form of the Sanskrit word Vardhamana. The first epigraphic reference to the name occurs in a 6th. century AD copper -plate found in the village of Mallasarul in Galsi Police Station.There are two views about the origin of the name Barddhamana. One, it might have been named after the 24th. Jaina Tirthankar or barddhamanasvami. According to the Kalpasutra of the Jains, Mahavira spent sometime in Astikgrama which was formerly known as Barddhamana.
According to the other view, Barddhamana means prosperous growth centre. In the progress of Aryanisation from the upper Ganges valley, the frontier colony was called Barddhamana as a landmark of growth and prosperity. |

Early History |
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The excavations of 1954 and 1957 revealed that the Mesolithic Age has been traced at Birbhanpur in Durgapur Thana. These discoveries are results of excavations carried on during 1962-65 at Pandu Rajar Dhibi in the valley of the river Ajay (near Bhedia) and in several other sites on the Ajay, Kunur and Kopai rivers. This Dhibi has revealed that the people of those days were capable of building well-planned towns with pavements and streets. They lived in citadels and houses built of unfired clay reinforced with reeds and having plastered walls and floors of beaten peletty laterite. They knew the use of copper. Agriculture and trade was the mainstay of their economy.Vardhhamana continued to be a well-known division of the ancient Bengal. In the 6th century epigraphic evidence points to the existence of Vardhhamana as a famous Bhukti and in that age it was also mentioned as Radhadesa or Radha. Radha-Varddhamana area become a part of the Maurya empire and remained so throughout. But following the dissolution of the Gupta empire, one or more independent Kingdoms were established in Bengal. |

Before Muslim Invasion |
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Towards the close of the 3rd. century AD a Varman dynasty rose to power in West Bengal. Chandra Varman may be regarded as the king of Radha. After that Gupta dynasty came in to power and Vinay Gupta was in charge of this area. And then, Sasanka, the first independent paramount sovereign of Bengal and then Jayanaga was in charge of this area.The history of the district is blank from the middle of the 7th century till the rise of the Palas in the later part of the 8th century. The Khalimpur copper plate of Dharmapala, the son of Gopala-I, states that Gopala-I was elected king by the people to save the country from Matsyanayaya. After the Pala dynasty Sena Dynasty took over the charge of Bengal at about AD 1130. Vijayasena was the first king of Senas according to Deopara incription. Before the begining of Muslim invasion Sadgop dynasty of Gopbhum which was in Bardhhaman district ruled for a short time.. |

After Muslim Invasion |
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The first Muslim invasion of Bengal took place during the reign of Lakshmanasena by Baktiyar Khilji. After ten years, during the reign of Hasmuddin Iwaz a portion of the northern Radha was occupaied by the Muslim ruler of Lakhnauti or Goudha. Then the battle to capture this region was continuing between the Muslim ruler and the Kings of Orissa.The political condition of the entire Barddhaman district as at present constituted was not clearly known at that time. But the Gangetic part certainly continued to remain under the rule of Lakhnauti (Goudha). An inscription of Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah found at Saptagram proves his holds over Gangetic area of Bardhhaman District. The next king , his son, Ruknuddin Barbak Shah extended his patronage to literal activist Maladhar Basu, the poet of Srikrishnavijaya. Maladhar Basu was a resident of Kulingram in Bardhhaman district and he received the title of Gunaraj Khan from the king of Lakhnauti. Another celebrated poet, who flourished in Bardhhaman at this time, was Ruparam who composed Dharmamangala.
In 1606, Qutbuddin khan Koka, a foster-brother of Jehangir, was appointed the Governor of Bengal. Sher Afgan Istajhi, a Turkish nobleman, was at that time the jagirdar or fouzdar of Barddhaman. His wife Meherunnessa was a lady famous for her beauty. Qutbuddin Khan Koka paid a visit to Bardhhaman, shortly after his arrival in Bengal. There was a fight between Sher Afgan and Qutbuddin in the course of which both were killed. Meherunnessa became the consort of Jehangir who conferred on her the title of Noor Jahan. The tomb of Sher Afgan and Qutbuddin lie side by side within the town of Barddhaman.
Shah Jahan (Prince Khurram) rebelled against his father Emperor Jehangir in 1622. he was then in Deccan. He left Burhanpur in the Deccan, crossed Tapti river and proceeded to Bengal through Orissa. Then Barddhaman was occupaid by the rebel prince who gave it as a fief to Bairam Beg. Shah Jahan ascended the throne of Delhi in 1628 and appointed Qasim Khan Juyini as the Subedar of Bengal. |
