Krishnanagar, Nadia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Krishnanagar | |
  Krishnanagar
|
|
| State - District(s) |
West Bengal - Nadia |
| Coordinates | |
| Area - Elevation |
- 14 m |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Population (2001) - Density |
139,070 - |
Krishnanagar is a city and a municipality in Nadia district in the Indian state of West Bengal.
[edit] Geography
Krishnanagar is located at [1]. It has an average elevation of 14 metres (45 feet). It is the headquarters of Nadia district. The town is well connected by road to different parts of the state, and also has a railway junction. The major agricultural products of the area include rice, jute, and sugarcane, and industrial activities include sugar milling and ceramic manufacturing.
Located 118 km north from Kolkata, Krishnanagar is on the banks of Jalangi river. It was the residence of Maharaja Krishnachandra, a great patron of art and culture.
[edit] Points of interest
Rajbari: (Royal Palace) with a beautiful Durga temple in the courtyard. Every year, the famous Jhulan Mela is celebrated around the Rajbari in the July / August months and Baro Dol (as it is held 12 days after Dol Purnima) in March / April.
Roman Catholic Church: The church is famous for its architectural and sculptural splendour. There are 27 oil paintings describing the life of Jesus Christ. Of special mention are the wooden sculptures by Italian artists.
Others include the College Bhavan (1846), The Public Library (1856), the Krishnanagar Academy and the Protestant Church. The clay models / figurines crafted here are collectors’ items.
In a locality of Krishnagar called Ghurni, there is a colony of artists who work with clay. These artists produce images of Hindu gods and goddesses for traditional worship throughout the year, as well as clay models of human figures and real life objects. Open studios and shops of the artists comprise an important attraction for tourists. It is said that initially it was Raja Krishnachandra who settled a few families of talented clay artists in the area. Since then the colony has grown and flourished. Some of the artists have recently worked with other media as well. Mr.Gautam Pal a noted sculptor, for example, works with stone and concrete. Incidentally Mr. Gautam Pal is famous for his statues of Mahatma Gandhi. Almost all Gandhi statues in India including the one in the Parliament building at New Delhi is sculpted by this artist.
Halwaikars or moyras(who prepare sweets) of Krishnagar are famous. While they produce all varieties of sweets, there are some which bear the hallmark of the city. 'Sarbhaja' and 'Sarpuria' are inventions that mark the talent of Krishnagar's halwaikars. Specially the shop of "Adhar Chandra Das" is famous for the above mentioned sweet variants.
Krishnagar is an important centre for culture and literature. It boasts literary figures like Bharat Chandra, Dwijendra Lal Roy and Narayan Sanyal among others. There is a vibrant culture of literary exchange among small groups of writers and poets, and there is a strong tradition of stage acting.
Jagadhatri Puja is celebrated with great grandeur at Krishnagar, when lightings from the town of Chandannagar are brought.
[edit] Demographics
As of 2001 India censusGRIndia, Krishnanagar had a population of 139,070. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Krishnanagar has an average literacy rate of 79%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 83%, and female literacy is 75%. In Krishnanagar, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.
As of 2001 India censusGRIndia, Krishnanagar had a population of 139,070. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Krishnanagar has an average literacy rate of 79%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 83%, and female literacy is 75%. In Krishnanagar, 9% of the population is undr 6 yeares of age.
