Adra (India)

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This article is about the town in West Bengal, India. For other uses, see Adra.

?Adra West Bengal • India
Adra
Coordinates: 23°30′N 86°40′E / 23.5, 86.67
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area • Elevation	• 185 m (607 ft)
District(s)	Puruliya
Population	22,030 (2001)
Codes • Pincode • Telephone	• 723121 • +91-03251
Website: purulia.gov.in/egov/egov_initiative.html

Coordinates: 23°30′N 86°40′E / 23.5, 86.67 Adra (Bengali: আদ্রা) is a town in Purulia district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is an important railway centre.

1 Geography
2 Railway centre
3 Demographics
4 Tourism
5 Education
6 Culture
7 Sports
8 References
9 External links
10 See also

[edit] Geography

Adra is located at 23.5° N 86.67° E.^[1] It has an average elevation of 154 metres (505 feet).

The major sub-divisions of Adra are Beniasole, Palashkola, Jhariadih, Panchudanga, Laldanga, Arabinda Pally & SER colonies (north and south).

The area forms the lowest step of the Chota Nagpur Plateau. The general scenario is undulating land with scattered hills.^[2]

[edit] Railway centre

Adra is the headquarters of the South Eastern Railway division of the same name. The town economy is driven by the presence of the railway there. It is one of the three most important coal loading divisions (the other two being Bilaspur and Chakradharpur) which supply coal to power plants across India.

An important railway junction, it connets to Asansol on the Kolkata-Delhi line, Tatanagar on the Kolkata-Mumbai line, Kharagpur on the Kolkata-Chennai and Kolkata-Mumbai lines, and Gomoh on the Kolkata-Delhi line. The railroad station has four platforms which are busy throughout the day with trains passing to a variety of destinations in each direction.

[edit] Demographics

As of 2001 India census,^[3] Adra had a population of 22,030. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Adra has an average literacy rate of 73%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 56% of the males and 44% of females literate. 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Around 5% of the population are Anglo Indians.

[edit] Tourism

Adra railway station

Places of tourist interest close to Adra include Bankura, known for the famous 'Bankura Horse', clay sculptures, and Bishnupur known for its exqusite baluchari silk sarees and terracotta temples. One of the attractions of Adra is the Kendriya Vidyalaya or the Central School.

[edit] Education

There are a number of schools including the Central School (Kendriya Vidyalaya Adra), the Railway Boys and Girls High Schools, Sacred Heart Convent, Railways Primary School and many more. Kendriya Vidyalaya (the old building) is one of the magnificent structures built by the British.

[edit] Culture

The people of Adra are fond of Pujas. Every month there is one Puja or other. Starting form January-February till December, here people (young boys) are busy with Pujas. Come January, you have Saraswathi puja, then Ganesh Puja, Viswakarma Puja ( A major attraction of Adra), Durga Puja, Lakshmi Puja, Kali Puja. The list goes on...

Adra is known for Sacred Heart Church, which is one of the oldest churches built by the Britishers in 1819 and also famous for its magnificent building. Sacred Heart Church is the largest church under the Jamshedpur Diocese. Sacred Heart School run by Church asuthorities is also famous for its good humitarian work done towards society.

[edit] Sports

Adra is the state center for training for the Bharat Scouts and Guides, and holds the Presidents' Award selection camps occasionally.It has a well built stadium, the SERSA Stadium where annual Football and Cricket Events organised by Railways are held.

The town has one base of the Territorial Army (TA) and features a shooting range.