Rajbalhat

Rajbalhat
রাজবলহাট
Census Town
Rajbalhat
Rajbalhat

Location in West Bengal, India

Coordinates: 22°46′N 88°02′E / 22.76°N 88.04°E / 22.76; 88.04Coordinates: 22°46′N 88°02′E / 22.76°N 88.04°E / 22.76; 88.04
Country  India
State West Bengal
District Hooghly
Elevation 14 m (46 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 16,479
Languages
 • Official Bengali, English
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 712408
Telephone code 03212
ISO 3166 code IN-WB
Vehicle registration WB
Website wb.gov.in

Rajbalhat is a Census Town under the Jangipara community development block of Srirampore subdivision in Hooghly District in the Indian state of West Bengal.

History

Tradition has it that Rajbalhat was once the capital of the Bhursut kingdom. It is said that the last fisherman king of Sanibhangar was defeated by one Chaturanand Naigai, who originally carved Bhursut kingdom out.

Krishna Roy, the son of a daughter of Chaturanand became the first Raja of Bhursut. This event took place near about 1583-84 AD. The family of Krishna Roy belonged to Phulia village.

His great grandson Pratap Narayan, a very charitable ruler, was king from 1652 to 1684 AD. He was given the title of Raja and was known as such in the court of Emperors Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb. His son was Shiv Narayan, who was succeeded by his only son Naranarayan. Either during the lifetime of Naranarayan or immediately after his death Kirtichand, the king of Bardhaman, forcibly occupied Bhursut pargana near about 1719 AD.[1]

Geography

Rajbalhat is located at 22°46′N 88°02′E / 22.76°N 88.04°E / 22.76; 88.04

Villages in Rajbalhat panchayat are as follows: Rajbalhat, Shib Chak, Morhal, Mukundapur, Kuliara, Jhanda, Binodbati, Chaiman Chak, Naskardanga, Gultia, Dakshin Gultia, Tripan, Nabagram, Jabni, and Rahimpur.[2]

Demographics

As per 2011 Census of India, Rajbalhat had a total population of 16,479 of which 8,405 (51%) were males and 8,074 (49%) were females. Population below 6 years was 1,419. The total number of literates in Rajbalhat was 12,530 (83.20% of the population over 6 years).[3]

Rajbalhat had a population of 4,984 out of which 2,924 belonged to scheduled castes and 51 belonged to scheduled tribes.[2]

Economics

In 1789 East India Company established a commercial residency in this village. Since then Rajbalhat is famous for handloom saris and gold ornaments.[4][5]

Education

There are Two high schools, Rajbalhat High School and Rajbalhat Girls' schools teache up to the higher secondary level.[6][7]

Culture

The garh (fort) of Bhursut Raj at Rajbalhat covers about seven bighas of land and 500 bighas of land had been made a debottar property for the maintenance of the temple of Rajballavi Thakurani at Rajbalhat. There are no signs of the king's garh or palace now.[1] Rajballavi temple is 500 years old. The name 'Rajbalhat' originated from the goddess Rajballavi.[4]

The godess Rajballavi Devi

Durga is worshipped in Jangipara, Binodbati and Rajbalhat as Rajballavi. She is a mixed form of Durga, Kali and Saraswati.[8]

There are more temples with Terracotta decoration in Rajbalhat village. All of them were made in 18th century. Radhakantajiu (1733) temple, Sridhar Damodar Temple (1724) decorated by terracotta, built in the 18th century are worth visiting.[9]

Radhakantajiu Temple, Rajbalhat

Amulya Pratnashala, a craft museum in Rajbalhat, is open from 2–9 pm. It is closed on Wednesdays and the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month. Dulal Chandra Bhar, the father of the famous "Palm Candy" of Bengal lived in Rajbalhat.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 "The Temples in Hooghly". hindubooks.org. Retrieved 2009-02-05.
  2. 1 2 "Census Data District Name: Hugli(12) Block Name: Jangipara (0016)". West Bengal Govt. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  3. ↑ "C.D. Block Wise Primary Census Abstract Data(PCA)". 2011 census: West Bengal – District-wise CD Blocks. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Next weekend you can be at ... Antpur". The Telegraph, 24 July 2005. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  5. ↑ "West Bengal Tourism". Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  6. ↑ "West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  7. ↑ "RAJBALHAT GIRLS HIGH". allindiafacts.com. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Amar Pujo". Archived from the original on December 22, 2008. Retrieved 2009-02-03.
  9. ↑ "Rajbalhat". india9.com. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  10. ↑ "Craft Revival Trust". Retrieved 2009-02-05.
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