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Behala

Coordinates: 22°29′53″N 88°18′39″E / 22.4981°N 88.3108°E / 22.4981; 88.3108
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Behala
Neighbourhood in Kolkata (Calcutta)
1:Behala Tram Depot,D.H Road 2:Barisha Silpara D.H Road 3:Barisha Sakherbazar Crossing 4:Thakurpukur,D.H Road 5:Sarsuna Satellite Township 6:Atchala Bari,Barisha Sabarna para 7:James Long Sarani 8: Parnasree Pally Lake
Behala is located in Kolkata
Behala
Behala
Location in Kolkata
Coordinates: 22°29′53″N 88°18′39″E / 22.4981°N 88.3108°E / 22.4981; 88.3108
CountryIndia
StateWest Bengal
CityKolkata
DistrictSouth 24 Parganas[1][2][3]
Metro Station
Municipal CorporationKolkata Municipal Corporation
KMC wards118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131 and 132
Elevation
36 ft (11 m)
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN codes
700034(Behala), 700060(Parnasree Pally), 700061(Dakshin Behala), 700061(Sarsuna), 700008(Barisha), 700063(Thakurpukur), 700038(Sahapur), 700082(Haridevpur_partially)
Area code+91 33
Lok Sabha constituencyKolkata Dakshin
Vidhan Sabha constituencyBehala Paschim and Behala Purba

Behala is a locality of South West Kolkata in South 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Behala is a part of Kolkata Municipal Corporation area.[4] It is broadly spread across Ward Nos. 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131 and 132 of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and is divided into two Vidhan Sabha constituencies: Behala Paschim and Behala Purba.[5] This area is served by the South West Division of Kolkata Police also known as Behala Division (The division comprises Behala, Taratala, Parnasree, Sarsuna, Thakurpukur and Haridevpur).[6][7]

Behala is one of the oldest residential areas of the city. The Sabarna Roy Choudhury's, one of the oldest zamindar families of western Bengal and the trustee of Kalighat Kali Temple lives here.[8] It is also home to Sourav Ganguly,[9] former Indian national cricket captain and Sovan Chatterjee,[10] the former Mayor of Kolkata.

The Durga Puja celebration of Sabarna Roy Choudhury family at Barisha was launched in 1610 by Laksmikanta Majumdar, making it the second oldest family Durga Puja in western Bengal.[11] Today Durga Puja at Behala is marked by exotic theme-based sarbojanin pujas. Barisha Chandi Mela is a 10-day fair held every year in November–December since 1792.[12][13]

Etymology

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Behula's (top, left) journey, as depicted in the folk art of West Bengal. The word Behala is commonly believed to have its root in Behula's name.

The word Behala is commonly believed to have its root in Behula, the name of the female protagonist of Manasamangalkavya.[14] Alternatively, the name may have been derived from the Bengali term Bahulapur ("land of many rivers" or "dark city").[14] "Bahula" is also an epithet of the goddesses Chandi and Kali.[14] Rev. James Long, who used to live in this parts, described Behala as Byala in one of his early writings.[14] It is also known that Behala comprised many small villages before the whole place was urbanised and each village here had a suffix -behala with its name i.e. Bazarbehala, Tamtelbehala, Bnorshebehala (Barisha), Sorshunnobehala (Sarsuna) etc.[14] Names like Rajarbaganbehala, Sahapurbehala, Naskarpurbehala and Santoshbatibehala are also found in the old proceedings of South Suburban Municipality.[14]

History

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Modern day

[edit]

Behala encompasses one of the largest suburban agglomerations of the city of Kolkata. It consists of many small localities like Sahapur, New Alipore (partially), Parnasree Pally, Behala Bazaar, Manton, Behala Chowrasta (Barisha), Muchipara, Sakherbazaar, Silpara, Bakultala, Shakuntala Park, Kadamtala, Thakurpukur, Haridevpur, Dakshin Behala, Sarsuna and Joka. Huge growth of population especially since the early eighties resulted in the area being on the radar of both the daily wage earners, common populace and educated classes. Due to this enormous and unplanned growth, the traffic is by and large dependent on the arterial Diamond Harbour Road, in spite of the availability of the parallel James Long Sarani (Commonly known as Rail Line since the old and now defunct Kalighat Falta Railway ran here) as an option. During the construction the Taratala flyover, a large portion of traffic flowed through James Long Sarani to avoid construction activity, causing development of other areas of Behala.[15]

Encroachments by street-hawkers of the sidewalks on both sides of the busy Diamond Harbour Road is a major problem. Areas like Behala Bazar, Behala Chowrasta and Behala Sakherbazaar have been added to the 'Calcutta Green Zone' and traffic moves at a snail's pace during the peak office hours.[16][17]

Previously there were tram lines along the middle of Diamond Harbour Road from Joka to Mominpur and often people used the trams to go to Esplanade. The service on this stretch has been withdrawn now. Mominpur to Behala Bazaar service was closed in 2006 due to the Taratala flyover.[18] Behala Bazaar to Joka service was also closed in 2011 due to the elevated metro railway construction on the Diamond Harbour road, which will run from Joka to Esplanade (Kolkata Metro Line 3).[19]

SL Dhanuka Girls' hostel that has come up at Behala on Diamond Harbour Road, inaugurated on 24 March 2017 by the Chief minister of Bengal Mamata Banerjee.[20]

Geography

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Police district

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The localities of behala area are served by South West Division (Behala Division) of Kolkata Police. It includes Taratala Police station, Behala Police station, Thakurpukur Police Station, Parnashree Police station, Sarsuna Police station and Haridevpur Police station. [21]

Behala Police Station, D.H Road
Thakurpukur Police station, D.H Road
Sarsuna Police station, Ho-Chi-Min Sarani
Parnashree Police Station, Parnashree Pally
Haridevpur Police station, M.G Road

Behala Women police station, located at the same address as Behala Police station, covers all police districts under the jurisdiction of the South West division i.e. Sarsuna, Taratala, Behala, Parnasree, Thakurpukur and Haridevpur.[21]

Education

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There are many educational institutions situated in Behala.

Colleges:-

[edit]
  • Behala Government Polytechnic College
  • Behala Institute of Allied Health Sciences
  • Kanyashree College
  • Kishore Bharati Bhagani Nivedita College
  • Sister Florence College of Nursing
  • Vivekananda College for Women

Schools:-

[edit]
  • Arya Boys School
  • Baidyapara Girls' High School
  • Barisha Asar Vidyapith For Boys
  • Barisha Girls' School
  • Barisha Janakalyan Vidyapith for Girls (HS)
  • Barisha Purba para High School
  • Barisha Shashibhusan Janakalyan Vidyapith
  • Barisha Uchcha Balika Vidyamandir
  • Barisha Vivekananda High School for Girls
  • Barisha Vivekananda High School
  • Basudevpur High School
  • Behala Arya Vidyamandir
  • Behala Girls High school
  • Behala Kishore Bharati Girls High School
  • Behala Parnasree Bidyamandir
  • Behala Sharda Vidyapith for Girls
  • Behala Sourindra English Medium Co-Ed School
  • Bidya Bhaban School
  • Children Academy Co-ed High School (Bengali Medium)
  • D. A. V. Public School
  • G.B. Memorial Institution, Sarsuna
  • K. E. Carmel School, Sarsuna
  • K.E Carmel school, Behala
  • Kamala Vidyamandir
  • Kisor Bharati School
  • Kolkata Model School
  • Mothers Mission School
  • National Gems H.S. School
  • Navadiganta High School, Sarsuna
  • Nivedita Mission School
  • Orient Day School
  • Oxford Academy, Behala
  • Sarsuna Girls' High School
  • Sarsuna High School
  • Shaw Public School
  • Shibrampur Nanilal Vidyapith
  • Shyama Sundari Girls High School
  • Sourindra Government English Medium School
  • St. James School, Behala
  • St.Elizabeth Girls' School
  • Thakurpukur Brahmachari P.K. Vidyamandir for Girls
  • The Good Shepherd Mission School

Transport

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Various buses are available to move around Kolkata. Majerhat Bridge is one of the major roads connecting Behala to the rest of Calcutta has led to massive traffic snarls in the area. Now, a new bridge has been made which successfully connects Behala with other areas.[22]

Some notable buses connecting Behala with central and north Kolkata are:

  • 12C: Connecting Behala With central Kolkata and Howrah[23]
  • SD4: Connecting Behala with other parts of South Kolkata[24]
  • 21/1: Connecting Behala with Exide More area
  • 18b: Connecting inner regions of Behala with central Kolkata and Howrah
  • 75: Connecting the outer fringes of Behala with Babughat and Prinsep Ghat
  • 235: Connecting Behala with Salt Lake in Kolkata

Tram

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Trams used to be popular vehicles connecting Behala with Esplanade (Route 35). After the construction of Taratala flyover, the route was truncated and trams would ply only along Behala-Joka stretch. In 2011, the route finally closed as a result of the Esplanade-Joka Metro Project.[19]

Railway

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Behala is served by Majherhat, Brace Bridge and New Alipore railway stations on the Sealdah South section of Kolkata Suburban Railway.

Eastern Railway Sports Complex

Behala was also served by Gholesapur, Sakherbazar and Thakurpukur railway station of Kalighat Falta Railway (KFR), which has been closed in 1957.[25]

Kolkata falta railway old photo

Airport

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Behala Airport more commonly referred as Behala Flying Training Institute (BFTI) or Behala Flying Club (BFC) is the second of the two airports in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area and other being the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. There are plans to upgrade the airport. Previously there was helicopter service from behala airport to digha and durgapur, but it was later suspended by the authority. Currently, there is no commercial helicopter service available from behala flying club.[26]

Behala Airport Gate
Behala Airport View

Metro Railway

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Former President Ms. Pratibha Patil laid the foundation stone of Joka to Esplanade Metro Rail Project (Kolkata Metro Line 3) in presence of Union Finance Minister and Governor of West Bengal in September 2010.[27]

The metro has partially started from Joka to Taratala, and has been inaugurated by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on 30 December 2022. Currently six stations are active that are Joka Metro Station, Thakurpukur Metro Station, Sakherbazar Metro Station, Behala Chowrasta Metro Station, Behala Bazaar Metro Station and Taratala Metro Station.

Thakurpukur Metro station

The construction of Majherhat Metro Station is expected to be completed by 2024.

Hospitals and medical centres

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The whole Behala region is surrounded by numerous hospitals and medical centres. The State General Hospital for region Behala is Vidyasagar State General Hospital, which is beside the Behala bazar metro station and Kolkata Municipal Corporation Behala.

Nearby Behala, at Thakurpukur M.G Road, another famous hospital and medical research centre situated named as "Saroj Gupta Cancer Research Institute" locally knows as "Thakurpukur cancer hospital". It is one of the oldest cancer treatment centres in Kolkata.

Some other hospitals in Behala are:-

  • Behala Balananda Brahmachari Hospital And Research Centre, Pathakpara
  • South Suburban Clinic, Taratala
  • Disha Eye Hospital, Chowrasta
  • UMRI Hospital,James Long Sarani
  • Narayan Memorial Hospital, Manton
  • James Long Clinic,James Long Sarani
  • Drishti Eye Care Centre, Barisha Sakherbazar Sabarna Para
  • Kasturi Medical Research Centre, 3A bus stand
  • Kolkata Eye
  • Vivekananda Hospital & Research Institute, Parnasree
  • BMRI Hospital, 3A bus stand
  • ESIC Hospital and Medical College, Joka Metro Station/Diamond Park
  • Apollo Clinic Taratala, Sahapur
  • Apollo Clinic Thakurpukur, 3A bus stand
  • DM hospital, James Long Sarani
  • Swadesh Bose Hospital, Thakurpukur
  • Bharat Sevashram Sangha Hospital Joka
  • Vidyasagar Government Hospital

Festivals

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Maa Chandi Idol,During Maa Chandi Puja & Mela at Barisha

Barisha Chandi Mela, a 10-day fair held every year in November–December since 1792, attracts people from all over the city. There are various stalls, rides and plenty of shops for people of all age groups. On some days during the fair, the crowd count crosses One Lakh as well. Many popular artists also perform during this festival.[28]

Sacred Heart Church
Christmas Crib

During Christmas, all Behala roads lead to St. Peter's Church, CNI located inside the Oxford Mission compound ,Infant Jesus Church located next to Ellora Cinema hall, Sacred Heart Church and many other churches located near Behala and Thakurpukur.[29]

Thakurpukur at Night During Rath Yatra Mela,2023
Steel Rath at Thakurpukur,2023

A big Rath Yatra festival and mela also occur every year on Diamond harbour road, Thakurpukur. The festival and mela starts from day of Ratha Yatra and the mela ends at the day of Ulta Ratha Thakurpukur rath Mela is the biggest Rath Yatra Mela of Behala area. Apart from Thakurpukur rath yatra mela, Barisha rath yatra mela(Sakherbazar), Sarsuna(Badamtala) Rath Yatra Mela and Sonamukhi Rath Yatra Mela(Sarsuna and Maheshtala Border) also occurs every year.

Brass Chariot (Rath) of Sonar Durga Bari, Behala, Kolkata, India

Rath made of brass of sonar Durga Bari made in 1871, is bring outside every year during Rath Yatra Celebration. Jagatdhatri Puja is also celebrated in many Localities of Behala.[30]

Maa Durga Idol in Behala during Durga Puja
Maa Durga Idol Barisha Club

Just Like rest of Kolkata, Behala is also famous for Durga Puja, some of the popular Durga Puja pandals are

  • Behala Notun Dal
  • Behala Adarshapally
  • Behala KFR Math Durga Puja
  • Behala Shree Sangha
  • Behala Trishakti Club
  • Behala Nafar Chandra Das Road
  • Behala Jadu and Mitra Colony
  • Behala Friends.
  • Barisha Club
  • Behala 11 pally
  • Haridevpur 41 pally
  • Royde Park Welfare Association
  • Thakurpukur State Bank Park
  • The most Traditional puja is held at Roy House, at Roy Bahadur Road. SABORNO ROY CHOWDHURY HOUSE and Behala Sonar Durga Bari.

At kalipuja, Chamunda Kali Puja and a big Mela also happen every year at Bahadur Math in Dakshin Behala Road,Sasthir More.

Other famous Kali Puja of Behala is

  • Behala Parnashree
  • Behala Chatapark

The biggest celebration of the festival of Eid is held at Behala 18 Bigha Masjid.

[31]

Business

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The Diamond Harbour Road is dotted on both sides with shops and eateries. Clothes, jewellery, electronic items, sports goods, books and footwear can be found in a multitude of stores all along the stretch from Taratala to Manton. Recent additions to the shopping scene include shopping malls and factory outlets.

Apart from the standard stores, the pavements of Behala are crowded with hawkers selling everything from toothpicks to bedsheets. Some popular shops of Behala are Panna Sweets, Panna Restaurant, Haji Saheb, Bhaskar Sriniketan, Mayukhardo, New Ladies Own (Behala Tramdepot), Ramkrishna Sarighar, Debnath Electric, Shilpalay, Tanishq, P.C. Chandra Jewellers, Titan, Aminiah, Arsalan, Zeeshan, Feardeal, Great Eastern, Frankfros, Bata, Khadims, Elite, Raipur Electronics, Dhannwentari, Adidas Showroom (Silpara), Thakurpukur Reliance Complex and many more. Tarsons Products has two of its major manufacturing units located in Behala.

Some popular commercial offices in Behala are BSNL, CESE, Behala Industrial Area, Patton Tank, East India Pharmaceuticals, Union drugs, BG Press, Taratala Mint, Brand Factory, Alankrita Careers and many more.[32]

Places of interest

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  • Sonar Durga Temple
Sonar Durga– A Durga idol made of gold[33]
  • Siddheshwari Kali temple
The Siddheshwari temple of Behala
  • 72, Banamali Naskar Lane, Behala, Kolkata-60

Famous place described as Residence of Ghanada(Mess-Bari) in "Ghanada" a Bengali Science fiction novel written by Ghanashyam Das.

Sketch of Poka of Ghanada story
Oxford Mission, Behala
  • Behala Chanditala Maa Mangal Chandi Temple
Mangal Chandi Temple, Behala
State Archaeological Museum
  • Adi Shiva Temple, Barisha Silpara
Photo of Adi Shiva Temple at Silpara, Behala
  • Sabarna Roy Chowdhury Family houses at Barisha
Mejo Bari Sabarna Roy Chowdhury
  • Sabarna Sangrahashala, Baro Bari, Barisha[34]
  • St. Peter's Church, CNI[35]
  • 12 Temples of Lord Shiva (also known as Dwadash Mandir), more than 350 years old, in Sabarna Para, Sakherbazar
Dwadash Shiva Temple, Barisha
  • Behala Gourio Math
  • Behala Gajantala Shitala Mandir.
  • Behala AC Market (new Ladies Own)
  • Behala Siddeshwari Market (Debnath Electric, the oldest electrical shop in Behala), Homeo pharmacy and many more.
  • Behala Parnashree Lake

References

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  1. ^ "Kolkata district".
  2. ^ "KMC Wards in South 24 Parganas".
  3. ^ "Elector Details As On 30-10-2010" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 May 2013.
  4. ^ Kolkata Municipal Corporation (2011). "About Kolkata". KMC. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
  5. ^ "Delimitation Commission Order No. 18 dated 15 February 2006" (PDF). Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2010.
  6. ^ "South West Division". Kolkata Police. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  7. ^ "Midnight change of guard - 17 more police stations come under Lalbazar". The Telegraph. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  8. ^ Nair, P.Thankappan, The Growth and Development of Old Calcutta, in Calcutta, the Living City, Vol I, p. 11, edited by Sukanta Chaudhuri, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-563696-1
  9. ^ Press Trust of India (7 October 2008). "Ganguly: Bengal's greatest cricketer". Archived from the original on 18 November 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  10. ^ National Election Watch (2011). "Sovan Chatterjee". Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  11. ^ Banerjee, Sudeshna (2006) [2004]. Durga Puja: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow (2nd ed.). New Delhi: Rupa & Co. p. 32. ISBN 81-291-0547-0.
  12. ^ Bharat, E. T. V. (14 November 2022). "Chandi Mela: 230 বছরের পা দিল ঐতিহ্যবাহী চণ্ডীপুজো ,পুজো ঘিরে মেলা সপ্তাহভর". ETV Bharat News (in Bengali). Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  13. ^ "230-yr-old fair resumes after 2-yr Cov break". The Times of India. 1 December 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  14. ^ a b c d e f Banerjee, Sudhindranath. "Janapad Rupe Name" [Name and Characteristics of the Township]. Behala Janapader Itihas [History of Behala Township] (in Bengali). Kolkata: Progressive Writers' Guild. pp. 45–49.
  15. ^ "DH Road: one flank blocked, chaos in other". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  16. ^ "From canning street to Behala, Alipore zoo to science city, KMC clears 800 spots in 2 days". The Times of India. 27 June 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  17. ^ "দখলদারি আর খোঁড়া রাস্তায় 'নরক' বেহালা". Eisamay (in Bengali). Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  18. ^ "Behala-Joka tram route may shut down". The Times of India. 22 April 2008. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  19. ^ a b "Joka-Behala tram is now history". The Times of India. 2 June 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  20. ^ "CM to inaugurate SL Dhanuka Girls' hostel". www.millenniumpost.in. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  21. ^ a b "Kolkata Police". South West Division. KP. Archived from the original on 30 March 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  22. ^ "Kolkata's Majerhat bridge collapse: Traffic snarls continue in city". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  23. ^ "Bus Routes Private | Kolkata Bus-O-Pedia". www.kolbusopedia.com. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  24. ^ "Bus Routes Private | Kolkata Bus-O-Pedia". www.kolbusopedia.com. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  25. ^ "AK16 Steam Locomotive". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  26. ^ Airports Authority of India, Behala Airport
  27. ^ PTI (22 September 2010). "Left leaders stay away from President's function". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  28. ^ "One of the oldest fairs of Kolkata -- Behala's 227-year-old Chandi Mela". Get Bengal. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  29. ^ "Lake Town to Patuli, festivities move beyond traditional zones". The Times Of India. 24 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  30. ^ "Famous theme-based Pujas of city to get displayed on Jagadhatri Puja at Chandannagore". www.millenniumpost.in. 21 October 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  31. ^ Mitra, Bishwabijoy (11 July 2021). "City bonedi baris to keep Rath Yatra celebrations low key". The Times of India. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  32. ^ "Four things first for mayor". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  33. ^ "বিশ্বকর্মা পুজোর দিন প্রতিষ্ঠিত হয় বেহালার এই 'জগত্তারিণী সোনার দুর্গা'". sangbadpratidin.in. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  34. ^ "Clipping of The Statesman - Kolkata - The Statesman". epaper.thestatesman.com. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  35. ^ "Untitled Document". cnicalcutta.org. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
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