Barrackpore

Not to be confused with Barrackpore, Trinidad and Tobago.

For other uses, see Barrackpore (disambiguation).

Barrackpore Barrackpur
Neighbourhood of Northern Kolkata
From the top : Barrackpore railway station Barrackpore Trunk Road Race course Track Ground Mangal Pandey Park
Barrackpore Location in West Bengal, India Show map of West Bengal Barrackpore Barrackpore (India) Show map of India Barrackpore Barrackpore (Asia) Show map of Asia
Coordinates: 22°46′N88°22′E / 22.76°N 88.37°E / 22.76; 88.37
Country	India
State	West Bengal
City	Kolkata
District	North 24 Parganas
Government
• Type	Municipality
• Body	Barrackpore Municipality
•  Chairman	Uttam Das (TMC) [1] [2]
•  MP	Partha Bhowmick (TMC)
•  MLA	Raj Chakraborty (TMC)
•  Police Commissioner	Alok Rajoria, IPS
•  Deputy Commissioner of Police	Srihari Pandey, IPS
Area
• Total	10.61 km2 (4.10 sq mi)
Elevation	15 m (49 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	152,784
• Density	14,000/km2 (37,000/sq mi)
Demonym	Barrakpurians
Languages
• Official	Bengali [3] [4]
• Additional official	English [4]
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	700120, 700121, 700122, 700123
Telephone code	+91 33
Vehicle registration	WB-23/WB-24
Lok Sabha constituency	Barrackpore
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Barrackpore
Police Jurisdiction	Barrackpore Police Commissionerate
Website	www.barrackpore.gov.in

Barrackpore (also known as Barrackpur) is a city and a municipality of northern fringe of Kolkata in North 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is the headquarters of the Barrackpore subdivision. It is a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA). ^[5]

Etymology

The name Barrackpore may have originated from the English word barracks, as it was the site of the first cantonment of the British East India Company. Alternatively, the Ain-i-Akbari suggests that the name comes from "Barbakpur". ^[6] Manasa Vijay, written by Bipradas Pipilai, refers to Talpukur (a place in Barrackpore) as "Charnak".

History

The earliest references to the Barrackpore region are found in the writings of the Greek navigators, geographers, chronicles and historians of the 1st century BC to the 3rd century AD. These authors generally referred to the country of a people variously called the Gangaridai (also Gangaridae or Gandaritai). By the 15th and 16th centuries, Chanak and the other towns in the region had become populous river towns. ^[7] The Statistical Account of Bengal by W.W.Hunter mentions the towns and villages of this subdivision on the banks of the Hooghly river as chief trading and marketing centres: "On The Hugli- Calcutta, the chief seat of commerce in India. Baranagar, Dakhineswar, Agarpara, Panihati, Sukchar- Khardah, Barrackpur, Nawabganj, Ichapore, Shyam Nagar, Naihati and Halisahar contain large bazaars for sale of miscellaneous goods." ^[8]

Under the Mughal Empire, Bengal was divided into Circars, or administrative subunits, each of which was ruled over by a Mahal. The name "Barbuckpur", another name for Barrackpore, is associated with a Mahal in the Ain-e-Akbari . From the 17th century, the area was ruled over by a line of Zamindars based in Nona Chandanpukur, Barrackpore.

The first British barrack or cantonment in India was built in the town in 1772. After the British crown assumed direct control of India, the sprawling Government House and the Government Estate were built in Barrackpore to provide the viceroy with a suburban residence 20 kilometres (12 miles) outside of Calcutta.

Two rebellions against British authority took place in Barrackpore in the 19th century. The first of these was Barrackpore Mutiny of 1824, led by Sepoy Bindee Tiwary. ^[9] In this rebellion, 47th Bengal Native Infantry refused to board boats to cross the sea for various reasons including social taboo "kala pani" to Burma in the First Anglo-Burmese War. The mutiny was suppressed by loyal Indian sepoys under the command of their British officers. ^[10] In 1857, Barrackpore was the scene of an incident that some credit with starting the Indian Rebellion of 1857: an Indian soldier, Mangal Pandey, attacked his British commander, and was subsequently court-martialed. His regiment was disbanded, an action which offended a number of sepoys and is considered to have contributed to the anger that fuelled the rebellion. In order to commemorate his actions, a park named 'Sahid Mangal Pandey Udyan' was opened in the serenity of river Hoogly. The Army cantonment of Barrackpore also houses another significant historical landscape called the RCTC area, now populated by the defence quarters. ^[11]

Zoo

Asia's first zoo was established at Barrackpore. The zoo was built by Lord Wellesley in the 19th century. There is an aviary built in magnificent Gothic architecture.The zoo had animals such as the African donkey, tiger, bear, bison, leopard, mouse deer, kangaroos, monkeys and various species of birds. ^{[12] [13]}

Lord Wellesley felt the need of making a detailed description of the animals in Asia. This was primarily because the Europeans were mostly ignorant when it came to the category of Indian animals. He started working on the first Natural Research Center in Asia, the 'National Heritage of India'. Various animals were required to be collected. Barrackpore Zoo was built to store these animals and birds. Until 1804, ₹2,791 was invested in the cost of maintenance of these animals and birds.

Until 1802 and 1803, then only three zoos were open to the general public around the world. The first in Vienna (1765), the second in Madrid (1775), the third in Paris (1795). Even the 'Zoological Society of London' was not yet formed (to be formed in 1826). London Zoo was still a long way off, having started in 1828, and was still 43 years late for the general public. Subjects do not have access to the royal zoo. It is surprising to think that at such a time sixteen miles north of Calcutta, Barrackpore, the first zoo in India, the first in Asia and probably the fourth in the world, opened to the general public. This revolutionary work in the history of naturalism in the world was done by an enterprising man of the East India Company, the Governor General of India, Lord Richard Wellesley, the first Marquess Wellesley.

Later due to decrease in funds by East India Company to run the zoo, the birds, animal (like elephant and tigers) were distributed into kings of Princely states.

Barrackpore park

Between 1798–1805, Lord Wellesley was the Governor of Kolkata and he created a picturesque garden on the banks of the Ganges in Barrackpore spreading across 1006 bighas of land. This garden is today, called Laat Bagan or Mangal Pandey Park.Right next to this garden, he built a gigantic house which resembled no less than a castle. Later, this house was named Barrackpore Government House. It was called Country House by British. It also had hospital at that time. For transport he made road from Barrackpore to Shyambazar, now known as B.T.Road.

Geography

5km
3miles

River

Hooghly

Shyamnagar

N

North Barrackpur

M

Mohanpur

CT

Telenipara

CT

Babanpur

CT

Jafarpur

CT

Barrackpore

M

Barrackpore
Cantonment

Ichapore Defence Estate

Garulia

M

Palashi

CT

Nagdaha

CT

Palladaha

CT

Panpur

OG

Dogachhia

CT

Noapara

CT

Ichapore

N

Garshyamnagar

CT

Paltapara

CT

Kaugachhi

CT

Jagatdal

N

Bijpur

N

Bhatpara

M

Naihati

M

Balibhara

CT

Jetia

CT

Kanchrapara

M

Halisahar

M

  

Cities and towns in the northern portion of Barrackpore subdivision in North 24 Parganas district
M: municipality/town, CT: census town,
N: neighbourhood, OG: outgrowth
Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly

Barrackpore is bounded by North Barrackpur and Jaffarpur to the north, Mohanpur, Chak Kanthalia, Ruiya and Patulia to the east, Titagarh to the south, and the Hooghly and Barrackpur Cantonment to the west.

5km
3miles

River

Hooghly

Nilganj

N

Karna Madhabpur

N

Nimta

N

South Dumdum

M

North Dumdum

M

Dum Dum

M

Baranagar

M

Belgharia

N

Kamarhati

M

New Barrackpore

M

Agarpara

N

Sodepur

N

Teghari

CT

Chandpur

CT

Talbandha

CT

Muragachha

CT

Bilkanda

CT

Ghola

N

Panihati

M

Khardaha

M

Barrackpore

M

Bandipur

CT

Patulia

CT

Ruiya

CT

Chak Kanthalia

CT

Barrackpore
Cantonment

Titagarh

M

  

Cities and towns in the southern portion of Barrackpore subdivision in North 24 Parganas district
M: municipality/ town, CT: census town,
N: neighbourhood/ administrative location
Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly

Background

Historically, the town was a military and administrative center under British rule and was the scene of several acts of rebellion against Britain during the 19th century. The oldest cantonment in India and the Police Training Academy in West Bengal are both located in Barrackpore. Barrackpore is also the seat for the Sub-Divisional Court of North 24 Parganas District in West Bengal. It was also one of the earliest known places in India, where the sport of cricket was introduced and played during the Colonial era. ^[14]

Location

96% of the population of Barrackpore subdivision (presented in the maps alongside) live in urban areas. In 2011, it had a density of population of 10,967 per km². The subdivision has 16 municipalities and 24 census towns. ^[15]

For most of the cities/ towns information regarding density of population is available in the Infobox. Population data is not available for neighbourhoods. It is available for the entire Municipal area and thereafter ward-wise.

All places marked on the map are linked in the full-screen map.

Barrackpore is bounded by North Barrackpur and Jafarpur on the north, Mohanpur, Chak Kanthalia, Ruiya and Patulia on the east, Titagarh on the south, and the Hooghly and Barrackpur Cantonment on the west. ^{[16] [17]}

Police station

Barrackpore and Titagarh police station under Barrackpore Police Commissionerate has jurisdiction over Barrackpore Municipal area. ^{[18] [19]}

Post Offices

Barrackpore Head Post Office is one of the two Head Post Offices of Barrackpore Division (formerly known as North Presidency Division) of North 24 Parganas district . It is a delivery post office, with PIN 700120. Other post offices with the same PIN are Monirampur, Nayapally, Orderly Bazar, Vivekananda Math, Barrackpore Bazar, Barrackpore Government Housing and Ghoshpara Road. ^[20]

Sewli Telenipara is a delivery branch post office, with PIN 700121 in the Barrackpore Division of North 24 Parganas district. Other post offices with the same PIN are Nilganj Bazaar Sub Post Office, Beraberia BO and Suryapur BO. ^[21]

Anandapuri is a non-delivery sub post office, with PIN 700122 in the Barrackpore Division of North 24 Parganas district. Other post offices having the same PIN are Nonachandanpukur (delivery office) and Jafarpur. ^[22]

Barrackpore RS is a non-delivery sub post office, with PIN 700123 in the Barrackpore Division of North 24 Parganas district. Other post offices having the same PIN are Panpara and Talpukur (delivery office). ^[23]

Climate

Barrackpore has been ranked 30th best “National Clean Air City” under (Category 2 3-10L Population cities) in India. ^[24]

Demographics

Population

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1901	19,307	—
1911	27,605	+43.0%
1921	22,460	−18.6%
1931	14,413	−35.8%
1941	21,773	+51.1%
1951	42,639	+95.8%
1961	63,778	+49.6%
1971	96,889	+51.9%
1981	115,516	+19.2%
1991	142,557	+23.4%
2001	144,391	+1.3%
2011	152,783	+5.8%
2021	198,000	+29.6%
Source: [25]

As per the 2011 Census of India, Barrackpore had a total population of 152,783, of which 78,349 (51%) were males and 74,434 (49%) were females. Population below 6 years was 11,786. The total number of literates in Barrackpore was 125,144 (88.76% of the population over 6 years). ^[26]

As of the 2001 India Census ^[update] , ^[27] Barrackpore had a population of 144,331. Men constitute 53% of the population and women 47%. Barrackpore has an average literacy rate of 81%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. 8% of the population is under 6 years of age.

The majority of the population is Bengali and Hindu.

Languages

Languages spoken in  Barrackpore City (2011) ^[28]

   Bengali (76.24%)

   Hindi (15.60%)

   Urdu (5.08%)

   Telugu (0.94%)

   Odia (0.75%)

  Others (0.86%)

Kolkata Urban Agglomeration

The following Municipalities, Census Towns and other locations in Barrackpore subdivision were part of Kolkata Urban Agglomeration in the 2011 census: Kanchrapara (M), Jetia (CT), Halisahar (M), Balibhara (CT), Naihati (M), Bhatpara (M), Kaugachhi (CT), Garshyamnagar (CT), Garulia (M), Ichhapur Defence Estate (CT), North Barrackpur (M), Barrackpur Cantonment (CB), Barrackpore (M), Jafarpur (CT), Ruiya (CT), Titagarh (M), Khardaha (M), Bandipur (CT), Panihati (M), Muragachha (CT) New Barrackpore (M), Chandpur (CT), Talbandha (CT), Patulia (CT), Kamarhati (M), Baranagar (M), South Dumdum (M), North Dumdum (M), Dum Dum (M), Noapara (CT), Babanpur (CT), Teghari (CT), Nanna (OG), Chakla (OG), Srotribati (OG) and Panpur (OG). ^[29]

Infrastructure

As per the District Census Handbook 2011, Barrackpore Municipal city covered an area of 10.61 km² (4.10 sq mi). Amongst the civic amenities it had 172.63 km of roads and open drains. Amongst the medical facilities It had 40 medicine shops. Amongst the educational facilities It had 62 primary schools, 12 middle schools, 1 secondary school, 11 senior secondary schools and 3 non-formal education centres. Amongst the social, recreational and cultural facilities it had 1 old age home, 6 auditorium/ community halls, 2 public libraries and 6 reading rooms. Amongst the commodities manufactured were cottage industry and confectionery items. It had 11 bank branches. ^[30]

See also Cities and towns in Barrackpore subdivision

Transport

Road

Barrackpore Chiria More is the junction of Barrackpore Trunk Road and Surendranath Banerjee Road

Barrackpore Trunk Road (B.T. Road) (part of both SH 1 and SH 2) connects Barrackpore Chiria More with Shyambazar. Ghoshpara Road connects Barrackpore railway station area with Kanchrapara and goes on to link with the adjacent district of Nadia. Surendranath Banerjee Road connects Manirampore with Barrackpore railway station area via Barrackpore Chiria More. Barrackpore-Barasat Road (part of SH 2) starts at Lalkuthi and goes up to Barasat via Nilganj. Many buses ply along these roads. Barrackpore Rail Overbridge was opened in 2013 at Lalkuthi to make transport-communication easier and smoother. ^[31]

Tala Bridge, Barrackpore Trunk Road ( BT Road) is a four-laned road in Kolkata, India. It connects Shyambazar 5-point Crossing with Barrackpore Chiria More.

Bus routes

• 78 Esplanade — Barrackpore
• 81 Barasat — Fishery Gate
• 81/1 Barasat — Rajchandrapur
• 85 Kanchrapara — Barrackpore Court
• MM5 Habra — Barrackpore Court

WBTC Routes

CSTC Bus

• S11 Esplanade - Nilganj Depot
• S32 Howrah Station — Barrackpore Dhobi Ghat
• S34B Barasat State University — Barrackpore Dhobi Ghat
• S34C Nagerbazar - Barasat State University
• E32 Howrah Station - Nilganj Depot
• AC20 Santragachi - Barrackpore Dhobi Ghat

CTC Bus

• C28 Howrah Station - Barrackpore Dhobi Ghat
• C29 Barasat - Barrackpore Mistry Ghat
• C50 Howrah Station - Shyamnagar
• C51 Naihati — Nabanna
• D24 Barrackpore — Jagulia
• D25 Barrackpore - Ranaghat
• D27 Naihati - Jadavpur
• E59 Naihati - Digha

Bus Routes without Numbers

• Barasat - Kamalpur
• Naihati - Egra
• Salap - Barrackpore
• Howrah Station - Barrackpore
• Dhulagarh- Barrackpore

SBSTC Routes

• Haldia - Barrackpore
• Naihati - Digha
• Kanchrapara - Digha
• Barrackpore - Durgapur
• Kalyani - Digha
• Barrackpore - Digha

Railways

Kolkata new proposed Metro Line 5 (Baranagar - Barrackpore)

Barrackpore has been serviced by rail since 1862. It takes about 35–40 minutes by suburban train to reach Barrackpore railway station from Sealdah Station. The Sealdah-Ranaghat Line runs through this city and connects to Howrah, Kolkata, Budge Budge, Kalyani, Ranaghat, Krishnanagar, Shantipur, Gede, Bandel, Burdwan, and Katwa. It is part of the Kolkata Suburban Railway system. Former Rail Minister Mamata Banerjee announced the extension of Metro Rail project to Barrackpore (Kolkata Metro Line 5) which was later shelved infinitely. The Barrackpore Racecourse railway station was constructed in 1927 for race special train. This railway station is now abandoned and used by the Indian army only.^{[ citation needed ]}

Ferry

There are three Ferry ghats in Barrackpore. Barrackpore Ferry Ghat links to Jugal Adhya Ferry Ghat across the Hooghly River in Serampore. Babaji Ghat at Monirampore links to Chatra Char Poisar Ghat at Serampore and Dui Poisar Ghat links to Sheoraphuli Ghat. ^[32]

Air

Barrackpore Air Force Station is an Indian Air Force base located at Barrackpore. It is one of the oldest stations in the IAF, operating transport units. One of the Mi-17 squadrons is based here. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Dum Dum, Kolkata is the nearest airport.

Education

Kendriya Vidyalaya Barrackpore Army HQ

Notable schools include in Barrackpore include, St. Claret School, St. Augustine's Day School Douglas Memorial Higher Secondary School, Modern English Academy School, Barrackpore Government High School, JDS Public School, Panpur, Adamas International School and Army Public School.

Among the colleges located in Barrackpore are Barrackpore Rastraguru Surendranath College and Mahadevananda Mahavidyalaya. The area also has two engineering colleges, St. Mary's Technical Campus Kolkata being affiliated to AICTE.Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibers, Its only research institute on jute & allied fibres crops in India.

Healthcare

B.N. Bose Subdivisional Hospital, B.T. Road

Medical facilities available in Barrackpore are B.N. Bose Subdivisional Hospital (with 200 beds), Barrackpore Cantonment Hospital (with 48 beds), Barrackpore Police Case Hospital (with 6 beds) and Police Brigade Hospital (with 120 beds). ^[33] Amongst the private medical facilities are Barrackpore Multispeciality Hospital, Sarada Seva Sadan, Panacea Nursing Home, Nehru Memorial Techno Global Hospital, Barrackpore City Hospital, Barrackpore Medical Research Center, Disha Eye Hospital and Disha Cataract and Refractive Surgi Centre, Prova Eye Foundation. ^[34]

Disha Eye Hospitals, Ghosh Para Road

Notable People

• Mangal Pandey
• Surendranath Banerjee
• M. J. Akbar
• Ritwick Chakraborty

See also

• Barrackpore I CD Block
• Barrackpore II CD Block
• Barrackpore, Trinidad and Tobago
• Barrackpore Mutiny of 1824
• Mangal Pandey#Indian Rebellion of 1857

References

1. "- Best Municipality in West Bengal". bkpmuty.in. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
2. Official District Administration site Archived 15 January 2007 at the Wayback Machine
3. "52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India" (PDF). Nclm.nic.in. Ministry of Minority Affairs. p. 85. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
4. "Fact and Figures". Wb.gov.in. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
5. "Base Map of Kolkata Metropolitan area". Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 3 September 2007.
6. "Places of Interest | NORTH 24 PARGANAS DISTRICT". north24parganas.gov.in. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
7. De, Barun. W.B. District Gazetteer, 24 Parganas ed. 1994.
8. Hunter W.W. A Statistical Account of Bengal, London, Trübner & Co.1875-1879
9. Jaideep Mazumder, The First Martyr, OUTLOOK, 25 August 2008, P.20
10. Wolpert, Stanley (2009). A New History of India (8th ed.). New York, NY: Oxford UP. p. 224. ISBN   978-0-19-533756-3.
11. "During the early 1920's RCTC was looking for a suitable land to set up its own race course, should anything go wrong over the". rctconline.com. Archived from the original on 5 July 2008.
12. Karkun, Amitabh. "Asia's first zoo". anandabazar.com (in Bengali). Retrieved 2 April 2023.
13. "Asia's first zoo at Barrackpore was even older to London Zoo! Surprised?". Get Bengal. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
14. "Chronology of Important Sports Events — West Bengal". wbsportsandyouth.gov.in. Kolkata: Government of West Bengal – Department of youth services and sports. 2017. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
15. "District Statistical Handbook". North 24 Parganas 2013, Tables 2.1, 2.2, 2.4b. Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
16. "District Census Handbook North Twenty Four Parganas, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Map of Barrackpore I CD Block on Page 365. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
17. "District Census Handbook North Twenty Four Parganas, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Map of Barrackpore II CD Block on Page 379. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
18. "District Statistical Handbook". North 24 Parganas 2013, Table 2.1. Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
19. "Barrackpore Police Commissionerate". List of Police Stations with telephone numbers. West Bengal Police. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
20. "Barrackpore PIN Code". pincodezip.in. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
21. "Sewli Telenipara PIN Code". pincodezip.in. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
22. "Anandapuri PIN Code". pincodezip.in. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
23. "Barrackpore RS PIN Code". pincodezip.in. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
24. "Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2024" (PDF). Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2024. 7 September 2024.
25. "District Census Handbook North Twenty Four Parganas, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Section II Town Directory, Pages 781-783 Statement I: Growth History, Pages 799-803. Directorate of Census Operations V, West Bengal. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
26. "2011 Census – Primary Census Abstract Data Tables". West Bengal – District-wise. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
27. "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
28. 2011 census data censusindia.gov.in
29. "Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011" (PDF). Constituents of Urban Agglomeration Having Population Above 1 Lakh. Census of India 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
30. "District Census Handbook North Twenty Four Parganas, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Section II Town Directory, Pages 781-783 Statement I: Growth History, Pages 799-803; Statement II: Physical Aspects and Location of Towns, Pages 791-794; Statement III: Civic and other Amenities, Pages 795-796; Statement IV: Medical Facilities 2009, Pages 803-805 Section: Educational, Recreational and Cultural Facilities. Directorate of Census Operations V, West Bengal. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
31. "Barrackpore Bridge".
32. Google maps
33. "Health & Family Welfare Department". Health Statistics. Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
34. "Hospitals in Kolkata". Credihealth. Retrieved 19 February 2019.

External links

Media related to Barrackpore at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website
• Kolkata/Northern fringes travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Barrackpore travel guide from Wikivoyage