Pathra, Paschim Medinipur

Not to be confused with Pathra.

Pathra
Village
Pathra Location in West Bengal, India Show map of West Bengal Pathra Pathra (India) Show map of India
Coordinates: 22°24′53″N87°25′09″E / 22.4146°N 87.4193°E / 22.4146; 87.4193 Coordinates: 22°24′53″N87°25′09″E / 22.4146°N 87.4193°E / 22.4146; 87.4193
Country	India
State	West Bengal
District	Paschim Medinipur
Population  (2011)
• Total	3,356
Languages*
• Official	Bengali, Santali, English
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	721135
Telephone/STD code	03221
Lok Sabha constituency	Medinipur
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Kharagur
Website	paschimmedinipur.gov.in

Pathra is a village and a gram panchayat in the Midnapore Sadar CD block in the Medinipur Sadar subdivision of the Paschim Medinipur district in the state of West Bengal, India.

Geography

[Interactive fullscreen map]

Cities and towns in Medinpur Sadar subdivision of Paschim Medinipur district
M: municipal city/ town, CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, H: historical/ religious centre, F: facilities
Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly

Location

Pathra is located at 22°24′53″N87°25′09″E / 22.4146°N 87.4193°E / 22.4146; 87.4193 .

Area overview

Paschim Medinipur district (before separation of Jhargram) had a total forest area of 1,700 km², accounting for 14.31% of the total forested area of the state. It is obvious from the map of the Midnapore Sadar subdivision, placed alongside, is that there are large stretches of forests in the subdivision. The soil is predominantly lateritic. ^[1] Around 30% of the population of the district resides in this subdivision. 13.95% of the population lives in urban areas and 86.05% lives in the rural areas. ^[2]

Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.

Demographics

According to the 2011 Census of India, Pathra had a total population of 3,356, of which 1,726 (51%) were males and 1,639 (49%) were females. There were 495 persons in the age range of 0–6 years. The total number of literate persons in Pathra was 1,921 (67.14% of the population over 6 years). ^[3]

.*For language details see Midnapore Sadar (community development block)#Language and religion

Culture

Pathra is a village of temples with hundreds of small temples. Unfortunately, many of the temples are in bad shape because of lack of preservation, damage by the Kangsabati and vandalizing by the locals. There are 34 temples with “enriched terracotta artwork”. Those deserving a special mention are the naba-ratna temple, kachari mahal, rasmancha, dalan of Kalachand, Durgeswar temple and Pancha Shiva temple. ^[4]

Most of the temples were built by the Ghosal (later changed to Majumdar) and Banerjee families. The decline started when the rich families shifted base. However, with the persistent efforts of a small group of enthusiasts, Pathra has turned the tide. The Archaeological Survey of India has taken charge of 28 temples and have repaired 18 temples. Pathra Archeological Preservation Committee, a non-government organization, also looks after the structures. ^[5]

A major attraction is the 250-year old, 40 feet high Nava-ratna temple. There is a small at-chala temple in the same compound. Located nearby are three at-chalas and a pancha-ratna temple. Behind the cluster is a Durga dalan. Some distance away is another group of pancha-ratna temples. The Sitala temple (also known as Burimar than) is also 40 feet high. Other important temples are Sarbamangala, Kalachand, Das Mahavidya and Hansa. Therasmancha built in 1832 has nine small towers. ^[5]

David J. McCutchion mentions a ruined temple at Pathra as a char-chala on an elongated base, the nava-ratna as having smooth rekha turrets, the Kalachand temple as a flat roofed temple with a porch on five arches, and the Sitala temple as having a shallow porch projection. ^[6]

The Dharmaraj temple, the temples of the Bandopadhyay family, the Sitala temple and the Nava-ratna complex, all four at Pathra are Monuments of National Importance in West Bengal. ^[7]

Pathra picture gallery

• 
  Nava-ratna temple of Majumdar family
• 
  Nava-ratna temple
• 
  Pancha-ratna Shiva temple of Banerjee family
• 
  Pancha-ratna Shiva temple
• 
  Pancha-ratna Dharmaraj temple
• 
  Pancha-ratna Dharmaraj temple
• 
  Sitala temple

References

1. "District Human Development Report Paschim Medinipur, 2011". page 7, 27. Department of Planning and Statistics, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
2. "District Statistical Handbook Paschim Medinipur, 2013". Table 2.2, 2.4 (a). Department of Planning and Statistics. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
3. "CD block Wise Primary Census Abstract Data(PCA)". West Bengal – District-wise CD blocks. Registrar General and Census, India. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
4. "Pathra". Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
5. Mondal, Subhadip. "Mondirmoy Pathra". Egiye Bangla, official portal of Paschim Medinipur district administration. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
6. McCutchion, David J., Late Mediaeval Temples of Bengal, first published 1972, reprinted 2017, pages 32, 53, 62, 68. The Asiatic Society, Kolkata, ISBN   978-93-81574-65-2
7. "List of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains of West Bengal - Archaeological Survey of India". Item no. 57. ASI. Retrieved 7 August 2020.