Alipore

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name=Alipre
latd = 22.53 | longd= 88.33
state_name=West Bengal
district=South 24 Parganas
leader_title=
leader_name=
altitude= 14
population_as_of = | population_total = | population_density =
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Alipore is headquarters of South 24 Parganas district and a neighbourhood in Kolkata in the Indian state of West Bengal.

Alipore is the poshest and costliest locality in KolkataFact|date=February 2007. It is flanked by the Tolly Nullah to the north, Bhowanipore to the east, the Diamond Harbour Road to the west and Budge Budge section of the Sealdah South section railway line to the south.

History

One of the most historical and eventful localities of the city of Kolkata, Alipore is nearly as old as the city itself.

It was in the middle parts of the 18th century that the British began exploring the areas outside their settlements of Fort William and the Dalhousie Square area beyond the Race Course. The Belvedere Estate was one of the oldest establishments in Alipore. The then Governor General Warren Hastings built it for himself and it became the Governor's residence until the Government House came up later. It was about this period of time that Alipore started attracting more and more British settlers who built their huge mansions and bungalows with gardens and Alipore came to be more popular.

In 1820, William Carey built the Agri Horticultural Gardens behind the Belvedere Estate and added to the charm of the locality. Also, the Alipore Zoological Gardens was thrown open to the public in 1875.

The locality was also witness to the Alipore bomb case and a spectator to the freedom struggle of the Indian revolutionaries.

Post independence of India, Alipore became popular among the business elite of the city and a large number of them set up home. The Pauls, the Birlas, the Goenkas, the Dalmiyas - all added weight to the place.

In 1952, the Imperial Library (now renamed the National Library) shifted to its present premises on Belvedere Estate. The Alipore Mint was also inaugurated the same year.

By the late eighties and nineties other places like Salt Lake and Ballygunge tried to compete with Alipore as the poshest areas of Calcutta.

Geography

Alipore is located at coord|22.53|N|88.33|E| [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/28/Alipore.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Alipore] ] . It has an average elevation of 14 metres (46 feet).

Transport

Alipore is connected to all parts of the city by extensive bus services.

Alipore is served by the Majherhat and New Alipore railway stations on the Budge Budge section of Kolkata Suburban Railway.

The Jatin Das Park station of the Kolkata Metro is the nearest to Alipore.

Alipore is also served by the tram services of the Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC).

Medical facilities

* Woodland's Nursing Home, Alipore Road
* Calcutta Hospital, Diamond Harbour Road
* B.M.Birla Heart Research Institute, Sterndale Road
* [http://www.kotharimedical.com/ Kothari's Medical Centre] , Sterndale Road
* Command Hospital, Alipore Road
* [http://www.bppoddarhospital.net/ B. P. Poddar Hospital] , Humayun Kabir Sarani (Near Durgapur Bridge)

Educational institutions

* Army institute of management , Kolkata
* Kolkata University, Alipore Campus
* Women's Law College, Judges Court Road
* Viharilal College of Home Science, Judges Court Road
* Hastings house (B.Ed. college)
* Kendriya Vidyalaya Command Hospital

Places of interest

* National Library, Belvedere Road
* Alipore Zoological Gardens, Belvedere Road
* National Test House, Judges Court Road
* Alipore Metorological Office, Judges Court Road
* Alipore Presidency Jail, Judges Court Road
* Symantak Nath's House [Part of Alipore Zoo]
* Bhavani Bhavan, Belvedere Road
* Kolkata Mint, Diamond Harbour Road
* Syamantak Nath's house [part of Alipore Zoo]
* Agri Horticultural Gardens, Alipore Road
* Royal Meat, Judges Court Road
* The Enclave, Alipore Road
* HOLLYWOOD BOWL
* Chicken Cottage on Bahhar Road
* The house of Sabbir Layr
* the Akudi household in Daji Street

Politics

In 2006 and 2001 elections to the state assembly, Tapas Paul of AITC defeating his nearest rivals Biplab Chatterjee and Mira Bhowmick respectively, both of CPI(M). Sougata Roy of INC defeated Rathindranath Roy Choudhury of CPI(M) in 1996, Tarhin Roy Choudhury of CPI(M) in 1991, Ashoke Bose of CPI(M) in 1987. Anup Kumar Chandra of INC defeated Ashok Kumar Bose of CPI(M) in 1982. Ashoke Kumar Bose of CPI(M) defeated Salai Baran Chatterjee of Janata Party in 1977. [cite web | url = http://www.eci.gov.in/electionanalysis/AE/S25/partycomp148.htm
title = 148 – Alipore Assembly Constituency
accessdate = 2008-01-30 | last = | first = | work = Partywise comparison since 1977 | publisher = Election Commission of India]

Alipore is part of Calcutta South (Lok Sabha constituency) [cite web | url = http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S25/WB_ACPC.pdf | title = General election to the Legislative Assembly, 2001 – List of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies | accessdate = 2007-10-08 | last = | first = | work = West Bengal | publisher = Election Commission of India]

External links

* [http://www.nlindia.org/index2.html Official site of the National Library]
* [http://www.tajhotels.com/Luxury/TAJ%20BENGAL,KOLKATA/default.htm Taj Bengal Hotel]
* [http://www.calstreet.com/ Kolkata(Calcutta) Portal]

References

ee also