Krishnanagar, Nadia

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Krishnanagar | type = city | latd = 23.4 | longd = 88.5
locator_position = right | state_name = West Bengal
district = Nadia
leader_title =
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altitude = 14
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 139,070| population_density =
area_magnitude= sq. km
area_total =
area_telephone =
postal_code =
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sex_ratio =
unlocode =
website = nadia.nic.in/
footnotes =

Krishnanagar is a municipality and administrative headquarters of Nadia district in the Indian state of West Bengal.

Geography

Krishnanagar is located at coord|23.4|N|88.5|E| [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/28/Krishnanagar.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Krishnanagar] ] . It has an average elevation of 14 metres (45 feet). Krishnagar is situated beside the river Jalangi.It is the headquarters of Nadia district. The town is well connected by road to different parts of the state, and also has a railway junction. The major agricultural products of the area include rice, jute, and sugarcane, and industrial activities include sugar milling and ceramic manufacturing.

Located 118 km north from Kolkata, Krishnanagar is on the banks of Jalangi river. It was the residence of Raja Krishnachandra, a great patron of art and culture.

Places of interest

Rajbari: (Royal Palace) with a beautiful Durga temple in the courtyard. Every year, the famous Jhulan Mela is celebrated around the Rajbari in the July / August months and Baro Dol (as it is held 12 days after Dol Purnima) in March / April.

Roman Catholic Church: The church is famous for its architectural and sculptural splendour. There are 27 oil paintings describing the life of Jesus Christ. Of special mention are the wooden sculptures by Italian artists.

Others include the College Bhavan (1846), The Public Library (1856), the Krishnanagar Academy and the Protestant Church. The clay models / figurines crafted here are collectors’ items.

In a locality of Krishnagar called Ghurni, there is a colony of artists who work with clay. These artists produce images of Hindu gods and goddesses for traditional worship throughout the year, as well as clay models of human figures and real life objects. Open studios and shops of the artists comprise an important attraction for tourists. It is said that initially it was Raja Krishnachandra who settled a few families of talented clay artists in the area. Since then the colony has grown and flourished. Some of the artists have recently worked with other media as well.

Halwaikars or moyras (who prepare sweets) of Krishnagar are famous. While they produce all varieties of sweets, there are some which bear the hallmark of the city. 'Sarbhaja' and 'Sarpuria' are inventions that mark the talent of Krishnagar's halwaikars. Specially the shop of "Adhar Chandra Das" is famous for the above mentioned sweet variants.

Krishnagar is an important centre for culture and literature. It boasts literary figures like Bharat Chandra, Dwijendra Lal Roy and Narayan Sanyal among others. There is a vibrant culture of literary exchange among small groups of writers and poets, and there is a strong tradition of stage acting.

Jagaddhatri Puja is celebrated with great grandeur at Krishnagar, when lightings from the town of Chandannagar are brought.

The city is also very rich in education. Krishnagar Collegiate School, Holy Family and Government Girls' are some of the few schools situated here. Besides there are many colleges namely Krishnagar Government College, Dwijendralal College etc.

A lot many expertised gems are to be found here in this heretage city.

Economic activity

Krishnanagar is an agricultural distribution centre. The economy is primarily based on small to medium scale agro-industries and trade.

The surrounding region produces rice, jute, ceramics, mangoes, cattle, poultry and fish. There is unrealized demand for building large food storage, refrigeration and processing plants. [cite web | url=http://www.freshplaza.com/print.asp? | title=Mangoes to be costlier this summer | year=2007 | publisher=Fresh Plaza | accessdate=2007-04-28] Live cattle is smuggled across the nearby border to Bangladesh. There are a few sugar mills.

Despite the economic boom in India in the 21st century, so far there have been no major industrial investment proposals for the town.

Politics

Krishnanagar is recorded in the election records by its old spelling Krishnagar, with two seats East and West.

In the 2004 general elections, Jyotirmoyee Sikdar of CPI(M) won in the Krishnagar(Lok Sabha constituency).

Krishnagar Municipality

Krishnagar Municipality is won by INC.Chair Man: Kajal Biswas.Total councilor: 22
INC: 19Nirdal: 3
CPI(M): 0

Krishnagar East

In the 2006 state assembly elections, Subinay Ghosh of CPI(M) won the Krishnagar East seat defeating his nearest rival Dr. Ramendranath Sarkar of AITC. Shibdas Mukherjee, representing AITC in 2001 and INC in 1996 and 1991, defeated Radhanath Biswas of CPI(M) in 2001 and 1996, and Sadhan Chattopadhyay of CPI(M) in 1991. Sadhan Chattopadhyay of CPI(M) defeated Kashikanta Maitra of JNP in 1982. Kashikanta Maitra of JNP defeated Sadhan Chattopadhyay of CPI(M) in 1977. [cite web | url = http://eci.gov.in/electionanalysis/AE/S25/partycomp75.htm
title = 75 - Krishnagar East Assembly Constituency | accessdate = 2007-10-08 | last = | first = | work = West Bengal | publisher = Election Commission of India ]

Krishnagar West

In the 2006 state assembly elections, Asoke Banerjee of CPI(M) won the Krishnagar West assembly seat defeating his nearest rival Ujjal Biswas of AITC. Sunil Kumar Ghosh of CPI(M) defeated Ujjal Biswas of AITC in 2001, Biswarup Mukherjee of INC in 1996 and Ujjal Biswas of INC in 1991. Amritendu Mukherjee of CPI(M) defeated Gouri Sankar Dutta of INC in 1987 and 1982, and Mohadeb Bhattacharya of JNP in 1977. [cite web | url = http://eci.gov.in/electionanalysis/AE/S25/partycomp76.htm
title = 76 - Krishnagar West Assembly Constituency | accessdate = 2007-10-08 | last = | first = | work = West Bengal | publisher = Election Commission of India ]

References

External links

* [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9046253/Krishnanagar Krishnanagar at Encyclopædia Britannica]
* [http://www.wb.nic.in/dist/nadia.html#krishna Krishnanagar at Nadia district gov't website]

ee also

* Krishnagar (Lok Sabha constituency)