Nabadwip

Nabadwip
—  city  —
Nabadwip Location of Nabadwip in West Bengal and India
Coordinates	23°25′N 88°22′E / 23.42°N 88.37°E / 23.42; 88.37Coordinates: 23°25′N 88°22′E / 23.42°N 88.37°E / 23.42; 88.37
Country	India
State	West Bengal
District(s)	Nadia
Parliamentary constituency	Nabadwip
Assembly constituency	Nabadwip
Population	175,474 (2011[update])
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	• 14 metres (46 ft)
Codes • Pincode • 741302 • Telephone • +03472
Website	nadia.nic.in/

Nabadwip (Bengali: নবদ্বীপ) (also Navadwip, Navadvipa or Nabadwipdham) is a city and a municipality in Nadia district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Its name means "9 islands" in the Bengali language. The islands are named Antardwip , Simantadwip, Rudradwip, Madhyadwip, Godrumdwip, Ritudwip, Jahnudwip, Modadrumdwip, and Koladwip. It is a birth place of many lilas (or "pastimes of God" in Hinduism) of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Many pilgrims from origins worldwide adhering to Gaudiya Vaishnavism come to Nabadwip every year on pilgrimage and for festivals like Sri Nabadwip-mandala Parikrama and holidays like Dol jatra,Rash purnima Gaura Purnima.^[1]

History

Nabadwip was the capital of Ballal Sen and later Lakshman Sen, the famous rulers of the Sena Empire, who ruled from 1159 to 1206.^[2] In 1202, Nabadwip was captured by Bakhtiyar Khilji. This victory paved the way for Muslim rule in Bengal.^[3] Nabadwip and Nadia were great centres of learning and intellectual prowess. For five centuries, it was referred to as “Oxford of Bengal”.^[4] Chaitanyadeb (1486–1533) was born at Nabadwip Prachin Mayapur, not Mayapur. The Holy Birth Place of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is known as "Gour Gangar Desh" as well as "Oxford of Bengal". The main festival of Nabadwip is "RASH UTSAV". It is also known as "Pat Purnima" or "Rash Kali Puja" or "Shakta Rash". The varieties of Baishnaba, Shakta, Saiba Pratima (Idols) attracts every one. The Rash Utsav is like national festival of the inhabitants of Nabadwip.

Geography

Nabadwip is located at 23°25′N 88°22′E / 23.42°N 88.37°E / 23.42; 88.37.^[5] It has an average elevation of 14 m (46 ft). It is located at the confluence of Bhagirathi and Jalangi rivers.^[6] The Bhagirathi has shifted course. Earlier, Nabadwip was on its east bank with the rest of Nadia district, but now it is on its west bank.

Demographics

In the 2011 census, Nabadwip Urban Agglomeration had a population of 175,474, out of which 90,810 were males and 84,664 were females. The 0-6 years population was 13,049. Effective literacy rate for the 7+ population was 84.57 per cent.^[7]

See also: List of cities in West Bengal

As of 2001^[update] India census,^[8] Nabadwip had a population of 115,036. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Nabadwip has an average literacy rate of 75%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 80%, and female literacy is 70%. In Nabadwip, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Train Services

It has 3 Railway Stations as Nabadwip Dham (NDAE), Bishnupriya (VSPR) of Howrah Division and Nabadwip Ghat (NDF) of Sealdah Division . Nabadwip Dham is 65 km from Bandel,105 km from Howrah and 112 km from Sealdah on the Bandel-Katwa-Azimganj (B.A.K Loop Line) section of Eastern Railway.^[9] It has very good railway communication with North Bengal,Assam,Bihar,Orissa and Kolkata.Important express trains which has stoppage at Nabadwip Dham are
15643 UP/15644 DN Puri-Kamakhya Express
15959 UP/15960 DN Howrah-Tinsukia-Dibrugarh Kamrup Express
13141 UP/13142 DN Sealdah-New Alipurduar/Haldibari Teesta Torsha Express
13164 UP/13165 DN Sealdah-Barauni-Katihar-Saharsha Hatey Bazare Express
13145 UP/13146 DN Sealdah-Radhikapur Radhikapur Express
13011 UP/13012 DN Howrah Maldah Intercity Express
13421 UP/13422 DN Nabadwip Dham- New Frakka Express
15721 UP/15722 DN New Jalpaiguri-Digha Paharia Express
12517 UP/12518 DN Kolkata Guwahati Garib Rath Express.

Bus Services

Nabadwip- Burdwan Via Nadanghat,Kusumgram
Nabadwip- Benachiti Via Nadanghat,Kusumgram,Burdwan,panagarh
Nabadwip- Asansol Via Nadanghat,Kusumgram,Burdwan,Durgapur
Nabadwip- Burnpur Via Nadanghat,Kusumgram,Burdwan,Durgapur,Asansol
Nabadwip- Bankura Via Nadanghat,Kusumgram,Burdwan,Durgapur
Nabadwip- Kalna Via Samudragarh
Nabadwip- Tarapith Via Katwa
Nabadwip- Tarakeswar Via Memari
Nabadwip- Rampurhat Via Katwa
Nabadwip- Basirhat Via Ranaghat,Habra
Nabadwip- Balurghat Via Berhampur,Maldah
Nabadwip- Siliguri Via Berhampur,Maldah
Nabadwip- Barasat Via Ranaghat
Nabadwip- Kalyani Via Ranaghat
Nabadwip- Memari Via Kalna
Nabadwip- Pandua Via Kalna
Nabadwip- Dinhata Via Berhampur,Maldah,Coochbehar
Nabadwip- Gangarampur Via Berhampur,Maldah
Nabadwip- Barakar Via Nadanghat,Kusumgram,Burdwan,Durgapur,Asansol
Nabadwip- Bajitpur Via Nadanghat,Kusumgram,Burdwan,Durgapur
Krishnanagar- Suri via Nabadwip,Katwa
Karimpur- Burdwan via Krishnagar,Nabadwip
Santipur- Benachiti via Nabadwip,Burdwan
Maldah- Burdwan via Krishnagar,Nabadwip,Berhampur
Krishnanagar- Puruliya via Nabadwip,Burdwan,Durgapur,Bankura
Krishnanagar- Bolpur via Nabadwip,Katwa
Ranaghat- Benachiti via Santipur,Krishnanagar,Nabadwip,Burdwan

References

1. ^ Ro'sel, J.A. (1990). The Evolution And Organization Of Pilgrimage To Jagannstha At Purt. 
2. ^ Official district website
3. ^ Tourist Department
4. ^ Cotton, H.E.A., Calcutta Old and New, 1909/1980, p1, General Printers and Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
5. ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Nabadwip
6. ^ Rail India
7. ^ "Urban Agglomerations/Cities having population 1 lakh and above". Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011. http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_3_PR_UA_Citiees_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf. Retrieved 2011-10-21. 
8. ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01. 
9. ^ Eastern Railway time table.

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