Bankura district

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Bankura
map_caption = Map of West Bengal showing Bankura district
type = district
hq = Bankura
latd=23 |latm=14 |lats=04 | longd=87 |longm=04 |longs=21
state_name = West Bengal
abbreviation = IN-WB-BN
leader_title_1 = District Magistrate
leader_name_1 = Surendra Gupta
area_total= 6882
population_total = 3191822
population_as_of = 2001
population_density = 464
sex_ratio = 1.050
website = bankura.gov.in/
footnotes=

Bankura ( _bn. বাঁকুড়া) is one of the six districts of Bardhaman division in West Bengal. It is the fourth largest district by area, thirteenth most populous district and eighteenth most densely populated district in the state. It borders Bardhaman district to the north; Bardhaman and Hoogly districts to the east; Paschim Medinipur district to the south and Purulia district to the west.

Centre of the famous Malla kingdom of western Bengal, Bankura and its surrounding regions are identified with its historical and cultural significance for the later period of Middle Ages. Vaishnavism, which gained the status of state religion of the Malla kingdom in seventeenth century A.D., shaped the culture of the region. The Malla Kingdom was annexed by British East India Company in 1765 and the modern Bankura district took its form in 1881 and was named after it's headquarter.

Etymology

The exact origin of the word "Bankura" is obscure, though it is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "Banka" (zigzag) and Kol-Mundari word "Rah" or "Orah" (habitation). [ [http://www.bankura.org/site/History.htm WELCOME TO Historical Details of Bankura ] ]

Other accounts speculate the name derived from Bankura Roy, a local god. Some accounts claim that the word may derive from the name of Prince Bankura, the son of King Hambir the Valiant.

Divisions

The district comprises 3 sub-divisions, which are further divided into 22 blocks. Bankura sub-division comprises 8 blocks, Bankura I, Bankura II, Onda, Barjora, Chhatna, Saltora, Gangajal Ghati and Mejhia.Bishnupur sub-division comprises 6 blocks, Bishnupur, Jaypur, Kotalpur, Indus, Patrasayar and Indpur. Khatra sub-division comprises 8 blocks, Indpur, Khatra, Hirbundh. Raipur, Sarenga, Ranibundh, Taldangra and Simlapal. The district has 22 police stations, 190 gram Panchayats and 5187 villages.

External links

* [http://www.bankurachristiancollege.in Bankura Christian College]
* [http://bankura.nic.in Bankura District official website]
* [http://www.floraofbankura.org Upcoming website with pictorial database on plants growing in Bankura district]

References

Bankura District