Banalakshmi

Banalakshmi (also written as banalakkhi) is a small natural resort in the Birbhum district of West Bengal and is very close to Santiniketan , the education centre set up by Rabindranath Tagore the Nobel laureate poet and educationist. It is connected by a highway to Ilambazar and Bolpur.

History

The word 'banalakshmi' literally means the richness(lakshmi) of forest(bana) (nature in general).It is the brainchild of Narayan Sanyal who first conceived the idea of a natural paradise on barren lands of Birbhum in 1961. The idea was that it would evolve like a ecosphere- bettering the life of people by optimum utilization of natural resources. Since its inception, when it was completely devoid of any vegetation, it has been continuously growing and today it is a large green reserve and a centre for rural development.

Vegetation

It is spread over an estimated area of 40 bigha (around 13 acres). It has vegetation grown on laterite soil which is the abundand red soil variety found in Birbhum. It has large forested tracts, orchards of various fruits -like mango and guava- and multiple crop cultivation the year round.The place is admirable for its scenic beauty. The road leading to banalakshmi is also lined by dense to sporadic occurrence of tropical decidous trees like sal and eucalyptus.

Economy

It is a center of a small cottage industry.Various products like honey, squash and handicrafts are prepared and sold. It is also an attractive tourist destination in the district.

ee also

Birbhum District