Durgapur

Durgapur is a city in the Bardhaman District, in the state of West Bengal, India. Durgapur is the third largest city in West Bengal in terms of both area (154.20 km2 / 59.54 sq. miles) and population (5,66,937) (2011 census & excluding the urban agglomeration). Durgapur is the second planned city of India after Chandigarh and has the only operational dry (inland) port in Eastern India. It is one of the six Municipal Corporations in West Bengal.

History

Geography

Durgapur is located at 23°29′N 87°19′E / 23.48°N 87.32°E / 23.48; 87.32. It has an average elevation of 65 metres (213 ft).

Durgapur is in the Bardhaman District of West Bengal, on the bank of the Damodar River, just before it enters the alluvial plains of Bengal. The topography is undulating. The coal-bearing area of the Raniganj coalfields lies just beyond Durgapur; some parts intrude into the area. The area was deeply forested till recent times, and some streaks of the original Sal and eucalyptus forests can still be seen.

Durgapur subdivision is surrounded by Asansol subdivision on the west, Bardhaman Sadar North subdivision on the east, Bankura district across the Damodar in the south, and Birbhum district across the Ajay River to the north.

Places of interest

• City Centre - This is the central business hub of the city, and is the costliest area of the city.
• Junction Mall - Located in City Centre. Spread over 4,00,000 sq ft, on six floors over a total land area of 2.8 acres. Developed by the Shrachi group and designed by the renowned architect, Stephen Coates of aCTa International, Singapore, this mall is tagged as the biggest shopping destination in Durgapur. The mall has many high end retail stores like Pantaloons, Shopper's Stop, Max Lifestyle, Reliance Footprint, American Tourister, Sonodyne, Peter England, Story, Canon, Louis Philippe, Van Heusen, Allen Solly, Wrangler, Nike, Lee, Pepe, Levis, Provogue, Raymond, Turtle, Fabindia, Reebok, Adidas, Woodland, Café Coffee Day, United Colors Of Benneton, Converse, VIP, The Mobile Store, Bioscope (3 screens) (capacity - 800), KFC, Pizza Hut, Mc Donald's, Mainland China, Tamara, Spencer's Hyper(the first Spencer's Hyper mart in whole West Bengal) and many other popular brands. The mall houses cafes, gaming zones, branded restaurants and a host of important facilities.
• Mohan Kumar Mangalam Park - Located at Priyadarshini Indira Ave, B-Zone, Steel Township. Park area is 80 acres. Named after Late Mohan Kumar Mangalam (the first Steel Minister of India). Exalt Services manages the park. The park has a large artificial lake spread over an area of 10 acres and greenery all around.
• Fast food chains - KFC (Junction Mall, City Centre), Domino's (Beside Junction Mall, City Centre), Pizza Hut (Junction Mall, City Centre), Subway (Recol Park, City Centre), Mc Donald's (Junction Mall, City Centre).
• Multiplexes - 1. Carnival Cinemas (3 screens) (capacity - 999 seats) (Dreamplex Mall, City Centre). 2. Bioscope (3 screens) (capacity - 800) (Junction Mall, City Centre). 3. Arti Cinemas (3 screens) (Fortune Plaza, Benachity).
• Benachity Bazar- This is the largest shopping market place in Durgapur. Thousands of people flock the streets of this widely popular market area especially during the Puja season marketing.
• Fortune Plaza - A shopping mall located in Benachity. It has Reliance Digital, Reliance Trend, Arti Cinema (Multiplex). This multiplex has 3D screen facility.

• Durgapur Barrage – A dam and a tourist spot on river Damodar.
• Durgapur Haat is an excellent Handicrafts Center, managed by the Government of West Bengal. It is located near Palashdiha, City Center, very close to the National Highway -2. Through the year, at various times, artisans and craftsmen from all over Bengal come here for exhibition and sale of their masterpieces. The place has a soothing beauty and is very well-maintained.
• Bhabani Pathak’s Tilla (Durgapur Science and Energy Park) – is located near the City Centre of Durgapur. Earlier there was a tunnel system from here to the Damodar River, but now that is closed from public view. Now, people can visit only the Tilla and the Science park. The park which was built by the WEBREDA is now closed.
• Ichhai Ghosh's Deul - Remains of an age old fort, now mostly in ruins. The brick built temple of Ichhai Ghosh is more than 500 years old, still stands erect against the backdrop of Garh jungle. Located on the bank of river Ajay, adjacent to it is the Shyamarupa temple.
• Rahreswar Shib Mandir – Located 3 km from the NH-2 Muchipara crossing on the Muchipara-Shibpur Road in the Arrah village opposite the NSHM Knowledge Campus, this 11th century Shiva temple is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. It is located in the Gopalpur Gram Panchayet of Kanksa block. Thousands of people rush to this temple at the Maha Shivaratri.
• Santiniketan – location of Visva Bharati, established by Rabindranath Tagore. It is about 60 km away from Durgapur.
• Bishnupur – the famous terracotta temple town and home to major art and crafts. It is about 70 km away from Durgapur. The Bankura horse, symbol of Indian handicrafts is produced at Panchmura, near Bishnupur. It is also the home of the Baluchari sari, originally woven with motifs based on stories from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, but now modernised.
• Jaydev Kenduli – temple and birthplace of Sanskrit poet Joydeb, on the banks of the Ajay River. This place is about 30 km away from Durgapur. On the occasion of Makar Sankranti (Winter Solstice), a fair is organised here. Bauls, religious singers with a detached philosophy and spontaneity of their own, participates in this fair, which is held in mid January every year.
• Randiha – The Anderson Weir (named after John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley, who inaugurated it), a diversion constructed in 1932, 19 km downstream of Durgapur Barrage on river Damodar is a wonderful serene tourist spot located in the Chaktentul Gram Panchayet in Galsi I block. Across the river lies Sonamukhi.

Non-governmental and charity organisations

• Third Eye Durgapur is Durgapur's first photography club and was established with an objective to promote photography in the steel city. Renowned photographer and travel writer Mr. Abhishek Roy is the founder and the present director of this club.
• Swami Vivekananda Vani Prachar Samity: Influenced by the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, few like minded people of Durgapur Steel Township.Many discourses and seminars are held.
• Bharat Sevashram Sangha is a charitable organisation, having its roots in the ideals of Swami Pranavanandaji Maharaj. It organises health camps, disaster reliefs, vocational trainings, and other activities.
• Art of Living centre is in the town.
• Rarh Bangla katha sahitya Akademi (RBKA) is an important literary organisation.
• Vivekananda Academic Aid Fund established to help the cause of talented but needy students inspired by the doctrine of selfess service of Swami Vivekananda.Mr.Jiban Banerjee,lecturer of Statistics at Bidhan Chandra Institution,Durgapur, and at Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira,kolkata is the current secretary of the organisation.
• Rotary Clubs There are 4 Rotary Clubs in town serving the poor and weaker section of the society.

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