Behala
Behala is a locality of South West Kolkata, in the Indian state of West Bengal. Behala is a part of Kolkata Municipal Corporation area.[4] It is broadly spread across Ward Nos. 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131 and 132 of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and is divided into two Vidhan Sabha constituencies: Behala Paschim and Behala Purba.[5] Behala, Parnasree, Thakurpukur, Haridevpur and Sarsuna police stations serve this area under the South West Division of Kolkata Police also known as Behala Division (The division comprises Behala, Sarsuna, Haridevpur, Thakurpukur, Parnasree and Taratola).[6]
Behala | |
|---|---|
Neighbourhood in Kolkata (Calcutta) | |
        1:Behala Tram Depot,D.H Road 2:Barisha Silpara D.H Road 3:Barisha Sakherbazar Crossing 4:Thakurpukur,D.H Road 5:Sarsuna Satellite Township 6:Atchala Bari,Barisha Sabarna para 7:James Long Sarani 8: Parnasree Pally Lake | |
  Behala Location in Kolkata | |
| Coordinates: 22.4981°N 88.3108°E | |
| Country | India |
| State | West Bengal |
| City | Kolkata |
| District | Kolkata[1][2][3] |
| Metro Station | Taratala, Sakherbazar, Behala Chowrasta, Behala Bazar, Thakurpukur |
| Municipal Corporation | Kolkata Municipal Corporation |
| KMC wards | 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131 and 132 |
| Elevation | 36 ft (11 m) |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN codes | 700034(Behala), 700060(Parnasree Pally), 700061(Dakshin Behala), 700061(Sarsuna), 700008(Barisha), 700063(Thakurpukur), 700038(Sahapur), 700082(Haridevpur_partially) |
| Area code | +91 33 |
| Lok Sabha constituency | Kolkata Dakshin |
| Vidhan Sabha constituency | Behala Paschim and Behala Purba |
Behala is one of the oldest residential areas of the city. The Sabarna Roy Choudhury's, one of the oldest zamindar families of western Bengal and the trustee of Kalighat Kali Temple lives here.[7] It is also home to Sourav Ganguly,[8] former Indian national cricket captain and Sovan Chatterjee,[9] the former Mayor of Kolkata.
The Durga Puja celebration of Sabarna Roy Choudhury family at Barisha was launched in 1610 by Laksmikanta Majumdar, making it the second oldest family Durga Puja in western Bengal.[10] Today Durga Puja at Behala is marked by exotic theme-based sarbojanin pujas. Barisha Chandi Mela is a 10-day fair held every year in November–December since 1792.
Etymology
The word Behala is commonly believed to have its root in Behula, the name of the female protagonist of Manasamangalkavya.[11] Alternatively, the name may have been derived from the Bengali term Bahulapur ("land of many rivers" or "dark city").[11] "Bahula" is also an epithet of the goddesses Chandi and Kali.[11] Rev. James Long, who used to live in this parts, described Behala as Byala in one of his early writings.[11] It is also known that Behala comprised many small villages before the whole place was urbanised and each village here had a suffix -behala with its name i.e. Bazarbehala, Tamtelbehala, Bnorshebehala (Barisha), Sorshunnobehala (Sarsuna) etc.[11] Names like Rajarbaganbehala, Sahapurbehala, Naskarpurbehala and Santoshbatibehala are also found in the old proceedings of South Suburban Municipality.[11]
History
Modern day
Behala encompasses one of the largest suburban agglomerations of the city of Kolkata. It consists of many small localities like Sahapur, New Alipore (partially), Parnasree Pally, Behala Bazaar, Manton, Behala Chowrasta (Barisha), Muchipara, Sakherbazaar, Silpara, Bakultala, Shakuntala Park, Kadamtala, Thakurpukur, Haridevpur, Dakshin Behala, Sarsuna and Joka. Huge growth of population especially since the early eighties resulted in the area being on the radar of both the daily wage earners, common populace and educated classes. Due to this enormous and unplanned growth, the traffic is by and large dependent on the arterial Diamond Harbour Road, in spite of the availability of the parallel James Long Sarani (Commonly known as Rail Line since the old and now defunct Kalighat Falta Railway ran here) as an option. During the construction the Taratala flyover, a large portion of traffic flowed through James Long Sarani to avoid construction activity, causing development of other areas of Behala.[12]
Encroachments by street-hawkers of the sidewalks on both sides of the busy Diamond Harbour Road is a major problem. Areas like Behala Bazar, Behala Chowrasta and Behala Sakherbazaar have been added to the 'Calcutta Green Zone' and traffic moves at a snail's pace during the peak office hours.
Previously there were tram lines along the middle of Diamond Harbour Road from Joka to Mominpur and often people used the trams to go to Esplanade. The service on this stretch has been withdrawn now. Mominpur to Behala Bazaar service was closed in 2006 due to the Taratala flyover.[13] Behala Bazaar to Joka service was also closed in 2011 due to the elevated metro railway construction on the Diamond Harbour road, which will run from Joka to Esplanade (Kolkata Metro Line 3).[14]
SL Dhanuka Girls' hostel that has come up at Behala on Diamond Harbour Road, inaugurated on 24 March 2017 by the Chief minister of Bengal Mamata Banerjee.[15]
Geography
Police district
The localities of behala area are served by South West Division (Behala Division) of Kolkata Police. It includes Taratala Police station, Behala Police station, Thakurpukur Police Station, Parnashree Police station, Sarsuna Police station and Haridevpur Police station. [16]
Behala Women police station, located at the same address as Behala Police station, covers all police districts under the jurisdiction of the South West division i.e. Sarsuna, Taratala, Behala, Parnasree, Thakurpukur and Haridevpur.[16]
Education
There are so many educational institutions situated in Behala.
Colleges:-
- Behala College
- Vivekananda College (Thakurpukur)
- Vivekananda College for women
- Sarsuna College
- Sarsuna Law College
- Behala Government Polytechnic College
- Kanyashree College
- Kishore Bharati Bhagani Nivedita College
- Sister Florence College of Nursing
- Behala Institute of Allied Health Sciences
Schools:-
- M P Birla Foundation Higher Secondary School
- K.E Carmel school,Behala
- K. E. Carmel School, Sarsuna
- D. A. V. Public School
- St James School, Behala
- Orient Day School
- National Gems H.S. School
- Behala High School
- Behala Girls High school
- Behala Arya Vidyamandir
- Behala Sharda Vidyapith For Girls
- Behala Kishore Bharati Girls High School
- Shyama Sundari Girls High School
- Behala Parnasree Bidyamandir
- Barisha Janakalyan Vidyapith for Girls(HS)
- Barisha Shashibhusan Janakalyan Vidyapith
- Baidyapara Girls High School
- Barisha Girls' School
- Bidya Bhaban School
- Barisha High School
- Barisha Asar Vidyapith For Boys
- Barisha Uchcha Balika Vidyamandir
- Sarsuna High School
- G.B. Memorial Institution,Sarsuna
- Sarsuna Girl's High School
- Navadiganta High School,Sarsuna
- Shibrampur Nanilal Vidyapith
- Barisha Vivekananda High School
- Barisha Vivekananda High school for girls
- Barisha Purba para High School
- Behala Sourindra English Medium Co-Ed School
- Oxford Academy
- Shaw Public School
- Mothers Mission School
- The Good Shepherd Mission School
- Basudevpur High School
- Meghmala Roy Education Centre
- Nivedita Mission School
- St.Elizabeth Girl's School
- Kolkata Model School
- Thakurpukur Brahmachari P.K. Vidyamandir For Girls'
- Bratachari Vidyasram (H.S.)
- Children Academy Co-ed High School (Bengali Medium)
- Kamala Vidyamandir
Transport
Various buses are available to move around Behala to Kolkata. The recent collapse of the Majerhat Bridge which was one of the major roads connecting Behala to the rest of Calcutta has led to massive traffic snarls in the area. Now, a new bridge has been made which successfully connects Behala with other areas.[17]
Tram
Trams used to be popular vehicles for commuting to and from several parts of Behala, but of late the trend has seen a reversal for their slow speed. After the construction of Taratala flyover, the only truncated tram service from Behala Bazaar to Joka became deplorable and finally closed as a result of the Esplanade-Joka Metro Project.[14]
Railway
Behala is served by Majherhat, Brace Bridge and New Alipore railway station on the Sealdah South section of Kolkata Suburban Railway.
Behala was also served by Gholesapur, Sakherbazar and Thakurpukur railway station of Kalighat Falta Railway (KFR), which has been closed in 1957.[18]
Airport
Behala Airport more commonly referred as Behala Flying Training Institute (BFTI) or Behala Flying Club (BFC) is the second of the two airports in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area and other being the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. There are plans to upgrade the airport. Previously there was helicopter service from behala airport to digha and durgapur, but it was later suspended by the authority. Currently, there is no commercial helicopter service available from behala flying club.
Metro Railway
Former President Ms. Pratibha Patil laid the foundation stone of Joka to Esplanade Metro Rail Project (Kolkata Metro Line 3) in presence of Union Finance Minister and Governor of West Bengal in September, 2010.[19]
The metro has partially started from Joka to Taratala, and has been inaugurated by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on 30 December, 2022. Currently six stations are active that are Joka Metro Station, Thakurpukur Metro Station, Sakherbazar Metro Station, Behala Chowrasta Metro Station, Behala Bazaar Metro Station and Taratala Metro Station.
The construction of Majherhat Metro Station is expected to be completed by 2024.
Festivals
Barisha Chandi Mela, a 10-day fair held every year in November–December since 1792, attracts people from all over the city. There are various stalls, rides and plenty of shops for people of all age groups. On some days during the fair, the crowd count crosses One Lakh as well. Many popular artists also perform during this festival.[20]
During Christmas, all Behala roads lead to St. Peter's Church, CNI located inside the Oxford Mission compound ,Infant Jesus Church located next to Ellora Cinema hall, Sacred Heart Church and many other churches located near Behala and Thakurpukur.
A big Rath Yatra festival and mela also occur every year on Diamond harbour road, Thakurpukur. The festival and mela starts from day of Ratha Yatra and the mela ends at the day of Ulta Ratha Yatra.
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Rath made of brass of sonar Durga Bari made in 1871, is bring outside every year during Rath Yatra Celebration. Jagatdhatri Puja is also celebrated in many Localities of Behala.[21]
Just Like rest of Kolkata, Behala is also famous for Durga Puja, some of the popular Durga Puja pandals are
- Behala Notun Dal
- Behala Adarshapally
- Behala KFR Math Durga Puja
- Behala Shree Sangha
- Behala Trishakti Club
- Behala Nafar Chandra Das Road
- Behala Jadu and Mitra Colony
- Behala Friends.
- Barisha Club
- Behala 11 pally
- Haridevpur 41 pally
- Thakurpukur State Bank Park
- The most Traditional puja is held at Roy House, at Roy Bahadur Road. SABORNO ROY CHOWDHURY HOUSE and Behala Sonar Durga Bari.
The biggest celebration of the festival of Eid is held at Behala 18 Bigha Masjid.
Business
The Diamond Harbour Road is dotted on both sides with shops and eateries. Clothes, jewellery, electronic items, sports goods, books and footwear can be found in a multitude of stores all along the stretch from Taratala to Manton. Recent additions to the shopping scene include shopping malls and factory outlets.
Apart from the standard stores, the pavements of Behala are crowded with hawkers selling everything from toothpicks to bedsheets. Some popular shops of Behala are Panna Sweets, Panna Restaurant, Haji Saheb, Bhaskar and Sriniketan, new Ladies Own(Behala Tramdepot), RamKrishna Sarighar, Debnath Electric, Shilpalay, Tanishq, P.C. Chandra Jewellers, Titan, Aminiah, Arsalan, Zeeshan, Feardeal, Great Eastern, Frankfros, Bata, Khadims, Dhannwentari Adidas Showroom (Silpara), Thakurpukur Reliance Complex and many more.
Some popular commercial offices in Behala are BSNL, CESE, Behala Industrial Area, Patton Tank, East India Pharmaceuticals, Union drugs, BG Press, Taratala Mint, Brand Factory, Alankrita Careers and many more.[23]
Grocery Markets
Behala has enormous number of fresh food markets usually termed as "Bazaar", where fresh vegetables, fish, meat, spices, and other food items are available. Some important Bazaars within Behala are :-
- Behala Bazaar
- Puraton Bazaar
- Sodepur Bazaar
- Goragacha Bazaar
- Senhati Bazaar
- Simultala Bazaar
- Thakurpukur Bazaar
- Kabardanga Fish Market
- Buroshibtala Bazaar
- B.G press Food Market
- Bakultala Bazaar
- Behala Chowrasta Bazaar
- Sakher Bazaar
- Kadamtala Bazaar
- Keorapukur Bazaar
- Anandanagar Bazaar
- Dakhin Behala Sasthir More Bazaar
- LIC Bazaar Barisha Silpara
- Thakurpukur Rail-line Bazaar
Places of interest
- Sonar Durga Temple
- Siddheshwari Kali temple
- 72, Banamali Naskar Lane, Behala, Kolkata-60
Famous place described as Residence of Ghanada(Mess-Bari) in "Ghanada" a Bengali Science fiction novel written by Ghanashyam Das.
- Behala Chanditala Maa Mangal Chandi Temple
- State Archaeological Museum, Satyen Roy Road
- Adi Shiva Temple, Barisha Silpara
- Sabarna Roy Chowdhury Family houses at Barisha
- Sabarna Sangrahashala, Baro Bari, Barisha[24]
- St. Peter's Church, CNI[25]
- 12 Temples of Lord Shiva (also known as Dwadash Mandir), more than 350 years old, in Sabarna Para, Sakherbazar
- Behala Gourio Math
- Behala Gajantala Shitala Mandir.
- Behala AC Market (new Ladies Own)
- Behala Siddeshwari Market (Debnath Electric, the oldest electrical shop in Behala), Homeo pharmacy and many more.
References
- "South 24 Parganas district".
- "Elector Details As On 30-10-2010" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 May 2013.
- "KMC Wards in South 24 Parganas".
- Kolkata Municipal Corporation (2011). "About Kolkata". KMC. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
- "Delimitation Commission Order No. 18 dated 15 February 2006" (PDF). Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2010.
- The Telegraph (2011). "Midnight change of guard- 17 more police stations come under Lalbazar". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
- Nair, P.Thankappan, The Growth and Development of Old Calcutta, in Calcutta, the Living City, Vol I, p. 11, edited by Sukanta Chaudhuri, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-563696-1
- Press Trust of India (7 October 2008). "Ganguly: Bengal's greatest cricketer". Archived from the original on 18 November 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
- National Election Watch (2011). "Sovan Chatterjee". Retrieved 31 August 2011.
- Banerjee, Sudeshna (2006) [2004]. Durga Puja: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow (2nd ed.). New Delhi: Rupa & Co. p. 32. ISBN 81-291-0547-0.
- Banerjee, Sudhindranath. "Janapad Rupe Name" [Name and Characteristics of the Township]. Behala Janapader Itihas [History of Behala Township] (in Bengali). Kolkata: Progressive Writers' Guild. pp. 45–49.
- "DH Road: one flank blocked, chaos in other". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
- "Behala-Joka tram route may shut down". The Times of India. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
- "Joka-Behala tram is now history". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- "CM to inaugurate SL Dhanuka Girls' hostel". www.millenniumpost.in. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- "Kolkata Police". South West Division. KP. Archived from the original on 30 March 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
- "Kolkata's Majerhat bridge collapse: Traffic snarls continue in city". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- "AK16 Steam Locomotive". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
- PTI (22 September 2010). "Left leaders stay away from President's function". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- "One of the oldest fairs of Kolkata -- Behala's 227-year-old Chandi Mela". Get Bengal. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
- "Famous theme-based Pujas of city to get displayed on Jagadhatri Puja at Chandannagore". www.millenniumpost.in. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- Mitra, Bishwabijoy (11 July 2021). "City bonedi baris to keep Rath Yatra celebrations low key". The Times of India. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
- "Four things first for mayor". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- "Clipping of The Statesman - Kolkata - The Statesman". epaper.thestatesman.com. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
- "Untitled Document". cnicalcutta.org. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
External links
Kolkata/Southern fringes travel guide from Wikivoyage
