Behala
Behala is a neighbourhood of South Kolkata, located in the Kolkata district of the Indian state of West Bengal. Behala is a part of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation area. It is broadly spread across Ward Numbers: 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, and 132 of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), and is divided into two Vidhan Sabha constituencies: Behala Paschim and Behala Purba. This area is served by the South West Division of the Kolkata Police, also known as Behala Division (The division comprises Behala, Taratala, Parnasree, Sarsuna, Thakurpukur, and Haridevpur). Behala is one of the oldest residential areas of the city. The Sabarna Roy Choudhury family, one of the oldest zamindar families of western Bengal and trustee of the Kalighat Kali Temple, live here. It is also home to Sourav Ganguly, former Indian national cricket captain, and Sovan Chatterjee, the former Mayor of Kolkata. The Durga Puja celebration of the Sabarna Roy Choudhury family at Barisha was launched in 1610 by Laksmikanta Majumdar, making it the second-oldest family Durga Puja in western Bengal. 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.
 | This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. (April 2025) |
Behala | |
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Neighbourhood | |
        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°29′53″N 88°18′39″E / 22.4981°N 88.3108°E | |
| Country | India |
| State | West Bengal |
| District | Kolkata[1][2][3] |
| City | Kolkata |
| Metro Station | |
| Municipal Corporation | Kolkata Municipal Corporation |
| KMC wards | 115, 116, 117, 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 a neighbourhood of South Kolkata, located in the Kolkata district of the Indian state of West Bengal. Behala is a part of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation area.[4] It is broadly spread across Ward Numbers: 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, and 132 of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), and is divided into two Vidhan Sabha constituencies: Behala Paschim and Behala Purba.[5] This area is served by the South West Division of the Kolkata Police, also known as Behala Division (The division comprises Behala, Taratala, Parnasree, Sarsuna, Thakurpukur, and Haridevpur).[6][7]
Behala is one of the oldest residential areas of the city. The Sabarna Roy Choudhury family, one of the oldest zamindar families of western Bengal and trustee of the Kalighat Kali Temple, live here.[8] It is also home to Sourav Ganguly,[9] former Indian national cricket captain, and Sovan Chatterjee,[10] the former Mayor of Kolkata.
The Durga Puja celebration of the Sabarna Roy Choudhury family at Barisha was launched in 1610 by Laksmikanta Majumdar, making it the second-oldest family Durga Puja in western Bengal.[11] 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.[12][13]
Etymology
[edit]
The word Behala is commonly believed to have its root in Behula, the name of the female protagonist of Manasamangalkavya.[14] Alternatively, the name may have been derived from the Bengali term Bahulapur ("land of many rivers" or "dark city").[14] "Bahula" is also an epithet of the goddesses Chandi and Kali.[14] Rev. James Long, who used to live in the area, described Behala as Byala in one of his early writings.[14] It is also known that Behala comprised many small villages before the whole area was urbanised and each village here was suffixed with -behala, i.e., Bazarbehala, Tamtelbehala, Bnorshebehala (Barisha), Sorshunnobehala (Sarsuna), etc.[14] Names like Rajarbaganbehala, Sahapurbehala, Naskarpurbehala, and Santoshbatibehala are also found in the old proceedings of South Suburban Municipality.[14]
History
[edit]Modern day
[edit]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 1980s) resulted in the area being of interest to daily wage earners, common populace, and educated classes. Due to this enormous and unplanned growth, traffic in the area is dependent on the arterial Diamond Harbour Road, in spite of the availability of the parallel James Long Sarani (commonly known as the Rail Line, since the old and now defunct Kalighat Falta Railway ran here) as an option. During the construction of the Taratala flyover, a large portion of traffic flowed through James Long Sarani to avoid construction activity, causing the development of other areas of Behala.[15]
Encroachments by street hawkers of the sidewalks on both sides of the busy Diamond Harbour Road are 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 peak office hours.[16][17]
Previously, there were tram lines along the middle of Diamond Harbour Road from Joka to Mominpur, and people often used the trams to go to Esplanade. The service on this stretch has since been withdrawn. Mominpur to Behala Bazaar service was closed in 2006 due to the Taratala flyover.[18] Behala Bazaar to Joka service was also closed in 2011, due to the elevated metro railway construction on Diamond Harbour Road, which will run from Joka to Esplanade (Purple Line).[19]
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.[20]
Geography
[edit]Location
[edit]
Police district
[edit]The localities of the Behala area are served by the 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. [21] 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.[21]
Education
[edit]There are many educational institutions situated in Behala.
Colleges
[edit]- Behala College
- NSHM Knowledge Campus
- Sarsuna College
- Sarsuna Law College
- Vivekananda College, Thakurpukur
- Vivekananda College for Women
Schools
[edit]- Barisha High School
- Bratachari Vidyasram (H.S.)
- M P Birla Foundation Higher Secondary School
- Meghmala Roy Education Centre
Transport
[edit]Various buses are available to move around Kolkata. Majerhat Bridge is one of the major roads connecting Behala to the rest of Calcutta, and has led to massive traffic snarls in the area. Now, a new bridge has been made which successfully connects Behala with other areas.[22]
Bus
[edit]WBTC
- S-4 (Parnasree - Karunamoyee)
- AC-4 (Parnasree - Howrah Stn)
- AC-49 (Parnasree - Ecospace)
- AC-4A (Parnasree - Ecospace)
- S-4D (Parnasree - Ecospace)
- E-4 (Parnasree - Howrah Stn)
- S-31 (Behala Chowrasta - Jadavpur)
- AC-31 (Behala Chowrasta - Jadavpur)
- S-22 (Shakuntala Park - Karunamoyee)
- S-45 (Shakuntala Park - Baghbazar)
- AC-12D (Howrah Stn - Joka)
- AC-52 (Howrah Stn - Amtala)
- ACT-41 (Belgachia - Joka)
- 7A (Sarsuna - Howrah Stn)
- EB-16 (Thakurpukur - Hatisala)
- S-3B (Behala 14 no. - Kankurgachi)
- S-3W (Joka Tram Depot - Ecospace)
- S-12D (Howrah Stn - Joka)
- S-16 (Thakurpukur - Karunamoyee)
- M-14 (Behala 14 no. - Ecospace)
- C-37 (Amtala - Howrah Stn)
Tram
[edit]Trams used to be popular vehicles connecting Behala with Esplanade (Route 35). After the construction of Taratala flyover, the route was truncated and trams would ply only along the Behala-Joka stretch. In 2011, the route finally closed as a result of the Esplanade-Joka Metro Project.[19]
Railway
[edit]Behala is served by the Majherhat, Brace Bridge, and New Alipore railway stations on the Sealdah South section of the Kolkata Suburban Railway.
Behala was also served by the Gholesapur, Sakherbazar, and Thakurpukur railway station of Kalighat Falta Railway (KFR), which has been closed in 1957.[23]
Airport
[edit]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, the 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.[24]
Metro Railway
[edit]Former President Ms. Pratibha Patil laid the foundation of the Joka to Esplanade Metro Rail Project (Purple Line) in presence of Union Finance Minister and Governor of West Bengal in September 2010.[25]
The metro has partially started from Joka to Taratala, and was inaugurated by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on 30 December 2022.
Currently, the six active stations are Joka Metro Station, Thakurpukur Metro Station, Sakherbazar Metro Station, Behala Chowrasta Metro Station, Behala Bazaar Metro Station, Taratala Metro Station, and Majherhat Metro Station.
The construction of the Majherhat Metro Station - Esplanade Metro Station portion is expected to be completed by 2029.
Healthcare
[edit]The Behala region is surrounded by numerous hospitals and medical centres.
The State General Hospital for region Behala is Vidyasagar State General Hospital, which is beside the Behala bazar metro station and Kolkata Municipal Corporation Behala.[citation needed]
Nearby Behala, at Thakurpukur M.G Road, another famous hospital and medical research centre is situated, the "Saroj Gupta Cancer Research Institute", locally known as "Thakurpukur cancer hospital". It is one of the oldest cancer treatment centres in Kolkata.[citation needed]
Some other hospitals in Behala are:
- Apollo Clinic Taratala, Sahapur and Thakurpukur, 3A bus stand
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- Behala Balananda Brahmachari Hospital and Research Centre, Pathakpara
- Bharat Sevashram Sangha Hospital Joka
- BMRI Hospital, 3A bus stand
- Disha Eye Hospital, Chowrasta
- DM hospital, James Long Sarani
- Drishti Eye Care Centre, Barisha Sakherbazar Sabarna Para
- ESIC Hospital and Medical College, Joka Metro Station/Diamond Park
- James Long Clinic, James Long Sarani
- Kasturi Medical Research Centre, 3A bus stand
- Kolkata Eye clinic
- Narayan Memorial Hospital, Manton
- South Suburban Clinic, Taratala
- Swadesh Bose Hospital, Thakurpukur
- UMRI Hospital, James Long Sarani
- Vidyasagar Government Hospital
- Vivekananda Hospital & Research Institute, Parnasree
- Woodlands Multispeciality hospital, Alipore
Festivals
[edit]
Barisha Chandi Mela, a 10-day fair is held every year in November–December since 1792, attracts people from all over the city. Many artists perform during this festival.[26]
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 Thakurpukur rath Mela is the biggest Rath Yatra Mela of Behala area.
Apart from Thakurpukur rath yatra mela, Barisha rath yatra mela (Sakherbazar), Sarsuna (Badamtala) Rath Yatra Mela, and Sonamukhi Rath Yatra Mela (Sarsuna and Maheshtala Border) also occur every year. A Rath made of brass of sonar Durga Bari, made in 1871, is brought outside every year during Rath Yatra Celebration.
Jagatdhatri Puja is also celebrated in many Localities of Behala.[27]
At Kalipuja, Chamunda Kali Puja and a big Mela also happen annually at Bahadur Math in Dakshin Behala Road, Sasthir More.
Eid is held at Behala 18 Bigha Masjid.[28]
Business
[edit] |
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.
Places of interest
[edit]- 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.
- Douglas Grounds (Oxford Mission)
- 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[29]
- St. Peter's Church, CNI[30]
- 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
- Behala Parnashree Lake
References
[edit]- ^ "Kolkata district".
- ^ "KMC Wards in South 24 Parganas".
- ^ "Map of Kolkata (Calcutta)".
- ^ 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.
- ^ "South West Division". Kolkata Police. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
- ^ "Midnight change of guard - 17 more police stations come under Lalbazar". The Telegraph. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Bharat, E. T. V. (14 November 2022). "Chandi Mela: 230 বছরের পা দিল ঐতিহ্যবাহী চণ্ডীপুজো ,পুজো ঘিরে মেলা সপ্তাহভর". ETV Bharat News (in Bengali). Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ "230-yr-old fair resumes after 2-yr Cov break". The Times of India. 1 December 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f 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.
- ^ "From canning street to Behala, Alipore zoo to science city, KMC clears 800 spots in 2 days". The Times of India. 27 June 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ "দখলদারি আর খোঁড়া রাস্তায় 'নরক' বেহালা". Eisamay (in Bengali). Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ "Behala-Joka tram route may shut down". The Times of India. 22 April 2008. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
- ^ a b "Joka-Behala tram is now history". The Times of India. 2 June 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- ^ "CM to inaugurate SL Dhanuka Girls' hostel". www.millenniumpost.in. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- ^ a b "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. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- ^ "AK16 Steam Locomotive". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
- ^ Airports Authority of India, Behala Airport
- ^ 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. 21 October 2018. 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.
- ^ "Clipping of The Statesman - Kolkata - The Statesman". epaper.thestatesman.com. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
- ^ "Untitled Document". cnicalcutta.org. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
External links
[edit]
Kolkata/Southern fringes travel guide from Wikivoyage
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