Ranaghat

Ranaghat is a city and a municipality in Nadia district in the state of West Bengal, India. It is the headquarters of the Ranaghat subdivision. It is on the Churni River, 74 kilometres north of Kolkata. It is compact but one of the densely populated cities of West Bengal. It is known for its handloom industry, various types of flowers and floriculture and a flower market.

Ranaghat
City
Ranaghat
Location in West Bengal, India
Ranaghat
Ranaghat (India)
Coordinates: 23.18°N 88.58°E / 23.18; 88.58
Country India
StateWest Bengal
DistrictNadia
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • BodyRanaghat Municipality
 • MPJagannath Sarkar
Area
 • City7.72 km2 (2.98 sq mi)
 • Metro
30 km2 (10 sq mi)
Elevation
8 m (26 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • City75,365
 • Density9,800/km2 (25,000/sq mi)
 • Metro
235,583
Languages
 • OfficialBengali, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
741201
Telephone code91-3473-2xxxxx
Vehicle registrationWB-52
Lok Sabha constituencyRanaghat
Vidhan Sabha constituencyRanaghat Uttar Paschim
Websitewww.ranaghat.org

History

After independence Ranaghat was chosen to be the district capital but later Krishnanagar was selected instead.

Ranaghat has existed since the British invaded India. The most likely origin for the name of the town comes from Rani (Queen) or Rana (a Rajput warrior) and Ghat (steps leading to the river). A myth is still prevalent that the name of the town came from the bandit 'Rana Dacoit', who used to pillage this area five or six hundred years back and he used to give pujas to the goddess Kali to thank her.

A large percentage of the population are the families of Hindu refugees from Bangladesh, who fled during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 with Pakistan. There are also many families who had extensive ties to foreign investments in the town. Ranaghat also played an important role in the struggle of freedom of India.

This is the home town of some notable Bengali people. Film actress Raakhee Gulzar was born and brought up in a refugee colony in Ranaghat.[2] Athlete and olympian Soma Biswas is from Ranaghat. Poet Joy Goswami born and brought up in the town near Chotobazar area. Krishna Panti was known as one of the "5 Great Noblemen of Bengal." He and his descendants the Pal-Chaudhuri family donated land and built many of the town's temples and cultural institutions, including the Happy Club and Pal-Chaudhuri school, and many of the streets of the town are named after them. Born in a mud hut, Krishna Panti rose to become one of the greatest merchants of Bengal, and a great philanthropist. He was given the title Pal-Chaudhuri and became Zamindar over a huge area of Nadia. Employing Scottish architects, he built palatial buildings, temples and gardens, which are some of the only such buildings in the region to remain mostly intact.

Geography
Cities and towns in Ranaghat subdivision of Nadia district
M: municipal town/ city/notified area, CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre.
Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly

Location

The town is exactly 74 kilometres north of Calcutta and 26 kilometres south of Krishnanagar, Nadia District headquarter. It is on the banks of River Churni.

Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map. All the four subdivisions are presented with maps on the same scale – the size of the maps vary as per the area of the subdivision.

Police station

Ranaghat and Taherpur police stations have jurisdiction over Ranaghat, Birnagar, Taherpur and Ranaghat I CD Block.[3][4] The total area covered by the Ranaghat police station is 250 km2 and the population covered was 624,151 in 2001.[5]

Demographics
See also: List of cities in West Bengal

As of 2001 India census,[6] Ranaghat had a population of 68,754.[7] Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Ranaghat had an average literacy rate of 84%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy was 87%, and female literacy was 80%. In Ranaghat, 8% of the population was under 6 years old.

In the 2011 census, Ranaghat Urban Agglomeration had a population of 235,583, out of which 119,578 were male and 116,005 were female. The 0–6 years population was 18,575. Effective literacy rate for the 7+ population was 86.10%. Male literacy was 89.77% and female literacy at 82.33%[8]

The following municipalities, notified area, outgrowths and census towns were part of Ranaghat Urban Agglomeration in 2011 census: Ranaghat (M), Birnagar (M), Cooper's Camp (NA), Magurkhali (OG), Ranaghat (CT) (CT), Hijuli (CT), Aistala (CT), Satigachha (CT), Nasra (CT), Panpara (CT), Raghabpur (CT), Kamgachhi (CT), Anulia (CT) and Halalpur Krishnapur (CT).[9]

Churni Bridge
Siddeshwari Temple

Economy
A farmland in Shankarpur, Ranaghat outskirt

Ranaghat is an important place of business. Small traders from nearby towns and villages purchase goods from Ranaghat Town Bazar. Both wholesale and retail business have developed here. The economy of Ranaghat and its surrounding region is mostly based on agriculture. Paddy (rice), flour, wheat and fruits are produced by farmers outside the main township. Various dairy products are transported to Kolkata every morning. A cold storage had been renovated by former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya at Nokari village, located on east half of the town.

"The Department of Food Processing Industries of India was planning to set up a market complex exclusively for florists in Ranaghat."[10] Ranaghat has one of the capturing market of flowers in West Bengal.[11]

Another industry which receives immense government patronage is handicraft and boutiques. At least 1000 people depend on this for their livelihood. Aishtala (situated on the west bank of river Churni) is a place for textile weaving. Moreover, ready-made garments are trendy clothes of late became very popular among the teens and youths.[12]

Education
Front View
Pal Chaudhary High School
Bharathi High School
Ranaghat College Entrance
St Mary's English School

The town has a large number of primary and high-schools and a college for higher education.

High schools

Colleges

Culture

Festivals
A pandal during durga-puja
A glimpse of Rathyatra Utsav'09 at night

The town is inhabited mostly by Bengali Hindus. Durga-puja and Kali puja, like in all other Bengali communities, are the largest and most colourful festivals and are celebrated throughout the town.

A Hindu festival called 'Dol yatra' is celebrated everywhere at the town. A village named 'Harinagar' is known for 'kirtan', a gathering of Hindu religious people in a motive to know God Krishna, is very popular.

The Christian community celebrates Christmas at Begopara Church outside the main township. During Christmas, people from all religions join the party. Moreover, there is a mosque at Nasra-para, on the outskirts of the town.

Sports

Cricket and football are the most popular sports. Karate has been a great interest amongst the youth of Ranaghat since the 1980s. Since then many boys and girls have excelled in this field and brought laurels for Ranaghat even from national and international arena.

Transportation

Railways
Station
Railway Station

Ranaghat is one of the most important railway junctions in the Sealdah–Murshidabad railway section. The "Maitree Express" linking Kolkata and Dhaka passes through Ranaghat.

The city is well connected to the Sealdah railway station through the Sealdah–Ranaghat line. Local and passenger trains are available every half-an-hour. The Railway Minister recently passed a bill for running an express train in the Sealdah–Lalgola route which would reduce the current 2-hour journey by at least one hour. This project requires significant funding which may prevent it from materializing.

The railway station at Ranaghat has a long history. The Sealdah–Ranaghat rail connection was made during the British period. This main line was opened in September 1862. Ranaghat–Kalyani and Ranaghat–Shantipur sections were electrified in the financial year 1963–64.[13]

From Ranaghat railway station,[14] trains travel both north and south. Local trains are available to: Krishnanagar City Junction, Shantipur, Gede, Bangaon and Sealdah. A handful of express passenger trains between Lalgola and Sealdah also stop at Ranaghat. An express train Bhagirathi express runs mainly for the office-goers in the morning. It departs from Ranaghat for Sealdah at 8:50 in the morning and in the evening leaves Sealdah station at 6:25 pm for Ranaghat. It takes around 1 and half-hour in comparison to the 2 hours taken by local trains. Couple of Ladies-onlyl trains; one from Krishnanagar via Ranaghat to Sealdah, another from Ranaghat to Sealdah was inaugurated in the year 2010.[15]

Railway ministries of India are taking steps to make Ranaghat Railway station as a station of national importance. Numerous plans have been considered for the modernization and improvement of the platforms and the surrounding area in the latest Railway Budget of India. But illegal hawkers and traders continue to create hindrance.

Roadways
Streets of Ranaghat.

The town has three bus-stands, one at Rathtala, one near Ranaghat College and one over GNPC Road opposite police phari. CSTC buses plying from Kolkata going to North Bengal also has a stop at Ranaghat on NH-34. Buses ply to Krishnanagar, Hanskhali, Aishmali, Palassey, Bethua and other parts of Nadia district. Long-distance night buses to north Bengal are also available. People in general, though prefer trains because of ready availability and more convenience.

SH 11 meets NH 12 at Ranaghat.[16][17]

Auto rickshaw service might be popular in other cities of West Bengal but it is available here. There are very few private cars.

Airways

Nearest airport from the town being the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport at Dum Dum, almost 65 km from the town.

Notable people

References
  1. "Ranaghat City". Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  2. Story of Rakhee Gulzar Archived 15 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Boloji
  3. "District Statistical Handbook 2014 Nadia". Table 2.1. Department of Planning and Statistics, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  4. "Nadia District Police". Police Unit. West Bengal Police. Archived from the original on 28 May 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  5. "Ranaghat Police Station Details". Nadia Police. Archived from the original on 29 March 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  6. "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
  7. "City Population site estimate". Archived from the original on 27 May 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  8. "Urban Agglomerations/Cities having population 1 lakh and above" (PDF). Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 November 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  9. "Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011" (PDF). Constituents of Urban Agglomeration Having Population Above 1 Lakh. Census of India 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  10. Flower Complex at Ranaghat Archived 2008-06-20 at the Wayback Machine Food Processing and Horticulture Department, West Bengal.
  11. Flower Market in Ranaghat Archived 14 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine WBIDC Reference
  12. "Telegraph article on clothes market at Ranaghat". Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  13. IRFCA reference Archived 25 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine History of Railways Electrification surrounding Ranaghat
  14. Train-routes Archived 6 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine Article on India9.com
  15. Mamata Banerjee inaugurates new projects Archived 14 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  16. "Rationalisation of Numbering Systems of National Highways" (PDF). New Delhi: Department of Road Transport and Highways. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  17. "List of State Highways in West Bengal". West Bengal Traffic Police. Archived from the original on 19 December 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  18. "Staff Directory, NCAR". Archived from the original on 19 March 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2019.

Ranaghat travel guide from Wikivoyage

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