Behala
Encyclopedia
Behala is a neighbourhood in South West Kolkata
, in the India
n state of West Bengal
. Behala was officially known as South Suburban Municipality until it was merged with the Kolkata Municipal Corporation
(KMC) on January, 1984. Now it is broadly spread across Ward Nos.118 and 132 of the KMC and is divided into two Vidhan Sabha constituencies: Behala Paschim
and Behala Purba
. Behala, Parnasree, Thakurpukur and Haridebpur police stations of Kolkata Police
serve this area.
It is the city’s of the oldest residential part. 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. It is also home to Sourav Ganguly
, former Indian national cricket captain and Sovan Chatterjee
, the present Mayor of Kolkata.
Behala is also an important industrial area of the city. There are many factories and industries which include the manufacturing units like chemicals, plastic and plastic recycling, spray painting, metal plating and galvanizing. There are many schools, hospitals, banks and other important institutes in the region.
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. Today Durga Puja at Behala is marked by exotic theme-based sarbojanin pujas. Barisha Chandi Mela, a 10-day fair held every year in November-December since 1792, is another notable festival. The major landmarks at Behala are West Bengal State Archaeology Museum, Sabarna Sangrahashala
, Behala Airport
, Sonar Durgabari, Barisha Chandi Mandir, Siddheshwari Kali Temple etc.
, the name of the female protagonist of Manasamangalkavya. Alternatively, the name may have been derived from the Bengali term Bahulapur ("land of many rivers" or "dark city"). "Bahula" is also an epitaph of the goddesses Chandi
and Kali
. Rev. James Long
, who used to live in this parts, described Behala as Byala in one of his early writings. 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. Names like Rajarbaganbehala, Sahapurbehala, Naskarpurbehala and Santoshbatibehala are also found in the old proceedings of South Suburban Municipality.
Kayastha
named Dhananjay Mitra settled here. During the reign of Akbar Barisha came under the lordship of Basanta Roy who set up his capital at modern-day Sarsuna
. Roy’s nephew and the king of Jessore Pratapaditya murdered him and incorporated Barisha with his kingdom. After the Mughals defeated Pratapaditya, Laksmikanta Majumdar of the Sabarna Roy Choudhury family was given jagirdari of a vast tract of land by Raja Man Singh
in 1608. The three villages of Sutanuti
, Govindapur
and Kalikata
were part of a khasmahal or imperial jagir or an estate belonging to the Mughal emperor himself, whose jagirdari rights were held by the Sabarna Roy Choudhury
family. Even the Sabarna Roy Choudhury family was not keen to allow the British to settle or do trading on these villages, but the British had paid a bribe at the Mughal Durbar to ensure that the deal did not fail. Just prior to their move to Barisha, the Roy Choudhury family had to transfer their rights over Kalikata in 1698, to the East India Company much against their wishes and protests.
The stretch of Diamond Harbour Road from Taratala to Thakurpukur is a very old settlement, which divides the Behala into three parts - East Behala, South Behala and West Behala. It is populated mostly by citizens of East-Bengal (Before Partition of India Bangladesh was called East Bengal).
Settlement in the area dates back to the 1797, but its urbanization is relatively recent. Population growth started in Behala after the partition of India.
The Sabarna Roychoudhury's 'Aath-chala' could be regarded as the most prominent historical structure (though mostly ruined presently) of the city of Kolkata. It is the structure, sitting under which the British East India Company
signed the rights of the villages- Kalikata
, Gobindapur
and Sutanuti
(which later merged to form the city of Calcutta), under a lease from the Sabarna Roy Choudhury family on the 10th of November,1698.
. 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) as an option. During the construction the Taratala fly-over, a large portion of traffic flowed through James Long Sarani to avoid construction activity, causing development of other areas of Behala.
Due to lack of planning and space, encroachments by street-hawkers of the sidewalks on both sides of the busy Diamond Harbour Road, push the pedestrians to the already busy road. Areas like Behala Tram Depot, Behala Chowrasta and Behala Sakher Bazar have been added to the 'Calcutta Green Zone' and traffic moves at a snail's pace during the peak office hours. A tramline runs up the centre of Diamond Harbour Road from Joka to Behala Tram Depot and often the people moved faster in the trams. Previously it was well connected by tram lines towards the north. However the trams were stopped when the flyover at the Taratala junction was constructed.
. Private buses, govt buses and minibuses fly to Howrah, BBD Bag, Park Street
, Sealdah
, Khidderpore, Bidhannagar and other parts of the city from the bus terminuses at Thakurpukur, Sakherbazar, Behala Tram Depot, Parnasree Pally
, Barisha
and Silpara.
Trams used to be extremely popular vehicles for commuting to and from several parts of Behala, but of late the trend has seen a reversal. The only tram service was from Behala Tram Depo to Joka [Now being stoped due to new Metro project].
The autorickshaws in Behala are notorious for aggravating the traffic congestion during rush hours, but they are used by the common people as a convenient way of travelling to Rashbehari, Gariahat, Tollygunge
, Jadavpur
and Rabindranagar comfortably.
Behala has a mind-boggling network of alleys and lanes, and the only vehicle that can take one all the way into the narrowest of streets in the heart of the area is the cycle rickshaw
. While rickshaws are not allowed to ply beyond Taratala, they serve as the connecting medium from the Diamond Harbour Road to the inner reaches of Behala. It is advisable that one should bargain before taking a ride, since otherwise rather unpleasant arguments have been known to result afterwards.
Taxi
s are available at most times, although other than the mandatory hours, few taxis would agree to go all the way to distant areas. The taxi driver may ask for some extra charges to reach distant areas few kilometers inside main trunk of Diamond Harbour Road.
Behala is served by the Majherhat railway station on the Sealdah
South section of Kolkata Suburban Railway
.
Behala is also very crowdy throughout the year. Tram depot areas is where the main market is and attracts customers from nearby areas. During the Pujas the place can be extremely crowded making it difficult to even walk. The infamous traffic jam is constant around this area.
Ms. Pratibha Patil
laid the foundation stone of Joka
to BBD Bagh Metro Rail Project in presence of Central Finance Minister
and Governor
of West Bengal
in September, 2010. There will be total 13 stations in this 17 km stretch metro. Ms. Mamata Banerjee
, Central Rail Minister promised to finish this project in record time and proposed the name of the stations in the name of some of old famous singers Like Kishore Kumar
, Mohammed Rafi, Mohini Chowdhury, etc.
Metro railway construction work is currently in progress from February 2011. Currently work is going on between Pathakpara( opposite Behala Balanda Brahmachari Hospital) and Behala tram depot. Metro line will be elevated over the old tram line from Joka to Mominpur and then it will go underground from there till BBD Bag.
Durga Puja
, as it is in the rest of West Bengal
, is the most popular festival in Behala. The family Durga Puja celebration of the Sabarna Roy Choudhurys, launched in 1610 by Laksmikanta Majumdar, is the oldest recorded Durga Puja observation in Behala as well as the second oldest in western Bengal. Today altogether six Durga Pujas are being held in the Barisha branch of the family: Aatchala, Baro Bari, Mejo Bari, Benaki Bari, Kalikingkar Bhawan and Majher Bari. Durga Puja is also observed by many other old families of this area as well as by numerous local clubs. Such clubs include Behala Debdaru Fatak, Mukul Sangha, Behala Natun Dal, Behala Jatiya Sangha, Behala Club, Barisha Club (amalgamation of Srishti and Sahajatri clubs), Sree Sangha, Adarsha Pally, Nandana Yuba Sangha, Behala Young Men’s etc. Most of these clubs has won various prestigious Sharad Sammans or Durga Puja awards and attracts a large crowd of visitors from the other parts of the city every year.
Jora Mandir Haldar Barir Durga Pujo (Beside Canton Restaurant - Behala Thana Stoppage) is one of the oldest Durga Pujas of Kolkata. It has crossed its 300 yrs of commencement. The puja is conducted by the descedants of Lakkhi Narayan Haldar inside there premises. The Griha Devata is Shiva and Narayan.
Kali Puja
is also observed with great reverence in Behala. A 15-day fair is held at Parnasree Pally by Sarkari Abasan (Behala College ground), Parnasree Club and Surja Sangha during Kali Puja. Shankar Paik’s Kali Puja at Pathakpara attracts many people not only for the colourful soirees but also for the Sada Kali (white Kali) idol. Yuva Gosthi at Roybahadur Road arranges an Annakut festival during Kali Puja. Other noted Kali Pujas are observed at Jayrampur Jala, Rabindra Nagar, Begor Khal, Sreema Palli areas. Behala Siddeshwari Kali Temple and Halder's Kali Temple at Behala Bazar attracts many people during the occasion. Among the family Kali Puja celebrations, the houses of Bhabani Bala Dasi and Shib Dulal Basu are quite famous.
There are famous Jagatdhatri Pujas also. Local Clubs like Behala Siksha Mandir (Bhangadalan), Behala Bandhu Dal, Dhali Para Sarbojonin are most prominent among them. They Celebrate this puja like Durga Puja for 5–6 days with many cultural programs and events.
Music is yet another aspect of the cultural life in Behala.
Railway minister Mamata Banerjee will lay the foundation stone of an indoor stadium at Behala. Satyajit Ray Stadium, as it will be called, will be the second such sporting venue in the city after Netaji Indoor Stadium.
The average Bengali cannot do without sweetmeats and a testimony to this fact is the large number of sweet shops scattered all over Kolkata, esp Behala. Famous sweet shops of Behala are Sree Durga (the oldest one), Gobindo, Panna etc. Roadside stalls serving chowmein, egg rolls, cutlet
s, and kebabs are also found all around, but are best avoided due to the unhygienic conditions that they operate in.
Tea stalls serving tea
, biscuits and traditional Bengali snacks like Beguni (brinjal chops), Fuluri, Piyanji (onion
chops) and Aloor Chop (potato
chops) are found at every nook and corner.
Apart from the standard stores, the pavements of Behala are crowded with hawkers selling everything from toothpicks to bedsheets. However, one must exercise extreme caution while purchasing any items from these roadside stalls because of the absolute lack of accountability on the sellers part in case of faulty product sales.
, the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE)
and the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE). Major schools in this region are Vivekananda Mission School & M.P Birla Foundation Higher Secondary School (which are rated amongst the top 8 ISC Schools in Kolkata),Barisha High School, Behala Blind School, D.A.V Institutions (formarly D.A.V Public School), Behala Arya Vidyamandir, National Gems Higher Secondary School, Vidya Bharati, Orient Day School, Bratachari Vidyasram, Behala High School, Behala Girls High School etc. Behala College, Vivekananda College and Vivekananda Women’s College, affiliated with the University of Calcutta
are three major colleges in the area. The Indian Institute of Management Calcutta
, Joka is also very close to Behala.
South West Kolkata
South West Kolkata is a neighbourhood in Kolkata, India. It is bounded by Tollygunge in the East, New Alipore and Taratala in the North, Maheshtala in the West and extends up to Joka in the South...
, in the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state of West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
. Behala was officially known as South Suburban Municipality until it was merged with the Kolkata Municipal Corporation
Kolkata Municipal Corporation
Kolkata Municipal Corporation is responsible for the civic infrastructure and administration of the city of Kolkata. The organization is known, in short, as KMC . This civic administrative body administers an area of 185 sq. km. Its motto, Purosree Bibardhan, is inscribed on its emblem in Bengali...
(KMC) on January, 1984. Now it is broadly spread across Ward Nos.118 and 132 of the KMC and is divided into two Vidhan Sabha constituencies: Behala Paschim
Behala Paschim (Vidhan Sabha constituency)
Behala Paschim is an assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Behala is a neighborhood in Kolkata.-Extent:...
and Behala Purba
Behala Purba (Vidhan Sabha constituency)
Behala Purba is an assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Behala is a neighborhood in Kolkata.-Extent:...
. Behala, Parnasree, Thakurpukur and Haridebpur police stations of Kolkata Police
Kolkata Police
The Kolkata Police Force is one of the two police forces of the Indian state of West Bengal....
serve this area.
It is the city’s of the oldest residential part. Behala is one of the oldest residential areas of the city. The Sabarna Roy Choudhury
Sabarna Roy Choudhury
Sabarna Ray Chaudhury family were the Zamindar of the Kolkata area, prior to the arrival of the British. On November 10, 1698, they transferred, by lease, their rights over the three villages – Sutanuti, Kalikata and Gobindapur - to the East India Company...
s, one of the oldest zamindar
Zamindar
A Zamindar or zemindar , was an aristocrat, typically hereditary, who held enormous tracts of land and ruled over and taxed the bhikaaris who lived on batavaslam. Over time, they took princely and royal titles such as Maharaja , Raja , Nawab , and Mirza , Chowdhury , among others...
families of western Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
and the trustee of Kalighat Kali Temple
Kalighat Kali Temple
Kalighat Kali Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the Hindu goddess Maa Kali. It is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas.Kalighat was a Ghat sacred to Kali on the old course of the Hooghly river in the city of Calcutta. The name Calcutta is said to have been derived from the word Kalighat. The river...
lives here. It is also home to Sourav Ganguly
Sourav Ganguly
Sourav Chandidas Ganguly is a former Indian cricketer, and captain of the Indian national team. Born into an affluent family, Ganguly was introduced into the world of cricket by his elder brother Snehasish. He is regarded as one of India's most successful captains in modern times. He started his...
, former Indian national cricket captain and Sovan Chatterjee
Sovan Chatterjee
Sovan Chatterjee is an Indian politician belonging to the All India Trinamool Congress. He is the current Mayor of the city of Kolkata, the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal...
, the present Mayor of Kolkata.
Behala is also an important industrial area of the city. There are many factories and industries which include the manufacturing units like chemicals, plastic and plastic recycling, spray painting, metal plating and galvanizing. There are many schools, hospitals, banks and other important institutes in the region.
The Durga Puja
Durga Puja
Durga puja ; দুর্গা পূজা,ଦୁର୍ଗା ପୂଜା,‘Worship of Durga’), also referred to as Durgotsava ; , is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and...
celebration of Sabarna Roy Choudhury family at Barisha
Barisha
Barisha is a residential locality of Kolkata , West Bengal, India. Historically, it one of the oldest boroughs in Kolkata. It was the abode of the great Sabarna Roy Choudhury family. Barisha is known today for being the home of the Indian Cricket idol Sourav Ganguly...
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, a 10-day fair held every year in November-December since 1792, is another notable festival. The major landmarks at Behala are West Bengal State Archaeology Museum, Sabarna Sangrahashala
Sabarna Sangrahashala
Sabarna Sangrahashalais a unique museum of the Sabarna Roy Choudhury family. It has been developed by The Sabarna Roy Choudhury Paribar Parishad...
, Behala Airport
Behala Airport
Behala Airport is located at Behala in the city of Kolkata, India. It is more commonly referred as Behala Flying Training Institute or Behala Flying Club...
, Sonar Durgabari, Barisha Chandi Mandir, Siddheshwari Kali Temple etc.
Etymology
The word Behala is commonly believed to have its root in BehulaBehula
Behula is the heroine in the Manasamangal genre of Bangla medieval epics. A number of works belonging to this genre were written between the thirteenth and eighteenth centuries...
, the name of the female protagonist of Manasamangalkavya. Alternatively, the name may have been derived from the Bengali term Bahulapur ("land of many rivers" or "dark city"). "Bahula" is also an epitaph of the goddesses Chandi
Chandi
Chandi or Chandika is the supreme Goddess of Devi Mahatmya also known as Chandi or Durga Sapthashati. Chandi is described as the Supreme reality who is a combination of Mahakali, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswati...
and Kali
Kali
' , also known as ' , is the Hindu goddess associated with power, shakti. The name Kali comes from kāla, which means black, time, death, lord of death, Shiva. Kali means "the black one". Since Shiva is called Kāla - the eternal time, Kālī, his consort, also means "Time" or "Death" . Hence, Kāli is...
. Rev. James Long
James Long (Anglican priest)
James Long was an Anglo-Irish priest of the Anglican Church. A humanist, educator, evangelist, translator, essayist, philanthropist and a missionary to India, he resided in the city of Calcutta, India, from 1840 to 1872 as a member of the Church Mission Society, leading the mission at...
, who used to live in this parts, described Behala as Byala in one of his early writings. 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
Barisha
Barisha is a residential locality of Kolkata , West Bengal, India. Historically, it one of the oldest boroughs in Kolkata. It was the abode of the great Sabarna Roy Choudhury family. Barisha is known today for being the home of the Indian Cricket idol Sourav Ganguly...
), Sorshunnobehala (Sarsuna
Sarsuna
Sarsuna is a neighbourhood in South West Kolkata. Part of the greater Behala region it is reachable through Chowrasta or through the narrow lanes of Barisha. It is a predominantly Bengali neighborhood, though its fast becoming a cosmopolitan place...
) etc. Names like Rajarbaganbehala, Sahapurbehala, Naskarpurbehala and Santoshbatibehala are also found in the old proceedings of South Suburban Municipality.
History
Behala was once a part of the Sunderbans. The history of Barisha dated back to the Pala Era. In the 12th century, Barisha was a small village of farmers, fishermen and honey-gathers when a KulinKulin
The Kulin nation, was an alliance of five Indigenous Australian nations in Central Victoria, Australia, prior to European settlement. Their collective territory extended to around Port Phillip and Western Port, up into the Great Dividing Range and the Loddon and Goulburn River valleys. To their...
Kayastha
Kayastha
Kayastha or Kayasth or Kayeth is a caste or community of Hindus originating in India. Kayastha means "scribe" in Sanskrit, and has traditionally denoted members of the writer caste....
named Dhananjay Mitra settled here. During the reign of Akbar Barisha came under the lordship of Basanta Roy who set up his capital at modern-day Sarsuna
Sarsuna
Sarsuna is a neighbourhood in South West Kolkata. Part of the greater Behala region it is reachable through Chowrasta or through the narrow lanes of Barisha. It is a predominantly Bengali neighborhood, though its fast becoming a cosmopolitan place...
. Roy’s nephew and the king of Jessore Pratapaditya murdered him and incorporated Barisha with his kingdom. After the Mughals defeated Pratapaditya, Laksmikanta Majumdar of the Sabarna Roy Choudhury family was given jagirdari of a vast tract of land by Raja Man Singh
Man Singh I of Amber
Raja Shri Man Singh Ji Saheb was the Kacchwaha King of Amber, a state later known as Jaipur...
in 1608. The three villages of Sutanuti
Sutanuti
Sutanuti was one of the three villages which were merged to form the city of Kolkata in India. The other two villages were Gobindapur and Kalikata. Job Charnock, an administrator with the British East India Company is traditionally credited with the honour of founding the city...
, Govindapur
Govindapur
Govindapur may refer to:*Govindapur, Dhanusa, Nepal*Govindapur, Parsa, Nepal*Govindapur, Morang, Nepal...
and Kalikata
Kalikata
Kalikata was one of the three villages which were merged to form the city of Kolkata in India. The other two villages were Gobindapur and Sutanuti. Job Charnock, an administrator with the British East India Company is traditionally credited with the honour of founding the city...
were part of a khasmahal or imperial jagir or an estate belonging to the Mughal emperor himself, whose jagirdari rights were held by the Sabarna Roy Choudhury
Sabarna Roy Choudhury
Sabarna Ray Chaudhury family were the Zamindar of the Kolkata area, prior to the arrival of the British. On November 10, 1698, they transferred, by lease, their rights over the three villages – Sutanuti, Kalikata and Gobindapur - to the East India Company...
family. Even the Sabarna Roy Choudhury family was not keen to allow the British to settle or do trading on these villages, but the British had paid a bribe at the Mughal Durbar to ensure that the deal did not fail. Just prior to their move to Barisha, the Roy Choudhury family had to transfer their rights over Kalikata in 1698, to the East India Company much against their wishes and protests.
The stretch of Diamond Harbour Road from Taratala to Thakurpukur is a very old settlement, which divides the Behala into three parts - East Behala, South Behala and West Behala. It is populated mostly by citizens of East-Bengal (Before Partition of India Bangladesh was called East Bengal).
Settlement in the area dates back to the 1797, but its urbanization is relatively recent. Population growth started in Behala after the partition of India.
The Sabarna Roychoudhury's 'Aath-chala' could be regarded as the most prominent historical structure (though mostly ruined presently) of the city of Kolkata. It is the structure, sitting under which the British East India Company
East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
signed the rights of the villages- Kalikata
Kalikata
Kalikata was one of the three villages which were merged to form the city of Kolkata in India. The other two villages were Gobindapur and Sutanuti. Job Charnock, an administrator with the British East India Company is traditionally credited with the honour of founding the city...
, Gobindapur
Gobindapur
Gobindapur was one of the three villages which were merged to form the city of Kolkata in India. The other two villages were Kalikata and Sutanuti...
and Sutanuti
Sutanuti
Sutanuti was one of the three villages which were merged to form the city of Kolkata in India. The other two villages were Gobindapur and Kalikata. Job Charnock, an administrator with the British East India Company is traditionally credited with the honour of founding the city...
(which later merged to form the city of Calcutta), under a lease from the Sabarna Roy Choudhury family on the 10th of November,1698.
Modern day Behala
Today, Behala encompasses one of the largest suburban agglomerations of the city of KolkataKolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
. 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) as an option. During the construction the Taratala fly-over, a large portion of traffic flowed through James Long Sarani to avoid construction activity, causing development of other areas of Behala.
Due to lack of planning and space, encroachments by street-hawkers of the sidewalks on both sides of the busy Diamond Harbour Road, push the pedestrians to the already busy road. Areas like Behala Tram Depot, Behala Chowrasta and Behala Sakher Bazar have been added to the 'Calcutta Green Zone' and traffic moves at a snail's pace during the peak office hours. A tramline runs up the centre of Diamond Harbour Road from Joka to Behala Tram Depot and often the people moved faster in the trams. Previously it was well connected by tram lines towards the north. However the trams were stopped when the flyover at the Taratala junction was constructed.
Transport
Behala is extremely well connected to most areas of Kolkata by busBus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
. Private buses, govt buses and minibuses fly to Howrah, BBD Bag, Park Street
Park Street
Park Street may refer to:* Park Street, Boston, Massachusetts, USA** Park Street , Boston, USA* Park Street, Hertfordshire, England** Park Street railway station in Hertfordshire* Park Street, Kolkata, India* Park Street, Bristol, England...
, Sealdah
Sealdah
Sealdah is one of the major train stations serving Kolkata in India, the others being Howrah Station, Shalimar Station and Kolkata Railway Station. Sealdah is one of the busiest rail stations in India and an important suburban rail terminal...
, Khidderpore, Bidhannagar and other parts of the city from the bus terminuses at Thakurpukur, Sakherbazar, Behala Tram Depot, Parnasree Pally
Parnasree Pally
Parnasree Pally is a locality of Behala in southern Kolkata, India. It was included in the Calcutta Municipal Corporation only in 1985. Translated to English the name means "beauty of the leaves". While it has lost most of its greenery owing to rapid real estate development, the name endures...
, Barisha
Barisha
Barisha is a residential locality of Kolkata , West Bengal, India. Historically, it one of the oldest boroughs in Kolkata. It was the abode of the great Sabarna Roy Choudhury family. Barisha is known today for being the home of the Indian Cricket idol Sourav Ganguly...
and Silpara.
Trams used to be extremely popular vehicles for commuting to and from several parts of Behala, but of late the trend has seen a reversal. The only tram service was from Behala Tram Depo to Joka [Now being stoped due to new Metro project].
The autorickshaws in Behala are notorious for aggravating the traffic congestion during rush hours, but they are used by the common people as a convenient way of travelling to Rashbehari, Gariahat, Tollygunge
Tollygunge
Tollygunge is a locality of South Kolkata. It is flanked by the Eastern Railway south suburban line to the north, Lake Gardens and Golf Green in the east, the Pashchim & Purba Putiaries in the south, and Behala in the west.-History:...
, Jadavpur
Jadavpur
Jadavpur is a southern neighbourhood of Kolkata, India. It is bounded by Dhakuria to the north, Tollygunge to the west, Santoshpur to the east and Garia to the south...
and Rabindranagar comfortably.
Behala has a mind-boggling network of alleys and lanes, and the only vehicle that can take one all the way into the narrowest of streets in the heart of the area is the cycle rickshaw
Cycle rickshaw
The cycle rickshaw is a small-scale local means of transport; it is also known by a variety of other names such as velotaxi, pedicab, bikecab, cyclo, becak, trisikad, or trishaw or, simply, rickshaw which also refers to auto rickshaws, and the, now uncommon, rickshaws pulled by a person on foot...
. While rickshaws are not allowed to ply beyond Taratala, they serve as the connecting medium from the Diamond Harbour Road to the inner reaches of Behala. It is advisable that one should bargain before taking a ride, since otherwise rather unpleasant arguments have been known to result afterwards.
Taxi
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
s are available at most times, although other than the mandatory hours, few taxis would agree to go all the way to distant areas. The taxi driver may ask for some extra charges to reach distant areas few kilometers inside main trunk of Diamond Harbour Road.
Behala is served by the Majherhat railway station on the Sealdah
Sealdah
Sealdah is one of the major train stations serving Kolkata in India, the others being Howrah Station, Shalimar Station and Kolkata Railway Station. Sealdah is one of the busiest rail stations in India and an important suburban rail terminal...
South section of Kolkata Suburban Railway
Kolkata Suburban Railway
The Kolkata Suburban Railway is the rail system for the suburbs surrounding the city of Kolkata . Railways such as this are important and heavily-used infrastructure in India....
.
Behala is also very crowdy throughout the year. Tram depot areas is where the main market is and attracts customers from nearby areas. During the Pujas the place can be extremely crowded making it difficult to even walk. The infamous traffic jam is constant around this area.
Metro Railway
PresidentPresident of India
The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary...
Ms. Pratibha Patil
Pratibha Patil
Pratibha Devisingh Patil is the 12th President of the Republic of India and first woman to hold the office. She was sworn in as President of India on 25 July 2007, succeeding Dr. A.P.J...
laid the foundation stone of Joka
Joka
Joka may refer to:* Joka, a character in Klonoa: Door to Phantomile*Joka, Kolkata, a locality in South West Kolkata, India, the home of IIM Calcutta and DesiGuru*Tilapia joka, species of aquarium fish...
to BBD Bagh Metro Rail Project in presence of Central Finance Minister
Finance Minister of India
The Minister of Finance, also known as the Finance Minister of India is a cabinet position in the Government of India and heads the Ministry of Finance. He drafts the general budget of the country, and is in charge of the national economy. Currently, Pranab Mukherjee holds the charge of finance...
and Governor
Governor of West Bengal
The Governor of West Bengal is a nominal head and representative of the President of India in the state of West Bengal. The Governor is appointed by the President for a term of five years. H.E. Mayankote Kelath Narayanan is the current governor...
of West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
in September, 2010. There will be total 13 stations in this 17 km stretch metro. Ms. Mamata Banerjee
Mamata Banerjee
Mamata Banerjee is the 11th and current chief minister of the Indian state of West Bengal. She is the first woman to hold the office. Banerjee founded All India Trinamool Congress in 1997 and became chairperson, after separating from the Indian National Congress...
, Central Rail Minister promised to finish this project in record time and proposed the name of the stations in the name of some of old famous singers Like Kishore Kumar
Kishore Kumar
Kishore Kumar , born Abhas Kumar Ganguly, was an Indian film playback singer and an actor who also worked as lyricist, composer, producer, director, screenwriter and scriptwriter.Kishore Kumar was one of India's greatest performers of the late 20th century...
, Mohammed Rafi, Mohini Chowdhury, etc.
Metro railway construction work is currently in progress from February 2011. Currently work is going on between Pathakpara( opposite Behala Balanda Brahmachari Hospital) and Behala tram depot. Metro line will be elevated over the old tram line from Joka to Mominpur and then it will go underground from there till BBD Bag.
Medical Facilities
- Vidyasagar Hospital, Brahmo Samaj Road
- Balananda Hospital.
- South Suburban hospital
- James long hospital
- Vivekanada Hospital, Parnasree PallyParnasree PallyParnasree Pally is a locality of Behala in southern Kolkata, India. It was included in the Calcutta Municipal Corporation only in 1985. Translated to English the name means "beauty of the leaves". While it has lost most of its greenery owing to rapid real estate development, the name endures...
Festivals
Durga Puja
Durga Puja
Durga puja ; দুর্গা পূজা,ଦୁର୍ଗା ପୂଜା,‘Worship of Durga’), also referred to as Durgotsava ; , is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and...
, as it is in the rest of West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
, is the most popular festival in Behala. The family Durga Puja celebration of the Sabarna Roy Choudhurys, launched in 1610 by Laksmikanta Majumdar, is the oldest recorded Durga Puja observation in Behala as well as the second oldest in western Bengal. Today altogether six Durga Pujas are being held in the Barisha branch of the family: Aatchala, Baro Bari, Mejo Bari, Benaki Bari, Kalikingkar Bhawan and Majher Bari. Durga Puja is also observed by many other old families of this area as well as by numerous local clubs. Such clubs include Behala Debdaru Fatak, Mukul Sangha, Behala Natun Dal, Behala Jatiya Sangha, Behala Club, Barisha Club (amalgamation of Srishti and Sahajatri clubs), Sree Sangha, Adarsha Pally, Nandana Yuba Sangha, Behala Young Men’s etc. Most of these clubs has won various prestigious Sharad Sammans or Durga Puja awards and attracts a large crowd of visitors from the other parts of the city every year.
Jora Mandir Haldar Barir Durga Pujo (Beside Canton Restaurant - Behala Thana Stoppage) is one of the oldest Durga Pujas of Kolkata. It has crossed its 300 yrs of commencement. The puja is conducted by the descedants of Lakkhi Narayan Haldar inside there premises. The Griha Devata is Shiva and Narayan.
Kali Puja
Kali Puja
Kali Puja or Shyama Puja is a festival dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali, celebrated on the new moon day of the Hindu month Ashwin in Bengal. It coincides with the pan-Indian Lakshmi Puja day of Diwali...
is also observed with great reverence in Behala. A 15-day fair is held at Parnasree Pally by Sarkari Abasan (Behala College ground), Parnasree Club and Surja Sangha during Kali Puja. Shankar Paik’s Kali Puja at Pathakpara attracts many people not only for the colourful soirees but also for the Sada Kali (white Kali) idol. Yuva Gosthi at Roybahadur Road arranges an Annakut festival during Kali Puja. Other noted Kali Pujas are observed at Jayrampur Jala, Rabindra Nagar, Begor Khal, Sreema Palli areas. Behala Siddeshwari Kali Temple and Halder's Kali Temple at Behala Bazar attracts many people during the occasion. Among the family Kali Puja celebrations, the houses of Bhabani Bala Dasi and Shib Dulal Basu are quite famous.
There are famous Jagatdhatri Pujas also. Local Clubs like Behala Siksha Mandir (Bhangadalan), Behala Bandhu Dal, Dhali Para Sarbojonin are most prominent among them. They Celebrate this puja like Durga Puja for 5–6 days with many cultural programs and events.
Culture
The area of Behala boasts of quite a few auditoria, movie theaters and hosts art fairs on a regular basis. The most prominent auditorium of the region is Sarat Sadan, which is a part of the Manton Shopping Complex. The movie theaters in Behala are distributed along the length of the Diamond Harbor Road and the most notable ones are Ajanta (near Pathakpara), Ashoka (near Manton),Elora (near Tram depot) and Pushpasree (near Sakherbazar).Music is yet another aspect of the cultural life in Behala.
Railway minister Mamata Banerjee will lay the foundation stone of an indoor stadium at Behala. Satyajit Ray Stadium, as it will be called, will be the second such sporting venue in the city after Netaji Indoor Stadium.
Famous people from Behala
- Sourav GangulySourav GangulySourav Chandidas Ganguly is a former Indian cricketer, and captain of the Indian national team. Born into an affluent family, Ganguly was introduced into the world of cricket by his elder brother Snehasish. He is regarded as one of India's most successful captains in modern times. He started his...
– ex-Indian cricketer, former Indian Captain. Currently playing IPL; hosting Game shows, a Cricket Analyst/Commentator - Sovan ChatterjeeSovan ChatterjeeSovan Chatterjee is an Indian politician belonging to the All India Trinamool Congress. He is the current Mayor of the city of Kolkata, the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal...
- Present Mayor & MLA [Behala (E)] of Kolkata. - Partha ChatterjeePartha ChatterjeePartha Chatterjee is a Subaltern Studies and Postcolonial scholar. He is a multi-disciplinary scholar, with special emphasis on political science, anthropology and history. Chatterjee received Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize in 2009 for his contributions in Academics.-Education:He completed a B.A...
- Present MLA [Behala (W)] and Minister for Industries of Govt. of WB - Arin PaulArin PaulArin Paul is a Bengali film director, writer and researcher on film history.-Early life:Paul was born in Belur, West Bengal and raised in Shillong, Meghalaya and Calcutta. He attended St. Edmund's School, Shillong, Andrews High School, the Scottish Church Collegiate School, and Shyamaprasad...
– Film Maker. - Anjan Chowdhury – Director of Bengali commercial films.
- Arun Banerjee - Bengali Actor in films, television and stage.
- Pijush Ganguly - Bengali Actor in films, television and stage.
- Krishnakishor Mukherjee - Bengali Actor in films, television and stage.
- Biswajit Chakraborty Biswajit ChakrabortyBiswajit Chakraborty is a Bengali Actor in films, television and stage.-Fimography:# Autograph .... Manoj Sarkar# Byomkesh Bakshi .... Anadi Babu# Bodhisattva .... Producer Roy# Prem Amar...
- Bengali Actor in films, television and stage. - Aniket ChattopadhayaAniket ChattopadhayaAniket Chattopadhyay is a journalist and director of the Bengali films, Chha E Chhuti [released] and Bye Bye Bangkok . He is also the News Editor of Bengali News Channel Kolkata TV.Aniket Chattopadhyay's next film is GORAY GONDOGOL-References:...
– Director of Bengali films. - Indranil SenIndranil SenIndranil Sen is an Indian Bengali male singer and producer of Bengali films.-Early life:Indranil was an engineering student but discontinued and returned to Kolkata and became a singer.-Discography:* Durer Balaka Vol 1 - 5* Anupama...
- Bengali Singer, holds record for singing title songs of maximum number of tele-serials. - Bickram GhoshBickram GhoshBickram Ghosh is an Indian tabla player performing in Hindustani classical music as well as Fusion music....
- Popular percussionist, and Page 3 celebrity. - Manomay Bhattacharya - Singer - Bengali Modern Song, and Page 3 celebrity.
- Mohini Chowdhury - Formar Lyricist of Bengali Movie Songs.
- Dona Ganguly - Famous Odissi Danseuse
- Somak Sarkar - Digital marketing guru
- Brajasunder das- Dramatist and Actor
- Biswanath Chakraborty- Famous educationist and Politician,Ex.MLA[Behala West]
- Shantipriya Chaterjee - Educationist and Poet
- Sourjya Banerjee - Entrepreneur
Cuisine
The most popular restaurants in Behala include Panna, Canton, Aashirvad, Prince and the economical Punjab Restaurant. Among fast food joints, Tawa and Haji's are among the top choices for the average Behalite. Haji serves one of the most delicious biriyanis and other moghlai plates in Kolkata. Butter Fishfry of Bengal Restaurant is also one of the most popular fast food.The average Bengali cannot do without sweetmeats and a testimony to this fact is the large number of sweet shops scattered all over Kolkata, esp Behala. Famous sweet shops of Behala are Sree Durga (the oldest one), Gobindo, Panna etc. Roadside stalls serving chowmein, egg rolls, cutlet
Cutlet
Cutlet refers to:# a thin slice of meat from the leg or ribs of veal, pork, or mutton # a fried cutlet# a croquette made of minced meat...
s, and kebabs are also found all around, but are best avoided due to the unhygienic conditions that they operate in.
Tea stalls serving tea
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
, biscuits and traditional Bengali snacks like Beguni (brinjal chops), Fuluri, Piyanji (onion
Onion
The onion , also known as the bulb onion, common onion and garden onion, is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Allium. The genus Allium also contains a number of other species variously referred to as onions and cultivated for food, such as the Japanese bunching onion The onion...
chops) and Aloor Chop (potato
Potato
The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family . The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well as the edible tuber. In the region of the Andes, there are some other closely related cultivated potato species...
chops) are found at every nook and corner.
Shopping
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. However, one must exercise extreme caution while purchasing any items from these roadside stalls because of the absolute lack of accountability on the sellers part in case of faulty product sales.
Education
Schools in Behala are affiliated with the West Bengal Board of Secondary EducationWest Bengal Board of Secondary Education
The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education is the West Bengal state government administered autonomous examining authority for the Standard 10 examination of West Bengal, India. The examination for the 10th standard is called the Madhyamik Pariksha or secondary examination...
, the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE)
Indian Certificate of Secondary Education
The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education or ICSE examination is an examination conducted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, a private, non-governmental board of school education in India, for class 10, i.e., grade 10...
and the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE). Major schools in this region are Vivekananda Mission School & M.P Birla Foundation Higher Secondary School (which are rated amongst the top 8 ISC Schools in Kolkata),Barisha High School, Behala Blind School, D.A.V Institutions (formarly D.A.V Public School), Behala Arya Vidyamandir, National Gems Higher Secondary School, Vidya Bharati, Orient Day School, Bratachari Vidyasram, Behala High School, Behala Girls High School etc. Behala College, Vivekananda College and Vivekananda Women’s College, affiliated with the University of Calcutta
University of Calcutta
The University of Calcutta is a public university located in the city of Kolkata , India, founded on 24 January 1857...
are three major colleges in the area. The Indian Institute of Management Calcutta
Indian Institute of Management Calcutta
The Indian Institute of Management Calcutta is an institute of management located in Kolkata , India giving diplomas in management...
, Joka is also very close to Behala.
Places of interest
- State Archaeology Museum, Satyen Roy Road
- Sabarna Roy Chowdhury Family houses at BarishaBarishaBarisha is a residential locality of Kolkata , West Bengal, India. Historically, it one of the oldest boroughs in Kolkata. It was the abode of the great Sabarna Roy Choudhury family. Barisha is known today for being the home of the Indian Cricket idol Sourav Ganguly...
- Sabarna SangrahashalaSabarna SangrahashalaSabarna Sangrahashalais a unique museum of the Sabarna Roy Choudhury family. It has been developed by The Sabarna Roy Choudhury Paribar Parishad...
, Baro Bari, BarishaBarishaBarisha is a residential locality of Kolkata , West Bengal, India. Historically, it one of the oldest boroughs in Kolkata. It was the abode of the great Sabarna Roy Choudhury family. Barisha is known today for being the home of the Indian Cricket idol Sourav Ganguly... - Behala Flying Club at Parnashree
- Roy Family-House of Roybahadurs
- Sonar Durgabari (House of Sourav Ganguly's Maternal Uncle)