Ranaghat

Ranaghat
	Ranaghat
	— city —
	Ranaghat Location of Ranaghat; in West Bengal and India
Coordinates	23°11′N 88°35′E / 23.18°N 88.58°ECoordinates: 23°11′N 88°35′E / 23.18°N 88.58°E
Country	India
State	West Bengal
District(s)	Nadia
MP	Sucharu Ranjan Haldar
Parliamentary constituency	Ranaghat
Assembly constituency	Ranaghat Uttar Paschim
Population	235,583 (2011)
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area; • Elevation	; • 7 metres (23 ft)
• Pincode	• 741201
• Telephone	• +91-3473-2xxxxx
• Vehicle	• WB-52

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Ranaghat Junction Railway Station

Ranaghat (Bengali: রাণাঘাট) is a city in the district of Nadia, West Bengal, India. It is situated 74 kilometres north of Calcutta. It is known for its handloom industry, various types of flowers and sweet dishes. The town has spread up along its borders in all corners recently. People from the nearby places do come here for living. It is one of the most important railway junctions in the Sealdah-Murshidabad railway section.

[edit] History

Ranaghat town has existed since the British invaded India. A myth is still prevalent that the name of the town came from the bandit 'Rana Dacoit', who used to pillage this area 500 or 600 years back and he used to give pujas to the goddess Kali to thank Her. A more 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 large percentage of the population are the families of refugees from Bangladesh. There are also many families who had extensive ties to foreign investments in the town.

The Pal-Chaudhuri (Palchowdhury) family, descended from the heroic Krishna Panti, they founded numerous charitable schools and hospitals, and donated much land to the Happy Club.

The Deychowdhury family is well known throughout the district for its prestigious "rathayatra" and for its "Durga puja".

The town is home to the famous Bengalipeople. Yesteryears film actress Rakhee was born and brought up in Ranaghat.^[1] Athlete Soma Biswas hails from Ranaghat.

[edit] Geography

The town is exactly 74 kilometres north of Calcutta and 26 kilometres south of Krishnanagar, Nadia District headquarters. The Bangladesh border is very close to this town. Ranaghat is located on the banks of River Churni.

[edit] Demographics

In the 2011 census, Ranaghat Urban Agglomeration had a population of 235,583, out of which 119,578 were males and 116,005 were females. The 0-6 years population was 18,575. Effective literacy rate for the 7+ population was 86.10 per cent.^[2]

[edit] Places of interest

Churni Bridge

Siddeshwari Temple

The following places might be of interest to visitors.

1. 1. Pal-Chaudhuri House -- The Pal-Chaudhuri House at Ghatak Para is a historical marvel and a beautiful reminder of the historical importance of the Zamindars of Nadia. The house was built over 250 years ago by Krishna Panti, a legendary hero born in a mud hut, who rose to become one of the greatest merchants of Bengal[1], through his pious good works and honesty. He was given the title Pal-Chaudhuri and became Zamindar over a huge area of Nadia. He built this house with over 300 rooms for his descendants, employing Scottish architects. The buildings, temples and gardens are legendary with intricate terra cotta work, and is one of the only such buildings remaining mostly intact. The Pal-Chaudhuri family still live there and continue the charitable works of their ancestors who built many of the schools and hospitals in the area, including the Pal-Choudhury High School, and the charitable Ramakrishna Vedanta Society Vidyapith known as Shakti Empowerment Education for poor women and children (SEEschool.org) and Children's Park at Satish Palchowdhury Trust. The Pal-Chaudhuri House and Ramakrishna Vedanta Vidyapith SEEschool.org have been featured on the American TV documentary series "Double Exposure," airing in over 50 countries worldwide in 2011, and many articles.

2. Churni Nodir ghat -- The bank of River Churni is a pleasant break from the scorching heat of summer months. The recently built bridge over the Churni connects Ainshtola (on the west bank of Churni) to Chotobazar on the east bank.

3. Siddheshwari Temple -- Famous temple situated in the heart of the town, Siddheshwaritala. This old temple is in existence for over 150 years. Devotees, especially women, pray here on a regular basis.

4. The Church -- One of the most beautiful churches in West Bengal, ranks very close to the Bandel Church. The fabric works inside the prayer-room and the aesthetic design of the outside wall is simply fabulous. More about it in the Culture section.

Pal Choudhury Building

5. Nistarini Temple -- Another temple near the Happy-Club maidan.

6 Ranaghat Forest -- Located outside the main township, Ranaghat Forest is a popular picnic spot.

7. The DEY CHOWDHURY house is also a very beautiful ancient piece of art of the town.The building though an old one keeps up to the mark of a well kept piece of an architecture.

[edit] Economy

A farmland in Shankarpur, Ranaghat outskirt

Ranaghat is a 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.

The Department of Food Processing Industries of India is planning to set up a market complex exclusively for flowers in Ranaghat.^[5] Ranaghat has one of the capturing market of flowers in West Bengal.^[6]

Another industry which is not receiving the government's 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 famous place for textile weaving. Moreover ready-made garments are trendy clothes of late became very popular among the teens and youths.^[7]

IT infrastructure is getting popularised lately. All the banks in town have been computerised. The town now boasts several ATM counters. ICICI Prudential are setting up an office at Rathtala. Investment banking is creeping into the town at a turtle's pace. Fullerton India has set up an office in the town recently.^[8]

The land prices in Ranaghat have soared up hugely in last 4 years. Two new ATM centers have come up recently, one of ICICI Bank, and the other of Bank of Baroda. Both being set up in the busy Subhas Avenue area.

Couple of enthusiasts have started a web development company, Innovative Technology Solutions based at Ranaghat. The company provides web solutions to the schools, colleges, and SMEs in the district of Nadia.^[9]

[edit] Education

Pal Chaudhary High School

Bharathi High School

Ranaghat College Entrance

The town boasts a large number of primary and high-schools and a reputed college for higher education. Their names are listed below.

Higher-Secondary school

Pal Choudhury High School
Brajabala Girls' High School
Lalgopal High school - separate sessions for Boys' and girls'
Bharati High School
Rathtala Colony H.S. School
Nasra High School
Debnath High School
Yousuf Instituition
Milan Bagan Higher Secondary School
St. Mary's English School (ICSE Affiliated)
Convent of Jesus and Mary (ICSE Affiliated)
Ramakrishna Vedanta Society Vidyapith / Shakti Empowerment Education Program ^[10]

Primary school

Brajobala girls' primary school
Kendriya Vidyalaya, Ranaghat - Set up in the year 2007, in the outskirt of Churni river.
Ramakrishna Vedanta Society Vidyapith / Shakti Empowerment Education^[11]
Malancha Vidyapith
Holy Child school
Nivedita Academy
Anandamohan Prathamik Vidyalaya
Dayal Nagar Primary School
Mangobindao Primary School
Chhobi Memorial and so many others are there.
Binapani Academy KG School

College

Ranaghat College: Its the solo institute of higher education in the town. It offers bachelors' programmes in most of the science subjects (B.Sc degree to be offered), in arts (B.A to be offered) and in commerce (B.Com). It is one of the affiliated colleges of Kalyani University.^[12] Students from all over Ranaghat and nearby townships come to study here. The college was set up in 1950. It was assessed and accredited by NAAC in 2007 and was awarded the B+ grade.^[13]
St. Mary's College: Situated at Aishtala, St. Mary' college is a new college established in the town that follows convent education. It is run by Ranaghat Mandakini educational society.

It would have been nice if an engineering or medical college got established in the town. But given the West-Bengal economic situation, this dream is unlikely to get fulfilled. Though the technical education in the town recently got a major boost as well-known IT-educational firm NIIT has chosen Ranaghat to set up their new office. NIIT Ranaghat Center is located near Court More, on NH-34.^[14]

[edit] Culture

[edit] Festivals

A pandal during durga-puja

A glimpse of Rathyatra Utsav'09 at night

The town is inhabited mostly by Bengali Hindus. Durga-puja, like in all other Bengali communities, is the largest and most colourful festival and is celebrated throughout the town. Pujas belonging to the old families of Ranaghat are a few hundred years old. The Durga idol at Ghatak Bari is made of cement, a permanent structure which is one of the firsts of its kind in the region. All other major Hindu pujas are celebrated as well. Rath-yatra is another big festival of the town. Every year millions of people from the town and nearby places come to see the rath, enjoy various rides and have fun during the month of June–July at the happy club maidan & swasthyonnati Math rath-yatra-utsav.

The Christan community celebrates Christmas at Begopara Church outside the main township. It is one of the most beautiful churches of Bengal. During Christmas, people from all religions join the party. Moreover, there is a famous mosque at Nasra-para, outskirt of the town.

A popular cinema hall

[edit] Entertainment and sports

There are four theatres in the city. They are Surendra, Ranaghat Talkies (Dolby-DTS), Geetanjali and Pramanick. The last two have been closed down for some time now. Geetanjali is supposed to be converted into "Rabindra Bhavan" soon.

Cultural programmes are mostly held in the following places.

Najrul Mancha also known as Aheli. Last time it came in the news when it held the Junior. P.C. Sorcar Magic show. First Indian Idol, Abhijeet Sawant also performed in a live show here in January, 2006. Speculation is there that Himesh Reshammiya is coming for a live show here very soon.
Rabindra-Bhavan - Mostly used by schools and colleges for their annual function. Some renovation is being carried out with this place. The same was scheduled to reopen in the beginning of 2008. But it didn't happen for multiple reasons. The earlier Rabindra-Bhavan have been demolished, now the Geetanjali cinema hall has been renovated and renamed as the 'Rabindra Bhavan'.

There is a 'Mukta Mancha'(Open Air Stage) of Milan Mandir Club at Harinagar which is a small village in Ranaghat.

Each winter one large cultural program(better known as Melas) takes place in Ranaghat. It is known as 'Ranaghat Utsav'. One more similar event 'Nadia Mela' used to take place earlier. But thaat 'Nadia Mela' doesn't take place anymore. Eminent Bengali social and cultural exponents such as Lopamudra Mitra, V. Balsara and Rupankar have performed at these shows. Now 'Ranaghat Utsav' is considered as the most popular cultural festival in the town.

Attempts have been made by the Ranaghat Municipality for regular Blood Donation Camps and active propagation of the Eradicate Illiteracy movement.

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

[edit] Transportation

Station

Railway Station

The city is well connected to the Sealdah railway station. Local and passenger trains are available every half-an-hour. But due to the commuter population explosion in intermediate stations like Chakdaha and Kalyani, don't expect to find a seat during daytime-hours. 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.

Narrow street of Ranaghat. Not much changed here. Cycle Rikshas are still most common

The Railway station at Ranaghat has a long history. Sealdah-Ranaghat rail connection was made during the British Period. This main line was opened on September 1862, during formation of Eastern Bengal Guarantee Railway.^[15] Ranaghat-Kalyani and Ranaghat-Shantipur sections were electrified in the financial year 1963-64.^[16]

From Ranaghat railway station,^[17] trains travel both north and south. Local trains are available to: Krishnagar, 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 6:25pm for Ranaghat. It takes around 1 and half hour in comparison to the 2 hours taken by local trains. Couple of Ladies special trains; one from Krishnanagar via Ranaghat to Sealdah, another from Ranaghat to Sealdah to be inaugurated in the year 2010.^[18]

A Bus at the Old Bus-stand depot

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 have occupied a lage portion of the platforms which is the main problem for getting the looks of a Model Station.

The town has two bus-stands, one at Rathtala and one near Ranaghat College. 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. Some long-distance night buses to north Bengal are also available. People in general, though prefer trains because of ready availability and more convenience.

Auto rickshaw service might be popular in other cities of West Bengal but it is not available here. There are very few private cars.

Nearest airport from the town being the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport at Dum Dum, almost 80 km from the town.