Tamluk

Tamluk
—  town  —
Tamluk Location of Tamluk in West Bengal and India
Coordinates	22°18′N 87°55′E
Country	India
State	West Bengal
District(s)	Purba Medinipur
Parliamentary constituency	Tamluk
Assembly constituency	Tamluk, Moyna, Nandakumar
Population	45,826 (2001)
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	• 7 metres (23 ft)
Codes • Pincode • 721636 • Telephone • +91-3228 • Vehicle • WB 29-xxxx,WB 30-xxxx
Website	purbamedinipur.gov.in/

Map of Purba Medinipur showing Tamluk

Tamluk (Bengali: তমলুক) is the district headquarters of Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal, India. Though there is some controversy, scholars have generally agreed that present day Tamluk is the site of the ancient city variously known as Tamralipta or Tamralipti. The present town is located on the banks of the Rupnarayan River close to the Bay of Bengal.

Demographics

As of the 2001 census of India, Tamluk had a population of 45,826. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Tamluk has an average literacy rate of 77%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 83%, and female literacy is 72%. In Tamluk, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

History

This ancient port city and kingdom was bounded by the Bay of Bengal in the south, river Rupnarayana in the east and Subarnarekha in the west. The Rupnarayana is the joint flow of the river Dwarkeshwar and the river Shilai. The Bay of Bengal and these great rivers and their numerous branches created a prosperous and easy water navigational system fostering commerce, culture and early contacts with the people outside the region. At the same time, these rivers helped to develop the agriculture in this region.

Archaeological remains show continuous settlement from about 3rd century BC. It was known as Tramralipti (in the Purans and the Mahabharata) or Tamralipta (in Mahabharata) or Tamalika (in historical documents) or Tamalitti (in foreigners' descriptions) or Tamoluk (in the British Raj). It was a seaport, now buried under river silt. For this reason, Tamluk has many ponds and lakes remaining today.

In the Mahabharata (Bhishma Parba/Nabam Adhyay) while describing the names of the holiest rivers and kingdoms of India, Sanjay took the name of "Tramralipta" to Dhritarastra.

Tamluk was also known as Bhivas (in religious texts) and Madhya Desh (as the Middle State of Utkal/Kalinga and Banga).

According to Jain sources, Tamralipti was the capital of the kingdom of Venga and was long known as a port

also see

Main article: Tamralipta

People

The region has its own distinct ethnic mix, stemming from successive migrations and invasions from both the west, east, and especially from northern India . Its history shows the complex combination of indigenous, Buddhist, Jain, Hindu and Islamic cultures, often introduced through physical conquest and political control, as well as through trade, travel, and migration.

Unlike other parts of Bengal, Tamluk was always well connected with the Gangetic plains. In fact, there is evidence to suggest that the culture of Aryavarta influenced life in early Tamluk. The worship of Bheema is a sign of the socio-religious acceptance of Aryan culture in this area. Even in the recent past, Tamluk was divided into many areas based on caste and occupation, such as Malakar Para (Flower traders), Adhikary Para (Brahmins),Metia Para in Nimtala (Transport Business and Timber Merchants), Dey Para (Gold traders), and Mathore Para (Sweeper's colony).

Economy

As a seaport, Tamluk was once famous as a centre for trade. Currently it also a place of affluent people. It is one of the highest "Premium Collecting Area" of LIC (Life Insurance Corporation of India) on a pan-India basis.

The main trade presently is of "Pan Leaf" (betel leaf). The building of bus bodies is another important business as is transport.

Agriculture

Tamluk is mainly an agricultural area. About 60% of the land is under cultivation. Tamluk is one of the largest producer and exporter of the Pan Leaf. Once Fishing was an important occupation of the local residents. Hilsa (Ilish Mach) of the River Rupnarayan is very famous for its taste.

Main crops are : 1. Rice 2.Bananas 3. Coconut 4. Potatoes 5. Cotton 6. Fresh Vegetables

Agricultural Products Of the Region: 1. Pan Leaf 2. Paddy 3. Flowers

Transport

Tamluk is well linked by road and rail. Tamluk is a major roadway junction with six bus-routes originating from it:

• Tamluk to Srirampur and Moyna
• Tamluk to Mecheda, Kolaghat, and Kolkata
• Tamluk to Panskura, Kharagpur and Ghatal
• Tamluk to Haldia, Durgachowk
• Tamluk to Digha, Contai, and Egra

Tamluk is a railway junction; routes are given below:

• Howrah to Haldia, via Tamluk
• Howrah to Digha, via Tamluk and Contai
• Haldia to Kharagpur via Tamluk

Direct trains from Howrah Jn.

• 2857UP TAMRALIPTA EXPRESS Howrah Jn Dep.Time 06:40 Tamluk Jn 08:16
• 8001UP KANDARI EXPRESS Howrah Jn Dep.Time 07:50 Tamluk Jn 09:41
• 5722UP PAHARIA EXPRESS Howrah Jn Dep.Time 14:15 Tamluk Jn 15:51 ( Saturday Only )

List of trains that pass via Tamluk Junction

Train Number	Train Name	Source Station	Destination Station
12857/12857	Tamralipta Express	Howrah Jn(HWH)	Digha(DGHA)
18001/18002	Kandari Express	Howrah Jn(HWH)	Digha(DGHA)
13501/13502	Haldia Asansol Express	Haldia(HLZ)	Asansol(ASN)
12755	Haldia Chennai Express	Haldia(HLZ)	Chennai Central(MAS)
15721/15722	Paharia Express	Digha(DGHA)	New jalpaiguri(NJP)
05671	Digha Guwahati Special	Digha(DGHA)	Guwahati(GHY)

Education

Schools

• Tamluk Hamilton High School [Estd. 1852] >>> It is having a Museum also on the main building.

The Tamluk Hamilton School is the second oldest institution in district of Medinipur. In 1852, this school was founded by Mr. Robert Charles Hamilton, who was a salt merchant but Mr. Hamilton was a philanthropist, and so his name can be compared with Mr. David Hare, an immortal name in educational history of Bengal. This school produced a lot of jewels, but this school is famous due to the Khudiram Bose, the first martyr, who sacrificed his life to free the nation from the hands of British rule. He was a student of this school from 1900 to 1903

• Kharda Ramkrishna high school
• Demari High School
• Rajkumari Santonamoyee Girls' High School
• Tamluk High School (Town School)
• Vidyapeeth Girls School
• Salgechia High School
• Daharpur High School
• Kelomal Santoshini High School
• Kelomal Sarojbasini High School (Girls)
• Raghunath Memorial Academy
• Tamluk Central School
• Tamralipta Public School
• Byabattarhat Adarsha H.S School
• Sirampur Agricultural High School
• Balluk Girls' High School
• Chatra Kunja Rani Bani Bhavana
• K T P P High School
• Krishnaganj Krishi Silpa Vidhyalaya
• Balluk High School
• Mother Teresa Sikshaniketan, Biswas,
• Dakshin Moyna High School, Moyna

College

• Tamralipta Mahavidyalaya[1] (Tamluk College) - One of the oldest colleges of this south-west region of West Bengal. It has BA,B.Com, B.Sc, B-ed section. The building is old, surrounded by a large ground.

University

There is, as such, no University in this district town but INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY(IGNOU) - the world's largest University established by the Govt. of India-has got its presence in the form of a Study Centre with Tarun Sangha Information & Documentation Centre(TASIDOC) as the host institution. It is, in deed, one of the best Study Centres(Code No. 2829D)under Kolkata Regional Centre, located at Pairatungi(Near Irrigation Dak Bungalow)and was established on 18 July 2000.

The following programmes are activated in this Study Centre-Master of Atrs(English)(MEG), Master of Library and Information Science(MLIS), Bachelor Preparatory Programme(BPP), Bachelor of Arts(BA), Bachelor of Commerce(B. Com), Bachelor in Computer Application(BCA), Bachelor of Library & Information Science(BLIS), Bachelor in Tourism Studies(BTS),Diploma in Nutrition & Health Education(DNHE), Diploma in Tourism Studies(DTS), Certificate in Information Technology(CIT), Certificate in Food & Nutrition(CFN), Certificate in Nutrition & Child Care(CNCC), Certificate of Teaching in English(CTE), Certificate in Tourism Studies(CTS) and more.

A Library, A Computer Laboratory, Gyan Darshan Channel, Alumni Association and other Student Support Services are available.

Health

There is a district hospital in the town, named Tamluk District Hospital. People of this district and its nearest area's mainly depends on that hospital.Health of common people is generally well.

Art and culture

Tamluk is always praised for its reach cultural activities. There are lots of Arts schools, Dance Schools and Drama groups.

Tamluk which is also an important craft center is located just 85 km south-west of Kolkata. People of tamluk is sober, cultured and rich.

Religion

Buddhist Tirtha

During Fa-Hien's visit to Bengal, Fa-hien is said to have travelled eastward along the course of the Ganges river, and during his journey, he came across Buddhist stupas and monks at several places. In Tamluk/Tamralipti Fa-hien had spent two years, and visited twenty-two monasteries, inhabited by monks in Tamluk.

Since Bengal was adjacent to Magadha, it is possible that the Buddha had visited parts of gamtsa sdres al rashit fucthe Port City Of Tamluk to commemorate these visits.

Asoka's Reign and the Post-Maurya Period epigraphic and other sources reveal that Buddhism had established a powerful footing in Bengal during Asoka's reign. The discovery of a Mauryan inscription in Brahmi characters at Mahasthan in the district of Bogra, in Bangladesh, bearing the name Pudanagala (Pundranagara) and the recovery of many Mauryan coins and other artifacts dating from the fourth and third centuries BC suggest that the Gangetic delta was under the control of the Mauryan empire. The Chinese traveller, I-tsing, is said to have noticed Asoka's stupas near tamralipti (Tamluk).

In southern Bengal from the time of Asoka to the Pala period, both the Hinayana and Mahayana, not the tantric, forms of Buddhism were practised. But a mystic form of Buddhism developed in Bengal during the Pala period and its profound impact entirely changed the course and history of Buddhism. This medieval Buddhist movement was founded by the tantric acharyas known as Siddhas who are traditionally believed to be men of psychic and supernatural powers. Buddhism, as a typical tantric form of mysticism, reached a stage in Bengal in the hands of the Siddhas where it was easily assimilated to Shaktism. The fusion between Saktism and Buddhist mysticism gave rise to new schools of Saktism and some forms of popular religion in which Buddhism is said to have survived, despite its decline in the face of Brahmanism.

Tamluk was also an eye-witness of these historical changes of Buddhism. Once the famous Buddhist Tantric Devi Tara or Ugratara, who used to be worshiped in a Buddhist Vihar in Tamluk, started to be recognised as Hindu Devi Kali named as Barghobhima. The temple of Devi barghobhima is built on the site of a Buddhist vihara.

Tamluk, the famous Buddhist Religious and Academic centre of South East Bengal and Eastern India gradually became a centre of Sanatan Shakti Peeth.

Tamluk is also home to the Tamluk Temples—a collection of 36 ancient Buddhist and Hindu temples that are traced back to the Pala Empire of Bengal. These temples feature some of the oldest Buddhist architecture from the original Dharmapala Guardians seen today as Nio Protectors across Japan to original symbolism of Amitabha Buddha and the Bodhisattva path. The architecture is also similar to Vikramashila University and includes a monastery for the Siddha Acharyas who founded Tibetan Buddhism. The Tamluk temples have been declared Heritage Sites by the Archeological Survey of India.

Sanatan Shakti Peeth

It is an important pilgrim place of the Hindus and one of the 51 sacred places of Shakti Peeth where left ankle of Sati/Parvati fell. The temple's presiding deity is known as Shri Barghobhima Devi.

" Bivasete Bam Gulfa Felila keshab / Bhima Rupa Debi tate Kapali Bhairav" - Annadamongal by Bharatchandra Rai.

" Tamoluker Barghabhima Raikhan-r Kali" - Dharomongal by Manikram.

" Gokule Gomatinama / Tamralipte Barghobhima / Uttare Bidita Bishwakaya " Chandimongal by Mukundaram Chakrovorty.

Vaisnav/Vaishnav Thirtha

In the vaishnava/vaisnava dharma Tamluk is also an important Vaishnav/vaisnava Tirtha. According to Kashidas Mahabharat and Jaimini's Mahabharat Supreme Lord Sri Krishna and Arjun came here to release the Devine Horse of Ashwamedh Yagna from King Tramradhwaja. The land of Tamluk is always devine and sacred because it was touched by the lotus feet of Sri Krishna.

In various Vaisnava religious writing Tamluk is mentioned as the next "Vrindavan" where on the next Kalp (Next Creation of the universe) Sri Krishna will play his Rass Leela.

Sri Krishna himself confessed his affection with Tamluk to Arjuna, the son of Kunti.

Tamoliptat Param Sthanam Nasmakam Pritirishyate

Mamakam Hridayang Lakkha Jathatyajyang Tatha Maya

Tamoliptang Hi Natyajyamidameba Sunischatam

Tyajyami Sarbatirthani Kale Kale Yuge Yuge

Tamoliptantta Kausteya Na tyajyami Kadachana.

It means : Tamluk is the supreme place of religion, the way my wife Lakshmi Devi stays in my heart, Tamluk is alywas nearer to my heart in such a way, Again and again, time to time i will leave all Pilgrimage, but will never leave tamluk for a moment even.

Christianity In Tamluk

The ancient religious centre of Buddhist and Hindus also came under the influence of Christianity. The first Christians in Tamluk were the Portuguese themselves. After their intermarriage with local women, their descendants became the first indigenous Christians. Then came the local converts to Christianity from both Hinduism and Islam.

In Tamluk, the Portuguese settlement had a church built in 1635. The flourishing slave market at Tamluk in the seventeenth century was mentioned by Shihabuddin Talish. In 1724, Valintine had mentioned the wax trade at Tamluk, while Carreri in 1695 had found Tamluk under Portuguese control and Christianity.

• This rapidly modernising small town is full of mandirs (temples). Lord Chaitanya purified the land of Tamluk with his lotus feet the way to Neelachal/Puri. There is mandir of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. It is called "Harir Mandir". Chaitanya Dev arrived here in 1507 (1402 Shakaba) and took a holy bath. When the divine self of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu left this world in 1534 his disciple Bashudev Ghosh built the Harir Mandir in Tamluk.

At Tamluk's southern part there is a sacred ghat to take bath on the day of Makar Sankranti and is considered as one of the holiest in India.

Following are the special religious places of interest of Tamluk:

• Barghobhima Mandir
• Harir Mandir & Mahaprabhur Dalan (Near Jelkhanar More)
• Jishnu-Hari Mandir
• Radhamadhav & Radharaman Mandir (at Rajbari)
• Ramkrishna Mission Sevashram

Following are the Special religious festivals of Tamluk:

• Ratha Yatra (At Demari Football Ground)
• Charak Mela
• Makar Sankrant Barunir Mela (Very famous)
• Bhim Mela (On 11th day of Bengali month Magha)
• Kali Mela (at RAJARAMPUR in the Bengali month of Chaitra)
• Ratha Jatra (at Harir Hat in the Bengali month of Ashar)
• Bhim Mela ( at Bamanara village on Bhim Ekadashi day)

Landmarks & Tourist Places

• Rupnarayan :- The bank of river Rupnarayan is famous for picnic.

• Devi Barghobhima :- Nearly 1150 year old Temple of Kali named as Devi Barghobhima. This temple is a part of 51 Shakti Peethas. Puranas say that the small finger of left feet of Sati/Parvati fell here when Lord Vishnu cut the sacred Body of Goddess Sati into several pieces to make Lord Shiva quite.

• Tamluk Rajbari :- It is on the outskirts of town. The literal translation for "rajbari" is king's house, once housing one of the many kings in West Bengal. The Mayura-dhwaja (Peackok) Dynasty had been named in Mahabharata, Bhagvat, Bramhabaibarto Puran etc. as a very rich and wealthest one of that region.

• Tamralipta Archeological Museum :- It is an Archeological Museum in Tamluk; it is a must see place of the town. Mr Kamal Kundu is the one of the prominent person who did his best to run this museum. The Tamralipta Museum at Tamluk contains artifacts of tamra or copper. Inscribed copper templates comprise the documents of this museum. The museum has preserved a tamralipta of Greek inscriptions. The Tamralipta Museum preserves the historical heritage of Bengal.

• Rakhit Bati :- It is the another place to visit in Tamluk. In the beginning of 19th century it was famous as a secrete center of the then revolutionary party ‘Anusilan Samiti’ & ‘Gupta samiti. Famous historian late Shri Tailakyanath Rakhit rebuilt this building.

• Matangani Sahid Smarak :- It is at the side of pond called Banpukur at Abasbari Para near Tamluk Court. During the ‘Ahimsa’ movement of 1942, while a crowd trying to capture Tamluk administrative building, British police opened fire in which Smt Matangini Hazara became ‘Sahid’. Later on Mahatma Gandhi appreciated her bravery and titled her as ‘Birangana’. This monument is a homage to her by Ex- prime-minister, Smt Indira Gandhi. This is about 7 km from Tamluk station and on the way to Tamluk college.

• Tamluk irrigation Bungalow and its nearby areas :- This area is famous for its semi-nonurban atmospheres. The River Rupnarayana is just 1 km from the bungalow.

• Geonkhali :- At geonkhali river Rupnarayan joins Hooghly river with a beautiful backdrop.

• Mahishadal :- Nearby tourist place.

• Kolaghat :- It is another town on the bank of Rupnarayan River and famous for Hilsa (Ilish) fishes.

Another very popular picnic destination in Tamluk is green fields near the rail station.

Notable People

• Matangini Hazra, from a small village of Hogla near Tamluk.
• Khudiram Bose briefly went to school in Tamluk
• Satish Chandra Samanta
• Ajoy Mukherjee (Ex Chief Minister of the state
• Amlesh Tripathi (famous historian)
• Mani Bhaumik (Famous scientist,who has a number of Papers on Laser technology and author of "Code Name God")
• Bhaskar Maity (Former Goalkeeper of Indian Football Team in the year 1978-79, Participated in the Bangkok Asian games 1978 and President Gold Cup in Dhaka)
• Gourdas Haldar (Famous Educationist, Ex-HOD of Tamluk Bed College, Text Book Author)
• Paresh Maity (Famous Artist)
• Biplab Santra (Project Manager- I knowledge Factory Pvt Ltd)
• Prahalad Kumar Pramanik Freedom Fighter from a village of Balluk near Tamluk
• Prafulla Chandra Basu was one of the most prominent leaders & Freedom Fighter of the Tamralipta. And organizer of Demari High School.
• Narayan Chandra Kar was one of the Freedom Fighters of the Tamralipta from village of Balluk.
• Lalit Mohan Samanta, Eminent Educationist and Internationally acclaimed Social Worker, established many social and educational organisations in and around Tamluk, the parent of all such organisations is Tarun Sangha located at village Biswas, 6 km north of Tamluk town.

See also

• Tamluk (Lok Sabha constituency)
• Tamralipta

External links

• Tamluk Municipality
• Purba Medinipur District Official Website
• Paschim Medinipur District Official Website
• Tamralipta Mahavidyalaya
• Live Radio From Tamluk
• Midnapore - Website for East and West Midnapore
• On temples of Midnapur

•  Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Tamluk". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.