Kidderpore

Khidirpur or Kidderpore (Bengali: খিদিরপুর khidirpur) is a major locality of the city of Kolkata. It is located in the central-west part of the city and is surrounded by the localities of Alipore in the east, Ekbalpore in the south, Hastings in the north,Metiabruz in the south-west and the Hooghly River in the west.

History

One of the oldest parts of the city, Kidderpore has a funny legend as far as its name is concerned. It is said that the Britishers could not converse in bengali. So whenever they passed by, they asked for the directions to the port where their ships used to harbour in broken hindi which sounded somewhat like 'kidder-port' and thus the name Kidderpore came into existence.

ALternatively, it could be a corruption of Khidrpur or Khizrpur, Khizr/Khidr being the guardian saint of the seas and the delta for the fishing communities in Bengal.

The gateway of Kidderpore is at the crossing of Diamond Harbour Road and Gangadhar Banerjee Lane,at that place a Roadside restaurant is here from British Regime, named "Panchubabus Shop" ("Panchubabur Dokan"), is one of the landmark of Kidderpore. People take their food as it is delicious and so many celebreties appreciated the food of this restaurant. It is situated just opposite of 204 No. Bus Terminus. (formerly No;3 State Bus Terminus) The area is also home to quite a few dargahs of sufi saints like Syed Baba, Shah Warsi baba, to name a few. A number of soldiers killed during the two World Wars have been put to rest at the Solana Muslim burial ground. St Thomas school which is probably one of the most oldest (it's history is more than 220 years old) and the biggest (area wise) schools of India is situated here

Transport

Kidderpore bridge is one the few bridges in Kolkata that has Trams plying over it. There is also the Kidderpore Tram Depot which connects famous locations like Kalighat, Tollygunge, Ballygunge etc. The Kidderpore crosspoint (also called More in bengali) is well connected with North, South and Central Kolkata by various private and state bus services. Kidderpore is the site of the only riverine ocean port in India.

Medical Facilities

All the well known hospitals of South Western Kolkata, are located near Kidderpore like Calcutta Medical Research Institute, BM Birla Heart Research Center, Kothari Medical Research Center and Woodlands Nursing Home. Besides there are some governmental medical institutions like Calcutta Dock Labour Board Hospital and Shambhunath Pandit Hospital.

Educational institutions

1. St. Thomas College of Engg And Technology, Diamond Harbour Road
2. St. Thomas School, Diamond Harbour Road
3. St. Paul's School, Diamond Harbour Road
4. Lajpat Hindi High School(H.S.), 24/1/1,Mansatalla Lane
5. Loyola High School
6. Kidderpore Academy
7. Kendriya Vidyalaya, Command Hospital
8. Sarat Chandra Paul Girls High School
9. Sir Syed High School (Urdu)
10. Kidderpore Urdu Girls Primary School

Famous persons

• Michael Madhusudhan Dutta, author
• Rangalal Bandopadhyay, poet
• Hemchandra Bandyopadhyay, poet
• Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee, barrister, INC President,
• Munirul Haque, Owner of Green Plaza Shopping Mall, Prominent Philanthropist, Educationist, Commonly Known As DADA, Bengali for Big Brother.
• Ratu Mukherjee (Ratneswar) is the famous music composer
• Anirban Bhattacharya, the theatre Personality
• Kalimuddin Shams, Former Cabinet Minister in the West Bengal Govt.
• Mohammad Aziz (playback singer)

Places of Interest

• Lord Shiva's Temple at Bhukoilash and the adjacent Bhukoilash Rajbati
• Hastings House, Warren Hasting's Residence
• The Kidderpore Fancy Market, famous for latest foreign goods.
• Green Plaza Shopping complex, famous for mobile phones and accessories.
• Kolkata Port Trust
• Kidderpore Tram Depot
• Manasa Mandir besides 204 no. Bus Terminus
• Panchananda Mandir at Panchanantala (Watgunge Crossing)
• Kidderpore Puddapukur the only Swiming Club of Kidderpore situated
• Hanging Place of Maharaja Nandakumar at Hastings
• The oldest Church in Kidderpore situated inside of St. Thomas School
• The Only Engineering College situated inside of St. Thomas School Campus
• Ismail Masjid (Oldest masjid of the area)

Library

• Hemchandra Pathagar is the oldest library in Kidderpore, recently the library authority renovated its building and established a stage named Hem Madhu Ranga Mancha in the name the three poet of Kidderpore.
• Michael Madhusudan library is the second oldest one. it also have its own building. and engaged with different activities.
• Excepting the above, some small libraries opened by the enthusiastic people of the area, such as Shishir Smriti Pathagar (Shishir Memorial Library) abolished due the inconvenience, they sold all the books and the bookselfs. Approximately 500 books were there.

See also

22°32′N 88°19′E

it also has a polytechnic college called "Gyan Ghosh Polytechnic College" and a college called kidderpore college