Puruliya district General information

Purulia district is one of the nineteen districts of West Bengal state in eastern India. The town of Purulia is the administrative headquarters of the district.

History

Jaina Bhagavati-Sutra of circa 5th century A.D. mentions that Purulia was one of the 16 Mahajanapadas and was a part of the country known as Vajra-bhumi in ancient times. However, little is known about Purulia before the East-India Company obtained the 'Diwani' of Bengal, Bihar, Orissa in 1765. By Regulation XVIIII of 1805, a Jungle Mahals district composed of 23 parganas and mahals including the present Purulia (known as 'Purulia' those days) was formed. By Regulation XIII of 1833 the Jungle Mahals district was broken up and a new district called Manbhum was constituted with headquarters at Manbazar. The district was very large in size and included parts of Bankura, Burdwan of present West Bengal and Dhanbad, Dhalbhum, Saraikela and Kharswan of present states of Jharkhand and Orissa. In 1838 the district headquarters was transferred to Purulia of today. Since the formation of the district it was withdrawn from regular administration and placed under an officer called Principal Assistant to the agent to the Governor-General for South-Western Frontier. The title of the officer Principal Agent was later changed to Deputy Commissioner by Act XX of 1854. Finally in 1956 Manbhum district was partitioned between Bihar and West Bengal under the States Reorganization Act and the Bihar and West Bengal (Transfer of Territories) Act 1956 and the present district Purulia was born on 1st November, 1956.
Purulia is the westernmost district of West Bengal with all-India significance because of its tropical location, its shape as well as function like a funnel. It funnels not only the tropical monsoon current from the Bay to the subtropical parts of north-west India, but also acts as a gateway between the developed industrial belts of West Bengal and the hinterlands in Orissa, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarpradesh. For its convenient location, this place has acquired an important place in the tourist map in India.

Location

Purulia lies between 22.60 degree and 23.50 degree north latitude and 85.75 degree and 86.65 degree east longitude. The geographical area of the district is 6259 sq. kms. This district is encircled by Bankura, Midnapore and Burdwan district of West Bengal and Hazaribag, Singbhum, Dhanbad, Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Bokaro of Jharkhand state

Area

The total geographical area of the district is 6259 sq. kms (Census 2001). Out of which the Urban and Rural areas are 79.37 sq. kms (1.27%) (Municipalities & Non-Municipalities) and 6179.63 sq. kms (98.73 %) respectively.
 
Climate

Rainfall characterizes the climate of the district. South west monsoon is the principal source of rainfall in the district. Average annual rainfall varies between 1100 and 1500 mm. The relative humidity is high in monsoon season, being 75% to 85%. But in hot summer it comes down to 25% to 35%. Temperature varies over a wide range from 7 degree Celsius in winter to 46.80 degree Celsius in the summer.

Topography

The district is characterized by undulating topography with rugged hilly terrains in the western and southern parts. General elevation of the land surface ranges from 150 m to 300 m,the master slope being towards the east and south-east.In the eastern and south-eastern part of the district the slope ranges between 10 to 20 m/km. In the central part of the district the slope in less than 10m/km and forms a depression. Again in the western part the slope is higher and ranges from 20-80m/km.

Soil

In general three types of soils have been recognized in this district viz. (1) residual types derived from weathering of granites, gneisses and schist (2) Lateritic soil in the upland areas (3) Clay loam to clay in the valleys. Almost in the entire district soil is acidic with pH varying between 5.5 and 7.2 . On an average the soil contain 0.04 % nitrogen. 0.005 %P2O5 and 0.01 % K2O.The maximum nitrogen being 0.87 % and minimum 0.036 %. The fertility is low, as the soils contain very little organic matter.
Soil erosion is the most prominent phenomenon of the district resulting huge deposition of fertile soil in the valley region. Vast areas of land remained uncultivable wasteland.  In this district total 165200 hec. of land is affected by soil erosion. Out of this affected land, 135000 hec is in non-forest areas and 30200 hec. in forest areas.
Wasteland data as per latest Landsat Thematic Mapper/IRS LISS II/III are shown below.

Agriculture

Cultivation of this district is predominantly monocropped. About 60 % of the total cultivated land is upland. Out of the total agricultural holding about 73 % belongs to small and marginal farmers having scattered and fragmented smallholding. Paddy is the primary crop of the district. 50% of the total land is under net-cropped area and only 17% of the net cropped area is under multi crop cultivation. 77% of the net-cropped area is under Aman paddy cultivation. The crops are grown mostly under rainfed condition, generally with low fertilizer consumption per unit area Thus per hec. production is also low as compared to other district of West Bengal.

Mineral Resources

Paradoxical, though, it may sound that this industrially backward district is endowed with mineral resources of a wide range of varieties. According to the findings of GSI there are ten types of mineral deposits in this district. The main ones being Coal, Limestone, Rock Phosphate, China Clay, Quartz etc.

The main mineral resource of the district is Coal.The Purulia district sustained two big Collieries. One is at  Ranipur and the other is at Parbelia. Other Coal mines are Deoli and  Bhamuria. Other important minerals so far explored and reported are Apatite or Rock Phosphate of Beldi,Panrkidi etc, Limestone of Jhalda, Basemetal of Tamakhun, China clay of Mahatomara, Fire clay of Malti, Quartz of mirmi, Siliminate of Paharpur, Decorative Stone  of Bero, Dhunia etc.

Rivers

The main rivers passing through or bordering the district are Kangsabati,Kumari,Darakeswar, Subarnarekha due to undulated topography nearly 50% of the rainfall flows away as run off. The district is covered by mostly residual soils formed by weathering of bed rocks. Rupnarayan (Kangsabati/Kansai) river rises as the Dhaleswari (Dhalkisor) in the Chota Nagpur plateau foothills northeast of Purulia town and follows a tortuous southeasterly course past the town of Bankura, where it is known as the Dwarkeswar. It is joined by the Silai near the town of Ghatal, where it takes the name Rupnarayan. The river then joins the Hooghly after completing a 150-mile (240-kilometre) course. The Rupnarayan originally formed a western exit of the Ganges and is important for its irrigation potential. It is tidal through its entire course and constitutes a principal danger to navigation of the Hooghly because it forces that river to deposit silt upon dangerous shoals.

Education

Literacy percentage of this district is 56.14 % (excluding 0-6 years population). The male literacy percentage is 74.18% and female literacy percentage is 37.15 %. In rural and urban areas the literacy percentages are 53.82 and 75.96 respectively. The male literacy percentage has been increased from 62.17 % in 1991 to 74.18% in 2001. The female literacy has been increased form 23.24 %in 1991 to 37.15% in 2001. In case of rural areas female literacy has been increased to 14.34 % over 1991 and in urban areas it is 7.36 % over 1991.
    
Industry
 
The District has only two Large Scale Units. One is Santaldih Thermal Power Plant at Santaldih and other is Damodar Cement Factory, Madhukunda. One major Unit, i.e., Pumped Storage Project at Bagmundi with generation capacity of 4x 225 MW is under construction stage.

Although no large scale industry has started during the past one year, the West Bengal Incentive Scheme 2000 coupled with the strenuous efforts of the district administration over the last two years has started paying dividend. During the last one and half year the district has received investment of Rs. 306.17 crores in the manufacturing sector mainly in the sponge Iron sector. This compares favorably with more developed districts. The medium scale industries already set up or proposed to be set up are as follows.

Health

 At present District possesses one District Hospital, one Sub-divisional Hospital, one Mental Hospital, one jail Hospital, one Police Hospital,  5 Rural Hospitals / CHC, 15 BPHC, 60 PHC / New PHC/ SHC and 385 functioning Sub-Centers ( 186 with ANM(R) & HA(M) ,166 only ANM(R), 29 only HA(M), Vacant-4).

Birth Rate per 1000 population is 24.1 (Rural-26.5, Urban-17.2), Death Rate- per 1000 population 8.2 (Rural-8.4, Urban-7.9), Infant Mortality Rate per 1000 life birth 54.5 (Rural-56.6, Urban-39.7), Maternal Mortality Rate 3.23. Percentage of eligible couple correctly & effectively protected 51.5, No. of Doctors to population –17500, No. of nurses to population-3000, Percentage of live birth by trained professionals 44.1 (Rural-41.2, Urban-85.3).

Tourist Place

Banda- a village also called Deulghera in Raghunathpur II P.S. about 1 km from Cheliama. It has a solitary temple in “rekha” style with broken amalaka still in place. The plan is tri-ratha, about 13’ square with much simplified base moldings and plain squared pilasters on either side of a niche in each wall. The tower has bhumi-amalakasupto the corners; the central projection is decorated with interconnected chaityas and foliated scrolls and two vertical rows of separate projecting chaityas between this and the corners. The central projection on the south side has large interweaving leafy stem with lattice like designs below, suggestive of Middle Eastern Islamic influence. The door frame has curving of boys blowing horns by climbing up a wavy stem, a band of foliated scrolls and two bands of floral lozenges. The single cell measuring 6.6’ square has a shelf projecting 3/1/3 ft. there is however no idol in the temple which faces north, with a water outlet (makara head) on the east. It is preceded by a mandapa which has largely collapsed, although eight pillars still stand supporting crossbeams.

Cheliama - A big village on Ahalyabai Road in Raghunathpur II block and the head quarters of that block. The village contains the temple most richly decorated with terracottas in Purulia district and one of the few surviving  from the 17th century in West Bengal. The temple of Radha-Vinod, dated sakabda 1619 has a contemporary terracotta plaque in Bengali. In the panels above the archways are depicted Krishnalila scenes. There is also scene like Rama comforting with Ravana in two huge war chariots with monkeys and demons joining in the fray. A series of smaller panels rising on the left and right and continuing across the top includes the avatars of Vishnu, the other deities as well as devotees. Along the base on the left ran the usual Krihnalila frieze, and on the right (much less common) a Ramayan frieze. Beneath them is another frieze of professional and hunting scene. The base and the column panels of the façade are already badly worn but the panels above the archways are in excellent condition.

Deulghat-  A place near Boram in Arsha PS. It has ruins of some 15 temples and small shrines near the Kansai River about 6 kms from Joypur. Among them are 3 tall brick deuls with stucco decoration. The largest of which is to the south. All the trees have triangular corbelled entrances with towers built up by interior corbelling. The corbelled entrance of the southern temple is high and graceful with a delicate carve. All of them have rich
deulghat2curved brickwork with stucco application. They depict chaityas and miniature rekha motifs. The stucco application includes scrollwork with geese and foliation, dwarfs familiar from Pala-Sena art. The stucco is fine and would appear to date from the same period as that on the Bahulara and Satdeulia temples. The hunched supporting figures on the middle temple recall those on the 15th century temples of Barakar. But there is nothing else significant in common between these temples. Deulghat figure are much livelier and more rhythmical. All these temples have lost the tops of their towers, together with the amalakas and kalasas, m but the western and southern ones still stand to a height of 50 feet or more, the Western one specially, on a base about 16 feet square, seems to have been slender and graceful, the southern one, 24feet square, is about the same size as the Bahulara temple. As on of of the rekha temples in Purulia district, the panks are basically tri-ratha (single central projection). Complicated by many decorative recesses or subsidiary rathas.

At least the central and Western temples seem to have originally had stone door-frames on a slightly projecting porch or antarala (entrance passage) to judge by the curved stumps still in situ. Each temple has a carved stone maker water outlet on the northern side.

The other temples at Deulghat which are mostly of stone have all fallen down. The largest stands at the head of a flight of steps leading up from the river – a low mount in Begler’s Day on which he found a slab inscribed in characters which may belong to the 9th or the 10th century. The establishment seems to have been Savite, for besides the lingas in situ, all then images relate to this cult. An image of Uma- Maheshvar has been removed to the State Archeological Galley. The oldest temples may be the bricked-temples, to judge by superiority of the workmanship, they had the large tile-like bricks typical of the Pala period.

PAKBIRRA - Only three temples are standing, all of them has lost most of their frontal stones. The smallest of this faces east. The other two face north. This two temples, buried several feet upto the level of the wall niches, still have some of the lower façade stones, which give an idea of their appearance. The have the basic tri-ratha plan with simplified squad of moldings. The large amalaka fragments lying about, and the stone kalasas with lotus buds emerging, make us suppose that most of the temples here belonged to the usual nagara order. The principal temple, of which Beglar could only describe the foundations, was very large’ containing the full compliment of preliminary chambers and hall in front of the sanctum’. That temple, facing west, perhaps enshrined the colossal figure of a naked Tirthankar over two meters high, with lotus symbol on its pedestal, which still stands, along with a number of other Jaina sculptures, in an improvised stone-shed over the site of the original temple. Near-by Begler excavated five more Jaina sculptures ‘of late age’ from brick mounds.

The sculptures at PAKBIRRA are of Jaina affinity. The aforesaid shed has more than eight standing tirthankaras, including three with the bull symbol (rishabhanatha). Two with the lion (Mahavira) one with the horse (samhabhanatha), one with the lotus (padmaprabha), and one with the half-moon (chandraprava), two images of Yaksha and Sasanadevi beneath a tree with a Jina in the branches, three votive stupas (two with standing and one with seated Jinas each side), two being of the usual rekhashikhara variety, but the other possibly intended to represent a Bhadra (Deul), a curious small image of a four-armed deity, apparently holding a goad and noose, seated on a dog, Ambika with child and attendant, standing on her lion, beneath a flowering tea, and numerous fragments. There seems little doubt that these were the images originally enshrined in the temples, or placed in the exterior niches and some of the fragments may indicate the exterior decoration. A short distance to the south east is another shed of roughly assembled stone blocks, which contains five standing tirthankaras, one within the bull symbol, two with the bull between two lions (one of them over 1.2 mt high, one with the deer “Shantinatha”), and one of the Parsvanatha, broken of at the west with the entwined nag and nagini between two lions at base. Yet another image of Rishabhanatha stands on the ruinous mount of another large stone temple about forty six meters to the east, almost in the village. A small image of the Yaksha Kuvera has been removed to the museum of the archeological directorate of the Government of West Bengal.

SUISSA - a number iconic images are seen here, probably obtained from the temples which once existed here or in the neighborhood. These are a 1. Large four armed Vishnu unsual tribhanga pose, along with Sri and Sarasvati, and devotees on the pedestal but no Garuda, 2. Ambika, broken into may pieces, 3. A Chaturmukha votive shrine of rekha-type, with seated tirthankara, 4. Several images of different sizes, of tirthankaras (including Parsvanatha) – some intact, some broken (with symbols like a pot, a lotus of a wheel, the sun, a lion etc.) 5. Another Ambika, 6. A linga, 7. Amalaka 2.5 ft across, 8. A decorated door-jamb, several curved stone fragments. These statues were worshipped under Hindu names when Begler saw them, but are now lying about neglected.

Para-A village with a  station of the thana of the same name, it has two pre-Muslim deuls to the east. One belongs to the type of the three-brick temples of Deulghat.
Its top has fallen down along with most of the stucco, but some carved brick work still remains. The lower walls have three niches each-one on each of the projections (as at Deulghat), surmounted by tall rekha shikharas in relief, with pilasters on either side of them. The tower has a big heart-shaped chaitya in the centre on each of the four faces. It has a trefoil niche below, and the usual moldings up the pagas. The entrance is the usual tall corbelled triangle. The para2lower portion of the exterior walls, measuring about 5 meters square, has been given a protective brick casing, now partly fallen away. To the east there is a stone temple of about the same size, though not so tall as the brick temple originally was.

It has rich overall carving in soft sandstone, though weathered beyond recognition. Immediately to the south-west of the brick temple is a large mound, containing the carved stone fragments of another early temple, perhaps larger than the other two. Beglar mentions two pilasters with Plain Square mouldings.

At the opposite end of the village there is another temple of a later period. It is built of stone, with a plain square shrine, about 6 meters square, preceded by a slightly smaller sporch. The temple of Radharaman is now in complete ruins, on which no terracotta panels remain; nor are any to be seen on any other temple. Beglar was told that the Radharaman an temple was built by one Purushottam Das from Brindavan, during the viceroyalty of Man Singh, to whom the later stone temple was attributed. The tomb or Chhatri of Purushottam Das stands opposite the temple. Also in the village is a small mound with a ling, some pillars, and makara waterspouts.

BAGHMUNDI- A place in the thana of the same name.  It has within the rajbari compound, an at.chata temple of Radha Govinda, dated sakabda 1675 (A.D. 1733), which is badly overgrown with thicket and measures about 19 feet square. The facade is decorated with lotus medallions and other floral and geometrical designs in terracotta, but has no figures. The new Radha-Govinda temple is a flat-roofed modern stracture,also tending to crumble. There is a small, octagonal rasmancha nearby with nine pinnacles, having terracotta figures on four out of the eight sides. These consist of enthroned Rama and Sita with entourage, Krishna in rasmandala with the gopis, episodses lIke the holding up of Giri Gobardhan, or the killing of Bakasur, and many secular figures and animals-all crudely modelled. There is also a plain pancharatna Siva temple. All these were built by the Rajas of Baghmundi.

BIRINCHINATH- Near Mandandi, in Neturia police station, on the southern lower slopes of the Panchet hill, it is the site of an old temple which has now disappeared. Asunken linga is approached by steps into a pit with a modern superstructure. Many stone fragments with architectural mouldings and incisions are lying about; some have been reused for making the steps up the hill. Fragments of amalaka and finial suggest the former existence of a rekha-deul here.There is a modern mandapa on old columns. a Nandi bull near another ancient linga and the pedestal of an old image. Apart from Birinchinath, modern painted clay-imagesof Radha-Krishna and Sarabhuja Jagaddhatri are worshipped in the modern structures.

BUDHPUR-A village at Manbazar P.S., it is about 11 kms. south of Pakbirra and 6 kms. North of Manbazar on the Hura Road, on the north bank of the Kasai River. There was a large temple of Buddheswara Siva here. The temple had attached mandapas earlier, but now fallen down.
In Beglar's time, the main tower was replaced by brick-and-plaster work. In 1926 was in it was  replaced by a rough stone tower having curved entrance.Four smaller shrines at the corners of the enclosure form a panchayatana arrangement. But now only one is partly standing, with simplified mouldings and squared pillastertypical of Telkupi.  The position of the others being understood from their bases amidst the rubble. From the curved fragments of amalakas, chaityas, etc., it appears that all these temples were in the nagara style. The place is now full of tumbled down blocks of stone containing pillars, door-jambs and a makara water-spout. Apart from these five, Beglar also found no less than five other temples, all small, to the north-east of the enclosure. The original lingo too, seems to have disappeared, for a pillar has now taken its place and is worshipped in the main sanctum. Three sculptural remains found at the site were cult images; to judge by their heavy pedestals, one was a standing Vishnu, another a standing Ganesa and one was Ganesa seated in Ialitasana. Their style having Orissa similarities, like the sculptures at Deulghat, though less richly carved. Beglar dates them to the 12th or 13th centuries.

CHARRA-A village, in Puruliya Muffasil thana, situated at north-east of Puruliya town. Until recently, there were two small stone built rekhadeuls in this village. The one which still stands has plain tri-ratha wall with only rudimentary mouldings at the base, but the tower is extensively carved with square bhumiamalakas, large chaityas on the central projection, and small chaityas on the sections. The ornamentation of the shikhara suggests an earlier stage than that of the Telkupi temples. Its amalaka is still in position. The other temple, which has fallen down, was entirely plain; it was pancharatha in plan, with no base mouldings. This temple faced south and the other one east. Both were empty, but it may be that they were originally Jaina temples as there are many loose Jaina sculptures strewn around the village. According to local tradition, some large tanks in the vicinity were sunk by Sarak-jains.

GANPUR-A village at Santuri P.S. It has on its outskirt an abandoned temple which exemplifies the type of atchala temple, especially built in the 17th century in Bankura district (e.g., at Simlapal, Sabrakon, Tejpal).
The upper tower hardly projects over the lower roof, and the lines of the roof flow into each other, giving the look of a charchala temple. The base measures 23 feet square, witha pillared porch at the front, and a single chamber-15 feet 6 inches by 7 feet 2 inches; the ceilings of the chamber is a pointed vault. The temple is made of Barakar sandstone, and originally had brick enclosure wall.A brick rasmancha was possibly there nearby. The brick temple is in good condition, but the image (that of Raghunath) is said to have been removed to Cholbalpur in Kulti P.S. of Barddhaman district.

TELKUPI- A village at Raghunathpur P.S., and about 8 kms. north-east of Cheliama, it was earlier visited by Beglar who described this place as 'containing, perhaps, the finest and largest number of temples within a small space that is to be found in the Chutia Nagpur Circle in Bengal'. He listed over twenty temples and referred to several others and to 'numerous mounds, both of brick and stone, but more of brick !'
Bloch visited the place in 1902, when the number of the well-preserved temples had diminished considerably, as he found ten, more or less complete temples. Out those only two stand today and one more is visible half-submerged in the Damodar reservoir at the Panchet Dam.
The site was on the south bank of the Damodar –the crossing of the former trade route between Bihar and Orissa -subject to erosion from floods and has now been permanently
submerged after the construction of the Panchet Dam.
The one that is half under water towards the other side of the lake is the No. 10 of Beglar's list-a late structure, probably of the time of Man Singh, with an ugly shikhara divided up by horizontal ridges and two mandapas with pyramidal roofs in these sections.
Beglar's No. 10 is one of his first group of thirteen, all of which must have been submerged. The two temples that are standing now on the very edge of the river seem to belong to Beglar's second group, although one of them contains a linga, whereas Beglar's second group contains only Vaishnava temples. Both these temples are almost similar
in design to the Banda temples. Between these two temples are the mounds of two more, with carved fragments indicating that they were of the same style as the two others. One
has a lingam ; the other has a fragment of a doorframe with five carved bends, including a series of figures in the niches.