Asansol

State: West Bengal

Main Languages: Bengali and Hindi

 

History:

  

Asansol was dwelled by people of Dravidian and Austroloid origins. About 2500 years ago this city became a significant area of Jain activity. Historical sources say that the last Tirthankar of the Jain religion, Mahavira Vardhamana used to live here. The spread of Jainism in West Bengal with the Araynisation of the region began and the area came to be known as Bardhaman. This area became a part of the Vishnupur kingdom ruled by Malla dynasty. 

 

Geography:

 

The city of Asansol is the coal mining industrial and commercial sector and is also the second largest city in the state after Kolkata. The city is located at 23.68° N 86.98° E and has an average elevation of 97 meters or 318 feet. Though most of the West Bengal area has flat alluvial plains, Asansol has exposed Gondwana rocks. There is mostly undulating laterite soils found here. The city and its surrounding areas form the lower edge of the Chota Nagpur plateau. This plateau occupies most of Jharkhand also. Two might rivers flow on either side of Asansol. These are Damodar and Ajay. Barakar joins the Damodar near Dishergarh. Nunia, a small rivulet, also flows past Asansol. Dhanbad lies on the western side and Durgapur on the eastern side. On the south are Purulia and Bankura districts and on the north are Dumka and Birbhum districts. 

 

Climate:

 

The city has very pleasant winters with scorching summers which are also affected due to the heavy industrialization in the region. 

 

Demography:

 

As per the 2001 census Asansol had a population of 1,067,369 which also made it the 29th most populated city in India. The average literacy rate here is 73% which is much above the national average.

 

Culture:

 

Asansol is influenced by both Jain and Bengali cultures. The modern city showed interest in sports and growth of clubs. There are plenty of clubs popping around the cities since the days of independence. The two main cultural hubs are the Rabindrabhabon and Bharati Bhawan. The Sarat Mancha is also a popular cultural center. 

 

Education:

 

Asansol city is a vital education center. There are institutes like the Eastern Railways High School, Dyanand Anglo Vedic Higher Secondary School, Ramakrishna Mission, Manimala Girls, St. Patrick's Higher Secondary School, St. Vincent's High and Technical School, Loreto Convent, Assembly of God Church School and various other schools located in the area. There are also popular colleges for engineering and pharmacy along with polytechnics in the area. 

 

Economy:

 

Being the coal and industrial belt of West Bengal, these are also the main sources of income here. There are various kinds of steel plants, coal mines and other industries like locomotives which flourish in the area.

 

Tourism:

 

The Jain temples in the areas of Pareshnath Hill in Jharkhand and another old Jain temple at Begunia, on the bank of the Barakar River, prove the eminence of Jain activity in the area. Vishnupuri style temples can be seen at Chhotodighari village.

 

Transportation:

 

The cit is well connected through the Grand Trunk road. All major trains stop over at the Asansol railway station. The nearest airport is the Kolkata airport.