Situated in the northernmost district of Burdwan division, Birbhum is one of the three administrative divisions of West Bengal. The headquarters of the district is located in Suri. The district shares its western border with the state of Jharkhand, while the border on the other directions is covered by the districts of Bardhaman and Murshidabad. Talking about the origin of the name, Birbhum comes from two words - ‘Bir’ that means brave and ‘Bhumi’ that stands for land, thus making Birbhum ‘the land of brave’. People from another school of though believe that the district bears the name of Bir kings, who ruled over the area in the past. Yet another sect believes that Bir means forests in Santali language, so Birbhum could also mean a ‘land of forest’.The district of Birbhum is triangular in shape and sprawls over about 4, 545 sq ks. River Ajay forms the southern base, the apex of the triangle pointing towards north. Popularly called the ‘Land of Red Soil’, the district has a distinct topography. While the western portion of the district, historically known as Vajjabhumi or Bajrabhumi, is an undulating upland, the eastern portion is more fertile, merging with the Gangetic plain. Culturally, Birbhum is one of the richest districts in West Bengal. During the yester years, the district witnessed many cultural and religious movements in history. As such, the people of Birbhum boast of a rich culture and heritage and celebrate every festival with great pomp and show, especially the notable Poush Mela.
Birbhum carved a niche in the international map, with the establishment of Visva Bharati University at Santiniketan, by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. The university ranks among the top universities in the world catering to art. Talking about the occupation of the people of Birbhum, agriculture is the main means of livelihood. Apart from this, other industries such as cotton and silk harvesting and weaving, rice and oilseed milling, lac harvesting, metalware and pottery manufacture also flourish. Birbhum is has been the home of numerous famous personalities, including Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen, Jaydev Kenduli, Nityananda Swami and Tarashankar Bandopadhyay.
Birbhum promises to be an interesting destination in West Bengal. For tourists who are interested in discovering the culture, history and ethnic diversity, Birbhum is the place to be in. Right from the world renowned Santiniketan to the wilds of Ballabhpur Wildlife Sanctuary and the religious and sacred Tarapith and even the rustic galore of Suri, Birbhum has a lot to offer to its guests. The place is also a haven for nature enthusiasts, what with an assortment of flora and fauna dominating the place. So, in case you are looking forward for a vacation to a place that flaunts a diverse cultural and history, coupled with nature’s bliss, Birbhum is the place to head to!!
History of Birbhum
Popularly called 'The Land of Red Soil', Birbhum is primarily an agricultural district in the state of West Bengal. It is also one of the oldest-formed districts in the state. Its topography and rich cultural heritage are some of the distinctive factors that the district is famous for. Apart from this, the Visva Bharati University at Santiniketan, established by Rabindranath Tagore, is one of the places Birbhum boasts of.
How to Reach Birbhum
Birbhum is the northernmost district of Burdwan division. The district is triangular in shape and sprawls to about 4,545 sq km. River Ajay forms the southern base, the apex of the triangle pointing towards north. The district of Birbhum shares its western border with the state of Jharkhand, while the border on the other directions is covered by the districts of Bardhaman and Murshidabad,
Birbhum Tourist Attractions
Situated in the Gangetic plain and partly on the hills, bordered by River Ajay in the south, Birbhum is a district in the Burdwan division of West Bengal. Extending tourists the right combination of plains, hills and riverines, it boasts of rich cultural heritage and religious importance.
Birbhum Weather
Situated as the northernmost district in the Burdwan Division, Birbhum is an administrative unit in of West Bengal. It lies between 230 32' 30" and 240 35' 0" north latitude and 880 1' 40" and 87°5' 25" east longitude. Sprawling over an area of 4,545 sq km, the district is triangular in shape and is bordered by Jharkhand at the northern and western side and Murshidabad on the eastern side.
