Barakar


Barakar is a neighbourhood in Asansol in the Paschim Bardhaman district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is governed by the Asansol Municipal CorporationIt is situated at the border of the states of Jharkhand and West Bengal. The Grand Trunk Road passes through Barakar. The neighbourhood is located on the banks of the river Barakar.

Geography

Urbanisation

As per the 2011 census, 83.33% of the population of Asansol Sadar subdivision was urban and 16.67% was rural. Asansol Sadar subdivision has 26 Census Towns.
Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.

Location

Asansol is composed of undulating laterite region. This area lies between two mighty rivers – the Damodar and the Ajay. They flow almost parallel to each other in the region – the average distance between the two rivers is around 30 km. For ages the area was heavily forested and infested with plunderers and marauders. The discovery of coal in the 18th century led to industrialisation of the area and most of the forests have been cleared. At the western fringe of the area the Barakar forms the boundary with Jharkhand.

Asansol Municipal Corporation

According to the Kolkata Gazette notification of 3 June 2015, the municipal areas of Kulti, Raniganj and Jamuria were included within the jurisdiction of Asansol Municipal Corporation.
The area is known for its Siddheshvara Temple, an early Hindu religious structure of the Orissan style with a prominent shikhara. It later served as inspiration for other temples, devoted to Ganesh, Durga and Panchanana, built in the 16C.
There are four temples in one complex known as Begunia temples. The fourth temple, last from the entrance, seems to be the oldest and was built around 8th-9th century. It is amongst the oldest rekh-deul temples in West Bengal. Two other temples are dated around 14th-15th century. The temples have Shiva lingams and idols of Ganesha and Durga. Many stone idols have been discovered in the complex. Some are Vishnu idols but others are Jain idols, possibly belonging to the older fourth temple. It is evident that Barakar was once a Buddhist and Jain religious centre. Thereafter, it became a Shaivite centre and was also a Vaishnavite centre at some point of time.

Barakar picture gallery