Howrah or Haora (In past known as Haura)
(Bengali: হাওড়া) is an well-known
industrial city in the world, The name came from the word Haor Bengali word for
a fluvial swampy lake, which is sedimentologically a depression where water,
mud and organic debris accumulate. The word itself was rather used in eastern
part of Bengal (now Bangladesh), as compared to the western part (now West
Bengal). The district located on the west bank of the Hoogli River opposite of
Kolkata. Howrah is located at 22.59°N
88.31°E. It has
an average elevation of 12 meters (39 feet).
The history of the city of Howrah dates back
over 500 years, but the district is situated in an area historically occupied
by ancient Bengali kingdom of Bhurshut. Venetian explorer Cesare
Federici, who travelled in India during 1565–79, mentioned a place
called Buttor in his
journal circa 1578. As per his
description, this was the location into which large ships could travel
(presumably the Hoogli River) and perhaps a commercial port. This place is identifiable with the
modern day neighbourhood of Bator. Bator
was also mentioned in the Bengali poetry Manasamangal written by Bipradas
Pipilai in 1495.
In 1713, the Bengal Council of the British East India Company, on the accession
of the Emperor Farrukhsiyar,
grandson of Aurangzeb, to the throne
of Delhi, sent a deputation to him with a petition for a settlement of five
villages on west bank of Hooghly river along with thirty-three villages on
the east bank. The list of
villages appeared in the Consultation Book of the Council dated 4 May 1714. The
five villages on the west bank on Hooghly river were: 'Salica' (Salkia),
'Harirah' (Howrah), 'Cassundeah' (Kasundia), 'Ramkrishnopoor' (Ramkrishnapur),
and 'Battar' (Bator): all identifiable with localities of modern day Howrah
city. The deputation was
successful except for these five villages. By
1728, most of the present day Howrah district was part of either of the two
zamindaris: Burdwan or Muhammand Aminpur. After Battle of
Plassey, as per the treaty signed with the Nawab of Bengal, Mir Qasim,
on 11 October 1760, Howrah district (then part of Burdwan) came under control
of East India Company. In 1787,
the Hooghly district was formed, and till 1819, the whole of the present day
Howrah district was added to it. The
Howrah district was separated from the Hooghly district in 1843.
With the establishment of the Howrah Railway Station
in 1854 started the most important phase of its industrial development. Flour
mills were established in 1855, followed by Jute mills and around the 1870s,
there were five mills near Howrah station. The
Howrah–Shalimar Railway Section and the Shalimar Terminus were constructed in
1883.
By 1914 almost every
major city in India was served by the Railways and the increased demand for its
rolling stocks and repair works resulted in the establishment of railway
workshop in Liluah of Howrah. The light engineering industry grew up after 1914
at Dasnagar of Belegacha (Belgachia). This
industrial boom continued throughout the Second World War and brought with it
rapid urbanization phase in unplanned manner creating slums near the industrial
establishments.
There are one municipal corporation, one
Municipality and sixty seven gram panchayet in the district. It is the second
largest city of West Bengal. The headquarters of the district situated near
Howrah Maidan, and that is also Howrah Sadar Sub divisional headquarters of the
district. It is a twin city to Kolkata.
Howrah is the second smallest district after Kolkata. The two cities are
connected by four bridges on the river Ganges, these being the Howrah Bridge
(also known as Rabindra Setu), the Vidyasagar Setu (also known as the second
Hooghly Bridge), the Vivekananda Setu (also known as Bally Bridge), the
Nivedita Setu (also known as third Hooghly Bridge) and ferry services between
various jetties in the two cities.
Howrah Station serves as a terminal for two
railway zones of India: the Eastern Railway and the South Eastern Railway.
There are six other railway stations with the city, including the railway
junction at Santragachhi and the terminal at Shalimar Station. These are all
the six are part of the South Eastern Railway network. There are two national
highways NH 2 and NH 6, are connected to Vidyasagar Setu via Kona Expressway.
One endpoint of the Grand Trunk Road is at the Bakultala of Shibpur., is a
prestigious engineering university located in the city. Today,
Howrah is famous for its various attractions. Like: Howrah
Station, Howrah Bridge, the Great Banyan tree of Acharya
Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden (Shibpur), 150 years old Bengal
Engineering & Science University (Shibpur), Belur Math: Headquarters of
Shree Ramakrishna order, Ras Bari (Belur), Andul Palace (Mourigram), Deer Park
(Gadiara) etc.
