West Bengal, India · District since 7 April 2017
পূর্ব বর্ধমান
The Rice Bowl of Bengal - where ancient rivers embrace fertile plains, Rabindranath's roots run deep, and the spirit of vardhamana - perpetual growth - endures through millennia.
About the District
"The richest tract in Bengal and the area of its oldest and most settled cultivation."
Early 20th Century British Chronicles
Purba Bardhaman was carved from the historic Bardhaman district on 7 April 2017, when it was bifurcated into Purba (East) and Paschim (West) Bardhaman. Its headquarters is at Burdwan Town, situated on the north bank of the Damodar river at 23°14′N, 87°51′E.
Its very name derives from Sanskrit Vardhamana - meaning prosperous and growing. Some historians link it to the 24th Jain tirthankara Mahavira Vardhamana, who came to preach here. Archaeological excavations at Pandu Rajar Dhibi have revealed settlements dating back to the Mesolithic age, around 5,000 BC.
The district spans 22°56′N to 23°53′N latitude and 87°56′E to 88°25′E longitude. It is a flat alluvial plain divided into four topographic regions - the Kanksa-Ketugram Plain, Bardhaman Plain, Khandaghosh Plain, and Bhagirathi Basin. Annual average rainfall is 1,347 mm, with 75% falling during the June–September monsoon.
By the Numbers
District Pillars
Bardhaman region is known as the Rice Bowl of Bengal. Three rice varieties - Aus, Aman, and Boro - cycle through the seasons across fertile alluvial plains fed by the Damodar Valley canal network. Agriculture remains the primary livelihood across all 23 blocks.
Rice Bowl of BengalFrom Pandu Rajar Dhibi's Mesolithic settlements (c. 5,000 BC) through Mughal-era mosques to grand zamindari temples - the district is a living palimpsest of millennia. The Jima Masjid built by Azim-us-Shan stands alongside countless family temples scattered across the landscape.
5,000 BC to PresentThree great rivers frame the district: Bhagirathi along the eastern boundary, Ajay to the north, and Damodar to the south. The flat alluvial terrain receives 1,347 mm of rain annually, sustaining one of West Bengal's most productive agricultural zones.
Alluvial PlainsNobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral village is Kush, within this district. Revolutionary Rash Behari Bose was born in village Subaldaha here. Legal reformer Rash Behari Ghosh, after whom Kolkata's Rashbehari Avenue is named, also hailed from Purba Bardhaman.
Cultural CapitalBardhaman Medical College serves as the regional healthcare anchor, supported by rural hospitals and primary health centres across every block. Over 6,000 schools serve midday meals to more than 9 lakh students across the former Bardhaman district area.
Public WelfareBengali is the first language of 92.86% of the population, followed by Santali (5.03%) and Hindi (1.66%). Hinduism is the majority religion; Islam is the second largest, with notable concentrations in Ketugram I and Manteswar blocks, reflecting a rich and pluralistic social fabric.
Diverse & UnitedThe Lifelines
Administrative Blocks
Ausgram IAusgram IIBhatar Burdwan IBurdwan IIGalsi I Galsi IIJamalpurKalna I Kalna IIKatwa IKatwa II Ketugram IKetugram IIKhandaghosh MangolkoteManteswarMemari I Memari IIPurbasthali IPurbasthali II Raina IRaina II
Disclaimer: This is an independent, unofficial informational website with no affiliation to the Government of West Bengal, the District Magistrate's office, or any government body. Data is sourced from the Census of India 2011 (recast post-2017 bifurcation) and official district publications. For authoritative government information please visit purbabardhaman.nic.in.
"Bardhamana - the frontier colony of Aryanisation - was called so as a landmark of growth and prosperity. The name came to stay, and the land has never stopped growing."
Historical Record