Baneswar

Baneswar is a census town in the Cooch Behar II CD block in the Cooch Behar Sadar subdivision of the Cooch Behar district in West Bengal, India.

Baneswar
Census Town
Baneswar Location in West Bengal, India
Coordinates: 26.394363°N 89.495835°E / 26.394363; 89.495835
Country	India
State	West Bengal
Area
• Total	2.3838 km2 (0.9204 sq mi)
Population  (2011)
• Total	4,841
• Density	2,000/km2 (5,300/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Bengali, English, Rajbangshi
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	736133
Telephone/STD code	03582
Website	coochbehar.gov.in

Etymology

The word 'Baneswar' is a Sanskritic formation of the words bāna and īshvara. In Hindu mythology, Bana was an asura king. He carried out a Shiva linga, hoping to bring the god Shiva to Patala but failed. Said Shiva linga is now fixed at the Baneshwar temple, according to the legend.

Geography

4km
2.5miles

X

Torsha River

W

Mara

H

Sidheswari

H

Baikunthapur

H

Haripur

H

Madhupur Satra

H

Cooch Behar Palace

H

Gudam Maharaniganj

R

Pundibari

R

Kalarayerkuthi

R

Ghughumari

R

Dewanhat

M

Cooch Behar

CT

Takagachh

CT

Kharimala Khagrabari

CT

Khagrabari

CT

Guriahati

CT

Dhaliabari

CT

Chakchaka

CT

Baneswar

CT

Baisguri

   

Places in the Cooch Behar Sadar subdivision in Cooch Behar district
CT: census town, M: municipal town, R: rural/ urban centre, H: historical/ religious centre
Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly

Location

Baneswar is located at 26.394363°N 89.495835°E / 26.394363; 89.495835.

Area overview

The map alongside shows the north-central part of the district. It has the highest level of urbanisation in an overwhelming rural district. 22.08% of the population of the Cooch Behar Sadar subdivision lives in the urban areas and 77.92% in the rural areas.^[1] The entire district forms the flat alluvial flood plains of mighty rivers.^[2]

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.

Demographics

As per the 2011 Census of India, Baneswar had a total population of 4,841. There were 2,534 (52%) males and 2,307 (48%) females. There were 448 persons in the age range of 0 to 6 years. The total number of literate people in Baneswar was 4,108 (93.51% of the population over 6 years).^[3]

Infrastructure

According to the District Census Handbook 2011, Koch Bihar, Baneswar covered an area of 2.3838 km². Among the civic amenities, it had 1 km roads with open drains, the protected water supply involved tan/pond/lake. It had 600 electric connections. Among the medical facilities it had 1 dispensary/ health centre, 1 veterinary hospital, 15 medicine shop. Among the educational facilities it had 2 primary schools, 4 middle schools, 1 secondary school, 1 senior secondary school. It had 1 recognised short-hand, typewriting and vocational training institution. Among the social, cultural and recreational facilities it had 1 public library and 1 reading room. It had the branch offices of 1 nationalised bank, 1 agricultural credit society.^[4]

Transport

Baneswar is well connected with the district town Cooch Behar (12 km) and district Alipurduar (13 km). There are two stations named "Baneswar". and New Baneswar, New Baneswar is located beside Shiva temple through which local train for coochbehar and Siliguri are available.

Education

Baneswar Sarathibala Mahavidyalaya was established in 2009. Affiliated with the Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University, it offers honours courses in Bengali, English, Sanskrit, history and education, and a general course in arts.^[5]

There is a boys' school, Baneswar Khabsa High School, and a girls' school, Baneswar Girls High School. Both are run by the state government. Sarathibala college is located in this village.

Culture

The Shiva temple and the Shiva pukur

The place is known for the Baneswar Shiva temple, and for its tortoises (locally known as 'Mohan') which live in 'Shiva pukur' near the temple.^[6]