Saturday, 5 March 2011

Nyaydhani , Bilaspur

Bilaspur (Hindi: बिलासपुर) is a city in Bilaspur District in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh, situated 111 km (69 mi) north of state capital, Raipur. It is the second-largest city in the state. It is the administrative headquarter of Bilaspur district. Chhattisgarh High Court at Bilaspur privilege it to host the name 'Nyayadhani' of the state.
Bilaspur is known for its aromatic Doobraj rice, handloom woven colorful soft Kosa silk Saris, and more for its rich, varied and colorful culture.

Etymology

Historical records like Imperial Gazetteer of India, Vol 8, 1908 note that the city is said to be named after a fisher-woman by name "Bilasa" in the 17th century, and for a long period it consisted only of a few fishermen's huts.

History

Historically, Bilaspur was a part of Kalchuri dynasty of Ratanpur. The city, however, came into prominence around 1741, the year of the Maratha Empire invasion, when a Maratha official took up his abode there and began to build a fort, which however was never completed.
The city was taken over by the British East India Company of Great Britain in the year 1854 when the then ruler of the region, Bhosale of Nagpur belonging to Maratha Empire died without an heir.
The management of Bilaspur district was taken over by the British Government in 1818, before this it was under harsh, extortionist Marathaan rule for about 60 years. Bilaspur district was constituted in 1861, followed by Bilaspur municipality in 1867. Famines in the Bilaspur district were recorded by the British administration in 1828-9, 1834-5, 1845-6, 1868-9 and 1899–1900. In 1868-9 and 1899–1900, the rains failed almost completely, resulting in severe distress, migration and desertion of villages. After the 1868-9 famine there was prosperity for the next 25 years; but in 1895 there was a very poor harvest, followed in 1896 by a complete failure of crops, and severe famine continued throughout 1897. In that year the mortality rate was as high as one in six people. The famine of 1897 was followed by two favorable years; but in 1899 the monsoon failed completely and the rice crop was wholly destroyed.
Guru Ghasidas[1], (1756–1836) started a religious movement Satnamis (meaning the worshippers of Satnam) between 1820 and 1830 primarily around the Sonakhan forests. This religious movement preached that god is not idols or not found in idols but god is synonymous with truth. His community was a farming community, though in Hindu caste hierarchy they have been put in the Schedule caste. The university at Bilaspur is named after him as Guru Ghasidas University.
Railways arrived at Bilaspur in the decade 1880-90, with the arrival of the Bengal Nagpur Railway. In 1888 Mistri Jagmal Gangji laid the first railway tracks from Rajnandgaon to Bilaspur,and in that same year fellow Kutchi contractor Mistri Khoda Ramji built the line from Bilaspur to Jharsuguda, including the bridge over the Champa river.
In 1890 the present railway station and yard were constructed by the famous Gujarati railway contractor Jagmal Gangji. His son Mulji Jagmal Sawaria was later given the title of "Rao Sahib" by the British for his contribution to the development of the town, railways and the district. Jagmal Block and Jagmal Chowk in the city are named after Jagmal Gangji Sawaria.
In 1901, the population of Bilaspur was 18,937 and it was eighth-largest town in the Central Provinces of British India. In 1908, weaving of tasar silk and cotton clothes were recorded as the major industries of Bilaspur.

Geography

Bilaspur is located at 22°05′N 82°09′E / 22.09°N 82.15°E / 22.09; 82.15.[1] It has an average elevation of 264 metres (866 ft).
Bilaspur is situated on the banks of the rain-fed Arpa River, which originates from the high hills of the Maikal Range of central India. This dolomite rich region is surrounded by lush green forests in the north and the coal mines of Hasdeo valley in the east.

Climate

The climate is pleasant and mild in the winter ( minimum temperature 10 °C, 50 °F). There are medium rains in the monsoon season. The summers are very hot and dry (maximum temperature 45+ °C, 113 °F, maximum humidity 90%).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,[2] Bilaspur had a population of 265,178. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Bilaspur has an average literacy rate of 76%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 83% and female literacy of 69%. 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
The city has a multicultural mix of locals and people that have migrated from Sindh (Pakistan), Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat, etc.
The main languages spoken are Chhattisgarhi and Hindi, while Bengali, Sindhi, Punjabi and English is spoken by only a few.

Culture

The city celebrates all the major festivals of India. There are some local festivals such as the colorful Rout Dance (November).
The town has been the home of some famous literary personalities including Sri Srikant Verma (Hindi) and Sri Bimal Mitra (Bengali).

Economy

Bilaspur is highest revenue generating railway zone in India among 17 zones. The Bilaspur railway zone comprises divisions of Bilaspur, Nagpur and Raipur.
South Eastern Coal Fields Limited (SECL) a subsidiary of Public Sector Unit Coal India Limited (CIL) - A Navratna Company is situated with headquarters at Bilaspur. SECL is a Miniratna PSU under Ministry of Coal, with several awards in its credentials including best PSU award in 1997-98.
The downtown is called Gol Bazaar (Circular Market). Gol Bazaar and Sadar Bazaar are buzzing and vibrant but overcrowded with slow moving traffic. In contrast there are some newly developed areas as well.
  • Industries: Around Bilaspur, there are many Industrial Areas, including Tifra, Sirgitti and Silpahri Industrial Growth Centres. Chhattisgarh Laghu Evam Sahayak Udyog Sangh or CLSUS is an association of industries which represents all major industries of Bilaspur and Chhattisgarh.
  • Hotels: There are many budget and mid-level hotels in the city. The Aananda Imperial(4 star deluxe)Hotel, Intercity, Panchvati, East Park, Central point and Surya are famous hotels, located in the city.
  • Malls: Four new malls are developing here.
  • Legal: The day the state of Chhattisgarh was constituted (1 November 2000) with its capital at Raipur, the High Court of Chhattisgarh was established at Bilaspur. It is the 19th high court of India.
  • Banks: All major Indian Banks have branches and ATMs in the city.
  • Website: A web-site dedicated to provide information on Bilaspur (, http://www.merabsp.com/ ) is being maintained by Data Spec.

Utility services

The city now, is spread over about 30 km² (12 mi²). Over the years, Bilaspur has developed with wide roads, cafes, hotels, street lighting and some beautiful squares. However the last decade has seen large scale unregulated urbanization and residential and commercial expansion, overstraining the water resources and generally defunct civic amenities due to its indifferent officials and politicians.
The sewerage and drainage system is practically nonexistent, so much so that, like any other Indian town even the first shower of monsoon floods many areas. A massive restructuring of sewerage system of the whole city and suburbs is undertaken by the "Bilaspur Nagar Nigam", and is expected to be completed in the year 2011.
Electricity is government regulated and as of now, no power cuts are effected, thanks to the massive expansion in energy generating capacity both by public and private companies in the energy sector.
  • Medical facilities: One medical college and hospital managed by the University, One dental college managed by the Barfani Academia, one of the biggest 9 unit of the Apollo Hospital (http://www.apollohospitals.com/) and many private nursing homes and clinics.

Hospitals

Transport

Air

Bilaspur Airport is at Chakarbhatta, 10 km away. It is not served by any scheduled airlines. The nearest airport that has regular flights for Delhi, Nagpur, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bhopal, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar, Ahmedabad, Indore, Pune, Visakhapatnam, and Chennai, is at Raipur, 110 km (68 mi) away.

Rail

Bilaspur is a regional hub for the railway system. It is the zonal head office of South East Central Railway. It is well connected to the rest of the country through the Indian Railways. The Rajdhani Express (Bilaspur-New Delhi) via. Bhopal bi-weekly connects Bilaspur to New Delhi. The station is on the main Mumbai-Kolkata (Calcutta) rail line with daily connections to Mumbai, Kolkata, Pune and Ahmedabad. It is also the originating station for daily trains to :

Road

The city is connected with Mumbai and Kolkata via Raipur through the National Highway network. Bilaspur is on NH-200 connecting Raipur and Raigarh on either side. The city is connected with southern India by Tirunelveli - Bilaspur Super Fast. There are regular buses and taxis to all nearby towns and cities.
Three-wheeled, black and yellow Auto rickshaws, referred to as autos, are a popular form of transport. They can accommodate up to eight passengers. Local transportation also includes manpowered cycle Rickshaws, horse drawn Tongas.
Recently the city administration has started a city bus service which is available on three routes at present, i.e. City Railway Station To Koni, City Railway Station To Seepat, and City Railway Station To Usalapur.
The city, because of unplanned roadways and random sewerage projects running across the city, is suffering heavy traffic congestion.

Tourist attraction

Places of interest in and around Bilaspur include:
  • Giraudhpuri, A religious place for the Satnami, They are the follower of Satnam Panth.
  • Sirpur and Malhar, which are of historical significance, as they were visited by Xuanzang, the Chinese historian.
  • Tala, 20 km away, is famous for Rudra Shiva.
  • Pali with Lord Shiva temple.
  • Janjigir with incomplete Lord Vishnu temple.
  • Kharod with Lakshmaneswar temple.
  • Sheorinarayan with Lord Rama temple.
  • Singhpur cave with pre-historic paintings.
  • Bhoramdeb said to be mini Khajuraho.
  • Rajim famous for Lord Rajiv Lochan.
  • Ratanpur for its Mahamaya temple.
  • Shri Aiyyappa Mandir (Sani dosha haarak) near Tifra Over bridge (Bhartiya Nagar).
  • Narmada River and Son River originate from Amarkantak.
  • Kanan Pendari.
  • Mungeli Maa Mahamaya Temple.
  • Dams Khudiya dam Lormi & Khutaghat dam Ratanpur.
Besides having places associated with its ancient and cultural heritage, the city is also famous for its wildlife variety. This is because of its situation within the state. It is reputed for having some of the densest forests in the country and an even spread of hills and rivers. One of the places worth visiting is the Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary[2]. Famous for the variety of its wildlife, the sanctuary is spread over an area of 551 km² (213 mi²) and was setup in 1975 under the Wildlife Protection Act. The sanctuary is 55 km (34 mi) away form Bilaspur and is closed during the monsoon season.
Just before the entry into Achanakmar Wild Life Sanctuary, there is situated the Ghongapani Jalashya (Dam) with beautiful panoramic view. Although there is no place to stay, it can be visited in the day time on way to Achanakmar.
Beyond the sanctuary, on way to Amarkantak, there are Government Guest Houses in Achanakmar, Keonchi and Lamni. These guest houses can be booked with governmental officials in the district head quarters. These guest houses are well built and the arrangements are also good.
The forest guest house at Lamni was built by the then British Officials. It is 1850 feet above sea level. It was built in June 1913 at the cost of Rs.3055.8 paise and 5 anas.
Within the sanctuary the presence of guar (Indian Bison) and tigers are very much in evidence, as reported by the multiple sightings by the visitors. Other animals include the leopard, chital, panthera, striped hyena, canis, sloth bear, dhole, sambar deer, nilgai, Indian four-horned antelope and chinkara populate the sanctuary in equal numbers.
Trips to the sanctuary can be organized via private taxi operators. A place to stay is the Panther Cottage, Malhaar where there is a beautiful stone carved historical temple ruin.
Located 55 km (34 mi) away is Khutaghat, where there is a dam and reservoir and it is possible to stay in the prebooked Irrigation Department. The beautifully located "Hill Top Rest House" overlooking the vast expanse of the blue water reservoir is chosen by many for accommodation. The Khudia Dam, which is 75 km (47 mi) away from the city, is equally beautiful but more remote.
Places of interest within the city include Vivekanand Uddyaan (a city Park), Kaanan Pindary zoo (8 km, 5 mi), Ramkrishna Ashram (5 km 3 mi) and Arpa River Chat Puja Ghat.
Local memorabilia include the handicrafts that are available in Khadi Bhawan, near Satyam Cinema. Kosa silk saris and cloth are available in Sadar Bazaar.
The best time to visit is from October to March. However, one can visit it anytime of the year to shop and to enjoy the diversity of the culture which is very different from other parts of the country and for the better for sure.

Education

Bilaspur has developed as a centre of education for Chhattisgarh with students from all over the state coming to Bilaspur to study for engineering, medical and administrative officers' competitive exams. Recently three big schools were started in Bilaspur (i.e. Kendriya Vidyalaya, D.A.V. Public School, The Jain International School, Brilliant Public School & Delhi Public School). Along with the older schools, which provided excellent education, these new schools make Bilaspur the center for primary education too. Bilaspur has following Educational Institutions.

Universities

Colleges

Schools

  • The Jain International School, Mungeli Road, Post- Sakri (http://www.tjis.edu.in)
  • SIDDHIVINAYAK HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL
  • Kendriya Vidyalaya
  • DAV Public School
  • Delhi Public School
  • Don Bosco Public School
  • Bengali Higher Secondary School
  • Bharat Mata Higher Secondary School
  • Bharatmata English Medium School
  • Bharatmata Primary School
  • Burgess English Medium School
  • Brilliant Public School
  • Christian English School
  • Dreamland Higher Secondary School
  • Government Multipurpose Higher Secondary School
  • Maharashi Vidya Mandir
  • Mohanty English Medium School
  • Normal School
  • Pushparaj English Medium School
  • SEC Railway English Medium school
  • SEC Railway Hindi Medium School
  • SEC Railway Primary School
  • SEC Railway Single Teacher School
  • Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandir Juna Bilaspur
  • Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandir Tilak Nagar
  • Chhattisgarh Higher Secondary School
  • Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandir Sarkanda
  • Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandir Rajkishore Nagar
  • Sheffer School
  • St. Francis Sr. Sec. School, Ameri Road,
  • St. Joseph Convent
  • Devaki Nandan Higher Secondary School
  • Shanti Niketan Public School
  • Mission Higher Secondary School
  • St. Xaviers School
  • Puskar Convent School Tifra Bilaspur CG.
  • Loyala School Rajkishor Nagar, Bilaspur CG.
  • H.S.M. Global Public School Dayal Band Bilaspur C.G.
  • Lalu Baba Public School, Chingrajpara Bilaspur
  • Akshay Gurukul School, Bilaspur
  • Peepal Tree School, Pandhi, Seepat Road, Bilaspur (C.G) (Coming Soon)

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