Baranagar, Murshidabad

According to the 2011 Census of India, Baranagar had a total population of 1,721, of which 913 (53%) were males and 808 (47%) were females. Population in the age range 0–6 years was 202. The total number of literate persons in Baranagar was 1,212 (79.79% of the population 6 years).[7]

This picture is from the book, The Musnud of Murshidabad (1704-1904), published in 1905.
About Baranagar, the book writes, "Opposite to Sadeqbagh, on the west bank of the river, about a couple of miles from the Azimganj Railway Station, is Barnagar, formerly the residence of Rai Udai Naraen of Rajshye. Here lived, on the banks of the sacred Bhagirathee, the famous Rani Bhowani, who spent enormous sums of money in founding endowments and charitable institutions and gave away rent free lands to numerous Brahmins. She was a most talented lady, possessing extraordinary business habits. Her piety and devotion were unparalleled and her good name as a pious, devout, liberal and actively benevolent lady has become a household word in Bengal."
The text appearing after the image reads, "In the early widowhood of her daughter, Tara, she experienced a great misfortune. On the occasion of her marriage, Rani Bhowani had consulted the best Pandits and astrologers of Benares, Mithila, the Deccan &c. They fixed a most auspicious day, when Taras marriage took place. But her husband died shorty after. When the dicision of the learned men were reviewed, it was found that they had omitted to notice the Saptashalaka, which took away from the day its auspicious character and made it a most evil day for the performance of marriage. The temples of Bhubaneswar Siva and Rajrajeswari built by Rani Bhowani and of Gopal built by Tara, still exist, the workmanship being excellent. Her son, Rajah Ram Krishna, was a devout Sakta."

David J. McCutchion focuses on several temples at Baranagar:[8]

• Char Bangla Temples are mentioned as ek-bangla structures with triple entrance, measuring 31’ x 15–16.5’. The northern temple is dated 1760. Two of the temples have rich terracotta façade, one has incised plaster and the fourth one is plain.
• Panchanan Siva temple, is an 18th-century ek-bangla structure with triple entrance, with renovated terracotta designs.
• The Gangesvara temple, is a mid-18th century standard jor bangla, measuring 22’ 6" x 26’ 3" with rich terracotta façade.
• The Ramonathesvara temple, is a large char chala temple on a square base with a single entrance, measuring around 19’ square, built in 1741, having rich terracotta façade.

According to the List of Monuments of National Importance in West Bengal the Bhavaniswar Mandir and the Char Bangla group of four Siva Mandirs are ASI listed monuments.[9]

Rani Bhabani (1716-1795) was wife of Raja Ramakanta, zamindar of Natore, in Rajshahi district, now in Bangladesh. After she became a widow at the age of 32, she ran her zamindari smoothly and earned fame for her philanthropic activities. According to Shyamal Chaterji, researcher on Hindu iconography, "It is said that Rani Bhavani wanted to build 108 temples here at Baronagar on the shore of the Ganges to lift the status of this settlement to that of Varanasi. She stopped at 107; I have not heard any story about the reason." Only a few of the temples are in good shape.[10]

• 
  One of the Char Bangla Temples
• 
  Terracotta relief at a Char Bangla temple. It is shows the Last prayer of Ravana, the most famous among the wall-reliefs of Baronagar.
• 
  Bhavaniswar Temple
• 
  Stucco work at Bhavaniswar Temple
• 
  Gangeswar Temple
• 
  Terracotta decoration at Gangeswar Temple
• 
  Panchamukhi Siva Temple
• 
  Terracotta decoration at Panchamukhi Shiva temple.

Barharwa–Azimganj–Katwa loop incl. Nalhati–Azimganj branch line
km km Sahibganj loop Barharwa Junction 00 Sahibganj loop 5 Bonidanga Bansloi River 9 Bindubasini Halt Jharkhand West Bengal border Farakka-Kahalgaon NTPC freight loop 13 Tildanga NTPC Farakka 18 Barsoi–New Farakka section Farakka Feeder Canal Farakka Barrage across Ganges River Farakka 23 18 New Farakka 23 Ballalpur 28 Sankopara Halt NH 33 33 Dhulian Ganga 36 Hausnagar 39 Basudebpur Halt 43 Nimtita 49 Sujnipara Farakka Feeder Canal 56 Ahiran Halt 63 Jangipur Road 69 Gankar Sonar Bangla Cement Factory Siding 74 STPS Siding 77 Manigram 82 Naopara Mahishasur 86 Mahipal Halt 88 Mahipal Road 92 Poradanga Gosaingram 04 96 0 Azimganj City Barala 10 98 Azimganj Junction Sagardighi 18 to Jiaganj (under construction) NH 12 102 Dahapara Dham Halt Morgram 25 104 Lalbag Court Road Lohapur 31 110 Niyalish Para Takipur 37 NH 12 Sahibganj loop 112 Khagraghat Road 118 Jibanti Nalhati Junction 44 123 Karna Subarna Sahibganj loop 130 Kanthaliya Road Sainthia Junction 81 0 Andal–Sainthia branch line Sahibganj loop Kandi 40 Chowrigacha–Sainthia new line (planned) 133 57 Chowrigacha Dwarka River 137 Kazipara Halt 140 Bazarsau 143 Miangram Dwarka River 147 Tenya 151 Malihati Talibpur Road 154 Salar 157 Jhamatpur Baharan Sahibganj loop 160 Gangatikuri Ahmadpur Junction 94 0 163 Shiblun Ahmadpur–Katwa line Sahibganj loop 167 48 Nabagram Kankurhati Halt Ajay River Bardhaman–Katwa line 171 52 Katwa Bandel–Katwa line km km

Country-boat ride

Poradanga halt railway station, on the Barharwa–Azimganj–Katwa loop, is located nearby.[11]

Country boats are available for travel between Ajimganj and Baranagar. [12]

Murshidabad travel guide from Wikivoyage

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Baronagar.