Bakkhali Explained

Bakkhali is a village within the jurisdiction of the Namkhana police station in the Namkhana CD block in the Kakdwip subdivision of the South 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal.

History

Sir Andrew Fraser, Lieutenant Governor of Bengal (1903–1908) in the early twentieth century, is credited with "discovery" of the place. In recognition of his efforts, a part of the town is named Fraserganj. There is a dilapidated house near the beach, which according to the locals was the one in which Fraser used to stay.^[3]

Geography

Area overview

Kakdwip subdivision has full rural population. The entire district is situated in the Ganges Delta. The southern part of the delta has numerous channels and islands such as Henry Island, Sagar Island, Frederick Island and Fraserganj Island. The subdivision is a part of the Sundarbans settlements. A comparatively recent country-wide development is the guarding of the coastal areas by special coastal forces. The area attracts large number of tourists – Gangasagar and Fraserganj-Bakkhali are worth mentioning. Gobardhanpur holds a promise for the future.^{[4] [5] [6]}

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.

Location

Bakkhali is located at 21.5631°N 88.2595°W. It has an average elevation of .

Activities

There is a fishing harbour at Frasergunj run by Benfish, a wing of the state government has a presence nearby.^[7]

Accessibility

Jambudwip and Lothian are two forested islands nearby. The only means of travel to the islands is by crude motorised country boat as there are no jetties in the islands. These islands are also places of tourist attraction nowadays.

Transport

Bakkhali lies on the National Highway 12, approximately 125 km from Kolkata.^[8] Namkhana railway station is nearby.^[8]

Healthcare

There is a primary health centre at Fraserganj, with ten beds.^[9]

External links

• BOOK Bakkhali Tour Package With Bakkhali Tourist Lodge
  • Travel stories published in The Telegraph and The Statesman

Notes and References

1. Web site: Fact and Figures. Wb.gov.in. 5 July 2019.
2. Web site: 52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India. Nclm.nic.in. Ministry of Minority Affairs. 5 July 2019. 85. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170525141614/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf. 25 May 2017.
3. Book: Islam, Sirajul . 2012 . Fraser, Sir Andrew . http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Fraser,_Sir_Andrew . Islam . Sirajul . Sirajul Islam . Jamal . Ahmed A. . Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh . Second . Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
4. Web site: District Statistical Handbook 2014 South Twety-four Parganas . Table 2.1, 2.2, 2.4b . Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal . 5 December 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190121045803/http://www.wbpspm.gov.in/publications/District%20Statistical%20Handbook . 21 January 2019 . dead .
5. Web site: Census of India 2011, West Bengal, District Census Handbook, South Twentyfour Parganas, Series – 20, Part XII-A, Village and Town Directory . Page 13, Physigraphy. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal . 5 December 2019.
6. Web site: District Human Development Report: South 24 Parganas . Chapter 9: Sundarbans and the Remote Islanders, p 290-311 . Development & Planning Department, Government of West Bengal, 2009 . 5 December 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161005044029/http://wbplan.gov.in/HumanDev/DHDR/24%20pgsSouth/s24prg_main.htm . 5 October 2016 . dead .
7. News: Beach festival to tickle senses . 11 March 2021 . The Times of India . 13 January 2004 . en.
8. Google maps
9. Web site: Health & Family Welfare Department . Health Statistics – Primary Health Centres . Government of West Bengal . 11 November 2019 . 21 April 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180421215645/https://www.wbhealth.gov.in/other_files/PHC.pdf . dead .