>Rodw at 18:39, 1 June 2021

2021-06-01T18:39:42Z

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{{Infobox settlement
| name = Gourangapur
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Village
| image_skyline = File:Temple of Ichai Ghosh.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Ichhai Ghosher Deul
| pushpin_map = India West Bengal#India
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in West Bengal, India
| coordinates = {{coord|23.6081|N|87.4536|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[West Bengal]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Paschim Bardhaman district|Paschim Bardhaman]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| leader_title =
| leader_name =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total = 110
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[English language|English]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code =
| area_code_type = Telephone code /[[Subscriber trunk dialling|STD]] code
| area_code =
| registration_plate =
| blank1_name_sec1 = [[Human sex ratio|Sex ratio]]
| blank1_info_sec1 =
| blank2_name_sec1 = [[Lok Sabha]] constituency
| blank2_info_sec1 = [[Bardhaman-Durgapur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Bardhaman-Durgapur]]
| blank3_name_sec1 = [[Vidhan Sabha]] constituency
| blank3_info_sec1 = [[Galsi (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Galsi]]
| website = {{URL|paschimbardhaman.gov.in/}}
| footnotes =
}}
'''Gourangapur''' is a village in [[Kanksa (community development block)|Kanksa]] [[Community development block in India|CD block]] in [[Durgapur subdivision]] of [[Paschim Bardhaman district]] in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[West Bengal]]. The place has links with Ichhai Ghosh, king of Gopbhum, and it is believed that his capital, Dhekur, was located nearby. The area was earlier a part of Senpahari pargana.

==History==
According to [[Binoy Ghosh]], Gopbhum, spread over a part of the present-day [[Purba Bardhaman district|Purba Bardhaman]] and [[Paschim Bardhaman district|Paschim Bardhaman]] districts, had two [[Sadgop]] kings – one ruled from [[Amrargar]] and other from Dhekur (also known as Trisasthigar), near present-day Gourangapur. A little prior to 1833, a copper edict issued by Iswar Ghosh (popular as Ichhai Ghosh) was found at Ramganj in Dinajpur district. As per the copper edict, Iswar Ghosh was son of Dhabal Ghosh, grandson of Bal Ghosh and great grandson of Dhurta Ghosh. However, according to the ''[[Dharmamangal]]'' poems, Ichhai Ghosh was son of Som Ghosh. In spite of the differences, there is both literary and historical support for Ichhai Ghosh. He was the king of a subsidiary (''samanta'') kingdom, forming a part of Gopbhum, in the 11th century and was a contemporary of [[Mahipala]], an important king of the [[Pala Empire|Pala dynasty]]. Ichhai Ghosh was possibly more than just a regional power, because the copper edict shows that other kings in the area listened to him. It is possible that Ichhai Ghosh could carve out a large kingdom because Mahipala was kept busy by external pressures from the [[Chola dynasty]] of southern India and [[Kalachuris of Ratnapura|Kalachuris]] of central India.<ref name="binoyghosh">Ghosh, Binoy, ''Paschim Banger Sanskriti'', {{in lang|bn}}, part I, 1976 edition, pages 123-129, Prakash Bhaban, Kolkata</ref>

[[File:IMG-20210524-WA0069.jpg|thumb|Mahamandalik Iswari Ghosh by Shubhadeep Bhattacharya]]

The ''Dharmamangal'' poems speak of a battle between Ichhai Ghosh and [[Moyna, Purba Medinipur#History|Lau Sen]], who was king of another subsidiary kingdom in the Medinipur area. The battle was fought at Kandunedanga on the south bank of the [[Ajay River|Ajay]]. The ''Dharmamangal'' poems mention a king Harishchandra but it is difficult to trace him historically.<ref name="binoyghosh"/>(He is not to be confused with the legendary Indian king [[Harishchandra]] mentioned in ancient Hindu texts).

See also - [[Garh Jungle]] for Raja Surath's Durga Puja

==Geography==
{{OSM Location map
| width=550| height=400| zoom=11
| coord={{coord|23|33|20|N|87|19|20|E}}| float=left|caption='''Cities and towns in the southern and eastern portions of Durgapur subdivision in Paschim Bardhaman district'''<br/>MC: Municipal Corporation, CT: census town, R: rural centre, A: airport, B: barrage, H: historical site<br/>Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly
|mark-coord1= {{coord|23|31|34|N|87|22|24|E}} | label-pos1=left|label1= Arra| numbered1=CT| mark-title1=[[Arra, Paschim Bardhaman|Arra]] (CT)|label-color1=#800000 |label-size1=11| mark-size1=12|shape1=l-circle|shape-color1= #A40000|shape-outline1=white|label-offset-x1=2
|mark-coord2={{coord|23|30|32|N|87|23|40|E}} | label-pos2=right|label2= Gopalpur| numbered2=CT| mark-title2=[[Gopalpur, Paschim Bardhaman|Gopalpur]] (CT)
|mark-coord3={{coord|23|30|4|N|87|21|48|E}} | label-pos3=right|label3= Bamunara| numbered3=CT| mark-title3=[[Bamunara, Paschim Bardhaman|Bamunara]] (CT)
|mark-coord4={{coord|23|27|58|N|87|23|0|E}} | label-pos4=right|label4= Amlajora| numbered4=CT| mark-title4=[[Amlajora]] (CT)
|mark-coord5={{coord|23|27|40|N|87|27|45|E}} | label-pos5=right|label5= Kanksa| numbered5=CT| mark-title5=[[Kanksa]] (CT)
|mark-coord6={{coord|23|27|22|N|87|27|14|E}} | label-pos6=left|label6= Debipur| numbered6=CT| mark-title6=[[Debipur, India|Debipur]] (CT)
|mark-coord7={{coord|23|26|57|N|87|26|52|E}} | label-pos7=left|label7= Prayagpur| numbered7=CT| mark-title7=[[Prayagpur]] (CT)
|mark-coord8={{coord|23|39|18|N|87|12|28|E}} | label-pos8=right|label8= Siduli| numbered8=CT| mark-title8=Siduli (CT)|
|mark-coord9={{coord|23|38|30|N|87|13|31|E}} | label-pos9=right|label9= Khandra| numbered9=CT| mark-title9=[[Khandra]] (CT)
|mark-coord10={{coord|23|39|14|N|87|14|34|E}} | label-pos10=right|label10= Ukhra| numbered10=CT| mark-title10=[[Ukhra]] (CT)
|mark-coord11={{coord|23|37|44|N|87|13|10|E}} | label-pos11=left|label11= Mahira| numbered11=CT| mark-title11=[[Mahira]] (CT)
|mark-coord12={{coord|23|37|11|N|87|13|1|E}} | label-pos12=left|label12= Dakshin Khanda| numbered12=CT| mark-title12=[[Dakshin Khanda]] (CT)
|mark-coord13={{coord|23|36|51|N|87|8|51|E}} | label-pos13=right|label13= Kajora| numbered13=CT| mark-title13=[[Kajora]] (CT)
|mark-coord14={{coord|23|36|16|N|87|10|45|E}} | label-pos14=right|label14= Harishpur| numbered14=CT| mark-title14=[[Harishpur]] (CT)
|mark-coord15={{coord|23|35|50|N|87|9|47|E}} | label-pos15=right|label15= Palashban| numbered15=CT| mark-title15=[[Palashban]] (CT)
|mark-coord16={{coord|23|35|24|N|87|11|56|E}} | label-pos16=right|label16= Dignala| numbered16=CT| mark-title16=[[Dignala]] (CT)
|mark-coord17={{coord|23|35|0|N|87|11|7|E}} | label-pos17=right|label17= Andal| numbered17=CT| mark-title17=[[Andal, Paschim Bardhaman|Andal]] (CT)
|mark-coord18={{coord|23|34|40|N|87|10|45|E}} | label-pos18=right|label18= Baska| numbered18=CT| mark-title18=[[Baska, Andal|Baska]] (CT)
|mark-coord19={{coord|23|33|54|N|87|17|38|E}} | label-pos19=right|label-color19=#800000| label19=Durgapur | numbered19=MC| mark-title19=[[Durgapur]] (MC)|shape-color19=#800000
|mark-coord20={{coord|23|27|7|N|87|28|6|E}} | label-pos20=right|label-color20=#C42222| label20= Panagarh | numbered20=R| mark-title20=[[Panagarh]] (R)|shape-color20=#C42222
|mark-coord21={{coord|23|28|41|N|87|23|34|E}} | label-pos21=left|label-color21=#C42222| label21= Rajbandh | numbered21=R| mark-title21=[[Rajbandh]] (R)|shape-color21=#C42222
|mark-coord22={{coord|23|38|54|N|87|9|41|E}} | label-pos22=right|label22=ECL Kajora|labela22= Area Office | numbered22=0| mark-title22=[[Kajora Area|ECL Kajora Area Office]] (A)| shape-color22=#AA6666| label-size22=13|
|mark-coord23={{coord|23.619389|87.244333}}| label23= Kazi Nazrul|labela23= Islam Airport| label-color23 = #C42222 | label-angle23=0| label-pos23=top| label-size23=10| mark-size23=12|numbered23= A| mark-title23 = [[Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport]]| shape-color23=#C42222
|mark-coord24={{coord|23.474444|87.4275}}| label24= Panagarh Airport| label-color24 = #C42222 | label-angle24=0| label-pos24=top| label-size24=10| mark-size24=12| numbered24=A|mark-title24 =[[Panagarh Airport]]| shape-color24=#C42222
|mark-coord25={{coord|23.4754|87.3023}}| label25= Durgapur|labela25= Barrage| label-color25 = #C42222 | label-angle25=0| label-pos25=right| label-size25=10| mark-size25=12| numbered25=B|mark-title25 =[[Durgapur Barrage]]| shape-color25=#C42222
|mark-coord26={{coord|23.5648|87.2367}}| label26= Durgapur|labela26= Steel |labelb26 =Plant| label-color26 = #C42222 | label-angle26=0| label-pos26=bottom| label-size26=10| mark-size26=0| mark-title26 =none
|mark-coord27={{coord|23.5386|87.2693}}| label27= Alloy|labela27= Steels |labelb27 =Plant| label-color27 = #C42222 | label-angle27=0| label-pos27=bottom| label-size27=10| mark-size27=0| mark-title27 =none
|mark-coord28={{coord|23.5186|87.2983}}| label28= Durgapur|labela28= Projects |labelb28 =Limited| label-color28 = #C42222 | label-angle28=0| label-pos28=bottom| label-size28=10| mark-size28=0| mark-title28 =none
|mark-coord29={{coord|23.4984|87.2623}}| label29=Damodar River| label-color29 = #77A1CB| label-angle29=40| label-pos29=top| label-size29=10| mark-size29=0| mark-title29 =none
|mark-coord30={{coord|23.6374|87.4243}}| label30=Ajay River| label-color30 = #77A1CB| label-angle30=47| label-pos30=top| label-size30=10| mark-size30=0| mark-title30 =none
|mark-coord31={{coord|23|36|29|N|87|27|13|E}} | label-pos31=top|label31=Gourangapur| numbered31=H| mark-title31= Gourangapur (H)| shape-color31=black| label-size31=13|label-color31=black 
|mark-coord32={{coord|23|36|0|N|87|29|19|E}} | label-pos32=left| label32= Bankati | numbered32=R| mark-title32=[[Bankati, Paschim Bardhaman]] (R)|shape-color32=#C42222
|mark-coord33={{coord|23|33|51|N|87|24|6|E}} | label-pos33=left| label33= Malandighi | numbered33=R| mark-title33=[[Malandighi]] (R)|shape-color33=#C42222
|mark-coord34={{coord|23|37|43|N|87|24|28|E}} | label-pos34=left| label34= Sibpur | numbered34=R| mark-title34=[[Sibpur, Paschim Bardhaman]] (R)|shape-color34=#C42222
|mark-coord35={{coord|23|36|22|N|87|25|46|E}} | label-pos35=left| label35= Garh Jungle | numbered35=H| mark-title35=[[Garh Jungle]] (H)|shape-color35=#AA6666}}

===Location===
Gourangapur is located at {{coord|23.6081|N|87.4536|E|}}.

The place is densely forested on the southern bank of the [[Ajay River|Ajay]], a little down-stream from [[Jaydev Kenduli]], which is located on the northern bank of the river.<ref name="binoyghosh"/>

==Demographics==
As per the [[2011 Census of India]], Gourangapur had a total population of 110 of which 56 (51%) were males and 54 (49%) were females. Population below 6 years was 22. The total number of literates in Gourangapur was 74 (84.09% of the population over 6 years).<ref name=census2011>{{cite web| url = http://censusindia.gov.in/pca/cdb_pca_census/Houselisting-housing-WB.html |title = C.D. Block Wise Primary Census Abstract Data(PCA) | work= 2011 census: West Bengal – District-wise CD Blocks|publisher= Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India | access-date = 3 March 2019}}</ref>

==Culture==
[[Ichhai Ghosher Deul]] is located at Gourangapur. It is one of the few [[Kalinga architecture|rekh-deuls]] in Bengal. Scholars date it around 16th-17th century and it was possibly erected by the descendants of Ichhai Ghosh, to perpetuate his memory.<ref name="binoyghosh"/>

[[David McCutchion|David J. McCutchion]] mentions Ichhai Ghoser Deul at Gourangapur as a large smooth curvilinear rekha deul, having a base of 20 feet square. It is a plain brick structure but for niches and images on tower.<ref>McCutchion, David J., ''Late Mediaeval Temples of Bengal'', first published 1972, reprinted 2017, page 25, The Asiatic Society, Kolkata, {{ISBN| 978-93-81574-65-2}}</ref>

According to the [[List of Monuments of National Importance in West Bengal]] the Ichhai Ghosh Temple is a monument of national importance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://asi.nic.in/alphabetical-list-of-monuments-west-bengal/|title=List of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains of West Bengal - Archaeological Survey of India|publisher= ASI|work= Item no. 51|access-date=25 January 2020}}</ref>

Shyamarupargarh, is located nearby, deep in the forest. There is no trace of the temple of goddess [[Bhavani]] built by Ichhai Ghosh, but there is a small temple probably built later. Near Shyamarupargarh, the ruins of a huge building are there in the dense forest. Locals believe the ruins to be that of the palace of Ichhai Ghosh at what once was Dhekkuri or Dhekur, Ichhai Ghosh's capital.<ref name="binoyghosh"/>

===Entertainment===
The Deul Park at Gourangapur has come up as an entertainment centre for tourists.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://tripsaround.in/deul-park-south-bengal-an-extremely-scenic-landscape-that-makes-its-ambiance-ideal-for-enjoying-a-weekend-tour/| title = Deul Park| publisher = TripsAround.in |access-date = 3 March 2019}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="200px" heights="150px">
File:Deul of Icchai Ghosh at Gourangopur, Kanksha block in Burdwan 19.jpg|Sculpture in Ichhai Ghosher Deul at Gourangapur
</gallery>
<small>Note: Ichhai Ghosher deul is having small plantations that may damage the deul. See [[Palpara]] to note how a temple has been protected</small>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{external media
| align=right
| video1=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4ALUMH44bg Shyamarupa temple and surroundings]}}

{{commons category|Temple of Ichai Ghosh}}
{{commons category|Paschim Bardhaman district}}

* {{Wikivoyage-inline|Durgapur}}

{{Paschim Bardhaman District}}
{{Temple towns in West Bengal}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}

[[Category:Villages in Paschim Bardhaman district]]

Gourangapur - Revision history

>Rodw at 18:39, 1 June 2021