Santragachhi

Santragachhi or Santragachi (Bengali: সাঁত্রাগাছি) is a neighbourhood of Howrah city in West Bengal, India. It has a railway station which is a railway junction on the South Eastern Railway. There is a large lake here named Santragachhi Jheel which attracts migratory birds such as Lesser Whistling Duck in the winter months.
Contents [hide]
1 History
2 Location
3 Transport
4 Santragachhi Jheel
5 Tibbati Baba Ashram
6 References
7 Citations
[edit]History

In the early twentieth century, Santragachhi was a large village, with a part within Howrah municipality.[1] According to a legend, the principal family there, the Chaudhuris, who were Barendra brahmins,[2] started staying here 300 years from now.[1] Inspired by them, other Barendra families moved to the place.[1] The railway station of Santragachhi was named after this place, though this place is closer to another railway station at Ramrajatala.[1] Ramrajatala area was considered a quarter of the area under this village.[1]
First vernacular school of the Howrah district was established in Santragachhi in 1857 with the help of a Government grant.[3] For Indian girls, the first girls' school of the Howrah district with Indian management was established in Santragachhi in 1863 with a small grant from the Government.[4]
Santragachhi produced good quality of arums (ol: Bengali: ওল).[5] There is a variety of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Elephant-foot yam of arum family) which is named Santragachhi after this place.[6][7]
[edit]Location

Santragachhi is located at 22.58017°N 88.26963°E.[8] Other neighbourhoods of Howrah that surround Santragachhi are Ramrajatala, Jagacha, Buxarah etc.
[edit]Transport

Bengal Nagpur Railway, which is now known as South Eastern Railway, was connected to Howrah station in 1900.[9] This time, the 3 mile long short branch from Santragachhi to Shalimar Station was also created for redirecting heavy traffic of export goods, for further carrying them to Kidderpore dock in Kolkata via large ferry steamers.[9] Santragachhi railway station is now a railway junction.
Santragachhi is also close to Kona Expressway, which connects to Kolkata via Vidyasagar Setu and towards rest of the NH 6 and to the NH 2.
[edit]Santragachhi Jheel

Santragachhi Jheel is a large lake,[10] located next to the Santragachhi railway station.[11] This lake attracts large number of migratory birds in the winter months, particularly in December and January. The number has increased in recent years, as migratory birds have started to avoid destinations like the lakes in Alipore Zoo, Kolkata.[12] Birds like Saras Crane from North America and Australia,[12] Gadwall, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Garganey from north of the Himalayas,[13] and many other local migratory birds such as Cotton Pygmy Goose, Comb Duck etc. are spotted here during this season.[13] However, Lesser Whistling Duck is the most dominant species visible here.[13]
The lake area is owned by South Eastern Railway, though the Forest Department of West Bengal also looks after the place.[11][13] Every year before the migratory birds are expected to arrive, the Forest department cleans Water hyacinth from the lake, though leaving some portion of it which adds up to an environment suitable for the birds.[13][14] Efforts are made by local residents, Forest Department and Railways to improve the environment for the birds.[13][14]
Forest Ministry of the State Government of West Bengal intends to convert the lake to a 'wildlife conservation centre'.[15]
[edit]Tibbati Baba Ashram

Dalal Pukur area of Santragachi is famous for Tibbati Baba (Tibbetibaba) Ashram. Tibbetibaba (Unknown – 20 November 1930) was famous Bengali philosopher saint of India.[16]
In the year 1929, on the month of November (2nd Agrahayana of Bengali calendar 1336), an ashram was established by Tibbetibaba on the earnest request of his devotees and disciples. This ashram was given the name of Tibbetibaba Vedanta Ashram by his devotees and disciples. Land for the ashram was bought by a man named ‘Bishnupada Chattopadhyaya ‘(later he came to be known as “Bhooan Swami’’).The first brick for the ashram was laid by Tibbetibaba himself. Later more land for the ashram was bought by a man from Entally area of Kolkata.[17][18]
At present this ashram is located at “76/3, Taantipara Lane, P.O. Santragachi, Howrah – 711 104, West Bengal, India.” It is commonly referred as ‘Tibbetibaba (Tibbati Baba) Ashram’ by the common people of Dalal Pukur area.[17][19]