Asansol is a municipal city in the state of Kolkata. This land is rich in minerals. It is the second highest populated city in West Bengal after Kolkata. Places to visit are Kalyaneshwari Temple, Jagannath Temple, Nazrul Academy, Rabindra Bhawan, Burnpur Nehru Park and Burnpur riverside.
Located in the Barddhaman district of West Bengal, Asansol is the industrial and coal mining city and also the second largest city after Kolkata in the state. Asansol has Purulia and Bankura districts of West Bengal and parts of Jharkhand and Orissa as its adjoining areas. A recent report by a non-governmental policy research body of UK, International Institute for Environment and Development has placed Asansol in the list of hundred fastest growing cities of India. The place has derived its name from the Asan tree which is a different species of tree found on the embankment of river Damodar and Sol-Bhumi or Sol-land which means a land that is loaded with minerals. This heavily industrialised city is well developed with educational institutions, reasonably high per capita income, housing complexes, proper transport connections, trade and commerce, huge work force as well as industries. Although, in recent times, many of the industries are facing extreme hardships, this place has evolved as an important centre for trading.
Australoid and Dravidian were the original inhabitants of this place. But, it became an important place for Jain conglomeration before 2500 years. Some of the biggest examples of Jain activities in Asansol include the Jain temples at Begunia on Pareshnath Hill in adjoining Jharkhand as well as the Jain Bhawan and the temple dedicated to Vasupujya in Durga Mandir. It is also believed that the city was a part of the Malla dynasty of Vishnupur and is evident in the temple of Chhotodighari village that speaks of the Vishnupur style of architecture.
Asansol offers many places of attraction like the Satabdi Park and Nehru Park which are very popular spots. There is also the Joychandi Pahar which is a famous picnic and a day trip spot among the locals. The nearby dams of Maithon and Panchet are places for sightseeing as well as day trips. The Kalyaneshwari Temple located near the Maithon Dam and Churulia are the other places of attractions. Accommodation is in plenty and ranges from deluxe to comfort hotels. Tourists can avail city buses and transport system link train to move in the city. Although, there is no night life as such, the city has many things to offer to its tourists.
Best Time to Visit Asansol
The best season to visit Asansol is the winter season. The temperature remains comfortable and is apt for sightseeing. The best months to visit are September, October, November, December and March.
How to Reach Asansol?
By Air : The nearest International Airport from Asansol is the Kolkata Airport (207 Kms), a convenient option for travelers. The Airport is well connected with other major cities such as Frankfurt, Bangkok, Paro, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Dubai and Yangon. Domestic flights are also available for the cities such as Chennai, Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad.
By Rail : Asansol is a prominent junction on the Howrah-Delhi track. There are a lot of trains available for Asansol like: Agniveena Express, Coalfield Express and Black Diamond Express from Howrah, Ranchi Shatabdi Express and Inter City Express from Sealdah.
By Road : The city is linked via NH-2 highway and is connected with the cities such as Ranchi (220 Kms), Dhanbad (64 Kms), Jamshedpur (198 Kms), Hazaribag (180 Kms), Bokaro Steel City (114 Kms) and Giridih (105 Kms) through South Bengal State Transport Corporation (SBSTC).