Happy TravellerWelcome to Raiganj, a historic city located in the Uttar Dinajpur district of West Bengal, India. With a rich cultural heritage, stunning natural beauty, and a thriving urban center, Raiganj is a must-visit destination for any traveler. Let’s explore some of the top attractions and experiences that this city has to offer.
Raiganj is a city with a fascinating history. The police station here was established 125 years ago, and railway connectivity reached the place 115 years ago. The city is home to the 111-year-old Raiganj Coronation High School and the more than 50-years-old government primary Raiganj Sarala Sundari GSFP School. Raiganj got its railway connection in 1896, and it is a 200-year-old town. The origin of the name Raiganj is not exactly known, and is debated. Some say the name is linked to the royal family of Dinajpur whose surname was Rai. The widely accepted view is that the name originated from the abundance of rai sorshe (a special type of mustard) crops at this place from time immemorial.
One of the top attractions in Raiganj is the Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as the Kulik Bird Sanctuary. This sanctuary is home to a large population of Asian openbills and other waterbirds, making it the largest bird sanctuary in Asia. The sanctuary is situated at the banks of Kulik river which helped the town to become an important place for water connectivity. The sanctuary has an artificial network of man-made canals which is connected to the River Kulik. During the months of monsoon, the flood water from the river enters the plains of the sanctuary. This acts as an important source of food for most of the bird species. Every winter nearly 150 different bird species arrive here from the north in numbers ranging from 65,000 to 75,000. The sanctuary is set to be rejuvenated, with plans of developing a deer park and a tortoise park soon at the core of the sanctuary by the state government.
Another popular attraction in Raiganj is the Raiganj Church, dedicated to St. Joseph the Worker, the patron saint of Raiganj Diocese. The spacious building has glass and ceiling paintings, prominent pillars on both sides modelled on Greek pillars, carved doors and a high altar with an hexagonal dome on top of it. There are also several Jain temples in the area, including the Shri 1008 Digamabar Adinath Jain Mandir, which has a 31 feet tall Adinath idol in standing posture.
Raiganj is also known for its educational institutions. The city’s schools usually use English and Bengali as their medium of instruction, although the use of Hindi is also stressed. The schools are affiliated with the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) or the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) or the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education. Raiganj College has been upgraded to Raiganj University, an autonomous, state-owned university. The colleges of Raiganj were affiliated to University of North Bengal, but after the establishment of University of Gour Banga at Malda in 2008, the colleges are now affiliated to University of Gour Banga.
Getting around Raiganj is easy with rickshaws, auto-rickshaws, e-rickshaws, and city autos being the most widely available public transport. Most residents stay within a few kilometers of the town center and have their own vehicles, mostly motorcycles and bicycles. Raiganj railway station is on the Barsoi-Radhikapur branch line, and NH 34 passes through Raiganj which connects it to the capital of the state Kolkata. Raiganj also has a few private bus services and is connected by buses to a few major
