Birbhum district, Administrative district in West Bengal, India
Birbhum is an administrative area in the Burdwan division of eastern West Bengal, covering expansive agricultural land and smaller towns. The landscape shifts between reddish soil in the west and fertile alluvial zones in the east, crossed by rivers and fields.
Local rulers governed the area until the 18th century, when British colonial administrators incorporated it into the Bengal Presidency. The designation as a separate administrative district came during the colonial reorganization of the region.
During spring, people celebrate Basanta Utsav, a festival with music and colored powder that visitors can experience in the streets and open spaces. Residents often wear traditional Bengali clothing such as the dhoti or sari during celebrations and religious occasions.
Most places are reachable by bus or local trains, with main roads connecting the larger towns. Travelers find simple accommodations in market towns and can move around using cycle rickshaws or hired vehicles.
Terracotta temples from the 17th and 18th centuries stand in several villages, displaying detailed reliefs with scenes from epics and daily life. These structures were built by local craftsmen without mortar, only by fitting baked bricks together.
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