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Geographical region in East India, India
Photo: Kinjal bose 78, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Rarh (রাঢ় Rāṛh) is the western region of West Bengal, consisting of the districts of Bankura, Birbhum, Paschim Bardhaman, Purba Bardhaman and Purulia.
Bankura (বাঁকুড়া Bānkuṛā) is a district of West Bengal.
Birbhum (Bengali: বীরভূম Bīrbhūm, Santali: ᱵᱤᱨᱵᱷᱩᱢ Birbhum), the "Land of Red Soil", is known for its rich culture, vibrant religion and picturesque nature.
Paschim Bardhaman (পশ্চিম বর্ধমান Poshchim Bordhomān), literally "West Bardhaman", is the western coal-rich industrial district of West Bengal. Fondly known as the "Ruhr of India", Paschim Bardhaman is home to two steel cities, a coal mining centre, and a locomotive workshop.
Purba Bardhaman (পূর্ব বর্ধমান Pūrbo Bordhomān), literally "East Bardhaman", is a fertile district of central West Bengal. It is bordered by Birbhum and Murshidabad on the north, Nadia on the east, Hooghly on the south, Bankura on the southwest, and Paschim Bardhaman on the west.
Purulia (পুরুলিয়া Puruliyā) is the westernmost district of West Bengal, blessed with their unique geography and culture.
By train
The major railway stations are in Asansol, Bankura, Bardhaman, Durgapur and Purulia.
By car
The NH 19 (formerly NH 2), also known as the Durgapur Expressway, crosses this region by Asansol, Bardhaman and Durgapur.
Rarh has an extensive railway network and is part of both the Eastern Railway (ER) and the South Eastern Railway (SER) zones.
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Ambika Kalna (Bengali: অম্বিকা কালনা Ambikā Kālnā), or simply Kalna, is a town in the Purba Bardhaman district of West Bengal, India. Situated on the western bank of the Bhagirathi River, it is also called the Temple City for the number of old temples found here.
Asansol (Bengali: আসানসোল Āsānsol, Hindi: आसनसोल Āsansol) is the headquarters of the Paschim Bardhaman district of West Bengal. It is at the centre of a major industrial area and the second largest urban agglomeration in the state.
Baranti or Boronti (বড়ন্তি Baṛanti) is a small, quiet and scenic place in the Purulia district of West Bengal. There is a 1 km long irrigation project dam, between two small hillocks, Muradi Hill and Baranti Hill.
Bardhaman (বর্ধমান Bardhamān) or Barddhaman (বর্দ্ধমান Barddhamān), also known as Burdwan, is the headquarters of the namesake Purba Bardhaman district of West Bengal. It is the largest agricultural centre in the state, located in what has been traditionally called the "granary of Bengal".
Bishnupur (বিষ্ণুপুর Biṣṇupur) is a town in the Bankura district of West Bengal, India. Although famous for terracotta temples, Bishnupur also houses several laterite stone temples.
Durgapur (Bengali: দুর্গাপুর Durgāpur) is an industrial city in the Paschim Bardhaman district of West Bengal, India. Being an industrial hub, there is little here of interest to tourists.
Santiniketan or Shantiniketan (Bengali: শান্তিনিকেতন Shāntiniketon) is a university town in central West Bengal, where students of different backgrounds study in open air, under the canopy of a tree. It is deeply associated with the Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore who developed the town.
Hindu pilgrimage site, home to the temple of Ma Tara
The Ajodhya Hills (অযোধ্যা পাহাড় Ojōdhyā Pāhāṛ) are some of the most famous hills in southern West Bengal, in the state's western fringes. The hills offer scenic viewpoints, forests and waterfalls like Bamni Falls.
Ausgram (আউশগ্রাম Auśgrām) is a rural area in the Purba Bardhaman district of West Bengal, India. It is an off-the-beaten-path destination that provides an essence of the Rarh culture prevalent in the region, with open fields, mud huts, trails of red soil and Baul music.
Biharinath (বিহারীনাথ Bihārīnāth) in the Bankura district of West Bengal is the second highest hill in South Bengal. It is 451 m (1,480 ft) high.
Among the hills in the Purulia district of West Bengal, the ruins of Garh Panchkot (গড় পঞ্চকোট Gaṛ Pañcakoṭ) are a silent testimony to the Bargi attack during the 18th century. The ruins sit on the slopes of Panchet Hill and adjacent to Panchet Lake, is a scenic hilly forested area, with a tinge of history.
Susunia (শুশুনিয়া Śuśuniẏā) is a hill in the Bankura district of West Bengal and a place of archaeological interest and a rock climbing centre. It is a picnic spot for people residing in the surrounding areas.
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