Asansol

Located in the Bardhaman 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. IISCO Steel Plant of Steel Authority of India Limited and Eastern Coalfields form the most important part of industrialisation and are the biggest employers in Asansol. Besides, Hindustan Cables Ltd., Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), Asansol Cement, Lafarge Cement India Pvt. Ltd.,. Disergarh Power Supply, Reckitt and Coleman and other industrial settlement that are also found in Asansol.

History of this place proves that, 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.