Ilambazar

Ilambazar is located at 23.63°N 87.53°E / 23.63; 87.53. It has an average elevation of 54 m (177 ft).[9]

Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the area. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.

Ilambazar is located on the northern bank of Ajay River. It is on the four-lane Panagarh–Morgram Highway. The highway has been completed at a cost of $150-million.[10] A road connects to Bolpur/Santiniketan and ( Suri - Kirnahar - Katwa ) Road

Most of the forests in Birbhum district are on laterite soil but the Choupahari sal forests in the Ilambazar area (area 13.9 km²) are on alluvial soil.[11]

The forests around Ilambazar was on the verge of extinction in the nineties of the previous century but it has got back much of its flora and fauna. The villagers, living in 32 villages located inside the forest, have realised that they can make a living by selling plates (thalis) made of sal leaves and mushrooms (locally called toshor ghuti) both abundantly available in the forest. The forest department formed 12 ‘Bonosamrakshan committees’ (forest preservation committees) comprising the villagers and made them understand how their survival was linked with that of the forest.[12]

Ilambazar police station has jurisdiction over Ilambazar CD block.[13][14]

The headquarters of Ilambazar CD block are located at Ilambazar.[15]

The Gouranga temple at Ilambazar, and the Shiva temple at Ghurisha are amongst the state protected temples in the area.[21] Rameswara Shiva temple is one of the three temples at Ilambazar with exquisite terracotta work.[22]

During the late 1940s Ilambazar terracotta temples were photo-documented by artist Mukul Dey of Santiniketan.

David J. McCutchion mentions several temples in the Ilambazar area:
(1) the Shiva temple at Ilambazar as a standard (small) 19th century ‘Birbhum-Bradhaman’ type brick built rekha deul with rich terracotta façade,
(2) the four Shiva temples at Uchkaron as standard (small) char chalas, built in 1769, with rich terracotta facades,
(3) the 19th century Lakshmi-Janardana temple at Ilambazar, as a standard West Bengal type pancharatna with ridged rekha turrets and porch on triple archway,
(4) the 17-18th century Radha Vinode temple at Jaydev Kenduli as a low storied West Bengal navaratna with ridged turrets,
(5) the 19th century Lakshmi Janardana temple at Ghurisha is a straight corniced navaratna with very large upper tower and tiny clustering corner towers with rich terracotta, and
(6) the 19th century temple in the market place at Ilambazar as an octagonal ridged rekha with rich terracotta on all sides.[23]

According to Binoy Ghosh, there are three temples at Ilambazar with beautiful terracotta designs: the hexagonal temple at hattala, the Shiva temple in the village and the pancharatna Narayan temple. There are pictures of British people amongst the terracotta desigs. Ghurisa, about 4 miles west of Ilambazar, has rich temple traditions but many of them are in a state of decay. There is a char chala temple, which was constructed in 1555. It is said that there was a golden idol of Rama in the temple, but the Bargis took it away around 1742-48. Moukhira, a village about 3 miles south of Ilambazar, has many early 19th century temples. Benoy Ghosh notes that the portrayal of Europeans in the temple carvings in Birbhum district are more than in other places, perhaps because of the activities of the early European merchants in the area.[24]

• 
  Raghunathji Temple with Shiva deity at Ghurisha
• 
  Gouranga temple at Ilambazar
• 
  Four Shiva temples at Uchkaron

John Erskine and John Cheap took an important part in the development of the shellac industry. Erskine constructed a large shellac and lac dye factory at Ilambazar and as Cheap retired from the field, virtually monopolized it. The lac was collected from the forests and lac dye and shellac manufactured in the factory at Ilambazar. Lac artisans, locally called nuris, worked out a variety of lacquered items namely, cups, inkpots, bracelets and toys ‘of excellent design and craftsmanship’. Some of the ornamental items were sent to the Great Paris Exhibition of 1855. However, Sherwill noted that ornamental items were manufactured at Ilambazar by only two men.[25]