Gongoni Danga

Gongoni Danga (also spelled Gangani Danga) is a natural canyon situated near the town of Garbeta, in the Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal, India.

Gongoni Danga
Gongoni Danga
Location in West Bengal
Gongoni Danga
Location in India
Geography
LocationGarbeta, Paschim Medinipur district, West Bengal, India
Coordinates22.8587°N 87.3407°E / 22.8587; 87.3407 
RiversShilabati River

Geography
Cities and towns in Medinpur Sadar subdivision of Paschim Medinipur district
M: municipal city/ town, CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, H: historical/ religious centre, F: facilities
Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly

Location

Gongoni Danga is located at 22.8587°N 87.3407°E / 22.8587; 87.3407.

Area overview

Paschim Medinipur district (before separation of Jhargram) had a total forest area of 1,700 km2, accounting for 14.31% of the total forested area of the state. It is obvious from the map of the Midnapore Sadar subdivision, placed alongside, is that there are large stretches of forests in the subdivision. The soil is predominantly lateritic.[1] Around 30% of the population of the district resides in this subdivision. 13.95% of the population lives in urban areas and 86.05% lives in the rural areas.[2]

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

Entry point

At the road level entry-point, one sees red rocky land that leads to a precarious drop to a valley below, where the Shilabati River weaves its way across the canyon floor. An array of jagged laterite cliffs are prominently visible. “Wind and water have collaborated over millions of years to carve and chisel a craggy ravine-filled landscape of forbidding splendour.” Locals call it Gongoni Danga or Gongoni Khola. The more imaginative city folk have christened it as the Grand Canyon of West Bengal. [3]

The local municipality has developed steps for visitors to go down through the gorge, several stories deep, the river has carved out over the years. As one descends the colours change to various hues of yellow. In the dry season, there is not much water in the river, but as the rains come, the river occupies many of the deeper parts of the canyon alleys. As one gets deep into the canyon, one gets a feeling of actual shapes and sizes of imaginary things. Some piece looks like a lion, another has look of a pagoda. There is a large cave with an interesting story.[4]

Mythology

According to local folklore, the Pandavas, the central characters of the Indian epic Mahabharata, arrived at this place during their period of exile. The five brothers came with their mother Kunti. The land was terrorized by a demon named Bakasura. The fearsome demon demanded a person from nearby villages volunteer every day for his daily requirement of meat. The Pandavas were staying with a Brahmin family, and it was the turn of the latter to meet the demon’s demand. At Kunti’s behest, Bhima agreed to go. A fierce battle, lasting for several days, started and in the end the legendary hero killed the demon. The village folk believe, “And that earth-rattling battle left the land all wrinkled and crumpled,” and that according to some of them was how Gangani Danga was formed.[3]

Rebel stronghold

According to Binoy Ghosh, when the Chuar rebellion started towards the end of the 18th century, the kings of Bagri were involved with the rebels, along with others like the Raja of Ghatshila and Rani Shiromani of Karnagarh. They were almost independent feudatory rulers in these areas and the British were the first to intrude into their freedom. Those who served under them did so on a hereditary basis. When the British tried to curtail their freedom, they revolted. It was a mass-revolt of enormous proportions. Ganagani Danga was their stronghold. The commander of the Bagri kings, Achal Singh, was the chief. The well-known Bagdi sardar, Gobardhan Dikpati, was his assistant. They fought on for a long time and stories about their guerrilla-type warfare and torture by the British still circulate in the area. In the early years of the 20th century, a person from Chandrakona published a novel “Salphool” about the happenings.[5]

Tourist spot

As a consequence of its scenic beauty, the place has become a popular tourist spot.[6] The beautiful cannyon like formations attract people.[7]

Gallery of Shilabati at Gongoni Danga

References
  1. "District Human Development Report Paschim Medinipur, 2011". page 7, 27. Department of Planning and Statistics, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  2. "District Statistical Handbook Paschim Medinipur, 2013". Table 2.2, 2.4 (a). Department of Planning and Statistics. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  3. Mukherjee, Sugato. "West Bengal's Grand Canyon: The Wild, Wild Village of Chandrakona". National Geographic Traveller India, 16 March 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  4. Saha, Punyabrata. "Next weekend you can be at Gangani…". The Telegraph, 15 September 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  5. Ghosh, Binoy, Paschim Banger Sanskriti, (in Bengali), part II, 1976 edition, pages 69-70 , Prakash Bhaban, Kolkata.
  6. "Gangani – the Grand Canyon of Bengal". Hostel Traveller. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  7. "Attractions of Paschim Medinipur". Gangani. Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
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