"ASANSOL-THE COLONIAL BENGAL." a Asansol Travel Page by goutammitra

THE ASANSOL JUNCTION WAS ERECTED IN THE YEAR 1885 BY THE BRITISH ENGINEERS.
ASANSOL

ASANSOL IS THE PLANNED INDUSTRIAL CITY OF WEST BENGAL. DISCOVERED BY THE GERMAN AND THE BRITISH DURING 18TH, CENTURY FOR ITS BLACK GOLD AND OTHER MINERALS. YES ASANSOL HAS LOT OF COAL UNDER ITS’ BELLY AND NATURALLY THERE ARE LOTS OF COAL MINES AROUND HERE. THIS PLACE ALSO HAS MANY SMALL AND LARGE STEEL PLANTS, CEMENT PLANTS, SPONGE IRON PLANTS AND MANY OTHER SMALL INDUSTRIES. THIS IS ALSO A MAJOR RAILWAY JUNCTION OF THE COUNTRY. THE BRITISH UTILIZED THIS PLACE TO THE FULLEST CAPACITY. THEY ALSO MADE IT SECOND HOME AFTER CALCUTTA. THERE USED TO BE MANY ANGLO- INDIANS AT ASANSOL TILL THE SEVENTIES. NOW WITH TIME MOST OF THEM HAVE MIGRATED TO AUSTRALIA AND CANADA AS BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT JOIN THE MAINSTREAM INDIANS. THE BRITISH NEVER OWNED THEM AND THEY FELT THEY ARE NOT INDIANS. BUT YET THERE ARE MANY ANGLO – INDIANS WHO THINK INDIA IS THEIR MOTHERLAND AND LOVE IT EQUALLY AS AN INDIAN. ASANSOL HAS MANY CHURCHES AND HOUSES MADE IN EUROPEAN STYLE.

MOTHER NATURE HAS NOT DEPRIVED ASANSOL OF ITS NATURAL BEAUTY; IT HAS TWO MAJOR RIVERS FLOWS BY AND MILES OF FOREST. BUT WITH TIME FOREST IS REDUCING, THE PEOPLE AND THE GOVT. MUST DO SOMETHING TO SAVE THE FOREST. ASANSOL HAS TWO BIG DAMS WHERE ELECTRICITY IS GENERATED. THE BIGGER ONE THE MITHON DAM HAS BEEN DEVELOPED AS TOURIST SPOT WITH HOTELS, BOAT CLUB, AND ANGLING ETC.

REMEMBER THIS BEAUTY?? WELL IT DOES NOT RUN ANY MORE BUT NOBODY WILL EVER FORGET THE LOCOMOTIVE ENGINE. THIS LITTLE BEAUTY HAS BEEN KEPT AT THE RAIL MUSEUM AT ASANSOL.