Bishnupur district is a proposed administrative district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is intended to be carved out of the existing Bankura district, with the historic town of Bishnupur as its proposed headquarters. The proposal forms part of a wider reorganisation of districts announced by the Government of West Bengal to bring administration closer to the people in larger districts.
| Name | Bishnupur district (proposed) |
|---|---|
| State | West Bengal |
| Country | India |
| Parent district | Bankura |
| Proposed headquarters | Bishnupur |
| Status | Proposed |
| Division | Medinipur division |
Bankura is among the larger districts of southern West Bengal, with a sub-divisional structure that has long included a separate Bishnupur sub-division alongside Bankura Sadar and Khatra. The town of Bishnupur, historically the seat of the Malla kings, lies in the eastern part of the district and is well known for its terracotta temples, Baluchari sarees and the Bishnupur gharana of Hindustani classical music.
Demands for a separate district based at Bishnupur have been raised periodically by local residents and political representatives, citing the distance to the existing district headquarters at Bankura and the distinct cultural and economic profile of the eastern part of the district.
In 2022, the Government of West Bengal announced plans to create several new districts in the state, among which Bishnupur was identified as a proposed district to be separated from Bankura. The new district, if formed, would broadly correspond to the present Bishnupur sub-division of Bankura district. The proposal envisages new district-level offices, a separate district magistrate, and police and judicial infrastructure based at Bishnupur town.
The area covered by the proposed district lies on the eastern fringe of the Chota Nagpur Plateau, transitioning into the alluvial plains of the lower Damodar and Dwarakeswar river systems. It shares boundaries with the remainder of Bankura district to the west, Paschim Bardhaman and Purba Bardhaman to the north, Hooghly to the east, and Paschim Medinipur to the south.
The creation of Bishnupur as a separate district is intended to: