Great revolutionary Rash Behari Bose was born in village Subaldaha in the district of Purba Bardhaman.

Some historians link the name of the district to the 24th and last Jain tirthankara, Mahavira Vardhamana, who came to preach in the area.

The district is recorded in the early 20th century British chronicles as 'the richest tract in Bengal and the area of its oldest and most settled cultivation'.

Archaeological excavations at Pandu Rajar Dhibi have indicated settlements in the Ajay valley in the Mesolithic age, around 5,000 BC.

In early historical times Bardhamanbhukti, a part of the Rarh region, was ruled successively by the Magadhas, Mauryas, Kushanas and Guptas.

[3] After the victory of the British in the Battle of Plassey in 1757, Bardhaman, Medinipur and Chittagong were ceded to the East India Company.

At the time of the Permanent Settlement of Lord Cornwallis in 1793, the chaklas were reduced in size, in order to make them more manageable, and districts were created.

Mahatabchand was appointed additional member of the Viceroy's Executive Council and in 1877 was allowed to use the title of His Highness before his name.

Uday Chand Mahtab took over in 1941 and served till abolition of the zamindary system in 1954, after independence of the country.

[7] Purba Bardhaman district is a flat alluvial plain area that can be divided into four prominent topographical regions.

Localised thunderstorms, called kalbaisakhi in Bengali, are a special feature from March until the monsoon sets in.

Islam is more concentrated in rural areas, and makes up a significant minority in Ketugram I (46.77%) and Manteswar (41.77%) CD blocks.

Amongst the flora are: Simul (Salmalia malabarica), neem (Azadirachta indica, amlaki (Phyllanthus emblica), Indian ash tree (Lannea coromandelica), coconut, date palm, tal (Palmyra palm / Borassus flabellifer), bat (banyan/ Ficus benghalensis), asvattha (pipal/ Ficus religiosa), palash (Butea monosperma), krishnachuda (Caesalpinia pulcherrima) and am (mango/ mangifera indica).

There are some shrubby plants: ashsheoda (orangeberry/ Glycosmis pentaphylla, pianj (onion), rasun (garlic), rajanigandha (tube rose/Agave amica), gulancha (Tinospora cordifolia), tulsi (basil/ Ocimum tenuiflorum) etc.

[17] The common aquatic or marsh weeds found in jheels (lakes) and swamps of the eastern part of the district (in the Bhagirathi Basin) are: bena (andropogon squarrosos), water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), padma (nelumbo nucifera), hogla (Typha domingensis) etc.

Other bird species include fowls, crows, munia, sparrow, cuckoo, Asian koel, parakeet, woodpecker, kingfisher, owl, vulture, eagle, kite, hawk, stork, duck, pigeon, falcon and heron.

[20] Operation Barga provided tenurial security and increased the share of produce in favour of the tenants.

In a report by the Micro, Small and Medium Industries Development Institute, it says that the degree of excellence of products like, sola craft of Bankapasi and dhokra of Dwariapur is now acceptable to European markets.

[29] Kolkata-Agra National Highway 19 (old numbering NH 2), covering a large part of the old Grand Trunk Road passes through this district.

[33] The University of Burdwan was founded in 1960, as part of Dr. B.C.Roy's master plan to expand the scope of higher education beyond the metropolis of Kolkata.

Kashiram Das well known for his Bengali adaptation of the Mahabharat was born in and lived in Purba Bardhaman district.

Vaisnava poets and saints such as Krishnadasa Kaviraja, author of Chaitanya Charitamrita, Brindabandas, Lochandas and Jnandas were born in this district.

Modern Bengali poets such as Kalidas Roy and Kumud Ranjan Mullick also made this district proud.

Durga Puja or Saradotsav, celebrated by Bengali Hindus, is the main festival in the state and the district.

A fair is organised at Karui to celebrate the Gajan of Shiva on the last day of the Bengali month of Choitro.

At Kaigram Kusumgram, Neredighi and Suata, Urs of a Pir is celebrated with fairs in the Bengali month of Falgun.

[46] Katwa had close association with Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and so the area has notable Vaishnavism religious centres.

[45] Shah Alam's Dargah, built in the early 18th century by Murshid Quli Khan is a place of archaeological interest.

The tomb of Bahman Pir and its adjoining dargah, in Ausgram II CD block, is popular with all communities.

[48] In 2001, in most of the blocks, even 25% of the households did not have individual sanitation latrines but since then the situation has improved and the district had been moving towards the 100% target.