BAHARAMPUR

also spelled Berhampur, or Berhampore town, central West Bengal state, northeastern India, just east of the Bhagirathi River. Baharampur was founded and fortified in 1757 by the English East India Company and continued as a cantonment until 1870. It was the scene of the first overt act of the Indian Mutiny of 1857. The town has major rail and road connections and is an important agricultural trade centre. Silk weaving, rice and oilseed milling, ivory carving, and gold, silver, and brass working are important industries. Constituted a municipality in 1876, it is the site of a hospital, the Bengal Silk Technological Institute, and several colleges affiliated with the University of Calcutta. Kasimbazar, now an industrial suburb, was an important town in the 18th century, with a flourishing silk industry; it contains the palace of the maharaja of Kasimbazar. Pop. (1981) town, 92,889; metropolitan area, 102,311.