Khirpai

Khirpai also known as Kshirpai, is a town and a municipality in West Midnapore in the Indian state of West Bengal. The town is situated between Ghatal and Chandrokona Town, near the banks of river Shilabati and Kethai, and is one of the oldest municipalities in India. Khirpai is also famous for its ‘Babarsha’, a special type of sweetmeat, which is not available elsewhere.HistoryIn the 18th and 19th century, Khirpai was a big and famous trading place. Cotton and handicrafts of this area were exported to foreign lands. In the British period, Khirpai became famous for indigo plantation. Also in the British Era, it was a famous business centre. At that time neel (indigo powder) was the main product. On the south-east side of Khirpai town, there is a lake; ruins can be found in the south east corner of this lake. Once, it was the trade-house of the European merchants. French, Dutch, Portuguese and British came here for trade before 1660, and by that time they thronged here for purchasing cotton and silk, which are of exclusive status. In 1763, French built a workshop in this place.In the 18th century, Khirpai become famous for cotton-cloth weaving and manufacture of brush and bell metal. The weaving industry was further developed in the second half of the century by the location of an important factory of the East India Company in Khirpai. But in the 19th century the industry declined owing to the withdrawal of the company from commercial undertakings, and particularly due to the importation of British piece goods. Khirpai lost her proud status as a business centre, and the population density of Khirpai decreased gradually from that time.GeographyKhirpai is located at. It has an average elevation of 7 metres (26 feet).