Garia

Garia is a neighborhood in southern Kolkata, West Bengal, India. It is bordered by the neighborhoods of Jadavpur in the north, Bansdroni/Tollygunge in the north-west, Santoshpur/Mukundapur in the north-east and Narendrapur/Rajpur Sonarpur in the south. Garia also borders the South 24 Parganas district. It is situated on the banks of Adi Ganga.
The southern part of the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass runs through the heart of the neighborhood. The area contains a prominent traffic junction from which a variety of public transport is available, making it a prime travel connection spot in South Kolkata.
Etymology.
Garia may have received its name from "kandelia candel", a native mangrove tree species, which was called Guriya (Bengali: গুড়িয়া) in the Sundarbani dialect of Bengali. It is said that in ancient times the Sundarbans forest covered the area of present day Garia and extended north all the way to Sealdah and that locals subsequently gave this area the name of Garia. However, Garia may have also gotten its name from the Muslim community originally from Gauda, Gauriyā, who lived nearby. It is said that this group is currently living in the northern part of Patuli; however, many scholars do not accept this theory.
Alternatively, the name Garia may have come from the large Gaudiya Vaishnav community living in the neighborhood. In the 15th century, the famous social reformer of Bengal, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, traveled through Adi Ganga on his Nilachal Yatra and stopped near present-day Garia; Vaishnavas ("Baishnabs") have lived in the area since, and perhaps took inspiration for the name from that of the saint. Baishnabghata and Kamdahari, nearby townships, are hypothesized to have the same source of etymological history.
History.
Garia is one of the oldest settlements in the region. Adi Ganga (also known as Tolly's Nala), which connects Kolkata to the Bidyadhari River to the east, runs through the middle of the neighborhood. It was a generally peaceful residential neighborhood before the partition of India, which changed the social composition of the area.
Through the course of the partition process, refugees came and settled in the farmlands and country houses of the rich landowners of Kolkata in Garia, increasing the population of the area by several thousands.
Garia became a refugee settlement, along with Jadavpur and Tollygunge, in the southern fringes of the city. Slowly after the initial upheaval, development of the area resumed and it gradually became peaceful once again. 
With the expansion of Kolkata to the east and the south during the 1990s, the area witnessed further change. Garia was the southern end of the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass. This road connected Garia to the north of the city and newly developing areas like Salt Lake and New Town, and also to the Dum Dum Airport and spurred the rapid commercialization of the area. Already home to two major bus terminals, Garia became the transport and commercial hub of the region.
Present day.
Kanungo Park, established by Sri Manindra Lal Das (of The Directorate of Settlement Department of West Bengal), was the first planned settlement in Garia and was inspired by Milian Park in Washington D.C. It, along with most other new planned settlements, was located to the north of the junction of N.S.C. Bose Road and Raja Subodh Chandra Mullick Road (known today as Garia More Road).
The locality is now home to some of the most upmarket apartment complexes in the city and caters to people looking to get away from the congestion of Kolkata. Notable complexes include Hiland Park, Avani's Victoria Greens, Westwind, Orbit City, Sunny Seasons, Victoria Greens, Sugam Park, Sherwood Estate, and Bengal Ambuja's Upohar.
More apartment complexes, such as Sugam Sudhir, PS Srijan Ozone, and Modello Highs are also nearing completion. Garia's population also continues to increase. Additionally, more residential flats are being built, leading roads to be increasingly congested and bringing Garia in line with most other places in Kolkata.
One of Kolkata's red-light districts is situated in Garia.
Settlements within Garia.
Garia covers the residential areas of Kanungo Park, New Garia, Chak Garia, Garia Park, Baghajatin, Ajoy Nagar, Baishnabghata-Patuli, Techno City, Panchpota, Model Town, Ganguly Bagan, Ramgarh, Tentulberia, East Tentulberia, Ramgarh, Briji, Dhalai Bridge, Kamalgazi, Mahamayatala, Pearabagan, Boral, Sreenagar, Nayabad, Panchasayar, Kandarpopur Town, Fartabad, Garia railway station, Balia, Sreerampur, and certain parts of New Ajoynagar.
New Garia.
New Garia is a fast-growing neighborhood in the eastern part of Garia. The southern terminal metro station of Kolkata Metro is located here.
Chak Garia.
Chak Garia, also known as Chakgaria, is an upmarket neighborhood in the eastern part of Garia. It contains several high rises such as Hiland Park and Bengal Ambuja Upohar.
Baishnabghata Patuli Township.
Baishnabghata-Patuli Township is a township located on the EM Bypass. The township is a project funded by the World Bank.
Mahamayatala.
Mahamayatala is a well-known residential area in Garia. There are several modern luxurious residential complexes, medical centers, banks, department stores, fusion-cuisine restaurants and bars. The well-known Maa Mahamaya Temple is found here.
Pearabagan.
Pearabagan is a major locality in South Garia. It is a residential area with a bazaar popularly known as "Kalibazar". There are many schools in the area including the co-ed Laskarpur Vidyapith school. BDMI school in Pearabagan is connected with Purba Para, Laskarpur. The post office of Laskarpur is situated here. The Rishi Apartment, Elina Apartment, and Narayani Apartment complexes are also located here.
Tetultala.
Tetultala is a residential area located between Mahamayatala and Hindustan More. Various residential buildings and housing complexes are situated in this locality, such as Sanghati Abasan, Victoria Enclave, Tinni Apartment, Puskar Abasan, Basundhara Apartment, and Luv Kush Apartment.
Hindustan More.
Hindustan More is another upmarket area, with renowned multi-specialty nursing homes such as Hindustan Health Point and several markets, as well as a BSF camp, the West Bengal State Electricity Board office, HDFC Bank, and Ananya Apartments.
Kandarpopur Town.
Kandarpopur Town is a major locality of Garia situated beside the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass. Garia Railway Station and Shahid Khudiram Metro Station serve the area. It is one of Garia's fastest-growing neighborhoods.
Geographic location.
The junction of Raja S.C.Mullick Road, N.S.C. Bose Road and Garia Main Road adjacent to Kanungo Park is known as "Garia More".
Transport.
Garia features four major bus terminals (No.5, No.6, S-7 and S-21). There are several bus routes connecting Garia to the rest of the city.
The Kavi Nazrul Metro Station connects Garia to the Kolkata Metro network. Two more stations - Shahid Khudiram (near EM Bypass and Garia Station Road) and Kavi Subhash (adjacent to the New Garia Railway Station) - have been operational since 7 October 2010.
Garia Railway Station connects Garia to the Indian Railways network.
Shopping.
Garia is one of the major shopping areas of Kolkata. Notable shopping malls and department stores include: 
Medical facilities.
Several medical institutes are found within Garia.
Education.
Garia is home to several academic, research and professional institutions. Major colleges, schools and research institutions located here include:
In popular culture.
In early 1953, the principal photography of Satyajit Ray's debut film "Pather Panchali" was done at Boral, which was then a small village on the outskirts of Kolkata and is now a locality of Garia. A decade later, Ray again shot a scene of "Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne" in the dense bamboo groves near a pond in Garia.