Ilambazar is a census town with police station in Birbhum District in the Indian state of West Bengal. A traditional weaving and trading centre it serves as a gateway to Birbhum district.Ilambazar is located at 23.63N 87.53E. It has an average elevation of 54 m (177 ft).[1] Ilambazar is located on the northern bank of Ajay River. It is on the four-lane PanagarhMorgram Highway. The highway has been completed at a cost of $150-million.[2] A road connects to Bolpur/Santiniketan and ( Suri - Kirnahar - Katwa ) Road Most of the forests in Birbhum district are on laterite soil but the Choupahari sal forests in the Ilambazar area (area 13.9 km) are on alluvial soil.[3] The forests around Ilambazar was on the verge of extinction in the nineties of the previous century but it has got back much of its flora and fauna. The villagers, living in 32 villages located inside the forest, have realised that they can make a living by selling plates (thalis) made of sal leaves and mushrooms (locally called toshor ghuti) both abundantly available in the forest. The forest department formed 12 Bonosamrakshan committees (forest preservation committees) comprising the villagers and made them understand how their survival was linked with that of the forest.
