Bardhaman is a city and a municipality in the state of West Bengal, India. It is the headquarters of Purba Bardhaman district, having become a district capital during the period of British rule. Burdwan, an alternative name for the city, has remained in use since then.
The history of Burdwan is known from about 5000 BC. The origin of this name dates back to the 6th century BCE and is ascribed to Vardhaman Swami or Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, who spent some time in Astikagrama, according to the Jain scripture of Kalpasutra. This place was renamed as Vardhamana in his honour.