bishnupur was ceded to the british with the rest of burdwan chakla in 1760. in 1787, bishnupur was united with birbhum to form a separate administrative unit. in 1793 it was transferred to the burdwan collectorate. in 1879, the district acquired its present shape with the thanas of khatra and raipur and the outpost of simplapal being transferred from manbhum, and the thanas of sonamukhi, kotulpur and indas being retransferred from burdwan. however, it was known for sometime as west burdwan and in 1881 came to be known as bankura district.