Bally, in early days, was marshland - bereft of proper human settlement. Only fishermen (of Patni and Malo castes, and Muslims) lived there. Their trade was fishing, selling fishing equipment and providing ferry service. Robbers hid out here, as well. The area got its name as it was full of sand and sand dunes(Bally literally means sand in Bengali) in ancient times. Belur is a neighbourhood in Bally Municipality which was also named after the word Baliadi meaning sand dune. This place was inhabited almost 250 years or more, older than Kolkata city
