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Jalpaiguri

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This article is about the municipality in West Bengal, India. For its namesake district, see Jalpaiguri district.
Jalpaiguri
City
Country India
StateWest Bengal
DistrictJalpaiguri district
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • BodyJalpaiguri Municipality
 • ChairmanMohan Bose
Area
 • Total70.29 km2 (27.14 sq mi)
Elevation
89 m (292 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total169,013
 • Density1,426/km2 (3,690/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialBengali, Hindi, English, Marwari
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
735 101
Telephone code03561
Vehicle registrationWB-71 WB-72
Lok Sabha constituencyJalpaiguri (SC)
Vidhan Sabha constituencyJalpaiguri (SC), Rajganj (SC)
Websitejalpaiguri.gov.in

Jalpaiguri (Pron: ˌʤælpaɪˈgʊəri) (Bengali: জলপাইগুড়ি Jôlpaiguṛi) is a city in the state of West Bengal, India. It is the headquarters of Jalpaiguri district, and the divisional headquarters of the North Bengal region.

History

The name of the city Jalpaiguri actually comes from the Bhutanese term je-le-pe-gu-ri meaning a place where warm clothes are traded, suggesting a trading center.[1] Another suggestion is that it is from the word Jalpai meaning olive, and Guri meaning place.[2] Jalpaiguri once had many olive trees. With time, Jalpaiguri emerged as the most important city next to Siliguri in North Bengal. Lying just 42 kilometres away from Siliguri, it is the Twin city to Siliguri. Jalpaiguri is the largest city and is presently the headquarters of the Jalpaiguri District and also the headquaters of the Jalpaiguri Division comprising of all districts of North Bengal.

Geography

Teesta River

Jalpaiguri is located at 26°31′N 88°44′E / 26.52°N 88.73°E / 26.52; 88.73.[3] It has an average elevation of 75 metres (246 feet). Jalpaiguri lies in the middle of the vast fertile plains (Terai) south of the Himalayas, watered by innumerable rivers and rivulets rising from and flowing down the Himalayas. On a clear sunny day, Mount Kanchenjunga is visible from the city itself. The city lies on the banks of the Teesta River which is the second largest river in West Bengal after the Ganges. A mass flood in 1968 nearly flattened out the city and huge spurs had to be built and the river diverted to some kilometers outside the town to avoid the same carnage as it caused. Other than Teesta,the Thames river flows through the middle of the city and hence bisects the city into two halves on which many small, beautiful bridges have been carved out.

Climate

The city of Jalpaiguri experiences three seasons, namely Summer, Monsoons and Winter. Summers are tropical and quite hot with temperatures ranging in the mid-thirties.The highest recorded temperature in Jalpaiguri is 42.5 degree Celsius. Monsoons are very severe with the city experiencing high amount of rainfall, sometimes stalling all life and activities. Winters are again quite severe and chilly, with the cold Himalayan winds blowing straight into the city. Temperatures are around 8 to 15 degrees Celsius during this period. The lowest recorded temperature in Jalpaiguri is 1.2 degree Celsius.

Economy

The city of Jalpaiguri is known for its growing shopping and business hub. Formerly, the city's main residents were the S.C.s or the Kayasta-Brahmins. But recently, Hindu Marwaris, Bengalis, Nepalis and Sikhs have grown in number and the city faced a very high percentage of urban population at a very fast rate. The opening of the COSMOS and the City Centre and few other malls like the Orbit, Alpha, Axis, Forum and large shopping arcades might be the main reason for these drastic developments taking place in the city. The city also receives many industrial and trade fairs. It is reported[where?] as the 8th most urbanly populated and developed city in West Bengal after Kolkata, Howrah, Durgapur, Asansol, Burdwan, Siliguri and Berhampore. It has hence been a very important commercial and trading hub of the entire North Bengal region after Siliguri. It is now[when?] one of the fastest growing cities in the entire North-East.[citation needed]

Status

In the 2011 census, Jalpaiguri Urban Agglomeration had a population of more approximately 1,92,613, out of which 89,226 were males and 87,787 were females. The 0–6 years population was 14,522. Effective literacy rate for the 7+ population was 86.03 per cent.[4]

See also: List of cities in West Bengal

As of 2001 India census,[5] Jalpaiguri had a population of 1,37,212. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Jalpaiguri has an average literacy rate of 86%, higher than the national average of 59.5%:male literacy is 88%, and female literacy is 85%. In Jalpaiguri,12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Civic administration

Administration is the responsibility of the Jalpaiguri city Municipality, the 5th oldest in West Bengal after that of Kolkata, Howrah, Durgapur and Berhampore. Setup in 1885, it is headed by a Chairman who is elected by the all residents of the city. It has quite about 40 wards,from where the honourable concillors are elected. Possibly, now the no. of wards have incresed further. Presently the Communist Party of India (Marxist) is in power of this municipal body. The responsibility of the welfare of the city and maintenance of public properties lies in its hands. Presently,the New Jalpaiguri Railway Station lying just 38 km. from the city which is the largest station in North Bengal & the 3rd in the North-East after Guwahati and Dibrugarh, is shared by Jalpaiguri city along with Siliguri.

Places of interest

  • Royal Palace of Baiknthapur Royal Estate, at Rajbaripara. The building has made in the early of twentieth century in place of the old palace made by Raja Jayantadev Raikot. The awe inspiring view of the royal palace gate can definitely catch any spectator. It is Asia's largest reinforced arch structure without any use of concrete.
  • Several lakes in Rajbari Palace ground among them, the largest one excavated in the time of Raja Sarbadev Raikot by famous contractor Deenu Gomasta of Dinajpur somewhere around the middle of nineteenth century.
  • Raipur Tea Estate,Rangdhamali,Jalpaiguri.
  • Jalpaiguri Nawab Bari.
  • Jubilee Park, a park located on the spurs of the River Teesta, from where one can get a sprawling beauty of the Sunrise and Sunset
  • India's first Forensic Science laboratory in the Police Lines, Racecourse Para.
  • King Shaheber Ghat
  • Rabindra Bhawan (also called the Arya Natya Samaj), one of the pioneering cultural centre of the city since the early of the twentieth century.
  • The River Teesta.
  • Teesta Udyan, a children's park along the banks of the River Karala.
  • Sarojendra Deb Raikat Kala Kendra, an Art Gallery opposite the Town Club Stadium.
  • Town Club Stadium'
  • Jogomaya Kalibari, a famous temple dedicated to the Goddess Kali on Temple Street. It also houses a temple of Baba Loknath.
  • Durga Puja, especially "The Ravana Badh" at Babupara
  • Devi Bhramari Temple near the village of Boda on the banks of river Teesta which is regarded as

one of the 51 Shakti peethas of India. People believed that the sacred left toe of Devi Sati has fallen after the famous daksha-yajna.

  • Several Tea Gardens (Karala Valley Tea Garden, Raipur Tea garden, Jaipur Tea garden, Denguajhar T.G.) are very near to Jalpaiguri Town and are worth a visit.
  • GOSALA mela near Denguajhar (Organised by Shri Baikunthnath Pinjrapol Gosala)
  • Devi Chaudhurani Mandir- It is believed that Devi Chaudhurani the bandit queen from the novel of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, has her Kali Temple near the bank of Karala and has an underground sub-way till the banks of Teesta.
  • Jalpesh Temple An old Shiva temple about 15 km from the town, established more than five hundred years ago.
  • Jatileshar Temple- Another ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, from the time of Sen[disambiguation needed] period.
  • Jaldapara National Park, about 80 km (50 mi) west of the town.
  • Gorumara National Park, a wildlife national park located north towards the northern part of Jalpaiguri district.
  • Subham Building the house with beautiful look,and which was honoured by the presence of Desh Bondhu Chittaranjan Das,Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose,Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy,dabi choudhurani kali mandhir was 90 year oldand many other freedom fighters, and which still shows the business sector and techniques to the district.(Verification needed.)

Education

Schools

Other than the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education, there are private schools administered by either the CNI or Catholic or other non Christian schools—these schools are affiliated mostly to the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations and the rest to the C.B.S.E. Board. Jalpaiguri is home to some of the best known schools under the WBCHSE, like the Zilla School and the Govt. Girls' School, Fanindra Dev Institution (FDI). Karala Girls' School (now Suniti Bala Girls High School) is the oldest girls' school in the region. The Jalpaiguri Zilla School is 125+ years old school. Also, prestigeous schools like Techno India Group Public School(affiliated to C.B.S.E. Board) has been set up at the Laurel Avenue and Airport More Junction(Paharpur) of the city. The Mount Literia Zee School, Delhi Public School and the D.A.V. School is also supposed to be opened shortly at the Southern Avenue in South Jalpaiguri(near Goshala More).

Colleges

Jalpaiguri City comprises of the best colleges all over North Bengal. Most colleges in the city are affiliated to the North Bengal University,Raja Rammohanpur,Siliguri except Jalpaiguri Government Engineering College which was earlier affiliated to the West Bengal University of Technology. Now JGEC has become autonomous and is the 4th most significant and reputed Engineering College in West Bengal.The Ananda Chandra College is the leading Science and Arts college in the district of Jalpaiguri. Also, other colleges include Excel College, Mount College, Loreauto Convent(Girls) College, Prasannadev Womens' College, St. John's College,etc. Also,a branch of the reputed St. Xavier's College has been set up in the suburbs of the city and is affiliated to North Bengal University. There is also a reputed LAW college,B.T. College,Polytechnique College and Pharmacist College at College Square and City Circle respectively in Jalpaiguri City

Sports

Jalpaiguri has six stadiums.Of all the six,the Town Club Stadium and the Jalpaiguri Sports Complex are the most important. The rest four are generally sites for cultural programmes, domestic fairs and games.

Get in

The city of Jalpaiguri is very well connected with the other cities of Kolkata, Siliguri, Mainaguri, Dhupguri, Rajganj, Malda, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, Malbazar, Birpara, Chalsa,etc. through railways as well as airways. The main railway station connecting Jalpaiguri with the rest of the state/country is the Jalpaiguri Road. The other stations include the New Jalpaiguri, Jalpaiguri Railway Station at Station Feeder Road, Jalpaiguri Junction (Mohitnagar) at SJDA Road and Jalpaiguri Crossing (Raninagar Jalpaiguri) at Raninagar. The nearest National Airport to the city is the Bagdogra Airport. Also another Domestic Airport named as the Jalpaiguri National Airport is under construction located at Laurel Avenue in South Jalpaiguri of the Jalpaiguri City. It is a make-over of the old airport that was then located at Sovabari in North Jalpaiguri.

Transport

The main mode of public transport is the rickshaw, taxi, city auto and city Bus by NBSTC. Amongst personal transport, people use bicycles and other two-wheelers(bykes) or four-wheelers(cars).

Bus services

There are several bus stands.

  • NBSTC depot. Govt. Buses are available from here.
  • Kadamtala Bus Terminus. Private buses to Siliguri are available from here.
  • Super Bus Stand near the Jalpaiguri Railway Station - Super (or non stop) bus services to Siliguri are available from here.
  • Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Private Bus Terminus at Northwood Street - Buses to the Dooars region, Alipurduar, Malbazar, Birpara ,etc. are available from here.
  • Haldibari Bus Stand at the Bow Bazaar - Bus services to Haldibari are available from here.

The Simanacharya Tours and Travels operates in all modes of transport. The city is very well connected to all neighbouring cities and districts through roadways as well as airways and railways.

Music

Jalpaiguri has a rich tradition of folk music. Folk music of the Rajbongshis (Original residents of the district) is named "Bhawaiya". Melancholic tune of Bhawaiya can take away all the tireness and sorrow of the listeners. The effect of traditional Bengali song as well as Western music can be easily found here.

Notable residents

References

  1. ^ Gupta, Om (2007). Encyclopaedia of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Isha Books. p. 1086. ISBN 978-8182053892.
  2. ^ Raha, Manis Kumar (1989). Matriliny to Patriliny: A Study of the Rabha Society. Gian Publishing House. p. 22.
  3. ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Jalpaiguri
  4. ^ "Urban Agglomerations/Cities having population 1 lakh and above" (PDF). Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-21.
  5. ^ Template:GR
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