Siliguri

Siliguri
শিলিগুড়ি
City of Siliguri
Metropolitan City/ Urban Agglomeration

Siliguri Cityscape
Nickname(s): Gateway City to Northeast India, City of Tea and Wood, City of Livelihood
Siliguri

Location of Siliguri in West Bengal

Coordinates: 26°43′N 88°26′E / 26.71°N 88.43°E / 26.71; 88.43Coordinates: 26°43′N 88°26′E / 26.71°N 88.43°E / 26.71; 88.43
Country  India
State West Bengal
District Darjeeling (68%), Jalpaiguri (29%), Kalimpong (3%)
Named for Largest city of North Bengal, followed by Jalpaiguri and Malda; Gateway city of Northeast India
Government
 • Type Municipal Corporation
 • Body Siliguri Municipal Corporation
 • Mayor Asok Bhattacharya (CPI(M))
 • Police commissioner Manoj Verma (IPS)
Area
 • Metropolitan City/ Urban Agglomeration 260 km2 (100 sq mi)
 • Metro 2,327.12 km2 (898.51 sq mi)
Area rank 4th in West Bengal after Kolkata, Asansol and Durgapur, 3rd in Northeast India after Guwahati and Imphal
Highest elevation 140 m (460 ft)
Lowest elevation 114 m (374 ft)
Population (2011 census)[1]
 • Metropolitan City/ Urban Agglomeration 705,579
 • Rank 3rd in West Bengal after Kolkata and Asansol, 4th in Northeast India after Guwahati, Imphal and Agartala
 • Density 2,700/km2 (7,000/sq mi)
 • Metro[2] 2.01 million
Demonym(s) Siligurians, Siliguribashi
Languages
 • Official Bengali and English
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 734 001-734 015
Telephone code 0353, 0354
Vehicle registration WB 71/72/73/74/76/772
Lok Sabha constituency Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri
Vidhan Sabha constituency Siliguri, Dabgram-Phulbari, Matigara-Naxalbari
Website www.siligurismc.com www.darjeeling.gov.in www.siliguri.gov.inwww.jalpaiguri.gov.in

1The coordinates given here are in metric system and based upon the Microsoft Encarta Reference Library Map Center 2005

2 The Vehicle Code given here based upon the Siliguri Sub Divisional Court documentations.

Siliguri ( pronunciation ) is a city located in the Darjeeling district, Jalpaiguri district and Kalimpong district in the Indian state of West Bengal. The city is located on the banks of the Mahananda River and the foothills of the Himalayas. Siliguri lies about 40 kilometres away from its twin city, Jalpaiguri, which both merges up to be the largest metropolis of the region.

History

The city of Siliguri began on the banks of the Mahananda River at Saktigarh, a small town which is now in the southern part of the city. When the British East India Company introduced railways to Northeast India, it enhanced the importance of the region. The population of the town continuously increased leading to its expansion because of many immigrants from Bangladesh, and adjacent Indian states.[3]

Climate

Climate data for Silguri
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 23
(73)		 25
(77)		 28
(82)		 31
(88)		 33
(91)		 35
(95)		 34
(93)		 31
(88)		 28
(82)		 26
(79)		 24
(75)		 23
(73)		 28.4
(83)
Average low °C (°F) 3
(37)		 10
(50)		 13
(55)		 21
(70)		 24
(75)		 25
(77)		 26
(79)		 25
(77)		 23
(73)		 16
(61)		 10
(50)		 4
(39)		 16.7
(61.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 8
(0.31)		 18
(0.71)		 33
(1.3)		 94
(3.7)		 300
(11.81)		 658
(25.91)		 818
(32.2)		 643
(25.31)		 538
(21.18)		 142
(5.59)		 13
(0.51)		 5
(0.2)		 3,266
(128.58)
Source: Siliguri Weather

Demographics

Siliguri has experienced a huge surge in population in recent times. Based on Census data of 2011, the city had a population of 705,579, while the population of Siliguri UA/Metropolitan is 1,057,438.[2][1] Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. In Siliguri, 10% of the population is under six years of age.

Population growth rate of Siliguri is the highest in West Bengal and Eastern India.

Siliguri has received waves of immigration over the years, most prominent being the migrants from the erstwhile East Bengal during the Partition of India, Nepal and Bihar. In addition, people from Jharkhand and other parts of India have also come to the city in search of livelihood.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 http://www.census2011.co.in/census/city/192-siliguri.html
  2. 1 2 http://www.census2011.co.in/census/metropolitan/186-siliguri.html
  3. ↑ Sailen Debnath, The Dooars in Historical Transition ISBN 9788186860441
  4. ↑ "Bangla immigrants to be pushed back". The Times Of India. 5 November 2001.

External links

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