Cooch Behar

From Bharatpedia, an open encyclopedia
Cooch Behar
Koch Bihar
City
Coochbehar kings palace.jpg
Cooch Behar city Top View.png
Top: Cooch Behar Palace, bottom: skyline of the city in 2018
Nickname: 
City of kings
Cooch Behar is located in West Bengal
Cooch Behar
Cooch Behar
Location in West Bengal, India
Cooch Behar is located in India
Cooch Behar
Cooch Behar
Cooch Behar (India)
Coordinates: 26°19′27.084″N 89°27′3.6″E / 26.32419000°N 89.451000°E / 26.32419000; 89.451000Coordinates: 26°19′27.084″N 89°27′3.6″E / 26.32419000°N 89.451000°E / 26.32419000; 89.451000
Country India
StateWest Bengal
DistrictCooch Behar
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • BodyCooch Behar Municipality
 • ChairmanRabindra Nath Ghosh (All India Trinamool Congress)
Area
 • Total8.29 km2 (3.20 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[2]
 • Total2,819,086
 • Density832/km2 (2,150/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialBengali[3][4]
 • Additional officialEnglish[3]
 • RegionalBengali, Rajbanshi
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
736101
Telephone code03582
Vehicle registrationWB-64/63
Lok Sabha constituencyCooch Behar (SC)
Vidhan Sabha constituencyCooch Behar Uttar (SC), Cooch Behar Dakshin, Natabari
Websitecoochbehar.gov.in coochbeharmunicipality.com
Administrative map of Cooch Behar

Cooch Behar (/ˌk bɪˈhɑːr/), or Koch Bihar, is a city and a municipality lying in the bank of River Torsa in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is the headquarters of the Cooch Behar district. It is in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas at 26°22′N 89°29′E / 26.367°N 89.483°E / 26.367; 89.483. Cooch Behar is the only planned city in the North Bengal region with remnants of royal heritage.[5] Being one of the main tourist destinations of West Bengal, housing the Cooch Behar Palace and Madan Mohan Temple, it has been declared a heritage city.[6] It is the maternal home of Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur.

During the British Raj, Cooch Behar was the seat of the princely state of Koch Bihar, ruled by the Koch Kingdom of often described as the Shiva Vansha, tracing their origin from the Koch tribe of North-eastern India. After 20 August 1949, Cooch Behar District was transformed from a princely state to its present status, with the city of Cooch Behar (Koch Behar) as its headquarters.[7]

Etymology[edit]

The name Cooch Behar is derived from two words—Cooch, a corrupted form of the word Koch, the name of the Koch tribes, and the word behar is derived from vihara meaning land, Koch Behar means land of the Koches.[8][9]

History[edit]

Early period[edit]

Cooch Behar formed part of the Kamarupa Kingdom of Assam from the 4th to the 12th. In the 13th century, the area became a part of the Kamata Kingdom. The Khens ruled until about 1498 CE, when they fell to Alauddin Hussain Shah, the independent Pathan Sultan of Gour. The new invaders fought with the local Bhuyan chieftains and the Ahom king Suhungmung and lost control of the region. During this time, the Koch tribe became very powerful and proclaimed itself Kamateshwar (Lord of Kamata) and established the Koch dynasty.

The first important Koch ruler was Bisu, later called Biswa Singha, who came to power in 1515 CE.[10] Under his son, Nara Narayan, the Kamata Kingdom reached its zenith.[11] Nara Narayan's younger brother, Shukladhwaj (Chilarai), was a noted military general who undertook expeditions to expand the kingdom. He became governor of its eastern portion.

As the early capital of the Koch Kingdom, Koch Behar's location was not static and became stable only when shifted to Cooch Behar town. Rup Narayan, on the advice of an unknown saint, transferred the capital from Attharokotha to Guriahati (now called Cooch Behar town) on the banks of the Torsa river between 1693 and 1714. After this, the capital was always in or near its present location.

In 1661 CE, Pran Narayan planned to expand his kingdom. However, Mir Jumla, the subedar of Bengal under the Mughal emperor Aurangazeb, attacked Cooch Behar and conquered the territory, meeting almost no resistance.[12] The town of Cooch Behar was subsequently named Alamgirnagar.[13] Pran Narayan regained his kingdom within a few days.

British Raj[edit]

1907 map of Bengal with Sikkim

In 1772–1773, the king of Bhutan attacked and captured Cooch Behar. To expel the Bhutanese, the kingdom of Cooch Behar signed a defense treaty with the British East India Company on 5 April 1773. At that time, coins of Bhutan were minted in Cooch Behar.[14] After expelling the Bhutanese, Cooch Behar again became a princely kingdom under the protection of the British East India company.[15][16]

Cooch Behar Palace is built after the Classical Italian architecture. The dome of the Palace is in Italian style, resembling the dome of St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Rome, and built in 1887, during the reign of Maharaja Nripendra Narayan.[13] In 1878, the maharaja married the daughter of Brahmo preacher Keshab Chandra Sen. This union led to a renaissance in Cooch Behar state.[17] Maharaja Nripendra Narayan is known as the architect of modern Cooch Behar town.[18]

Post-Independence[edit]

Under an agreement between the king of Cooch Behar and the Indian Government at the end of British rule, Maharaja Jagaddipendra Narayan transferred full authority, jurisdiction, and power of the state to the Dominion Government of India, effective 12 September 1949.[7] Eventually, Cooch Bihar became part of the state of West Bengal on 19 January 1950, with Cooch Behar town as its headquarters.[7]

Geography[edit]

Torsa River near Cooch Behar

Cooch Behar is in the foothills of Eastern Himalayas, at 26°22′N 89°29′E / 26.367°N 89.483°E / 26.367; 89.483 in the North of West Bengal. It is the largest town and district headquarters of Cooch Behar District, with an area of 8.29 km2 (3.20 sq mi).[19]

The Torsa river flows by the western side of town. Heavy rains often cause strong river currents and flooding. The turbulent water carries huge amounts of sand, silt, and pebbles, which have an adverse effect on crop production as well as on the hydrology of the region.[20] Alluvial deposits form the soil, which is acidic.[20] The soil depth varies from 15 to 50 cm (5.9 to 19.7 in), superimposed on a bed of sand. The foundation materials are igneous and metamorphic rocks at a depth of 1,000 to 1,500 m (3,300 to 4,900 ft). The soil has low levels of nitrogen with moderate levels of potassium and phosphorus. Deficiencies of boron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and sulphur are high.[20]

Cooch Behar is a flat region with a slight southeastern slope along which the main rivers of the district flow. Most of the highland areas are in the Sitalkuchi region, and most of the low-lying lands lie in Dinhata region. The elevation of the town is 48 meters above mean sea level. The Torsa river flows by the western side of town. The rivers in the district of Cooch Behar generally flow from northwest to southeast. Six rivers that cut through the district are the Teesta, Jaldhaka, Torsha, Kaljani, Raidak, Gadadhar, and Ghargharia.

The town of Cooch Behar and its surrounding regions face deforestation due to increasing demand for fuel and timber, as well as air pollution from increasing vehicular traffic. The local flora includes palms, bamboos, creepers, ferns, orchids, aquatic plants, fungi, timber, grass, vegetables, and fruit trees. Migratory birds, along with many local species, are found in the city, especially around the Sagardighi and other water bodies.[21]

In 1976, the Cooch Behar district became home to the Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary (now Jaldapara National Park), which has an area of 217 km2 (83.8 sq mi).[22] It shares the park with the Alipurduar district.[22]

Climate[edit]

Cooch Behar has a moderate climate characterized by heavy rainfall during the monsoons and slight rainfall from October to March. The city does not experience very high temperatures at any time of the year. The daily maximum temperature is 32.2 °C (90.0 °F) in August, the hottest month and the daily minimum temperature is 9.4 °C (48.9 °F) in January, the coldest month.[23] The highest temperature in Cooch Behar was 41.0 °C, recorded on 11 September 1977; the lowest temperature recorded was 3.3 °C, reported on 28 January 1982.[23] The atmosphere is highly humid. The rainy season lasts from June to September. The average annual rainfall in the city is 3,562 mm (140.2 in).[23]

Climate data for Cooch Behar (1981–2010, extremes 1901–2012)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 29.6
(85.3)
31.5
(88.7)
37.6
(99.7)
39.4
(102.9)
39.9
(103.8)
40.3
(104.5)
38.9
(102.0)
38.0
(100.4)
41.0
(105.8)
36.1
(97.0)
33.0
(91.4)
33.4
(92.1)
41.0
(105.8)
Mean maximum °C (°F) 27.0
(80.6)
29.1
(84.4)
34.3
(93.7)
35.5
(95.9)
35.1
(95.2)
35.3
(95.5)
34.9
(94.8)
35.6
(96.1)
34.7
(94.5)
33.5
(92.3)
31.3
(88.3)
28.2
(82.8)
36.7
(98.1)
Average high °C (°F) 23.4
(74.1)
25.8
(78.4)
29.6
(85.3)
30.9
(87.6)
31.2
(88.2)
31.6
(88.9)
31.2
(88.2)
32.2
(90.0)
31.2
(88.2)
30.8
(87.4)
28.7
(83.7)
25.6
(78.1)
29.3
(84.7)
Average low °C (°F) 9.4
(48.9)
11.9
(53.4)
16.1
(61.0)
19.9
(67.8)
22.2
(72.0)
24.1
(75.4)
24.7
(76.5)
25.0
(77.0)
23.9
(75.0)
20.8
(69.4)
15.3
(59.5)
11.0
(51.8)
18.7
(65.7)
Mean minimum °C (°F) 6.7
(44.1)
8.6
(47.5)
11.6
(52.9)
15.9
(60.6)
18.9
(66.0)
21.3
(70.3)
22.5
(72.5)
22.7
(72.9)
21.3
(70.3)
16.6
(61.9)
11.8
(53.2)
8.1
(46.6)
6.5
(43.7)
Record low °C (°F) 3.3
(37.9)
3.6
(38.5)
7.1
(44.8)
10.4
(50.7)
16.1
(61.0)
18.2
(64.8)
20.3
(68.5)
20.0
(68.0)
19.7
(67.5)
13.9
(57.0)
8.2
(46.8)
3.9
(39.0)
3.3
(37.9)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 11.7
(0.46)
18.5
(0.73)
45.1
(1.78)
167.6
(6.60)
380.0
(14.96)
683.3
(26.90)
932.7
(36.72)
618.2
(24.34)
521.6
(20.54)
164.6
(6.48)
12.2
(0.48)
7.1
(0.28)
3,562.6
(140.26)
Average rainy days 0.8 1.4 2.5 8.6 14.0 18.0 21.2 16.6 15.4 5.8 0.9 0.7 105.7
Average relative humidity (%) (at 17:30 IST) 70 60 53 62 71 78 81 80 83 79 73 72 72
Source: India Meteorological Department[23][24]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1951 26,299,980—    
1961 34,926,279+32.8%
1971 44,312,011+26.9%
1981 54,580,647+23.2%
1991 68,077,965+24.7%
2001 80,176,197+17.8%
2011 91,276,115+13.8%
Source: [25]
Religion in Cooch Behar[26]
Religion Percent
Hinduism
74.05%
Islam
25.54%
Jainism
0.66%
Christianity
0.14%
Others
0.18%

Languages of Cooch Behar (2011)[27]

  Bengali (90.8%)
  Hindi (8.39%)
  Nepali (0.44%)
  Others (0.31%)

In the 2011 census, Cooch Behar urban agglomeration had a population of 2,89,434, out of which 1,46,626 were males, and 1,42,808 were females. The 0–6 years population was 7,910. Effective literacy rate for the urban population population was 80.59%.[28][29]

According to the 2011 census, the Cooch Behar Municipal area has a population of 77,935.[30] The decadal growth rate for the population is 1.38%. The sex ratio is 972 females per 1,000 males.[31] Males constitute 50.6% of the population, and females constitute 49.4%. Cooch Behar has an average literacy rate of 74.78%, which is higher than the national average of 74.04%. The male literacy rate is 80.71%, while the female literacy rate is 68.49%.[32][33]

The major religions followed in Cooch Behar are Hinduism (76.44%) followed by Islam (25.54%).[34] Commonly spoken languages are Bengali and Hindi.[35]

Government and politics[edit]

Template:Copy edit section

Civic administration[edit]

Office of the District Magistrate

Cooch Behar Municipality is responsible for the civic administration of the town. The municipality consists of a board of councilors, elected from each of the 20 wards[36] and a few members nominated by the state government. The board of councilors elects a chairman from among its elected members; the chairman is the executive head of the municipality. The All India Trinamool Congress holds power in the municipality. The state government looks after education, health, and tourism.

The town is in the Cooch Behar constituency and elects one member to the Lok Sabha (the Lower House of the Indian Parliament). The town area is covered by one assembly constituency, Cooch Behar Dakshin, that elects one member to the Vidhan Sabha, which is the West Bengal state legislative assembly.[37] Cooch Behar town comes under the jurisdiction of the district police (which is a part of the state police); the Superintendent of Police oversees security and matters pertaining to law and order. Cooch Behar is home to the District Court.

Utility services[edit]

Cooch Behar Head Post Office

Cooch Behar is a well-planned town,[38] and the municipality is responsible for providing basic services, such as potable water and sanitation. The water is supplied by the municipality using its groundwater resources, and almost all the houses in the municipal area are connected. Solid waste is collected every day by the municipality van from individual houses. The surface drains, mostly cemented, drain into the Torsa River. Electricity is supplied by the West Bengal State Electricity Board, and the West Bengal Fire Service provides emergency services like fire tenders. Most of the roads are metalled (macadam), and street lighting is available throughout the town. The Public Works Department is responsible for road maintenance and on the roads connecting Cooch Behar with other towns in the region. Health services in Cooch Behar include a government-owned District Hospital, a Regional Cancer Centre, and private nursing homes. Utility services provided in Cooch Behar are considered one of the best government utility services of West Bengal though the city gets totally flooded during heavy rains nowadays due to the problems of the drainage system.

Cooch Behar from above

Health facilities[edit]

The city has one district hospital MJN Hospital which has 400 beds. The hospital has now been converted to Coochbehar Government Medical College and Hospital.[39] The city has numerous Multi-Speciality Hospitals offering. Some major hospitals are Shubham Hospital, Cooch Behar Mission Hospital, Dr. P K Saha Hospital Pvt. Ltd. etc.[40]

Market facilities[edit]

In the municipality are four daily markets, two wholesale markets, and eight commercial complexes.[41] Apart from these, two new malls have also opened recently.[42]

Economy[edit]

The central and state governments are the small number of employers in Cooch Behar town.[43] Cooch Behar is home to a number of district-level and divisional-level offices and has a large government-employee workforce. Business is mainly centred on retail goods; the main centres lie on B.S. Road, Rupnarayan Road, Keshab Road and at Bhawaniganj Bazar.

Cooch Behar Sagar Dighi area.jpg

An industrial park has been built at Chakchaka, 4 km (2.5 mi) from town, on the route to Tufanganj. A number of companies have set up industries there.[44]

Farming is a major source of livelihood for the nearby rural populace, and it supplies the town with fruits and vegetables. Poorer sections of this semi-rural society are involved in transport, basic agriculture, small shops, and manual labor in construction.

Cooch Behar has been witnessing radical changes, along with rapid development in segments like industry, real estate, and information technology firms, and education, since the advent of the twenty-first century. The changes are with respect to infrastructure and industrial growth for steel (direct reduced iron), metal, cement, and knowledge-based industries. Many engineering, technology, management, and professional study colleges have opened at Cooch Behar. Housing co-operatives and flats, shopping malls, hotels, and stadiums have also come up.

As the town is near the international border, the Border Security Force (BSF) maintains a large presence in the vicinity. This gives rise to a large population of semi-permanent residents, who bring revenue to the economy. The state government is trying to promote Cooch Behar as a tourist destination. Though income from tourism is low[45] Cooch Behar is one of the major tourist attractions in West Bengal.

Culture[edit]

The Ras Chakra during Ras Mela in Madan Mohan Bari

Every year during the Ras Purnima, the city hosts Ras Mela, one of the largest and oldest fairs of West Bengal. The fair is older than 200 years. The fair is organized by Cooch Behar Municipality in the Ras Mela ground near ABN Seal College. During the fair, it becomes a major economic hub of the whole North Bengal region. Merchants and sellers from all over India and also from Bangladesh join this fair. Earlier, the Maharajas of Cooch Behar used to inaugurate the fair by moving the Ras Chakra, and now the work is executed by the District Magistrate of Cooch Behar District. The Ras Chakra is considered a symbol of communal harmony because it is made by a Muslim Family from generations. A huge crowd gathers in Cooch Behar from neighboring Assam, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, and whole North Bengal during the fair.

Novelist Amiya Bhushan Majumdar was born, brought up, and worked in Cooch Behar. Cooch Behar, with its people, culture, and the river Torsha was a recurrent theme in his novels. Apart from this Cooch Behar has a rich history of Debate, Extempore, Quizzing. A non profit organisation named Cobweb is enthusiastically spreading knowledge and facts. They are also fighting against Fake News, the new social evil of this era.[46]

Tourism[edit]

Cooch Behar is one of the major tourist places of West Bengal. The main attractions are:

Cooch Behar Palace[edit]

Coochbehar Palace

It is the main attraction of the city. It was modeled after the Buckingham Palace in London in 1887, during the reign of Maharaja Nripendra Narayan. It is a brick-built double-story structure in the classical Western style covering an area of 51,309 square feet (4,766.8 square metres). The whole structure is 395 feet (120 m) long and 296 feet (90 m) wide and is on rests 4 feet 9 inches (1.45 m) above the ground. The Palace is fronted on the ground, and first floors by a series of arcaded verandahs with their piers arranged alternately in single and double rows. At the southern and northern ends, the Palace projects slightly, and in the center is a projected porch providing an entrance to the Durbar Hall. The Hall has an elegantly shaped metal dome which is topped by a cylindrical louver type ventilator. This is 124 feet (38 m) high from the ground and is in the style of Renaissance architecture. The intros of the dome are carved in stepped patterns, and Corinthian columns support the base of the cupola. This adds variegated colors and designs to the entire surface. There are various halls in the palace and rooms that include the Dressing Room, Bed Room, Drawing Room, Dining Hall, Billiard hall, Library, Toshakhana, Ladies Gallery, and Vestibules. The articles and precious objects that these rooms and halls used to contain are now lost. The original palace was 3 storied, but was subsequently destroyed by a 19th-century earthquake measuring 8.7 on Richter scale. The palace shows the acceptance of the European idealism of the Koch kings and the fact that they had embraced European culture without denouncing their Indian heritage.[47]

Sagar Dighi[edit]

A view of Sagar Dighi

Sagardighi is one of the "Great Ponds" in the heart of Cooch Behar, West Bengal. The name means an ocean-like pond, exaggerated in view of its great significance. As well as being popular with people, it also attracts migratory birds each winter. It is surrounded by many important administrative buildings, like District Magistrates Office, Administrative Building of North Bengal State Transport Corporation, BSNL's DTO Office on the West; Office of the Superintendent of Police, District Library, Municipality Building on the South, Office of BLRO, State Bank of India's Cooch Behar Main Branch and many other on the East and RTO office, Foreigner's registration office, District Court etc. on the North. Most of such buildings are remnants of royal heritage.[48]

Transport[edit]

Road[edit]

Cooch Behar is very well connected by road with neighboring areas and other cities of West Bengal and the rest of the country. Cooch Behar is a major roadway junction after Siliguri towards Northeast India and Bangladesh. NH-17 crosses through the heart of the city connecting Assam and North Bengal. Apart from this, state highways including SH-16 and SH-12A passes through Cooch Behar connecting different places in West Bengal.[49][50]

Bus service[edit]

New Cooch Behar railway station in 2019.

North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC), a state government run transport corporation is headquartered in Cooch Behar which runs regular bus service to most places in West Bengal. Private buses are also available which operate from bus stops or designated pickup spots to various tows in Assam, Bihar and West Bengal. City services from NBSTC are also available for riders to commute from different parts of a city.[51][52]

  • Central Bus Terminus: Located near Cooch Behar Palace, it serves as bus depot for both Government and private bus service which operated by NBSTC.
  • NBSTC Bus Stand: Located within the city, it serves as the hub for NBSTC buses and boarding point for long-haul buses.

Rail[edit]

Cooch Behar railway station in 2015.

Being a popular tourism hub,[53] Cooch Behar is well connected through railway with almost all parts of the country. There are two stations that serve the city.

Air[edit]

Terminal of Cooch Behar Airport.

Cooch Behar Airport is a domestic airport located near the city. It handles daily flights from Netaji Subash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata.[60]

The nearest international airport is Bagdogra Airport near Siliguri, about 142 km (88 mi) from Cooch Behar. IndiGo, Vistara and Spice Jet are the major carriers that connect the area to Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangkok, Paro, Bangkok and Chandigarh.

Education[edit]

A.B.N. Seal College

Cooch Behar's schools usually use English and Bengali as their medium of instruction, although the use of the Hindi language is also stressed. The schools are affiliated with the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) or the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), or the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education. Some of the reputed schools include Jenkins School, Sunity Academy, and Cooch Behar Rambhola High School.

Jenkins School, Cooch Behar

Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University is the only single university in Cooch Behar. It is a U.G.C. recognized public university in Cooch Behar, West Bengal, India. The university was named after the 19th-century Rajbongshi leader and social reformist, Panchanan Barma. A total of 15 colleges from the Cooch Behar district are affiliated to the university.[61][62]

There are five colleges and a polytechnic in town,[63] including A.B.N. Seal College, Cooch Behar College, University B.T. & Evening College, Thakur Panchanan Mahila Mahavidyalaya, all of which are affiliated with the Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University, which was established in 2013.[64][65]

Acharya Brojendra Nath Seal College was established in 1888 as Victoria College by Maharaja Nripendra Narayan of Koch Bihar to enhance student capability in the Kingdom. The first principal was John Cornwallis Godley, who in 1895 became the second principal of Aitchison College in Lahore. Later, Maharaja Nripendra Naryayan offered the post of principal to Acharya Brojendra Nath Seal, a Brahmo and philosopher, who remained in the post for eighteen years from 1896 to 1913. In 1950, when the state of Cooch Behar was merged into the Union of India, the governance was passed to Government of West Bengal. It was earlier affiliated with the University of Calcutta and University of North Bengal and is now affiliated with Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University after the creation of the same. In 1970, it was renamed as Acharya Brojendra Nath Seal College. It is one of the few colleges under the Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University to give postgraduate education. The college is in the heart of the town with a campus of 13.27 acres (53,700 m2) and a built-up area of 9032.96 sq. meters.[66]

In 1981, the Maya Chitram Art Institute was founded in Cooch Behar.[67] There is an agricultural university, Uttar Banga Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, just outside the main town at Pundibari. A medical college is proposed to be opened by the Government at Raja Jagatdipendranarayan TB Hospital.[68]

Cooch Behar Government Engineering College started its first academic session in 2016.[69]

Gallery[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Template:Citations broken

  1. "Cooch Behar City". coochbeharmunicipality.com. Archived from the original on 15 February 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  2. "Demography | Cooch Behar District | India". Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Fact and Figures". wb.gov.in. Archived from the original on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  4. "52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India" (PDF). nclm.nic.in. Ministry of Minority Affairs. p. 85. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  5. Coochbehar Travel Archived 13 October 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Mytourideas.com. Retrieved on 18 July 2015.
  6. "Heritage Commission, West Bengal". wbhc.in. Archived from the original on 3 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Brief Royal History of Cooch Behar 5". Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2006.
  8. Pal, Dr. Nripendra Nath (2000). Itikathai Cooch Behar (A brief history of Cooch Behar). Kolkata: Anima Prakashani. pp. 11–12.
  9. The name Cooch Behar is a compound of two words: Cooch and Behar. Cooch is a corrupted form of Coch or Koch, the name of an ethnic group of people inhabiting largely in vast tract of land to the north-east of Bengal. Behar or more properly Vihara denotes abode or sport. Cooch Behar means, therefore, the abode or land of the Koches. Ray, B.. CENSUS 1961 WEST BENGAL Archived 12 October 2022 at the Wayback Machine. GOVERNMENT PRINTING, WEST BENGAL, 1961, p.20
  10. Nath, D. (1989), History of the Koch Kingdom, C. 1515-1615, Mittal Publications, pp. 5–6, ISBN 8170991099, archived from the original on 3 May 2023, retrieved 3 May 2023
  11. "Royal History of Cooch Behar". Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2006.
  12. Pal, Dr. Nripendra Nath (2000). Itikathai Cooch Behar (A brief history of Cooch Behar). Kolkata: Anima Prakashani. p. 68.
  13. 13.0 13.1 Bhattacharyya, PK (2012). "Kamata-Koch Behar". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  14. "Old Coins of Bhutan". Mintage World. Archived from the original on 10 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  15. Pal, Dr. Nripendra Nath (2000). Itikathai Cooch Behar (A brief history of Cooch Behar). Kolkata: Anima Prakashani. p. 73.
  16. Bowman, John S., ed. (2000). Columbia Chronologies of Asian History and Culture. New York: Columbia University Press. pp. 385. ISBN 0-231-11004-9.
  17. Pal, Dr. Nripendra Nath (2000). Itikathai Cooch Behar (A brief history of Cooch Behar). Kolkata: Anima Prakashani. p. 75.
  18. "Royal History of Cooch Behar 5". Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2006.
  19. "West Bengal Census". Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2006.
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 Annual Plan on Agriculture 2003–04. Cooch Behar: Cooch Behar District Agriculture Office. p. 2.
  21. "West Bengal Tourism: Cooch Behar". Archived from the original on 15 July 2009.
  22. 22.0 22.1 Indian Ministry of Forests and Environment. "Protected areas: Sikkim". Archived from the original on 23 August 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  23. 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 "Station: Cooch Behar (A) Climatological Table 1981–2010" (PDF). Climatological Normals 1981–2010. India Meteorological Department. January 2015. pp. 207–208. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  24. "Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. December 2016. p. M233. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  25. "A-02: Decadal variation in population 1901-2011" (PDF). Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  26. "C-01: Population by religious community". Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. 2011. Archived (XLS) from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch (help)
  27. "C-16 City: Population by mother tongue (town level)" (XLS). Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  28. "Demography | Cooch Behar District | India". Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  29. "C-08: Educational level by age and sex for population age 7 and above (total)". Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  30. "Coochbehar Municipality: Population". coochbeharmunicipality.com. Archived from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  31. "Koch Bihar (Cooch Behar) District Population Census 2011 - 2021 - 2023, West Bengal literacy sex ratio and density". www.census2011.co.in. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  32. "What is literacy rate of Koch Bihar (Cooch Behar) district of West Bengal in 2011 census ?". www.census2011.co.in. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  33. "Profile - Literacy - Know India: National Portal of India". knowindia.india.gov.in. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  34. "C-01: Population by religious community". Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. 2011. Archived (XLS) from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch (help)
  35. "C-16 City: Population by mother tongue (town level)" (XLS). Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  36. District Administration Archived 3 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine Accessed on 1 October 2006
  37. "Press Note, Delimitation Commission" (PDF). Assembly Constituencies in West Bengal. Delimitation Commission. pp. 4, 23. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 January 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
  38. "North Bengal: Cooch Behar". Archived from the original on 8 November 2006. Retrieved 7 November 2006.
  39. "Rush to start Cooch Behar medical college". Archived from the original on 8 June 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  40. "Subham Hospital & Diagnostic Centre (P) Ltd. | National Health Portal of India". nhp.gov.in. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  41. "Social Infrastructure". Archived from the original on 26 August 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  42. prmgroup.co.in. "Retail Projects PRM Group". prmgroup.co.in. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  43. "Employment in Cooch Behar". coochbehar.nic.in. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  44. Industries in Cooch Behar Archived 27 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Cooch Behar Government Website Archived 15 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine Accessed on 1 October 2006
  45. Tourism Development in Cooch Behar Archived 27 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Cooch Behar Government Website Archived 15 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine Accessed on 1 October 2006
  46. hawabari.com
  47. "Rajbari in Cooch Behar town". Archived from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  48. "Tourist places of Cooch Behar". Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  49. "State Highways in West Bengal". www.wbtrafficpolice.com. Archived from the original on 29 April 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  50. "Road-State Highway". wbpwd.gov.in. Archived from the original on 29 April 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  51. "NBSTC Bus routes" (PDF). nbstc.in/. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 February 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  52. "About - North Bengal State Transport Corporation". nbstc.in. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  53. "COOCHBEHAR - West Bengal Tourism, Experience Bengal, Dept. of Tourism, Govt. of W. B." wbtourism.gov.in. Archived from the original on 26 November 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  54. "Some Milestones of NF Railway". Archived from the original on 24 November 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
  55. "New Cooch Behar railway station gets facade of local palace". www.telegraphindia.com. Archived from the original on 3 May 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  56. "Renovation of 'Pay and Use' toilet at New Cooch Behar station complete". The Economic Times. 10 July 2015. ISSN 0013-0389. Archived from the original on 3 May 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  57. "[IRFCA] The State Railways of Cooch Behar (1903)". www.irfca.org. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  58. "Construction of Railway Heritage Museum starts". COOCHBEHAR CALLING. 10 March 2011. Archived from the original on 23 March 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  59. "Rail Museum at Cooch Behar" (PDF). nfr.indianrailways.gov.in. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 April 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  60. "Cooch Behar back on West Bengal's aviation map". The Times of India. 22 February 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  61. "Coochbehar Panchanan Barma University :: Home". Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  62. "COOCHBEHAR GOVERNMENT ENGINEERING COLLEGE, COOCH BEHAR". Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  63. Education in Cooch Behar Archived 21 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Cooch Behar Government Website Archived 15 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine Accessed on 1 October 2006
  64. "Private education Bill passed amidst Opposition walkout". The Statesman. 6 July 2012. Archived from the original on 20 December 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  65. "Bill passed to set up private varsity". Asian Age. 7 July 2012. Archived from the original on 11 December 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  66. "Acharya Brojendra Nath Seal College". Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  67. Maya Chitram Art Institute. India for You. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
  68. Ganguly, Arnab (12 July 2012). "Medical college for Cooch Behar". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  69. EOI, Correspondence. "NBDD minister inaugurates multiple projects in Cooch Behar". Archived from the original on 14 January 2015.

External links[edit]



Information red.svg
Scan the QR code to donate via UPI
Dear reader, We kindly request your support in maintaining the independence of Bharatpedia. As a non-profit organization, we rely heavily on small donations to sustain our operations and provide free access to reliable information to the world. We would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to consider donating to our cause, as it would greatly aid us in our mission. Your contribution would demonstrate the importance of reliable and trustworthy knowledge to you and the world. Thank you.

Please select an option below or scan the QR code to donate
₹150 ₹500 ₹1,000 ₹2,000 ₹5,000 ₹10,000 Other