Kalimpong district

From Bharatpedia, an open encyclopedia
This article is about the district. For its eponymous headquarters, see Kalimpong.
Kalimpong district
District of West Bengal
View from Rishap
View from Rishap
Location of Kalimpong district in West Bengal
Location of Kalimpong district in West Bengal
Country India
State West Bengal
DivisionJalpaiguri
HeadquartersKalimpong
Government
 • Lok Sabha constituenciesDarjeeling (shared with Darjeeling district)
 • Vidhan Sabha constituenciesKalimpong
Area
 • Total1,053.60 km2 (406.80 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total251,642
 • Density240/km2 (620/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+05:30 (IST)
Websitekalimpongdistrict.in
Blue orchid form Kalimpong

Kalimpong district is a district in the state of West Bengal, India. It was formed on 14 February 2017, after splitting from the Darjeeling district as the 21st district of West Bengal.[2][3] It consists of the Kalimpong Municipality and three community development blocks: Kalimpong I, Kalimpong II and Gorubathan. The district has its headquarters at Kalimpong. Kalimpong district is surrounded by East Sikkim district in the North and North East, Bhutan in the East, Darjeeling district in the West and South West, South Sikkim district in the North West and Jalpaiguri district in the South and South East.

Area[edit]

Apart from the Kalimpong municipality that consists of 23 wards, the district contains rural areas of 42 gram panchayats under three community development blocks: Kalimpong I, Kalimpong II, Gorubathan [[and newly formed Pedong (community development block)|Pedong by spliting Kalimpong III into two blocks].[4]

Kalimpong subdivision has an area of 1,053.60 km2 (406.80 sq mi), with Kalimpong I block having an area of 360.46 km2 (139.17 sq mi); Kalimpong II block an area of 241.26 km2 (93.15 sq mi); Gorubathan block an area of 442.72 km2 (170.94 sq mi); and Kalimpong Municipality an area of 9.16 km2 (3.54 sq mi).[1]

Blocks[edit]

Kalimpong I block[edit]

Kalimpong I block consists of rural areas with 18 gram panchayats, namely Bong, Kalimpong, Samalbong, Tista, Dr. Grahams Homes, Lower Echhay, Samthar, Neembong, Dungra, Upper Echhay, Seokbir, Bhalukhop, Yangmakum, Pabringtar, Sindebong, Kafer Kanke Bong, Pudung and Tashiding.[4] This block has one police station at Kalimpong.[5] Headquarters of this block is in Kalimpong.[6] This block has many borders with Darjeeling district, East Sikkim district and South Sikkim district.

Kalimpong II block[edit]

Kalimpong II block consists of rural areas only with 13 gram panchayats, namely Dalapchand, Kashyong, Lolay, Lingseykha, Gitdabling, Lava-Gitbeong, Payong, Kagay, Lingse, Shangse, Pedong, Syakiyong and Shantook.[4] This block is served by Kalimpong police station.[5] Headquarters of this block is in Algarah.[6] This block has many borders with East Sikkim district.

Gorubathan block[edit]

Gorubathan block consists of rural areas only with 11 gram panchayats, namely Dalim, Gorubathan–I, Gorubathan–II, Patengodak, Todey Tangta, Kumai, Pokhreybong, Samsing, Aahaley, Nim and Rongo.[4] This block has two police stations: Gorubathan and Jaldhaka.[5] Headquarters of this block is in Fagu.[6] This block has many borders with Bhutan, East Sikkim district and Jalpaiguri district.

Legislative segments[edit]

As per order of the Delimitation Commission in respect of the delimitation of constituencies in West Bengal, the whole area under the district of Kalimpong (formerly Kalimpong subdivision), namely the Kalimpong municipality and the three blocks of Kalimpong–I, Kalimpong–II and Gorubathan together constitutes the Kalimpong assembly constituency of West Bengal. This constituency is part of Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency. Darjeeling is represented by Neeraj Zimba of the Bharatiya Janata Party, while Kalimpong Assembly constituency is represented by Ruden Sada Lepcha of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (Tamang faction).[7]

Demographics[edit]

According to the 2011 census, Kalimpong district (enumerated as Kalimpong subdivision then) has a population of 251,642. Kalimpong I block had a population of 74,746; Kalimpong II block had a population of 66,830; Gorubathan block had a population of 60,663; and Kalimpong Municipality had a population of 49,403. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes made up 16,433 and 74,976 making up 6.53% and 29.79% of the population respectively.[1]

According to the 2011 census, Hindus numbered 153,354 and formed 60.94% of the population. Buddhists numbered 52,699 and formed 20.94% of the population. Christians numbered 37,454 and formed 14.88% of the population. Muslims numbered 3,996 and formed 1.59% of the population. Others numbered 4,139 and formed 1.65% of the population.

Languages of Kalimpong district (2011)

  Nepali (87.61%)
  Hindi (3.18%)
  Lepcha (2.67%)
  Bhojpuri (1.16%)
  Others (5.38%)

Kalimpong district including 1 and 2 have a population of 251,642 as per 2011 census report. The majority of the population today in Kalimpong district are the Gorkhas, while a significant minority are tribals who have stopped speaking their native languages. According to the 2011 census, 87.61% of the population speaks Nepali, 3.18% Hindi, 2.67% Lepcha and 1.16% Bhojpuri as their first language.[8]

Religion in Kalimpong district (2011)[9]
Hinduism
 
 60.94%
Buddhism
 
 20.94%
Christianity
 
 14.88%
Islam
 
 1.59%
Others
 
 1.65%

Flora and fauna[edit]

Red Panda at Neora Valley National Park

Kalimpong district is home to the Neora Valley National Park, which has an area of 159.89 km2 (61.73 sq mi).[10]

Transport[edit]

Roadways[edit]

National Highways



Railway[edit]

Kalimpong district has railway line in Coronation Bridge - Mongpong area which falls under New Jalpaiguri-Alipurduar-Samuktala Line and a small station Pillamshat, but there are no stoppages of any train there, so the nearest railway station (with train stoppages) from Kalimpong district is Sivok railway station and Bagrakote Junction. The nearest major railway stations are Malbazar Junction, Siliguri Junction and New Jalpaiguri railway station.

The under construction Sevoke - Rangpo railway line lies in Kalimpong district from Kalijhora to Rangpo.[12]

Airways[edit]

Bagdogra Airport is the nearest airport from southern parts of Kalimpong district, and Pakyong Airport is the nearest airport from northern areas of Kalimpong district.

Rivers[edit]

The major rivers flowing through Kalimpong district are River Teesta, River Jaldhaka and River Rangpo. Other rivers are Relli Khola, Riyang Khola,Murti Khola, Reshi Khola, Chel Khola, Bindu Khola, Les Khola, Neora Khola etc.

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "District Census Handbook-Darjiling" (PDF). Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  2. ↑ "Carved out of Darjeeling, Kalimpong a district today". Times of India. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  3. ↑ "Kalimpong district may stoke Gorkhaland fire". 13 February 2017.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Directory of District, Sub division, Panchayat Samiti/ Block and Gram Panchayats in West Bengal, March 2008". West Bengal. National Informatics Centre, India. 19 March 2008. Archived from the original on 25 February 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "District Profile". Official website of Darjeeling district. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Contact details of Block Development Officers". Darjeeling district. Panchayats and Rural Development Department, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 26 December 2008.[permanent dead link]
  7. ↑ "Press Note, Delimitation Commission" (PDF). Assembly Constituencies in West Bengal. Delimitation Commission. pp. 5, 23. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
  8. ↑ 2011 Census of India, Population By Mother Tongue Based on block-level data for Kalimpong I, II, Gorubuthan and Kalimpong Municipality
  9. ↑ "C-1 Population By Religious Community". Census. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  10. ↑ "National Parks". ENVIS Centre on Wildlife & Protected Areas. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  11. ↑ [1]
  12. ↑ [2]

External links[edit]

Template:Kalimpong district topics

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