Dhupguri is a town and a municipality of Jalpaiguri district near Jaldhaka River in the state of West Bengal, India. It is the headquarters of the Dhupguri subdivision.

Geography

General

Dhupguri has an average elevation of 80 metres (262 feet), and is a municipality in the Jalpaiguri district. In the foothills of the Bhutanese Himalayas, the Jaldhaka River flows through the west of the town. The Daina, Gilandi, Duduya, Kumlai, Jhumur, and Bamni are other rivers which flow through the town.

Area overview

The map alongside shows the alluvial floodplains south of the outer foothills of the Himalayas. The area is mostly flat, except for low hills in the northern portions. It is a primarily rural area with 62.01% of the population living in rural areas and a moderate 37.99% living in the urban areas. Tea gardens in the Dooars and Terai regions annually produce 226 million kg or over a quarter of India's total tea crop. Some tea gardens were identified in the 2011 census as census towns or villages. Such places are marked in the map as CT (census town) or R (rural/ urban centre). Specific tea estate pages are marked TE. Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.

Civic administration

Police station

Dhupguri police has jurisdiction over a part of Dhupguri CD block.

CD block HQ

Headquarters of Dhupguri CD block is at Dhupguri.

Demographics

In the 2011 Indian census, Dhupguri had a population of 44,719: 22,953 men (51 percent) and 21,766 women (49 percent). Dhupguri has a literacy rate of 78 percent, higher than the national average of 74.04 percent; male literacy is 81.61 percent and female literacy 74.21 percent. In Dhupguri, 9.64 percent of the population is under age six. The municipality was established in 2001. A Rajbongshi community surrounds Dhupguri; Rajbongshi means "royal community". They have a rich cultural heritage and language. The Koch Rajbongshi people called themselves "Kamateshwars" (rulers of Kamata), but their influence and expansion were so extensive that their kingdom is sometimes called the Koch Kingdom. Bhawaiya song is a popular musical form in North Bengal, particularly in the Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri districts.

Economy

Agriculture is the backbone of the economy. Paddy, potato, jute, choyote, betel nuts, and vegetables are produced in large quantities in and around Dhupguri. It is known for its potatoes, which are exported to Bihar, Assam, and the states of northeastern India. International trade has increased, and potatoes from Dhupguri are available in the markets of Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan. The government-regulated wholesale market has aided local farmers. The regulated market, locally known as Dhupguri Hut, was established for wholesaling agricultural products and is West Bengal's second-largest market. In addition to agriculture, small-scale industries are also growing.

Transport

Dhupguri is connected by rail and roads, such as National Highway 17 (now converted to an Asian Highway from Jaigon on the Indian-Bhutanese border), which runs across the middle of the city. State highways connecting Siliguri-Jalpaiguri and Guwahati also pass Dhupguri. The Dhupguri railway station (DQG) provides connections to all parts of the country through passenger-train service. Many long-distance trains (including express trains) like (Kanchenjunga Express, Uttarbanga Express, Saraighat Express etc.) pass through Dhupguri daily and provide links to other parts of India. The town is also connected by road to much of West Bengal.

Education

Dhupguri's college (co-ed) Sukanta Mahavidyalaya, was founded in 1981 with departments of English, Bengali, history, economics, philosophy, chemistry, physics, mathematics and political science; physical education, geography, and Sanskrit were later added. The college, affiliated with the University of North Bengal, has a science stream combining physics, mathematics, and computer science. It offers BBA and BCA degrees. Dhupguri Girl's College (affiliated to North Bengal University) It offers undergraduate courses in arts. Dhupguri Girl's College, established in 2013, is the women's general degree college in Dhupguri. Other schools are:

Notable residents

Mitali Roy: Ex- MLA of Dhupguri-SC (Vidhan Sabha Constituency)

Popular cultures

Points of interest

Healthcare

Dhupguri Rural Hospital, with more than 100 beds at Dhupguri, is the major government medical facility for the Dhupguri CD block. one nursing home.