স্থানীয় - SILIGURI TOWN

                                 History of Siliguri

    The city of Siliguri has wielded great strategic significance in West Bengal due to its placement near state and international borders. Connecting three international borders namely, China, Bangladesh and Nepal, Siliguri is also joined to Sikkim and Kalimpong by road and Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling by an efficient railways network. Situated at the base of the eastern Himalayan ranges and watered by the river Mahananda, Siliguri appeals not only for its natural beauty but also as a significant trading, transportation and educational center. Over the past century, Siliguri has developed from a small agricultural village to a bustling and commercially prosperous city.
    The rise of Siliguri from the ancient period to its successful culmination as a trading center is an interesting tale. Siliguri as a city had been ruled by many great dynasties like the Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas and its immense strategic value realized post the Indian independence. Let us unravel the ancient and medieval history of this great city, which to a large extent still remains shrouded in mystery.

    Coronation Bridge 
    An example of stunning architecture, also known as Sevoke bridge situates on lower Himalaya about 20 km from Siliguri made up of steel in year 1930.[145] This bridge spans across Teesta River.[146]
    The Coronation Bridge
    By Sourik8 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=78452981

    View of Siliguri from AirView More
    By Sayantani - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17986854

    ISKCON temple 
    Also known as Sri Sri Radha Madhav Sundar Mandir, one of the biggest Krishna centres in the North-Eastern region of India. This temple was built by ISKCON, which stands for International Society for Krishna Consciousness.[156]
    ISCON Siliguri
    By Sourik8 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=78493484

    Darjeeling Himalayan Railway 
    DHR or toy train that runs between New Jalpaiguri, Siliguri and Darjeeling which was built between 1879 and 1881. This rail route is designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site.[147][148]
    Toy train
    By Sourik8 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=78493483


    Ancient and Medieval Period of Siliguri
    Sailen Debnath, the eminent scholar on the Terai and Dooars region believes that the term “Siliguri” means a heap of pebbles or stones. The region had also been known as Shilchaguri till the nineteenth century when it was covered with dense Dolka forest ranges. Originally a small agricultural village, the Kingdom of Sikkim ruled over Siliguri till the influence of the Kingdom of Nepal into the region. The rule of Nepal brought settlements of Kirati and Nepali Lepcha people into this region.

    According to Debnath, the area presently covered by Siliguri was the southernmost fringe of the Sikkim Kingdom and belonged to the trans-Morang zone i.e. the meeting point of eastern and western Morang till the rise of the expanding power of Nepal. A river port in Phansideoa, to the south of Siliguri was influential in having trade relations with Malda and the rest of Bengal and Bihar. This river port near Siliguri was thus used by the Bhutanese and Sikkimese to go with their merchandise and established trading relations with the mainland.

    Toy train passing through Siliguri after independence, in 1955.
    By Sourik8 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=79132689

    By Sourik8 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=79132688

    By Sourik8 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=77242327


    Modern Period of Siliguri

    The present area of Siliguri is composed of the Mahananda river banks to Saktigarh, which was originally a small village in the southern region of the city. The Nepal-Britain Sagauli treaty made in 1816 changed the role of Siliguri as a transit point between the hilly areas of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Nepal. From its status as an agricultural village, Siliguri started developing as a small city from 1835 when the British had occupied Darjeeling, and then proceeded to occupy the entire Dooars region and Kalimpong by 1865. The introduction of the railways to north-eastern India by the British East India Company had enlarged the significance of Siliguri in the region.

    After Indian independence and its partition, Siliguri became an extremely important transit point and strategic area. It also led to the formation of the “Siliguri Corridor” in 1947 after Bengal was partitioned between India and Pakistan. This corridor was a narrow strip of land connecting north east India with its mainland. This also contributed to the increase in population in the city when many immigrants settled from East Pakistan (later Bangladesh). The population of Siliguri continues to increase to the present day with the rapid influx of immigrants from surrounding countries like Southern Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh and adjacent Indian states who cross borders for better economic as well as social opportunities.


                                              
    Ewam India monastery Salugara
                         By Sourik8 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=77219146

    Lions clock tower at panitanki more
    By Sourik8 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=77203951

    North Bengal science centre 
    One and only science Centre of North Bengal established in 1997. The main attractions are Digital Planetarium, Science Shows (Super Cold Show-Showing low temperature properties of matter, Amazing Chemistry, Unexpected Science etc.), 3D Theater, Taramandal Shows, different science topic galleries and its green Science Park with T-Rex dinosaur statue at entrance.[152][153]
    Science centre entrance
    By Sourik8 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=77204777

    Bagdogra airport
    By Sourik8 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=78383473

    Surendra Institute of Engineering and Management.
    By Sourik8 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=77406324

    Municipal corporation indoor stadium
    By Sourik8 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=78517626

    Heritage Toy Train at NJP
    By Sourik8 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=78452982

    Bengal safari 
    Its about 8 km away from Siliguri. North Bengal Wild Animals Park offers visitors an impressive opportunity to experience the wild and the untamed life closely (such as Jungle fowl, Sambar deer, Royal bengal tiger, Wild boars, Spotted deer, Wild bear, Rhinoceros etc.). It is fundamentally a part of the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, spread over an area of 700 acre.Park conducts herbivore safari, carnivore safari, elephant safari etc.[149][150]
    Bengal safari park
    By Sourik8 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=78452986

    Gajoldoba view point 
    Located about 28 km from Siliguri, famous for the huge reservoir formed by Teesta barrage. This reservoir is home for variety of migratory birds (like River lapwing, Great Crested Grebe, Indian Cormorant, Purple Heron , Eurasian Wigeon, Common Shelduck , Cotton Teal, Tufted Duck, Little Ringed Plover, Great Cormorant etc.). Due to shuttling of migratory birds, Pakhibitan sanctuary established here. One can spend time amidst the nature. Boating facility also available here.[163]
    Gajoldoba view point
    By Sourik8 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=78458872

    Siliguri at Present
    Thus the present city of Siliguri stands gloriously from its past status as a village, increasing in area and population ever since it was declared as a sub-division in 1907 by the British administration. It has been growing by leaps and bounds after the independence of India to evolve as one of the most prominent and large cities in North Eastern India.



    Siliguri
    Metropolitan City / Urban Agglomeration
     Courtsey : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siliguri
    Location in West Bengal
    Coordinates: 26.71°N 88.43°E
    Country India
    StateWest Bengal
    DistrictDarjeeling (62%), Jalpaiguri (38%)
    No. of Wards47[2]
    Government
     • TypeMunicipal Corporation
     • BodySiliguri Municipal Corporation
     • MayorAshok Bhattacharya (CPI(M))
     • Sub Divisional OfficerP Harishanker (IAS)
    Area
     • Metropolitan City / Urban Agglomeration260 km2 (100 sq mi)
     • Metro
    		1,451 km2 (560 sq mi)
    Area rank2nd in West Bengal
    Highest elevation
    		140 m (460 ft)
    Lowest elevation
    		114 m (374 ft)
    Population
     (2011 census)[4]
     • Metropolitan City / Urban Agglomeration701,489
     • Rank3rd in West Bengal
     • Density2,700/km2 (7,000/sq mi)
     • Metro513,264
    Languages
     • OfficialBengali[6][7]
     • Additional officialEnglish[6]
    Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
    PIN
    734 001-734 015 (city limits), 734 401-734 436(suburbs), 735 133-735 135
    Telephone code0353, 0354
    Vehicle registrationWB 73/74
    Lok Sabha constituencyDarjeeling, Jalpaiguri
    Literacy85.46%[8]
    Sex ratio1000♂/951♀[8]
    Vidhan Sabha constituencySiliguri, Dabgram-Phulbari, Matigara-Naxalbari, Phansidewa
    Websitewww.siligurismc.in, www.siliguri.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, Darjeeling District Court and Jalpaiguri District Court documentations.




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