Explore the West Bengal district map showing the 23 districts, district headquarters and capital of West Bengal state of India.
District of West Bengal
Below is the list of all the districts of West Bengal state and these districts with their headquarters are also marked on the West Bengal map.
S.N.
District Name
Headquarter Name
1
Alipurduar
Alipurduar
2
Bankura
Bankura
3
Birbhum
Suri
4
Cooch Behar
Cooch Behar
5
Dakshin Dinajpur
Balurghat
6
Darjeeling
Darjeeling
7
Hooghly
Chinsura
8
Howrah
Howrah
9
Jalpaiguri
Jalpaiguri
10
Jhargram
Jhargram
11
Kalimpong
Kalimpong
12
Kolkata
Kolkata
13
Malda
English Bazar
14
Murshidabad
Baharampur
15
Nadia
Krishnanagar
16
North 24 Parganas
Barasat
17
Paschim Bardhaman
Asansol
18
Paschim Medinipur
Medinipur
19
Purba Bardhaman
Bardhaman
20
Purba Medinipur
Tamluk
21
Purulia
Purulia
22
South 24 Parganas
Alipore
23
Uttar Dinajpur
Raiganj
About West Bengal
West Bengal stands as a culturally significant and historically important Indian state located in eastern India which has played a major role in the intellectual and political development of the subcontinent. The current borders of West Bengal have been home to human settlement since prehistoric times before becoming part of the extensive Bengal territory that includes modern Bangladesh. The Vedic period marked the beginning of Bengal's recorded history while the region served as a vital center for the Maurya and Gupta empires. The Pala Empire established its power in the region from the 8th to 12th century by supporting Buddhism while developing extensive trade connections with Southeast Asia. The region became a commercial and cultural hub under Islamic rule when it came under the Delhi Sultanate followed by the Bengal Sultanate.
Bengal held the central position among all British colonies in India during the colonial period. The city of Calcutta which is present-day Kolkata functioned as the main administrative center of British India until 1911. The Indian independence movement originated from this area which produced key figures including Rabindranath Tagore and Subhas Chandra Bose and Swami Vivekananda. The 1947 partition of Bengal led to the division of the province into Indian West Bengal and Pakistani East Pakistan which is now known as Bangladesh. The state's current identity emerged from the massive population movements that resulted from this partition.
Geographical Overview
West Bengal extends across a varied terrain of Himalayan snow regions in the north and southern coastal plains bordering the Bay of Bengal. The state extends across 88,752 square kilometers (34,267 square miles) of land which places it among the medium-sized Indian states based on territorial extent. The northernmost part of West Bengal contains Eastern Himalayan territory where Darjeeling stands out for its natural beauty and tea cultivation and Kanchenjunga stands as the third highest peak in the world which can be seen from particular locations.
The Terai and Dooars regions represent the southern part of the state where biodiversity thrives through multiple national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. The central part of the state comprises alluvial plains of the Ganges Delta which stands as one of the most fertile agricultural zones in India. The southern part of the state extends into the Sundarbans which holds the title of being the world's largest mangrove forest and gained UNESCO World Heritage Site status. The deltaic region contains multiple rivers and creeks which create a distinctive habitat that supports the endangered Royal Bengal Tiger along with other species.
The Hooghly River functions as a Ganges distributary that supports both economic activities and urban growth in West Bengal through its course along the banks of Kolkata and Howrah and Chandannagar. The climate across West Bengal takes different forms based on geographical location and elevation. The northern hill region maintains a temperate climate but the southern plains have a humid subtropical climate with hot summers and a monsoon period from June through September and cool winters.
History of West Bengal
Ancient and Classical Period
West Bengal exists in eastern India where a two-thousand-year-old complex historical narrative continues to unfold. The ancient kingdom of Vanga existed in this region according to early Sanskrit texts and epics. The Maurya Empire under Emperor Ashoka absorbed this territory into its domain during the 3rd century BCE based on rock edicts discovered in surrounding regions. West Bengal experienced successive rule by powerful dynasties which included the Guptas and the Pala Empire and the Sena dynasty. During the 8th to 12th centuries the Pala Empire spread Mahayana Buddhism throughout Asia while establishing Nalanda and Vikramashila as prominent educational centers that shaped the cultural and intellectual development of the region.
Islamic Influence and Mughal Rule
The Turkish general Bakhtiyar Khalji brought Islamic rule to Bengal when he defeated the Sena dynasty during the early part of the 13th century. The Delhi Sultanate and later the Bengal Sultanate established Bengal as a major Islamic cultural and commercial center throughout several centuries. The Mughal Empire gained control of the region during the late 16th century. During the Mughal period Bengal developed into a prosperous and densely populated province which became the world's leading center for muslin and silk textile manufacturing and export. During this time Murshidabad established itself as the main administrative and commercial hub.
Colonial Period and British Rule
The Battle of Plassey in 1757 established a turning point in Bengal's history when the British East India Company defeated Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah thus beginning British colonial rule in India. The British East India Company gained control of Bengal first among all Indian territories which then became the central hub of British power in Eastern territories. Calcutta (now Kolkata) served as the capital of British India until 1911. During this time Bengal experienced both extreme economic exploitation and a remarkable cultural and intellectual transformation. During the 19th century Bengal Renaissance Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda emerged as leading figures who advanced literature and social reform and education.
Independence Movement and Partition
West Bengal served as a vital center for India's fight for independence through its production of nationalist leaders and thinkers and revolutionary activists. The Swadeshi Movement and underground revolutionary organizations Anushilan Samiti and Jugantar emerged from Bengal. Bengal served as a central location where communal tensions reached their peak. When India gained independence in 1947 Bengal became divided into East Bengal which later became East Pakistan and Bangladesh and West Bengal which stayed within India. The partition process led to massive population movements and religious violence which severely damaged the social structure of the area. The mass migration of East Pakistani citizens to West Bengal transformed both the population numbers and economic profile of the region.
Post-Independence Era and Modern West Bengal
The Indian Union received West Bengal as an essential state following independence. The city of Kolkata served as India's intellectual and cultural center throughout numerous decades because of its literary and cinematic and political intellectual contributions. The state underwent major political transformations because leftist movements gained power. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) took power in 1977 and ruled for more than thirty years which established a record as the world's longest-running democratically elected communist government. The government focused on land reforms and rural development during this time but industrial stagnation and labor unrest started to become major issues.
The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) has led West Bengal as a state since 2011 under the leadership of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The state has experienced new initiatives for infrastructure growth alongside urban expansion and educational and healthcare investments. The 2011 Census shows that the state population exceeds 91 million to become India's fourth most populous state. The largest city of Kolkata serves as the main metropolitan center of the state. The state plays a major role in Indian agriculture and tea production and services while dealing with unemployment and urban congestion and environmental issues in certain Sundarbans regions.
Cultural and Historical Legacy
The historical development of West Bengal created a diverse cultural heritage which unites traditional customs with contemporary intellectual ideas. The region maintains its position as a leading center for arts and classical music and literature and intellectual discussions. The festivals of West Bengal including Durga Puja showcase a special blend of religious devotion with artistic expression and social unity. West Bengal stands as one of India's most important and culturally rich states because of its history which includes periods of resistance and transformation and intellectual renewal.
Geography of West Bengal
West Bengal extends across eastern India from the Himalayan mountain peaks in the north to the Bay of Bengal coastal plains in the south. The state covers 88,752 square kilometers of land which positions it as the 13th largest state in terms of area in the country. The state borders Bangladesh to the east while its northern border touches Nepal and Bhutan and it shares internal borders with Sikkim and Assam and Bihar and Jharkhand and Odisha. The state's long shape creates diverse landscapes and climates and ecosystems which establish West Bengal as one of the most geographically varied areas in India.
Physiographic Divisions
The geographical area of West Bengal consists of six separate physiographic zones which include the Himalayan region in the north and the Terai and Dooars foothills and the northern plains and the Rarh region in the west and the Ganges Delta in the south and east and the coastal zone in the extreme south. The Darjeeling Himalayan hill region in northern West Bengal belongs to the lesser Himalayas with Sandakphu reaching the state's highest elevation at 3,636 meters. The Terai and Dooars region south of the hills maintains its status as a fertile tea garden area with diverse wildlife populations.
The Ganges River and its tributaries including Hooghly, Damodar, Teesta and Mahananda form extensive alluvial plains which control the central and southern regions of the state. The river systems control the state's agricultural economy and supply vital water resources. The western region of the state shows increasing undulation and lateritic features before reaching the Chota Nagpur Plateau. The state's southern boundary extends into the Sundarbans which stands as the world's largest tidal halophytic mangrove forest and protects the endangered Royal Bengal Tiger while earning UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
Climate and Weather
The tropical climate of West Bengal shows wide regional differences throughout the state. The northern hill areas maintain a climate that ranges between temperate and subalpine while the plains together with coastal areas experience a humid subtropical climate. The state has three distinct seasons which include hot and humid summer months from March through June followed by monsoon season from June to September and mild winter months from November to February. The western plateau region receives approximately 1,000 mm of annual rainfall but the Himalayan foothills receive more than 3,000 mm of rainfall annually with monsoon rains delivering most of the precipitation. The coastal regions experience frequent cyclonic storms and floods mainly during the late monsoon season and post-monsoon season.
Rivers and Water Bodies
The state of West Bengal contains numerous river systems which are led by the Ganges River and its distributaries that serve as the main water resource base. The Hooghly River which stems from the Ganges River system runs through Kolkata while providing essential services for water transportation and irrigation. The state contains five significant rivers which include the Teesta and Damodar and Rupnarayan and Subarnarekha and Ichamati. The state's fertile alluvial plains which developed through riverine deposition during centuries enable intensive agricultural practices. The state of West Bengal contains both artificial and natural lakes which include Rabindra Sarobar in Kolkata and the Maithon and Panchet reservoirs in the western districts.
Natural Resources and Biodiversity
The diverse geographical landscape of West Bengal enables the existence of numerous plant and animal species. The northern forests provide habitat for red pandas and Himalayan black bears and numerous bird species. The Sundarbans region in southern West Bengal exists as an environmentally sensitive yet highly productive area which features mangrove forests and estuarine systems and distinct aquatic wildlife. The state maintains multiple wildlife sanctuaries and national parks which include Jaldapara National Park, Gorumara National Park and Buxa Tiger Reserve. West Bengal possesses significant coal reserves in the Raniganj coalfields together with smaller deposits of iron ore and copper and fireclay.
Strategic and Economic Significance
The strategic location of West Bengal serves as a gateway to northeastern Indian states and neighboring countries Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. The Haldia Port and Kolkata Port enable international trade operations for eastern India's import and export activities. The Gangetic plains stand as one of India's most fertile agricultural regions which yields large quantities of rice and jute and sugarcane and vegetables. The Darjeeling hills maintain worldwide recognition for their tea estates while the Sundarbans support both ecological and economic activities through fishing and honey collection communities.
