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 Jalpaiguri District Court documentations.
The name "Jalpaiguri" comes from the word "Jalpai" meaning Ceylon olive, which grew in the city and adjacent areas. And "Guri" means a place.[12]
Geography
Jalpaiguri is the district headquarter of Jalpaiguri District. It is situated at a height of 89m(292ft) from Mean Sea Level.
The city lies very close to the Himalayas and on the left bank of Teesta river. The Karla river is another major river of Jalpaiguri which flows through the city.
Mount Kanchenjunga as viewed from Jalpaiguri in October 2020Kangchenjunga from Jalpaiguri at sunrise (November 2022)
Climate
Temperature
The annual average temperature of Jalpaiguri city is 24.8 °C. In summer, the temperature varies from a minimum of 20–22 °C to a maximum of 30–35 °C. August is the hottest month with an average temperature of 29.2 °C. The temperature in peak summer sometimes exceeds 37 °C.[13][14] The highest temperature ever recorded in Jalpaiguri was 40.9 °C, recorded on 21 July 1986. The winter maximum temperature here hovers around 22–25 °C and minimum drops to 8–10 °C. The minimum temperature sometimes falls below 7 °C.[15][16][17] The lowest temperature ever dropped in Jalpaiguri city was 2.2 °C, recorded on 5 February 1914.[18]
Rainfall and other conditions
As Jalpaiguri is located on the base of the Himalayas, the city receives a high amount of rainfall throughout the year. The average annual rainfall is approximately 3400 mm.[19] A distinct season, monsoon is observed from June to September. About 917.3 mm rain falls in July. Though the amount plummets to 3.3 mm in December.[19] On an average, the rainy days in Jalpaiguri city are 100.[19] The heaviest one-day rainfall occurred on 10 July 1999 when 474 mm rain fell on the city. The wettest month was July 1996. In that month, a total of 1546.2 mm of rain was received.[19] Jalpaiguri doesn't get snowfall. Humidity is very high in the air.
Climate data for Jalpaiguri (1991–2020, extremes 1901–present)
According to the 2011 census, Jalpaiguri had a population of 107,341 people (53,708 male and 53,633 female)[2] while the Metropolitan region had a population of 169,002 people (85,226 males and 83,787 females). The population for children aged 0-6 was 14,522. Effective literacy rate for people aged 7+ was 86.43 per cent.[4]
The main languages spoken here are Bengali, Hindi and Nepali.
Distribution of religions. Others include Sikhs (0.47%) and Jains (0.22%)
Civic administration
Civic administration is the responsibility of the Jalpaiguri Municipality which is the sixth oldest in West Bengal after that of Kolkata, Howrah, Berhampore, Burdwan and Siuri.[22] Set up in 1885, it is headed by a chairman who is elected by the residents of the city. It has 25 wards that elect the ward councilors. The All India Trinamool Congress is in the power of this municipal body. The chairperson of the municipality is Papia Pal.[23]
Economy
Jalpaiguri has its own bank, the Jalpaiguri Central Co-operative Bank, whose head office is located at Temple Street of the city. Founded in 1919, it has more than 20 branches with ATMs spread across the District.[24]
Utility services
The municipality is responsible for providing basic services, such as potable water and sanitation. The water is supplied by the municipal authorities using its groundwater resources, and almost all the houses in the municipal area are connected through the system.[25]
Calcutta High Court Circuit Bench in Jalpaiguri
Transport
Rail
Jalpaiguri city region has four important railway stations:-
Raninagar Jalpaiguri Junction is situated at the further western part of the city. The railway station serves Jalpaiguri, Raninagar and other nearby places.
Road
Goshala More, Highway connector of Jalpaiguri
The Asian Highway 2 and the National Highway 31D [NH 27 (New Numbering)] passes just through the city connecting it right with the rest of the country.
The Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Central Bus Terminus situated next to the North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) Bus Terminal is a major stop for most private and state-owned buses in the region. The Royal Government of Bhutan also operates buses from Jalpaiguri to its border town Jaigaon/ Phuentsholing, Bhutan. Air-conditioned sleeper coach bus service is also available from Jalpaiguri to Kolkata (Banglashree Express).[26] There are several bus stands[27] in Jalpaiguri:-
NBSTC Depot: Government buses are available from here.
Kadamtala Bus Terminus: Private buses to Siliguri and Islampur are available from here.
Super Bus Stand near the Jalpaiguri railway station – Super (or non-stop) bus services to Siliguri are available from here.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Private Bus Terminus: Buses to the Dooars region, i.e., Malbazar, Birpara, are available from here.
Bowbazaar Bus Stand: Bus services to Haldibari are available from here.
Jalpaiguri's schools are run by the state government or private organisations, many of which are religious. Bengali and English are the primary languages of instruction; Nepali and Hindi are also used.[28][29] Schools in Jalpaiguri follow the "10+2+3" plan. After completing their secondary education, students typically enroll in schools that have a higher secondary facility and are affiliated with the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education, the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE), or the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).[28] They usually choose a focus on liberal arts, business, or science. Vocational programs are also available.[28] In 2012, the Government proposed a medical college for the suburb of Paharpur.[30]
Institute of Pharmacy, Jalpaiguri is the pharmacy college which offers pharmacy courses under West Bengal State Council of Technical Education, Kolkata. There is also an industrial training institute in the city.[31][32]
Jalpaiguri Government Medical College and Hospital, established in 2022, is a full-fledged tertiary referral Government Medical college. It is located at Jalpaiguri town of West Bengal. The college imparts the degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS). The hospital associated with the college is one of the largest hospitals in the Jalpaiguri district. The yearly undergraduate student intake is 100 from the year 2022.
Jalpaiguri Polytechnic Institute, is a Government Diploma level institute with 3 yrs.(10+) Civil, Electrical, Mechanical & Automobile Engineering.
St. Xavier's College, all of which are affiliated with the University of North Bengal. Also, since 2011, the second campus of the university with the same name provides with master's degrees in arts, sciences, and commerce.[34]
^"Sports Village for Jalpaiguri". aitcofficial.org. Archived from the original on 26 February 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) on 22 March 2021
^ abc"Annual Report 2007–2008". Department of School Education, Government of West Bengal. p. 69. Archived from the original(PDF) on 7 January 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
