Siliguri
Siliguri (pronounced [ˈʃiliɡuɽi] ⓘ) is a major tier-II city in West Bengal. It forms "Twin Cities" with the neighbouring district capital of Jalpaiguri. The city spans areas of the Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts in the Indian state of West Bengal. Known as the "Gateway of Northeast India", Siliguri is popular for three Ts: tea, timber and tourism. It is located on the banks of the Mahananda River and the Teesta River at the foothills of the Himalayas. Siliguri is the third largest urban agglomeration in West Bengal, after Kolkata and Asansol.
Siliguri | |
|---|---|
Clockwise from top left: Siliguri aerial view, Science centre entrance, Ewam India Monastery in Siliguri, Sukna forest, Teesta river, Siliguri art in clock tower, Sevoke bridge, Kanchenjunga mountain from Siliguri, Toy train in Siliguri, Siliguri traffic road | |
| Nickname: The Gateway of Northeast India | |
Siliguri Location in West Bengal Siliguri Location in India | |
| Coordinates: 26.71°N 88.43°E | |
| Country | India |
| State | West Bengal |
| District | |
| No. of Wards | 47 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal corporation |
| • Body | Siliguri Municipal Corporation |
| • Mayor | Goutam Deb |
| • Deputy mayor | Ranjan Sarkar |
| • Police Commissioner | Akhilesh Charurvedi, IPS |
| • Sub Divisional officer | Priyanka Singh, IAS |
| Area | |
| • Urban | 117.54 km2 (45.38 sq mi) |
| • Metro | 2,222.59 km2 (858.15 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 3rd in West Bengal |
| Highest elevation | 140 m (460 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 114 m (374 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Metropolis | 513,264 |
| • Rank | 3rd in West Bengal |
| • Urban | 701,489 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Bengali |
| • Additional official | English |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 734 001-734 015 (city limits), 734 401-734 436(suburbs), 735 133-735 135 |
| Telephone code | 0353, 0354 |
| Vehicle registration | WB 73/74 |
| Lok Sabha constituency | Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri |
| Literacy | 85.46% |
| Sex ratio | 1000♂/951♀ |
| Vidhan Sabha constituency | Siliguri, Dabgram-Phulbari, Matigara-Naxalbari, Phansidewa |
| Police | Siliguri Police Commissionerate |
| Website | www |
| 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 is based upon the Siliguri Sub-Divisional Court, Darjeeling District Court and Jalpaiguri District Court documentations. | |
Siliguri has great strategic importance in West Bengal, with convenient access to four international borders: China, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan. It also connects the North-East with mainland India. Located at the foothills of Eastern Himalayas, Siliguri is a significant trading and transportation hub.