Barpeta is a town in Barpeta district of the state of Assam in India and is district headquarters. The city is located north west of Guwahati and is one of the major cities in Western Assam. It is also called Satra Nagari (Temple town) of Assam due to the presence of various Vaishnavite Satras in the vicinity.
Geography
It is located at .
It has an average elevation of 35 metres (114 feet). It is 40 km away from Manas National Park. Three rivers - Chaulkhowa, Mora Nodi (Dead River) and Nakhanda, both of which are tributaries to
Brahmaputra run through the town.
History
The Barpeta was earlier known as 'Tatikuchi', where Tati stands for weaver and Kuchi means cluster of villages in native
Barpetia dialect, i.e. the land of weavers. In ancient times, it was central part of erstwhile
ancient Kamrup, included in
Kamapitha of
Kamarupa Pithas, the ancient divisions of old
Kamrup region. In nineteenth century, Barpeta town and adjoining areas became part of Undivided Kamrup district, as Barpeta subdivision. In 1983, the subdivision attained district status.
Forestry
Barpeta is the gateway to Manas National Park, one of the National Parks of Assam and one of the few tiger reserves of India.
Demographics
Hindus form the majority of the town's population, but in surrounding area is Muslim people's, followed by
Muslims.
India [[census]],
Bengali language is spoken by 23,827 people, Assamese is spoken by 6,193, Hindi by 4242, Bodo by 884 and 7,509 people speak other languages.
Climate
Barpeta has a subtropical climate, with chilly winters and hot, humid summers. However, residents here can enjoy both seasons. Sometimes, on a hot day, the temperature in this city varies from 35°C to 39°C.
Politics
Barpeta is part of Barpeta (Lok Sabha constituency).
Indian president Fakaruddin Ali Ahmed was an MLA from Jania LAC and MP from the Barpeta constituency. Syed Abdur Rouf, A.F Golam Osmani and other prominent persons represented Barpeta in the constitutional assembly.
Phani Bhusan Choudhury of Asom Gana Parishad is the current MP from Barpeta Lok Sabha constituency since the year 2024. There 7 nos of Assembly Constituency in the district. Those are Jania, Baghbar, Sorbhog, Sarukhetri, Bhabanipur, Chenga and Barpeta.
Transport
The nearest railway station, airport and port is
Barpeta Road, Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport and
Dhubri respectively.
Barpeta town is connected to National Highway 31 through
Howly, and National Highway 427 via Hajo-Doulashal connects it to Guwahati.
Education
Barpeta has very good educational environment. The town has produced so many noble figures of Assam. Few of them are Ambikagiri Raichoudhury,
Banikanta Kakati, Mahendra Mohan Choudhry and Purushottam Das. Some of the well known higher educational institutions of Barpeta are Barpeta Vidyapith Higher Secondary School, Kendriya Vidyalaya Barpeta,
Madhab Choudhury College
and Barpeta Girls' College. It also has the fifth medical college of Assam, the Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College and Hospital.
Notable people
-
Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, fifth President of India
-
Chandra Bharati, poet
-
Bhattadeva, father of Assamese prose
-
Mahendra Mohan Choudhry, fourth chief minister of Assam
-
Bhupendra Nath Goswami, Indian scientist
-
Banikanta Kakati, linguist
-
Abdul Khaleque, Politician
-
Rameshwar Pathak, Kamrupi Lokgeet singer
-
Kalpana Patowary, singer
-
Ambikagiri Raichoudhury, poet and nationalist
External links
