Udalguri district

The name Udalguri denotes a place surrounding the Udal tree (Udal, meaning a tree and Guri meaning surrounding area). Some authors are of the opinion that the name of the place became Udalguri as there was a hermitage of a sage named Uddalak Muni. Yet, another source mentions that the word has origins in the Boro language. From the Bodo words {{Transliteration|brx|ordla}} and {{Transliteration|brx|gundri}}, the name became {{Transliteration|brx|Ordlagundri}} > {{Transliteration|brx|Ordlagundi}} > {{Transliteration|brx|Odalguri}} > {{Transliteration|brx|Ugalguri}}. Bodo people still pronounce the name as Odalguri. In the Bodo language, {{Transliteration|brx|ordla}} means wide and spacious, and {{Transliteration|brx|gundri}} means powdered object.http://udalguri.gov.in/districthistory.html {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}

{{Main article|Dooars|Duar War|Bhutan|Ahom kingdom}}

Udalguri district falls under Darrang Duars which includes the region between the Bornadi River and Dhansiri River. The Duar that falls under the Udalguri district are the Buriguma Dooar and Killing Dooars.{{harvcol|Das|1998|p=38}}

In older times, Udalguri acted as a trading point between Assam and Tsona city in Tibet (now China).{{harvcol|Mizuno|Tenpa|2015|p=40}} The route passed through the Nyamjang Chu and Tawang Chu rivers via Trashigang and Dewangiri. The Monpas of Tibet would visit Tangla and Udalguri to acquire silk known as Alaine from the Bodos and Ravas. and also to weave their dyed silk in the villages, the final product was later sold in Monpa villages in present Arunachal Pradesh and Tibet.

File:Southern border of Bhutan1985.jpg]]

Under the Darrang Raja, an officer named Guntia Baruah was appointed to manage the transaction with the Bhutias who handed it over to the Borphukan at Guwahati, the Bhutias appointed Dzongpon to do the same.{{harvcol|Das|1998|p=40}}

According to Bhutanese chronicles, the region till the east in Killing Duars fell under the authority of the Bhutias in 1189.{{harvcol|Das|1998|p=41}}

From the early 17th-century present-day Udalguri district was governed jointly by the Druk Desi (Dzongkha: འབྲུག་སྡེ་སྲིད་) of Bhutan and the Sutamla of the Ahom kingdom."While Bhutan generally enjoyed absolute possession of the eleven Bengal duars, its control over the seven Assam duars was not straightforward. Even during the Ahom rule, the Bhutanese did not gain full possession of the duar tracts. As a result, they are said to have harassed the population along the Assam frontiers with persistent incursions and raids."{{harvcol|Phuntsho|2013|p=394}} Under the Bhutan government, it was under the authority of Tongso Penlop who appointed Subah who in turn appointed Laskar, Mondol or Uzir to look after the activities of the Duars.{{harvcol|Das|1998|p=32}} In 1841, the British East company removed the Bhutanese influence and the area was later merged to undivided Darrang district of Assam of the Indian Union in 1949.{{harvcol|Das|1998|p=26}}

This district was formed on 14 June 2004{{cite web | url = http://www.statoids.com/yin.html | title = Districts of India | access-date = 2011-10-11 | last = Law | first = Gwillim | date = 2011-09-25 | work = Statoids}} as one of the four districts under the Bodoland Territorial Council. This district was carved out by bifurcating Darrang district. The territory of the present district was earlier Udalguri sub-division of the undivided district. There are Hindu, Christians and Muslim population living together in the district. This was a very peaceful place till mid 80s but various communal clashes took place from time to time. Late Jojaram Sharma was one of the prominent India freedom fighters from Assam lived here.

Other than the multitude of culture and tradition of the various ethnic communities, the district has several tourist places. Some of the important ones are,

1. Part of Orang National Park
2. Bathou temple and Research centre in Odalguri District (All Bathou Mahasabha)
3. Old Namghar (Assamese Worship Place) in Udalguri Town
4. Tea gardens at Kachubil
5. Old Hanuman temple in Udalguri Town
6. Old Baptist Christian church in Udalguri Town
7. Bhairabkunda Picnic Spot{{Cite web|title=HOME|url=http://udalguri.gov.in/bhairabkunda.htm|website=udalguri.gov.in|access-date=2020-05-15}}
8. Gethsemane Man-made Forest (Bhairabkunda){{Cite web|title=Afforestation changes life and landscape: How a district in Assam lost a forest, gained a future|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/afforestation-changes-life-and-landscape-how-a-district-in-assam-lost-a-forest-gained-a-future-4997615/|date=2017-12-25|website=The Indian Express|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-15}}{{Cite web|title=Unknown saviors of the environment: Thirty-five men create a forest from barren land|url=https://news.mongabay.com/2020/01/unknown-saviors-of-the-environment-thirty-five-men-create-a-forest-from-barren-land/|date=2020-01-24|website=Mongabay Environmental News|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-15}}{{Cite web|title=Joint Forest Management Committee attempts transforming 60 hectares land into green jungle- Sentinelassam|url=https://www.sentinelassam.com/north-east-india-news/assam-news/joint-forest-management-committee-attempts-transforming-60-hectares-land-into-green-jungle/|last=Desk|first=Sentinel Digital|date=2019-07-15|website=www.sentinelassam.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-15}}{{Cite web|title=Man-made forest at Bhairabkunda|url=https://www.assamtimes.org/node/17310|date=2016-07-20|website=Assam Times|language=en|access-date=2020-05-15}}

{{historical populations|11=1901|12=72,515|13=1911|14=72,634|15=1921|16=81,624|17=1931|18=1,02,727|19=1941|20=1,38,593|21=1951|22=1,72,046|23=1961|24=2,78,788|25=1971|26=4,39,022|27=1991|28=6,92,919|29=2001|30=7,58,746|31=2011|32=8,31,668|source=Census of India[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/A2_Data_Table.html Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901]|align=center}}

According to the 2011 census Udalguri district's population is 831,668, an increase of 9.8% over 2001.{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=District Census Handbook: Udalguri |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/246/download/634/DH_2011_1827_PART_A_DCHB_UDALGURI.pdf |website=censusindia.gov.in |publisher=Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India}} The literacy rate is 66.6% and the gender ratio is 966. There are {{convert|449|PD/sqkm}}. 4.52% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 4.55% and 32.15% of the population respectively.

The district is multi-ethnic and multi-religious in nature. Bodos forms the largest ethnic group in the district with 31.76% of the district's population. Other ethnic groups with significant population are Adivasi community with almost 23.12% and Bengali Muslims with 12% of the district's population. Assamese and Bengali Hindus resides mainly in urban areas. There is also a presence of sizeable Nepali speaking Gorkha community with estimated 5% of the district's population thinly scattered across the Udalguri district.

{{bar box

|title=Religions in Udalguri district (2011)

|titlebar=#Fcd116

|left1=Religion

|right1=Percent

|float=left

|bars=

{{bar percent|Hinduism|darkorange|46.74}}

{{bar percent|Bathouism|yellow|26.90}}

{{bar percent|Christianity|dodgerblue|13.25}}

{{bar percent|Islam|green|12.66}}

{{bar percent|Other or not stated|black|0.45}}

}}

Hindus are the largest group in the district, making up 388,428 which is 46.74% of the population. There are also

223,718 Bathous (26.90) 110,215 Christians (13.25%) and 108,319 Muslims (12.66%) in the district.{{cite web |date=2011 |title=Table C-01 Population By Religion: Assam |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11365/download/14478/DDW18C-01%20MDDS.XLS |website=census.gov.in |publisher=Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India}}

{{Pie chart

|caption = Languages of Udalguri district (2011)

|label1 = Boro |value1 = 26.90 |color1 = royalblue

|label2 = Assamese |value2 = 22.62 |color2 = purple

|label3 = Bengali |value3 = 19.43 |color3 = orchid

|label4 = Sadri |value4 = 7.88 |color4 = burlywood

|label5 = Nepali |value5 = 5.60 |color5 = pink

|label6 = Santali |value6 = 2.79 |color6 = darkturquoise

|label7 = Odia |value7 = 2.64 |color7 = firebrick

|label8 = Kurukh |value8 = 2.08 |color8 = mediumseagreen

|label9 = Hindi |value9 = 1.66 |color9 = orange

|label10 = Mundari |value10 = 1.57 |color10 = teal

|label11 = Bhojpuri |value11 = 1.45 |color11 = gold

|label12 = Others |value12 = 5.38 |color12 = grey

}}

According to the 2011 census, 26.90% of the population speaks Boro, 22.62% Assamese, 19.43% Bengali, 7.88% Sadri, 5.60% Nepali, 2.79% Santali, 2.64% Odia, 2.08% Kurukh, 1.66% Hindi, 1.57% Mundari and 1.45% Bhojpuri as their first language.{{cite web |date=2011 |title=Table C-16 Population By Mother Tongue: Assam |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10195/download/13307/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-1800.XLSX |website=censusindia.gov.in |publisher=Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India}}

This district is bounded by Bhutan and West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh state in the north, Sonitpur district in the east, Darrang district in the south and Tamulpur district in the west. Area of the district is 1852.16 km².[http://assamgovt.nic.in/districts/district.asp?distID=19 Assam state website – Udalguri district]

Odalguri is the largest town in Udalguri district. Other towns include Tangla, Rowta, Mazbat, Kalaigaon, Paneri, Khairabari and Bhergaon.

• Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary (Part)

In 1990, Udalguri district became home to Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary, which has an area of {{convert|26.22|km2|mi2|abbr=on|1}}.{{cite web|author=Indian Ministry of Forests and Environment|title=Protected areas: Assam|url=http://oldwww.wii.gov.in/envis/envis_pa_network/index.htm|access-date=25 September 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823163836/http://oldwww.wii.gov.in/envis/envis_pa_network/index.htm|archive-date=23 August 2011}} It shares the park with four other districts.

Animals like elephants, Hog Deer, Tiger, Wild Boar, Civet, etc. are found. Birds like Bengal Florican, Black-necked Stork, Greater Adjudant Stork, Pallas's Fishing Eagle and Reptiles such as King Cobra, Python, Paradise Flying Snake,{{Cite web|title=Flying snake found at Bhairabkunda|url=https://www.assamtimes.org/node/16643|date=2016-04-03|website=Assam Times|language=en|access-date=2020-05-15}} Lessemys Punctate, etc. can also be found.

{{Weather box

| width = auto

| metric first = yes

| single line = yes

| location = Tangla (1991–2020)

| Jan record high C = 31.7

| Feb record high C = 32.5

| Mar record high C = 38.0

| Apr record high C = 38.2

| May record high C = 38.9

| Jun record high C = 39.6

| Jul record high C = 38.1

| Aug record high C = 39.0

| Sep record high C = 38.8

| Oct record high C = 37.0

| Nov record high C = 33.4

| Dec record high C = 32.1

| year record high C =

| Jan high C = 20.9

| Feb high C = 23.3

| Mar high C = 25.4

| Apr high C = 28.6

| May high C = 29.0

| Jun high C = 30.2

| Jul high C = 30.5

| Aug high C = 31.0

| Sep high C = 29.8

| Oct high C = 28.6

| Nov high C = 26.9

| Dec high C = 22.7

| year high C = 27.5

| Jan low C = 11.2

| Feb low C = 12.4

| Mar low C = 15.2

| Apr low C = 19.0

| May low C = 20.9

| Jun low C = 23.5

| Jul low C = 24.8

| Aug low C = 25.0

| Sep low C = 24.0

| Oct low C = 21.8

| Nov low C = 18.5

| Dec low C = 12.9

| year low C = 19.4

| Jan record low C = 3.6

| Feb record low C = 5.3

| Mar record low C = 8.4

| Apr record low C = 10.8

| May record low C = 15.7

| Jun record low C = 17.4

| Jul record low C = 20.0

| Aug record low C = 20.3

| Sep record low C = 19.0

| Oct record low C = 11.3

| Nov record low C = 9.2

| Dec record low C = 5.2

| year record low C =

| rain colour = green

| Jan rain mm = 8.1

| Feb rain mm = 16.2

| Mar rain mm = 48.3

| Apr rain mm = 267.4

| May rain mm = 251.1

| Jun rain mm = 335.3

| Jul rain mm = 326.6

| Aug rain mm = 247.9

| Sep rain mm = 187.6

| Oct rain mm = 116.7

| Nov rain mm = 14.2

| Dec rain mm = 5.6

| year rain mm = 1825.0

| Jan rain days = 1.0

| Feb rain days = 1.6

| Mar rain days = 3.8

| Apr rain days = 13.6

| May rain days = 11.5

| Jun rain days = 15.2

| Jul rain days = 14.1

| Aug rain days = 10.3

| Sep rain days = 9.6

| Oct rain days = 5.2

| Nov rain days = 1.0

| Dec rain days = 0.5

| year rain days = 87.4

| source 1 = India Meteorological Department{{cite web

| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Climatological%20Tables%201991-2020.pdf

| title = Climatological Tables of Observatories in India 1991-2020

| publisher = India Meteorological Department

| access-date = April 8, 2024

}}}}

The district has two sub-divisions: Udalguri and Bhergaon. These two sub-divisions are further divided into 5 revenue circles: Udalguri, Majbat, Harisinga, Kalaigaon, Khoirabari.

Three Vidhan Sabha constituencies of this district are Paneri, Majbat, and Udalguri. All of these are part of Mangaldoi Lok Sabha constituency.{{fact|date=February 2025}}

Apart from these three Legislative Assembly constituencies, majority of the villages under Kalaigaon Legislative Assembly Constituency and a few villages fall under the Borsola Legislative Assembly Constituency fall in Udalguri District. While Kalaigaon LAC is a part of Mangaldai Lok Sabha Constituency and Borsola LAC is a part of Tezpur Lok Sabha Constituency.{{fact|date=February 2025}}

Dhansiri Irrigation Project, the largest irrigation project in the region is situated in Udalguri.{{fact|date=February 2025}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite thesis|last=Das|first=Smriti|date=1998|title=Assam Bhutan relations with special reference to duars from 1681 to 1949 |type=PhD |publisher=Guwahati University |url=https://ir.nbu.ac.in/handle/123456789/195 |hdl=10603/67909}}
• {{cite book|last1=Mizuno|first1=Kazuharu|last2=Tenpa|first2=Lobsang|title=Himalayan Nature and Tibetan Buddhist Culture in Arunachal Pradesh, India : A Study of Monpa|year=2015|publisher=Springer

}}

• {{Cite book |last1=Phuntsho |first1=Karma |title=The History of Bhutan |date=2013 |publisher=Penguin Books |isbn=9781908323583}}

• [https://udalguri.assam.gov.in Udalguri district official website]

{{Geographic location

|Centre = Udalguri district

|North = {{flag|Bhutan}}

|Northeast = West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh

|East = Sonitpur district

|Southeast =

|South = Darrang district

|Southwest =

|West = Kamrup district

|Northwest = Baksa district

}}

{{Assam}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|26|44|42.72|N|92|05|46.32|E|display=title}}

Category:Districts of Assam

Category:States and territories established in 2004

Category:2004 establishments in Assam

Category:Bodoland