North 24 Parganas is West Bengal's most populous district It is also the tenth-largest district in the State by area and second-most populated district in the
Ancient History
According to Ptolemy's Treatise on geography, written in the 2nd Century A.D., the ancient land of Gangaridi was stretched between the rivers Bhagirathi-Hoogly (lower Ganges) and Padma-Meghna. The modern-day 24 Parganas was the southern and the south-eastern territory of that legendary kingdom.
Archeological excavation at Berachampa village in Deganga PS proves that though the area was not directly attached to the rule of the Guptas, yet it could not shun their cultural influence. Xuanzang (c. 629-685) visited 30 Buddhist Biharas and 100 Hindu Temples in India and some of these were in the Greater 24 Parganas region.
Divisions
Administrative subdivisions
The district comprises five subdivisions: Barrackpore, Barasat Sadar, Basirhat, Bangaon and Bidhannagar. Barrackpore subdivision consists of sixteen municipalities (Kanchrapara, Halisahar, Naihati, Bhatpara, Garulia, Barrackpore, North Barrackpur, New Barrackpur, Titagarh, Khardaha, Panihati, Kamarhati, Baranagar, Dum Dum, North Dumdum and South Dumdum) and two community development blocks: Barrackpore–I and Barrackpore–II. Barasat Sadar subdivision consists of six municipalities (Barasat, Habra, Rajarhat Gopalpur, Ashoknagar Kalyangarh, Madhyamgram and Gobardanga) and seven community development blocks: Barasat–I, Barasat–II, Amdanga, Deganga, Habra–I, Habra–II and Rajarhat. Bangaon subdivision consists of Bangaon municipality and three community development blocks: Bagda, Bangaon and Gaighata. Basirhat subdivision consists of three municipalities (Basirhat, Baduria and Taki) and ten community development blocks: Baduria, Basirhat–I, Basirhat–II, Haroa, Hasnabad, Hingalganj, Minakhan, Sandeshkhali–I and Sandeshkhali–II and Swarupnagar. Bidhannagar subdivision consists of only Bidhannagar municipality Barasat is the district headquarters. There are 35 police stations, 22 development blocks, 27 municipalities, 200 gram panchayats and 1599 villages in this district.
Barrackpore subdivision
Sixteen municipalities: Kanchrapara, Halisahar, Naihati, Bhatpara, Garulia, Barrackpore, North Barrackpur, New Barrackpur, Titagarh, Khardaha, Panihati, Kamarhati, Baranagar, Dum Dum, North Dumdum and South Dumdum.
One Cantonment Board: Barrackpur Cantonment
Barrackpore I (Community development block) consists of rural areas with 8 gram panchayats and three census towns: Jetia, Garshyamnagar and Kaugachhi.
Barrackpore II (Community development block) consists of rural areas with 6 gram panchayats and six census towns: Jafarpur, Talbandha, Muragachha, Patulia, Ruiya and Chandpur.
One more census town: Ichhapur Defence Estate.
Barasat Sadar subdivision
Six municipalities: Barasat, Habra, Rajarhat Gopalpur, Ashoknagar Kalyangarh, Madhyamgram and Gobardanga
Barasat I (Community development block) consists of rural areas with 9 gram panchayats and one census town: Duttapukur.
Barasat II (Community development block) consists of rural areas only with 7 gram panchayats.
Amdanga (Community development block) consists of rural areas only with 8 gram panchayats.
Deganga (Community development block) consists of rural areas only with 13 gram panchayats.
Habra I (Community development block) consists of rural areas with 7 gram panchayats and three census towns: Nokpul, Maslandapur and Sadpur.
Habra II (Community development block) consists of rural areas with 8 gram panchayats and two census towns: Bara Bamonia and Guma.
Rajarhat (Community development block) consists of rural areas with 6 gram panchayats and one census town: Raigachhi.
Bangaon subdivision
One municipality: Bangaon
Bagdah (Community development block) consists of rural areas only with 9 gram panchayats.
Bangaon (Community development block) consists of rural areas only with 16 gram panchayats.
Gaighata (Community development block) consists of rural areas with 13 gram panchayats and two census towns: Sonatikiri and Dhakuria.
Basirhat subdivision
Three municipalities: Basirhat, Baduria and Taki
Baduria (Community development block) consists of rural areas only with 14 gram panchayats.
Basirhat I (Community development block) consists of rural areas only with 7 gram panchayats.
Basirhat II (Community development block) consists of rural areas with 9 gram panchayats and one census town: Dhanyakuria.
Haroa (Community development block) consists of rural areas only with 8 gram panchayats.
Hasnabad (Community development block) consists of rural areas only with 9 gram panchayats.
Hingalganj (Community development block) consists of rural areas only with 9 gram panchayats.
Minakhan (Community development block) consists of rural areas only with 8 gram panchayats.
Sandeshkhali I (Community development block) consists of rural areas only with 8 gram panchayats.
Sandeshkhali II (Community development block) consists of rural areas only with 8 gram panchayats.
Swarupnagar (Community development block) consists of rural areas only with 10 gram panchayats.
Bidhannagar subdivision
This subdivision consists of urban areas only,viz. Bidhannagar municipality.
Assembly constituencies
The district is divided into 28 assembly constituencies:
Bagadaha (SC) (assembly constituency no. 84),
Bangaon (assembly constituency no. 85),
Gaighata (assembly constituency no. 86),
Habra (assembly constituency no. 100),
Ashoknagar (assembly constituency no. 101),
Amdanga (assembly constituency no. 89),
Barasat (assembly constituency no. 90),
Rajarhat (SC) (assembly constituency no. 91),
Deganga (assembly constituency no. 92),
Swarupnagar (assembly constituency no. 93),
Baduria (assembly constituency no. 94),
Basirhat (assembly constituency no. 95),
Hasnabad (assembly constituency no. 96),
Haroa (SC) (assembly constituency no. 97),
Sandeshkhali (SC) (assembly constituency no. 98),
Hingalganj (SC) (assembly constituency no. 99),
Bijpur (assembly constituency no. 128),
Naihati (assembly constituency no. 129),
Bhatpara (assembly constituency no. 130),
Jagatdal (assembly constituency no. 131),
Noapara (assembly constituency no. 132),
Titagarh (assembly constituency no. 133),
Khardaha (assembly constituency no. 134),
Panihati (assembly constituency no. 135),
Kamarhati (assembly constituency no. 136),
Baranagar (assembly constituency no. 137),
Dum Dum (assembly constituency no. 138) and
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