Kalijhora Explained

Kalijhora
Settlement Type:Urban Village
Pushpin Map:India West Bengal#India
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in West Bengal, India
Coordinates:26.9236°N 88.4512°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:West Bengal
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Kalimpong
Unit Pref:Metric
Population As Of:2011
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone1:IST
Utc Offset1:+5:30
Postal Code Type:PIN
Postal Code:734320
Area Code Type:Telephone/STD code
Registration Plate:WB
Blank1 Name Sec1:Lok Sabha constituency
Blank1 Info Sec1:Darjeeling
Blank2 Name Sec1:Vidhan Sabha constituency
Blank2 Info Sec1:Kalimpong
Blank3 Name Sec1:Nearest Cities
Blank3 Info Sec1:Kalimpong, Siliguri

Kalijhora is an urban village in the Kalimpong I CD block that lies on the bank of River Teesta, in the Kalimpong Sadar subdivision of the Kalimpong district in the state of West Bengal, India. National Highway 10 connecting Siliguri and Gangtok passes through Kalijhora. Teesta Low Dam - IV Hydropower Plant Dam lies in Kalijhora.

Geography

Location

Kalijhora is located at 26.9232°N 88.4512°W.

Area overview

The map alongside shows the Kalimpong Sadar subdivision of Kalimpong district. Physiographically, this area forms the Kalimpong Range, with the average elevation varying from . This region is characterized by abruptly rising hills and numerous small streams.[1] It is an predominantly rural area with 77.67% of the population living in rural areas and only 22.23% living in the urban areas. While Kalimpong is the only municipality, Dungra is the sole census town in the entire area.[2] The economy is agro-based and there are 6 tea gardens in the Gorubathan CD block.[3] In 2011, Kalimpong subdivision had a literacy rate of 81.85%, comparable with the highest levels of literacy in the districts of the state.[4] [5] While the first degree college in the subdivision was established at Kalimpong in 1962[6] the entire subdivision (and now the entire district), other than the head-quarters, had to wait till as late as 2015 (more than half a century) to have their first degree colleges at Pedong and Gorubathan.[7] [8]

Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.

Economy

Teesta Low Dam - IV Hydropower Plant is a "run of the river scheme with diurnal storage for peaking purpose." There is a 45m high dam across the Teesta River and the surface power house has 4 x 40 MW units. All the four units were commissioned in 2017. The project was executed by NHPC Limited.[9] [10] [11]

Tourism

Kalijhora was earlier a popular picnic spot, which has been submerged by the low dam built for hydro power generation. There are several tourist destinations close to Kalijhora, such as Latpachar, Mangpu, Takdah, Chota and Bada Mangwa, Lamhatta and Peshok.[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: District Census Handbook, Darjeeling, Series 20, Part XII A, 2011 Census of India. Page 13: Physiography. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal . 6 April 2020.
  2. Web site: District Statistical Handbook 2013 Darjeeling . Table 2.4b . Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal . 6 April 2020.
  3. Web site: About Kalimpong District . Tea Gardens . District administration . 6 April 2020.
  4. Web site: District Statistical Handbook 2013 Darjeeling . Table 4.5 . Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal . 6 April 2020.
  5. Web site: Provisional Population Totals Paper 1 of 2011 : West Bengal . Statement-4 Ranking of Districts by Literacy Rate in 2001 and 2011 . Office of the Registrar General and & Census Commissioner, India, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India . 2012-06-20 .
  6. Web site: Kalimpong College . College Admission . 6 April 2020 .
  7. Web site: Government General Degree College at Pedong . GGDC . 6 April 2020 .
  8. Web site: Government General Degree College, Gorubathan . GGDC . 6 April 2020 .
  9. Web site: Teesta Low Dam IV. NHPC Limited. 4 April 2020.
  10. Web site: Teesta Low Dam IV Hydroelectric Project in India. Global Energy Observatory . 4 April 2020.
  11. Web site: NHPC completes Teesta Low Dam IV Hydro Project. ET Energy World, 19 August 2016. 4 April 2020.
  12. Web site: Kalijhora. North Bengal.com . 4 April 2020.