Kokrajhar District - Rich Cultural Heritage, Natural Beauty, and Diverse Ethnic Communities

Kokrajhar district is a district in the state of Assam, the headquarters of the district is located in Kokrajhar town. It is one of the 35 districts of Assam and is also the gateway to Northeast India. Originally, Kokrajhar was an important part of the undivided Goalpara district. 

After some time Kokrajhar was separated from the then Dhubri sub-division of Goalpara district and in 1957 it emerged as a civil sub-division. Later Kokrajhar was promoted as a separate district on July 1, 1983. Since India has very good relations with Bhutan there is hassle-free movement of people across the international border for the purpose of trade and tourism. The town of Gelephu in Bhutan is a good place to visit from Kokrajhar as it is just across the international border. The vegetation of the district is mainly characterized by lush green forest and a variety of flora and fauna. Manas National Park is a vivid example of this bio-diversity rich feature of the district.

Area

The district is located on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra River and extends up to the international border with Bhutan. The geographical area of ​​the district is 3,296 sq km. and is bordered by Bhutan, Bongaigaon, Dhubri and Chirang District. The district comprises 9 sub-districts, 4 towns and 1,068 villages. Kokrajhar, Dotma, Bhauragudi, Gosaigaon and Bagribari are the tehsils of the district.

Population

The population of the district is 8,87,142 as per the 2011 census. The sex ratio in the district is 959 females per 1000 males. Boro, Assamese and Bengali are the major languages ​​of the district.

Economy

The economy of the district is mainly dependent on agriculture. Paddy is the major crop of the district.

Education

The literacy rate of the district is 65.22%. The district is known to be the abode of many prestigious educational institutions. It provides a platform for higher education. Some of its famous educational institutions are D N Himatsingka High School, The Reality Public School, Kokrajhar Government College, Commerce College, Shangri-La School, Bodoland University, Central Institute of Technology etc.

Attractions

The district has many centers of attraction that attract many travellers coming from different parts of the country and the world. Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary located in the Dhubri and Kokrajhar districts of Assam is known for the Golden Langur. The Chakrashila hill was first declared as a reserved forest in 1966 and received the status of sanctuary by the Government of Assam on 14th July 1994. Some other notable places of interest in the district are Onthai Gwalao, Mahamaya Temple, Thandwi Bineshwar Brahma Memorial Park, Daimalu Park etc.

How to Reach

The district is well connected through both rail and road networks. The nearest major airport to Kokrajhar is the popular Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport and is 196 km from the center of Kokrajhar. Kokrajhar Railway Station is the main railway station in the district and is connected to all major railway stations in India.