# Darjiling District, West Bengal – Sub-districts, Towns, Villages & Population

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/darjiling/

District · West Bengal 

# Darjiling district

Darjiling is a district of West Bengal, 18th of 19 districts there. At the 2011 Census it had **1,846,823 people** in 13 sub-districts, 29 towns and 688 villages; 39% lived in towns. The largest town is [Siliguri](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/darjiling/area-not-under-any-sub-district/siliguri/) (294,546).

- 1,846,823people (2011)
- 13sub-districts
- 29towns
- 79.6%literacy

## Who lives in Darjiling?

Darjiling had **1,846,823 people** at the 2011 Census — 2.0% of West Bengal's population and 18th of 19 districts of West Bengal by population. There were 970 women for every 1,000 men (above the West Bengal figure of 950; the highest of 19 districts of West Bengal). Among children under 7 the ratio was 953 girls per 1,000 boys (the West Bengal figure is 956). An average household had 4.7 people, against 4.5 across West Bengal.

## How literate is Darjiling?

79.6% of people aged 7 and over could read and write in 2011 (above West Bengal's 76.3%), 6th of 19 districts of West Bengal. Men were at 85.6% and women at 73.3% — a gap of 12.3 points (it is 11.2 points across West Bengal). Among its sub-districts, literacy is highest in [Area not under any Sub-district](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/darjiling/area-not-under-any-sub-district/) (89.2%) and lowest in [Phansidewa](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/darjiling/phansidewa/) (64.5%).

Source: [Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract (town, village and ward level), all districts](https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog).

## What do people in Darjiling do for a living?

37.0% of people worked in 2011 (women: 22.4%). Of all workers, 8% farmed their own land, 5% were farm labourers, 2% worked in household industry and 64% in other work such as services, trade and factories; 22% were marginal workers with less than six months' work. Farming employs 12% of workers here, against 29% across West Bengal. The most farm-dependent of its sub-districts is [Kharibari](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/darjiling/kharibari/) (28% of workers in farming) and the least is [Area not under any Sub-district](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/darjiling/area-not-under-any-sub-district/) (1% of workers in farming).

**********

**■** Cultivators 8 (8%) · **■** Farm labourers 5 (5%) · **■** Household industry 2 (2%) · **■** Other work 64 (64%) · **■** Marginal 22 (22%)

Source: [Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract (town, village and ward level), all districts](https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog).

## Cities and towns of Darjiling

39.4% of people lived in towns and cities (above West Bengal's 31.9%), 5th of 19 districts of West Bengal. The Census counted 29 towns: 6 statutory towns with a municipality and 23 census towns — places urban in character but still governed as villages. 2 cities have 1 lakh (100,000) people or more. The largest is [Siliguri](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/darjiling/area-not-under-any-sub-district/siliguri/) with 294,546 people, home to 40% of the urban population.

Source: [Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract (town, village and ward level), all districts](https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog).

## Villages of Darjiling

Darjiling had 688 census villages, 616 of them inhabited. The average inhabited village had 1,816 people; 39 villages had 5,000 people or more. The largest: [Mangpu Cinchona Plantation](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/darjiling/rangli-rangliot/mangpu-cinchona-plantation/) (13,768), [Paschim Madati](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/darjiling/phansidewa/paschim-madati/) (13,523), [Lahugaon](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/darjiling/phansidewa/lahugaon/) (12,710), [Tomba](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/darjiling/matigara/tomba/) (9,632) and [Madhya Bansgaon](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/darjiling/phansidewa/madhya-bansgaon/) (9,132).

Source: [Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract (town, village and ward level), all districts](https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog).

## Darjiling district in history

The 11th edition of the *Encyclopaedia Britannica* (1911) described Darjiling district as follows. Its wording reflects its time; spellings are as printed.

> The district of Darjeeling comprises an area of 1164 sq. m. It consists of two well-defined tracts, viz. the lower Himalayas to the south of Sikkim, and the tarai, or plains, which extend from the south of these ranges as far as the northern borders of Purnea district. The plains from which the hills take their rise are only 300 ft. above sea-level; the mountains ascend abruptly in spurs of 6000 to 10,000 ft. in height. The scenery throughout the hills is picturesque, and in many parts magnificent. The two highest mountains in the world, Kinchinjunga in Sikkim (28,156 ft.) and Everest in Nepal (29,002 ft.), are visible from the town of Darjeeling. The principal peaks within the district are—Phalut (11,811 ft.), Subargum (11,636), Tanglu (10,084), Situng and Sinchal Pahai (8163). The chief rivers are the Tista, Great and Little Ranjit, Ramman, Mahananda, Balasan and Jaldhaka. None of them is navigable in the mountain valleys; but the Tista, after it debouches on the plains, can be navigated by cargo boats of considerable burthen. Bears, leopards and musk deer are found on the higher mountains, deer on the lower ranges, and a few elephants and tigers on the slopes nearest to the plains. In the lowlands, tigers, rhinoceroses, deer and wild hogs are abundant. A few wolves are also found.

Source: [Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th edition (1911) — public domain; transcription via Wikisource](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica).

Boundaries in 1901 may differ from today's; sentences describing castes or communities are omitted.

## Population of Darjiling compared with West Bengal

■ Darjiling · ■ West Bengal

Literacy (age 7+) ****79.6%**

**76.3%

Sex ratio (F per 1,000 M) ****970**

**950

Child sex ratio (0–6) ****953**

**956

Working population ****37.0%**

**38.1%

Source: [Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract (town, village and ward level), all districts](https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog).

## Homes and amenities in Darjiling

Of every 100 households in Darjiling in 2011, 78 had electricity, 66 a toilet at home and 37 cooked with LPG; 61 had a mobile phone, 10 a two-wheeler and 4 a car.

■ Darjiling · ■ 

Electricity for lighting ****78%**

Toilet within the home ****66%**

No toilet (open defecation) ****30%**

Tap water ****34%**

Drinking water within premises ****38%**

Cooking with LPG / PNG ****37%**

Cooking with firewood / dung / crop residue ****59%**

Use banking services ****55%**

Television ****58%**

Mobile phone ****61%**

Computer with internet ****3%**

Two-wheeler ****10%**

Car / jeep / van ****4%**

None of these assets ****17%**

Own their home ****80%**

Source: [Census of India 2011, Houselisting and Housing Census – households by amenities and assets (HH-14)](https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog).

## Sub-districts of Darjiling

Sub-district People Villages Towns 

[Darjeeling Pulbazar](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/darjiling/darjeeling-pulbazar/) 126,935 43 4 

[Rangli Rangliot](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/darjiling/rangli-rangliot/) 70,125 29 0 

[Kalimpong -I](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/darjiling/kalimpong-i/) 74,746 50 1 

[Kalimpong - II](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/darjiling/kalimpong-ii/) 66,830 39 0 

[Gorubathan](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/darjiling/gorubathan/) 60,663 38 0 

[Jorebunglow Sukiapokhri](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/darjiling/jorebunglow-sukiapokhri/) 113,516 43 4 

[Mirik](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/darjiling/mirik/) 46,374 21 0 

[Kurseong](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/darjiling/kurseong/) 94,347 72 1 

[Matigara](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/darjiling/matigara/) 197,278 72 6 

[Naxalbari](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/darjiling/naxalbari/) 165,523 94 6 

[Phansidewa](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/darjiling/phansidewa/) 204,522 113 0 

[Kharibari](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/darjiling/kharibari/) 109,251 74 2 

[Area not under any Sub-district](https://wherepedia.org/india/west-bengal/darjiling/area-not-under-any-sub-district/) 516,713 0 5 

Source: [Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract (town, village and ward level), all districts](https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog).

## Cities and towns in Darjiling

- Siliguri · 294,546
- Darjiling · 118,805
- Kalimpong · 49,403
- Kurseong · 42,446
- Uttar Bagdogra · 25,044
- Bara Mohansingh · 15,616
- Tari · 14,558
- Cart Road · 14,444
- Dumriguri · 13,416
- Sonada Khasmahal · 11,635
- Mathapari · 11,529
- Mirik · 11,513
- Bhimram · 11,058
- Kalkut · 9,184
- Geni · 8,747
- Lalman · 6,894
- Dungra Khasmahal · 6,789
- Kharibari · 6,660
- Badamtam Tea Garden · 6,102
- Jitu · 5,892
- Chongtong Tea Garden · 5,802
- Singtam Tea Garden · 5,792
- Mangarjung Tea Garden · 5,644
- Shyamdhan · 5,192
- Rongmook Ceder Tea Garden · 5,150
- Bairatisal · 4,916
- Sukhiapokhri · 4,450
- Ging Tea Garden · 4,089
- Dakshin Bagdogra · 2,647

## Largest villages in Darjiling

- Mangpu Cinchona Plantation · 13,768
- Paschim Madati · 13,523
- Lahugaon · 12,710
- Tomba · 9,632
- Madhya Bansgaon · 9,132
- Rango Forest · 9,131
- Goke · 9,100
- Kalimpong Khasmahal · 8,881
- Mansong Cinchona Plantation · 8,812
- Patiram · 8,315
- Rimbick · 6,980
- Bara Paikpara Arazi · 6,899
- Uttar Ramdhan · 6,892
- Budharugaon · 6,841
- Mandila Jhar · 6,642
- Pumong Tea Garden · 6,628
- Kauakhali · 6,615
- Purbba Madati · 6,424
- Paiyong Khasmahal · 6,423
- Lebong & Mineral Spring Tea Garden · 6,236

Source: [Census of India 2011, Primary Census Abstract (town, village and ward level), all districts](https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog).

## Quick answers

- How many sub-districts are in Darjiling?13: Darjeeling Pulbazar, Rangli Rangliot, Kalimpong -I, Kalimpong - II, Gorubathan, Jorebunglow Sukiapokhri, Mirik, Kurseong, Matigara, Naxalbari, Phansidewa, Kharibari…
- What is the population of Darjiling district?1,846,823 (Census 2011)
- Which is the largest town in Darjiling?Siliguri