North 24 Parganas district, Administrative district in West Bengal, India
North 24 Parganas is an administrative district in the state of West Bengal that spreads across several river channels and marshlands of the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta. Barasat serves as the capital of this region, which encompasses urban suburbs of Kolkata as well as agricultural land and wetlands.
The district was formed in 1986 through the division of the larger 24 Parganas area, which had been under Mughal and later British colonial administration for centuries. The boundary was drawn to manage the growing population more efficiently and to strengthen local administrative structures.
Villages along the river channels preserve traditional boat-building skills and use palm-leaf roofing for their homes. Fishermen spread their nets along the banks and sell their catch at small markets, where women in saris sort fresh fish and vegetables.
Suburban trains connect the region to Kolkata and provide access to different parts of the district through a dense rail network. The international airport sits within the district boundaries and can be reached from multiple railway stations.
The region holds parts of the Sundarbans mangrove forest along its southern edge, where saltwater channels flow through dense root systems. Rice paddies alternate with fish ponds that produce large quantities of freshwater prawns for local markets and export.
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