49-520: Mirik is a small town and a Notified Area of Darjeeling district in the state of West Bengal , India . It is the headquarters of the Mirik subdivision . The name Mirik comes from the Lepcha words Mir-Yok meaning "place burnt by fire". Mirik Bazar began a commercial centre of the region where people from the surrounding villages and tea gardens came to trade and buy their necessities. The present lake area
98-399: A sex ratio of 970 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 79.56%. After Kalimpong district was separated its population was 1,595,181, of which 671,1771 (42.11%) live in urban areas. The residual district has a sex ratio of 972 females per 1000 males. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 18.86% and 20.21% of the population respectively. In 2001, the population of
147-538: A Civil Judge and a Judicial Magistrate, operates in Mirik. There is a government Primary Health Centre at Mirik with six general physicians and one dentist. There are no specialist doctors but there is an optometrician. There are several medical shops at Krishnanagar and one pathological lab cum optical shop. There are few more medicine shops at Mirik Bazar. As per order of the Delimitation Commission in respect of
196-512: A length from north to south of 18 miles (29 km) and a breadth from east to west of 16 miles (26 km). As of 2011, it was the second least populous district of West Bengal (out of 19 ), after Dakshin Dinajpur . The etymological term of Darjeeling is denoted "Tajenglung", a Limbu language terminology that means the stones that "talk to each other", according to the historian Sankarhang Subba of Darjeeling. The name Darjeeling acclaimed from
245-451: A long history in the district include the Tamang , Yakkha , Rai , Gurung , Magar , Newar , Thami , Chettri , Bahun , Kami , and Damai . There is also a sizeable population of Tibetans who arrived from Tibet since the 1950s. Over time, the ethnic distinctions between the hill people have blurred and today most identify as Gorkha and speak Nepali only as mother tongue. In the plains,
294-555: A separate Kalimpong district . Geographically, the district can be divided into two broad divisions: the hills and the plains. The entire hilly region of the district comes under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration , a semi-autonomous administrative body under the state government of West Bengal. This body covers the three hill subdivisions of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Mirik and the district of Kalimpong. The foothills of Darjeeling Himalayas, which comes under
343-518: A sovereign state such as the Principality of Monaco , to a small village such as West Hampton Dunes, New York . The territory over which a municipality has jurisdiction may encompass: Powers of municipalities range from virtual autonomy to complete subordination to the state . Municipalities may have the right to tax individuals and corporations with income tax , property tax , and corporate income tax , but may also receive substantial funding from
392-553: A taxi at a cost of Rs. 1500 to 2500 for Darjeeling, Kurseong, Siliguri and Kakarbhitta(Nepal)*. Shared taxis also operate from Darjeeling, Siliguri, Kurseong, Sonada and Kakarbhitta to Mirik. Shared taxis are operated from Mirik by Mirik Tours & Travels (Krishnanagar). Taxis are available for internal transportation within Mirik to travel from Mirik Lake (Krishnanagar) to Mirik Bazar at Rs. 20 per head. Mirik Bazar, Thana Line, Krishnanagar, Deuseydara, Thurbo, Mirik Busty and Byapari Golai are some localities in Mirik where accommodation
441-574: A total population of 9141. Males numbered 4619 and females 4522. Mirik rural area had a total population of 42,237. Males numbered 21,112 and females 21,125. The decadal growth rate of population (1991–2001) was -1.33. The urban hub at Mirik is administered by a Municipality / Notified Area with nine wards while the outlying rural villages are taken care of by Mirik community development block , which has six Gram Panchayats : Chenga Panighata , Pahilagaon School Dara–I, Pahilagaon School Dara–II, Soureni –I, Soureni–II and Duptin. A Taluka Court, which has
490-417: A tourist destination for its climate, natural environment and easy accessibility. The centre of all attraction is Sumendu Lake , surrounded by a garden named Savitri Pushpaudyan (after Savitri Thapa, a martyr soldier of INA ) on one side and pine trees on the other, linked together by an arching footbridge called Indreni Pool (named after Indreni Thapa, a martyr soldier of INA). A 3.5-km-long road encircles
539-629: A wildlife sanctuary and converted to a national park in 1992. It has an area of 78.60 km (30.3 sq mi). Darjeeling district has three wildlife sanctuaries : Jorepokhri , Mahananda , and Senchal . Kalonunia rice was awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) status tag from the Geographical Indications Registry under the Union Government of India on 2 January 2024 (valid until 11 March 2034). It
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#1732873392709588-769: Is a Forest Rest House in Mirik that can be booked from the District Forest Office, Kurseong. There is also a PWD (Public Works Department) Inspection Bungalow near the lake that can be booked from Siliguri PWD office. There are also many home stays that have started sprouting in the region owing to the large number of tourists who flock in. There are six banks in Mirik, namely, State Bank of India (branch code: 7336) (Krishnanagar), Punjab National Bank formerly United Bank of India (Krishnanagar), Indian Overseas Bank (Krishnanagar), Central Bank of India (Mirik Bazar), Uttar Banga Kshetriya Gramin Bank (Soureni Bazar, 6 km on
637-512: Is a common and widely cultivated crop in disticts of Cooch Behar , Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar along with some parts of Darjeeling & Kalimpong districts of West Bengal. State Agricultural Management & Extension Training Institute (SAMETI) from Narendrapur , proposed the GI registration of Kalonunia rice. After filing the application in March 2021, the rice was granted the GI tag in 2024 by
686-529: Is available for tourists such as Lake View Villa. However, the majority of the hotels and restaurants are in the Krishnanagar area of Mirik. The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration operates a motel at a hilltop near the helipad at Ahalay and another tourist lodge located near the lake. There are other good hotels in Krishnanagar and some hotels in Mirik Bazar. There are many lodges and private guest houses. There
735-645: Is derived from French municipalité , which in turn derives from the Latin municipalis , based on the word for social contract ( municipium ), referring originally to the Latin communities that supplied Rome with troops in exchange for their own incorporation into the Roman state (granting Roman citizenship to the inhabitants) while permitting the communities to retain their own local governments (a limited autonomy). A municipality can be any political jurisdiction , from
784-446: Is the nearest airport and New Jalpaiguri adjacent to Siliguri is the nearest railway station. Few buses ply from Mirik to Siliguri and Darjeeling and the fare is Rs. 70. Shared taxis operate from Mirik to Siliguri, Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kakarbhitta (Nepal), Sonada , and Kalimpong. The fare has risen recently to Rs. 150 for Siliguri, Kurseong and Darjeeling (2021) and Rs 120* for Kakarvitta and Sonada (2018) per passenger. One can hire
833-486: Is the northernmost district of the state of West Bengal in eastern India in the foothills of the Himalayas . The district is famous for its hill station and Darjeeling tea . Darjeeling is the district headquarters. Kurseong , Siliguri and Mirik , three major towns in the district, are the subdivisional headquarters of the district. Kalimpong was one of the subdivisions but on 14 February 2017, it officially became
882-404: Is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term municipality may also mean the governing body of a given municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district . The English word
931-508: The Bengalis and Rajbongshis are in majority while there are large numbers of Gorkhas and Adivasis , the latter of which migrated from Chotanagpur and Santhal Parganas during British rule as tea garden workers. Both in the hills and plains are various migrants from other regions including Biharis , Marwaris and Punjabis . Hinduism is the majority religion in both the hills and plains. Buddhism and Kirat Mudhum are almost entirely present in
980-535: The Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency . According to the 2011 census Darjeeling district has a population of 1,846,823, roughly equal to the population of Kosovo . This gives it a ranking of 257th in India (out of a total of 640 ). The district has a population density of 586 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,520/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 14.77%. Darjeeling has
1029-573: The Lepcha words Mir-Yok meaning "place burnt by fire". The map alongside shows a part the southern portion of the Darjeeling Himalayan hill region in the Darjeeling district. In the Darjeeling Sadar subdivision 61.00% of the total population lives in the rural areas and 39.00% of the population lives in the urban areas. In the Mirik subdivision 80.11% of the total population lives in
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#17328733927091078-664: The Tibetan words Dorje , which is the thunderbolt sceptre of the Hindu deity Indra , and ling , which means "a place" or "land". The ancient inhabitants of Darjeeling are the Lepcha and Limbu . Most of Darjeeling formed a part of dominions of the Chogyal of Sikkim, who had been engaged in an unsuccessful warfare against the Gorkhas of Nepal. From 1780, the Gorkhas made several attempts to capture
1127-522: The independence of India . On 14 February 2017, Kalimpong district was carved out of Darjeeling district. During the 1980s, the Gorkha National Liberation Front led an intensive and often violent campaign for the creation of a separate Gorkhaland state within India, across the Nepali -speaking areas in northern West Bengal. The movement reached its peak around 1986–1988 but ended with
1176-554: The Geographical Indication Registry in Chennai , making the name "Kalonunia rice" exclusive to the rice grown in the region. It thus became the third rice variety from West Bengal after Tulaipanji rice and the 26th type of goods from West Bengal to earn the GI tag. The GI tag protects the rice from illegal selling and marketing, and gives it legal protection and a unique identity. Municipality A municipality
1225-959: The Mechi and the Teesta rivers to the Chogyal of Sikkim and guaranteed his sovereignty. In 1835, the hill of Darjeeling, including an enclave of 138 square miles (360 km ), was given to the British East India Company by Sikkim. In November 1864, the Treaty of Sinchula was executed in which the Bhutan Dooars with the passes leading into the hills and Kalimpong were ceded to the British by Bhutan . The Darjeeling district can be said to have assumed its present shape and size in 1866 with an area of 1234 sq. miles. Before 1861 and from 1870 to 1874, Darjeeling District
1274-507: The Siliguri subdivision, is known as the Terai . The district is bounded on the north by Sikkim , on the south by Uttar Dinajpur district of West Bengal, southwest by Kishanganj district of Bihar state, on the southeast by Panchagarh district of Bangladesh , on the east by Kalimpong and Jalpaiguri districts, and on the west by easternmost Province No. 1 of Nepal . Darjeeling district has
1323-525: The community living in the area and the common interest. These include terms: The same terms "Gemeente" (Dutch) or "Gemeinde" (German) may be used for church congregations or parishes, for example, in the German and Dutch Protestant churches. In Greece, the word Δήμος ( demos ) is used, also meaning 'community'; the word is known in English from the compound democracy (rule of the people). In some countries,
1372-672: The delimitation of constituencies in West Bengal, the area under Mirik municipality and Mirik block will be part of the Kurseong Assembly Constituency of West Bengal. Kurseong Assembly Constituency is an assembly segment of the Darjeeling Lok Sabha Constituency . Mirik is 52 km (32 mi) northwest of Siliguri city and 49 km (30 mi) south-southwest of Darjeeling town. Bagdogra (IATA airport code IXB) 52 km (32 mi) south of Mirik
1421-557: The district was 1,609,172. The rural population was 1,088,740 and urban population was 520,432. Total males were 830,644 and females were 778,528. The density of population was 511 per km . The decennial population growth rate (1991–2001) was 23.79%. The hills have a population of 624,061 which is nearly 40% of the population. The original inhabitants of the Darjeeling Hills were the Lepcha and Limbu (the ravine people, as they prefer themselves to be known as). Other communities with
1470-455: The district, with Nepali declared as co-official only in Darjeeling and Kurseong subdivisions. Nepali is the dominant language in the hill divisions, spoken by more than 90% of the people in Darjeeling, Kurseong and Mirik subdivisions, although most hill inhabitants are not from Khas communities. Several hundred of the original hill inhabitants still speak their original languages although
1519-470: The entire region of Darjeeling. By the beginning of the 19th century, they had overrun Sikkim as far eastward as the Teesta River and had conquered and annexed the entire Terai . In the meantime, the British were engaged in preventing the Gorkhas from over-running the whole of the northern frontier. The Anglo-Gorkha war broke out in 1814, which resulted in the defeat of the Gorkhas and subsequently led to
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1568-703: The establishment of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council in 1988. The hill areas of Darjeeling enjoyed some measure of autonomy under the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council . However, the demand for full statehood within India has emerged once again, with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha as its chief proponent. The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration replaced the DGHC in August 2012 after the GJM signed an agreement with
1617-557: The forests are today found at elevations of 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) and above. The area in between 1,000 and 2,000 metres (3,300 and 6,600 ft) is cleared either for tea plantation or cultivation. About 30 per cent of the forest covers found in the lower hills are deciduous. Evergreen forest constitutes only about 6 per cent of the total forest coverage. Shorea robusta remains the most prominent species of tropical moist deciduous forest along with heavy undergrowth. Teesta , Rangeet , Mechi , Balason , Mahananda and Rammam are
1666-410: The government. The Darjeeling hill area is formed of comparatively recent rock structure that has a direct bearing on landslides. Heavy monsoon precipitation contributes to the landslides. Soils of Darjeeling hill areas are extremely varied, depending on elevation, degree of slope, vegetative cover and geolithology. The Himalayas serve as the source of natural resources for the population residing in
1715-451: The hills as well as in the plains. As human population expands in the hills, forests are being depleted for the extension of agricultural lands, introduction of new settlements, roadways, etc. The growing changes coming in the wake of urbanisation and industrialisation leave deep impressions on the hill ecosystem. The economy of Darjeeling hill area depends on tea production, horticulture, agriculture, forestry and tourism. The major portions of
1764-453: The hills. Christianity is primarily in the hills, although there are significant numbers among the tea tribes in the plains. Islam is almost entirely found in the plains. Languages spoken in Darjeeling district (2011) At the time of the 2011 census, 39.88% of the population spoke Nepali , 26.51% Bengali , 10.95% Hindi , 6.17% Rajbongshi , 5.38% Sadri , 2.52% Kurukh , 1.50% Bhojpuri and 1.15% Santali as their first language. 1.04% of
1813-412: The important rivers of the district. Darjeeling District comprises four subdivisions: The district was previously divided into six assembly constituencies . As per the order of the Delimitation Commission in respect of the delimitation of constituencies in West Bengal, the district had been divided into six assembly constituencies. Kalimpong has become a separate district from 14 February 2017, so
1862-592: The lake and is used for walks with the view of Kangchenjunga on the far horizon. Boating on the quaint boats and horse riding are available. Mirik has an average elevation of 1,495 m (4,905 ft). The highest point is the Bokar Monastery at about 1,768 m (5,801 ft). Mirik lake at about 1,494 m (4,902 ft) is the lowest point. Mirik is 52 km (32 mi) northwest of Siliguri city and 49 km (30 mi) south-southwest of Darjeeling town. Mirik subdivision . The name Mirik comes from
1911-502: The notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map. The 2011 Census of India recorded a population of 11,513 in Mirik Notified Area (i.e., urban unit). 5688 were males and 5825 were females. Mirik rural area (under 6 gram panchayats) recorded a total population of 46,374. Males numbered 23,394 and females 22,980. As per the 2001 Census of India , Mirik urban area had
1960-411: The number of assembly constituencies in Darjeeling district is now five. Phansidewa constituency is reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST) candidates. Matigara-Naxalbari constituency is reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) candidates. Along with one assembly constituency from Kalimpong district and one assembly constituency from Uttar Dinajpur district , the five assembly constituencies of this district form
2009-407: The population recorded their language as 'Others' under Bengali. According to 1951 Census, about 26% of the population in the three hill sub-divisions of Darjeeling district (including Kalimpong) spoke Nepali as mother language. Other languages formerly spoken in the hills included Limbu , Tamang , Magar , Gurung , Rai , Sunuwar , Yakkha and Newar . Bengali is the official language of
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2058-536: The rural areas and 19.89% lives in the urban areas. There are 78 tea gardens/ estates (the figure varies slightly according to different sources), in the district, producing and largely exporting Darjeeling tea . It engages a large proportion of the population directly/ indirectly. Some tea gardens were identified in the 2011 census as census towns or villages. Such places are marked in the map as CT (census town) or R (rural/ urban centre). Specific tea estate pages are marked TE. Note: The map alongside presents some of
2107-532: The signing of the Sugauli Treaty in 1815. According to the treaty, Nepal had to cede all those territories which the Gorkhas had annexed from the Chogyal of Sikkim to the British East India Company (i.e., the area between Mechi River and Teesta River). In 1817, through the Treaty of Titalia , the British East India Company reinstated the Chogyal of Sikkim, restored all the tracts of land between
2156-478: The state. In some European countries, such as Germany, municipalities have the constitutional right to supply public services through municipally-owned public utility companies . Terms cognate with "municipality", mostly referring to territory or political structure, are Spanish municipio (Spain) and municipalidad (Chile), Catalan municipi , Portuguese município . In many countries, terms cognate with "commune" are used, referring to
2205-502: The vast majority now speak only Nepali. The main language of the Siliguri subdivision is Bengali. It is followed by a sizeable number of Kamatpuri or Rajbongshi speakers. Among the Adivasis, Sadri is the main language although some still speak their original languages like Kurukh, Mundari and Santali. Darjeeling district is home to Singalila National Park , which was set up in 1986 as
2254-758: The way to Siliguri) and Punjab & Sind Bank (Mirik Bazar). There are seven ATMs, two of SBI (one located in Mirik Bazaar, one in Krishnanagar along with Cash Deposit machine), one of Central Bank of India (Mirik Bazaar), one of HDFC Bank, one of Axis Bank (both located at Krishnanagar) and two of IndiCash ATM (one located in Thana Line, Mirik and one in Soureni Bazar). Other financial institutes like Postal Savings, NABARD, Bandhan Finance, and Customer Service Points of private financial institutions are available. mirik Darjeeling district Darjeeling District
2303-476: Was a "Non-Regulated Area" (where acts and regulations of the British Raj did not automatically apply in the district in line with rest of the country, unless specifically extended). From 1862 to 1870, it was considered a "Regulated Area". The phrase "Non-Regulated Area" was changed to "Scheduled District" in 1874 and again to "Backward Tracts" in 1919. The status was known as "Partially Excluded Area" from 1935 until
2352-518: Was a marshland with thick growth of sweet flag ( Acorus calamus , locally called bojho ). A playground stood in the present garden area where the British officers played polo . In 1969, the West Bengal tourism department began the process of acquiring 335 acres of land from the neighboring Thurbo tea estate. The work of developing this land into a tourist spot began in 1974 when Siddhartha Shankar Ray
2401-545: Was the chief minister of West Bengal. The tourist spot, which included the newly built lake and the Day Centre, was inaugurated by the next chief minister of West Bengal, Jyoti Basu , in April 1979. With the flourishing of tourism , Krishnanagar developed on the other end of the lake with hotels and restaurants catering to tourists. Mirik became the sub-divisional headquarters of Mirik subdivision on 30 March 2017. Mirik has become
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