Goalpara Municipal Board

The Goalpara Municipality is one of the oldest municipality in Assam and its established in the year 1875 and it situated on the southern bank of mighty river of the Brahmaputra. There were some deciding factors for awarding such important status to this municipal board. The mighty river Brahmaputra flowing across the North and West boundary blessed Goalpara to be a fertile agricultural land meeting the demands of its boundary district. The beauty of the town draws many local tourists as well as attracts foreigners also. The Hulukanda Pahar adds another dimension to the beauty and importance of Goalpara in the Map of Assam. The landscape of Goalpara town consists mainly of plan surfaces with little bit of hilly terrain on its eastern side with beels and law lying areas on west part of the town. In numerable abandoned natural channels are dominating the sub- urban landscape. The Hulukanda Hill on the western side is protecting the Goalpara town from the fury and aggression of river Brahmaputra which is more acute in the rainy seasons.

Goalpara Town

Goalpara town is situated western side in the state of Assam and on the southern bank of mighty river Brahmaputra.Goalpara town is the district head quarter of the Goalpara district in Assam. It is well connected by NH 37 and also by rail. This town is heart of the District. As well as educational,Cultural and commercial activities of the district. The Hulukanda hill in the midst of this town increases the beauty of this town. Geographically this town is located between 29009 N latitude and 90039 E longitude. The attitude of this town is 38 meter above the mean sea level and it is located at a distance of 157 km from Dispur, the state capital. It covers an area of 12.79 sq km, provides settlements for about 55535 populations (according to 2011 census) in the 19 wards at present. Out of the total population 57% is male and 48% is female population lives in this town. All schedule caste, schedule tribe and other backward class people are living harmoniously in this town from time immemorial out of the total population, 5375 is SC, 1241 is ST and reaming numbers are VR and other backward class people 4236 nos of families of this town are living below poverty line. The sex ratio of this town is 931. Only 3706.50 Are land is used out of total area where 9703 no of holdings are found.

Historical Background of Goalpara District

The name Goalpara is originated from the word`Gwaltippika` meaning `Guwali village` or the village of the milk men. In the local dialect "para" means village. Earlier Goalpara district was a princely state ruled by the Rajbongsi Kings and the then ruler of the undivided kingdom. Presently the erstwhile Goalpara district is divided into Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Dhubri, and Goalpara district. The district is mostly inhabited by Koch Rajbongshis, Bengali Hindu and Muslims and widely spoken language is Goalpariya along with Bengali and Assamese. The history of Goalpara goes back to several centuries. Based on the Chinese traveler `Hiuentsang` report, Sir Edward Gait had concluded that the erstwhile capital of the state of Kumar Bhaskar Varman was either in Goalpara district or in Cooch Behar. The district came under British rule in 1765. Before this, the area was under the control of the Koch dynasty. In 1826 the British accessed Assam and Goalpara was annexed to Assam in 1874, along with the creation of district headquarters at Dhubri. On 1 July 1983 two districts were split from Goalpara: Dhubri and Kokrajhar. On 29 September 1989 Bongaigaon district was created from parts of Goalpara and Kokrajhar. Geography:- The latitudinal and longitudinal extension of this district is from 25053 N to 26030 N and from 90007 E to 31005 E. This district occupies an area of 1,824 sq kms with a hilly and rugged topography.