>Chandan Guha at 08:04, 20 January 2021

2021-01-20T08:04:40Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Bagrakote
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name = Bagrakot Tea Garden
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Village
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = India West Bengal#India
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in West Bengal, India
| coordinates = {{coord|26.8994|N|88.5846|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[West Bengal]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Jalpaiguri district|Jalpaiguri]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total = 9971
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 734501
| area_code_type = Telephone/[[Subscriber trunk dialing|STD]] code
| area_code = 03562
| registration_plate = WB
| blank1_name_sec1 = [[Lok Sabha]] constituency
| blank1_info_sec1 = [[Jalpaiguri (Lok Sabha constituency)|Jalpaiguri]]
| blank2_name_sec1 = [[Vidhan Sabha]] constituency
| blank2_info_sec1 = [[Mal (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Mal]]
| website = {{URL|jalpaiguri.gov.in/}}
| footnotes =
}}
'''Bagrakote''' (also known as Bagrakote/Bagrakot Tea Garden) is a village in the [[Mal (community development block)|Mal]] [[Community development blocks in India|CD block]] in the [[Malbazar subdivision]] of the [[Jalpaiguri district]] in the state of [[West Bengal]], [[India]]. The main reason behind Bagrakote being called as a Tea Garden is that it was by the virtue of the Duncan Goenka Group that established a tea garden in Bagrakote providing a stable livelihood. Thus people from neighbouring villages and even some far off places like Sikkim have migrated to Bagrakote (mainly post independence), in search of better living conditions.

==Geography==
{{OSM Location map
| width=410| height=350| zoom=10
| coord={{coord|26|50|0|N|88|44|0|E}}| float=left|caption='''Places and tea estates in Malbabazar subdivision (including Mal, Nagrakata and Matiali CD blocks) in Jalpaiguri district''' CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, N: neighbourhood, NP: national park/ wildlife sanctuary, TE: tea estate Abbreviations used in names – TG for Tea Garden (town/village), TE for Tea Estate, JRS: junction railway station Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly
|mark-coord1={{coord|26|52|30|N|88|44|10|E}}| label-pos1=top|label1= Malbazar| numbered1=CT| mark-title1= [[Malbazar]] (CT)|label-color1= #800000 |label-size1=11| mark-size1=12|shape1=l-circle|shape-color1= #A40000|shape-outline1=white|label-offset-x1=2
|mark-coord2={{coord|26|53|1|N|88|47|53|E}}| label-pos2=top|label2=Chalsa| numbered2=CT| mark-title2= [[Chalsa, India]] (CT)
|mark-coord3={{coord|26|52|6|N|88|48|16|E}}| label-pos3=bottom|label3= Mangalbari| numbered3=CT| mark-title3= [[Mangalbari]] (CT)
|mark-coord4={{coord|26|43|6|N|88|45|57|E}}| label-pos4=bottom|label4= Lataguri| numbered4=CT| mark-title4= [[Lataguri]] (CT)
|mark-coord5={{coord|26|56|49|N|88|48|44|E}}| label-pos5=right|label5= Matelli| numbered5=CT| mark-title5= [[Matialihat]] (CT)
|mark-coord6={{coord|26|52|20|N|88|37|17|E}}| label-pos6=left|label6= Odlabari| numbered6=CT| mark-title6= [[Odlabari]] (CT)
|mark-coord7={{coord|26|50|20|N|88|37|1|E}}| label-pos7=right|label7= Dakshin Odlabari| numbered7=CT| mark-title7= [[Dakshin Odlabari]] (CT)
|mark-coord8={{coord|26|53|57|N|88|35|4|E}}| label-pos8=left|label8=Bagrakote| numbered8=R| mark-title8= Bagrakote (R)|shape-color8=black| label-size8=13|label-color8=black
|mark-coord9={{coord|26|50|20|N|88|47|43|E}}| label-pos9=bottom|label9=Batabari TG| numbered9=R| mark-title9= [[Batabari Tea Garden]] (R)|shape-color9= #A42222
|mark-coord10={{coord|26|52|10|N|88|40|1|E}}| label-pos10=top|label10=Dam Dim| numbered10=R| mark-title10= [[Dam Dim]] (R)|shape-color10= #A42222
|mark-coord11={{coord|26|45|5|N|88|35|8|E}}| label-pos11=left|label11=Gajoldoba| numbered11=R| mark-title11= [[Gajoldoba]] (R)|shape-color11= #A42222
|mark-coord12={{coord|26|54|33|N|88|43|39|E}}| label-pos12=left|label12=Gurjangjhora TG| numbered12=R| mark-title12= [[Gurjangjhora Tea Garden]] (R)|shape-color12= #A42222
|mark-coord13={{coord|26|50|15|N|88|49|31|E}}| label-pos13=right|label13=Murti| numbered13=R| mark-title13= [[Murti, Jalpaiguri]] (R)|shape-color13= #A42222
|mark-coord14= {{coord|26|53|12|N|88|54|55|E}}| label-pos14=right|label14=Nagrakata| numbered14=R| mark-title14= [[Nagrakata]] (R)|shape-color14= #A42222
|mark-coord15={{coord|26|59|24|N|88|48|42|E}}| label-pos15=left|label15=Samsing| numbered15=R| mark-title15= [[Samsing]] (R)|shape-color15= #A42222
|mark-coord16={{coord|26|51|52|N|88|54|23|E}}| label-pos16=right|label16=Sulkapara| numbered16=R| mark-title16= [[Sulkapara]] (R)|shape-color16= #A42222
|mark-coord17={{coord|26|56|30|N|88|46|14|E}}| label-pos17=left|label17=Zurantee TG| numbered17=R| mark-title17= [[Zurantee Tea Garden]] (R)|shape-color17= #A42222
|mark-coord18={{coord|26|55|13|N|88|41|3|E}}| label-pos18= left |label18= Meenglas TE | numbered18=TE| mark-title18= [[Meenglas and Leesh River Tea Estates]] (TE)| shape-color18=#87A96B
|mark-coord19={{coord|26|51|34|N|88|35|21|E}}| label-pos19= left |label19= Leesh River TE | numbered19=TE| mark-title19= [[Meenglas and Leesh River Tea Estates]] (TE)| shape-color19=#87A96B
|mark-coord20={{coord|26|58|0|N|88|55|10|E}}| label-pos20= bottom |label20= Hope TE | numbered20=TE| mark-title20= [[Hope and Jiti Tea Estates]] (TE)| shape-color20=#87A96B
|mark-coord21={{coord|26|58|54|N|88|55|39|E}}| label-pos21= right |label21= Jiti TE | numbered21=TE| mark-title21= [[Hope and Jiti Tea Estates]] (TE)| shape-color21=#87A96B
|mark-coord22={{coord|26|57|47|N|88|46|59|E}}| label-pos22= left |label22= Chalouni TE | numbered22=TE| mark-title22= [[Chalouni, Aibheel and Chalsa Tea Estates]] (TE)| shape-color22=#87A96B
|mark-coord23={{coord|26|55|0|N|88|47|10|E}}| label-pos23= right |label23= Aibheeli TE | numbered23=TE| mark-title23= [[Chalouni, Aibheel and Chalsa Tea Estates]] (TE)| shape-color23=#87A96B
|mark-coord24={{coord|26|56|3|N|88|50|15|E}}| label-pos24= right |label24= Chalsa TE | numbered24=TE| mark-title24= [[Chalouni, Aibheel and Chalsa Tea Estates]] (TE)| shape-color24=#87A96B
|mark-coord25={{coord|26|46|20|N|88|48|0|E}}| label-pos25=bottom|label25=Gorumara |labela25= National| labelb25= Park| numbered25=NP| mark-title25= [[Gorumara National Park]] (NP)| shape-color25=#228B22
|mark-coord26={{coord|26|54|20|N|88|51|18|E}}| label-pos26=bottom|label26=Chapramari |labela26= Wildlife| labelb26= Sanctuary| numbered26=NP| mark-title26= [[Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary]] (NP)| shape-color26=#228B22
|mark-coord27={{coord|26|39|40|N|88|38|40|E}}|label27= Teesta River| label-color27 = #77A1CB| label-angle27=60| label-pos27=top| label-size27=10| mark-size27=0| mark-title27=none
|mark-coord28={{coord|26|49|0|N|88|57|0|E}}|label28= Gatia River| label-color28 = #77A1CB| label-angle28=-45| label-pos28=top| label-size28=10| mark-size28=0| mark-title28=none
|mark-coord29={{coord|26|41|0|N|88|53|0|E}}|label29= Jaldhaka River| label-color29 = #77A1CB| label-angle29=80| label-pos29=top| label-size29=10| mark-size29=0| mark-title29=none
|arc-coordA={{coord|27|1|0|N|88|55|0|E}}|arc-textA= BHUTAN| arc-text-colorA=hard grey| arc-angleA=20| arc-gapA=3.5| arc-radiusA=0.4}}

===Location===
Bagrakot Tea Garden is located at {{coord|26.8994|N|88.5846|E|display=inline}}.

===Area overview===
[[Gorumara National Park]] has overtaken traditionally popular [[Jaldapara National Park]] in footfall and [[Malbazar]] has emerged as one of the most important towns in the [[Dooars]]. Malbazar subdivision is presented in the map alongside.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://northbengaltourism.com/malbazar/ |title = Malbazar |publisher= North Bengal Tourism | accessdate = 13 July 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.north-bengal.com/dooars.html |title = Dooars Tour |publisher= North Bengal Tourism | accessdate = 13 July 2020 }}</ref> It is a predominantly rural area with 88.62% of the population living in rural areas and 11.32% living in the urban areas.<ref name="admin">{{cite web | url = http://jalpaiguri.gov.in/district-profile| title = Jalpaiguri | work =District Profile | publisher = District administration |accessdate = 13 July 2020 }}</ref><ref name="handbook">{{cite web |url = http://wbpspm.gov.in/publications/District%20Statistical%20Handbook |title = District Statistical Handbook 2014 Jalpaiguri |work = Tables 2.2, 2.4b |publisher = Department of Planning and Statistics, Government of West Bengal |accessdate = 13 July 2020}}</ref> Tea gardens in the [[Dooars]] and [[Terai]] regions produce 226 million kg or over a quarter of India's total tea crop.<ref>{{cite web| url =https://www.indiatea.org/tea_growing_regions |title = Tea Growing Regions | work= Dooars and Terai|publisher= Indian Tea Association | accessdate = 13 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.teaboard.gov.in/TEABOARDCSM/MTA=|title = Dooars-Terai |publisher= Tea Board India | accessdate = 13 July 2020}}</ref> Some tea gardens were identified in the 2011 census as [[census town]]s or villages.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://censusindia.gov.in/pca/pcadata/Houselisting-housing-WB.html |title = 2011 Census – Primary Census Abstract Data Tables | work= West Bengal – District-wise |publisher= Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India | accessdate = 13 July 2020 }}</ref> 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 the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.

==Demographics==
According to the [[2011 Census of India]], Bagrakot Tea Garden had a total population of 9,971. There were 4,907 (49%) males and 5,064 (51%) females. There were 895 persons in the age range of 0 to 6 years. The total number of literate people in Bagrakot Tea Garden was 6,878 (75.78% of the population over 6 years).<ref>{{cite web| url = http://censusindia.gov.in/pca/cdb_pca_census/Houselisting-housing-WB.html |title = C.D. Block Wise Primary Census Abstract Data(PCA) | work= West Bengal – District-wise CD Blocks|publisher= Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India | accessdate = 6 July 2020}}</ref>

==Economy==
Bagrakote Tea Garden was established in 1876 and was shut down in 2015. The tea plantation is now a jungle. One of the reasons for the adverse situation in the tea gardens is that India is losing out in the international market to other countries, such as Kenya, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and even Bangladesh, who have lower cost of production. Within the country tea prices have been stagnant, while costs have risen by 60 per cent in five years prior to 2015.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/13-years-too-late-for-many-in-north-bengals-tea-gardens/ | title = 13 years too late for many in North Bengal's tea gardens | work= Bagrakote Tea Garden in Jalpaiguri district |first= Esha| last= Roy| publisher = The Indian Express, 22 November 2015 |accessdate = 16 July 2020}}</ref>

Bagrakot and 13 other tea gardens belonging to the [[Birpara Tea Garden#Economy|Goenka Duncan group]] have virtually been closed down or “abandoned” as some say. There are 8 other gardens, which are closed for years. There are 154 gardens in the [[Dooars]] out of 283 tea gardens in north Bengal that employ 3.5 lakh workers.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.hindustantimes.com/kolkata/kolkata-stick-with-your-didi-cm-tells-tea-garden-workers-in-dooars/story-wZIhxPtRH86een5G8iQJvO.html | title = Kolkata: Stick with your did, CM tells tea garden workers in Dooars | publisher = Hindustan Times, 5 November 2015 |accessdate = 8 July 2020}}</ref>

Bagracote Tea Estate has 489.95 hectares of mature tea and 1.32 hectares of young tea. In 1998-99, it produced 1.416 million kg of tea.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.duncans-tea.com/tea.htm | title = Tea Garden | publisher = Duncans |accessdate = 8 July 2020}}</ref>

==Tourism==
Bagrakote is a village, 4 km from Odlabari, surrounded by forests and tea gardens, with an exquisite view of the Himalayan mountains. Those who are lucky, particularly on a winter morning, can also have a glimpse of [[Kangchenjunga]]. It has trekking routes, particularly the one to [[Loleygaon]]. This off-beat destination has started attracting tourists. However There is a downward trend in Tourist citings around the region as the main attraction for them, i.e the Tea Garden has not been doing soo well and the area is predominantly covered with huge bushes and uncleaned vegatation.

==References==
{{Reflist|3}}

{{Jalpaiguri district}}

[[Category:Villages in Jalpaiguri district]]

Bagrakote - Revision history

>Chandan Guha at 08:04, 20 January 2021