BrigitteHosking at 14:25, 9 February 2026

2026-02-09T14:25:39Z

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{{Short description|Unit of area measurement in South Asia}}
{{more footnotes needed|date=November 2012}}

The '''bigha''' or '''beegah''' ({{langx|ur|بیگھا}}, {{langx|hi|बीघा}}, [[Bengali alphabet|Bengali]]: বিঘা) is a traditional [[unit of measurement]] of [[area]] of a land, commonly used in northern & eastern [[India]], [[Bangladesh]] and [[Nepal]]. There is no "standard" size of bigha and it varies considerably from place to place.<ref name=harunit1>{{cite web
|title=Units of measurements
|url=http://jamabandi.nic.in/Land%20Records/Units.aspx
|website=Jamabandi, Government of Haryana
|publisher=HALRIS
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418162328/http://jamabandi.nic.in/Land%20Records/Units.aspx
|archive-date=2018-04-18
|url-status=dead
|access-date=2025-10-02
}}</ref>

On an average, Bigha ranges from {{convert|6806.25|ft2}} to {{convert|27,225|ft2}}. Its sub-unit is Biswa or [[Katha (unit)|Katha]] in many regions, but it has no "standard" size. A bigha may have 5 to 20 [[Katha (unit)|Katha]]/ biswa in different regions, where 1 Katha is usually {{convert|1361.25|ft2}} or 151.25 square yard.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kotak.com/hi/stories-in-focus/loans/home-loan/bigha-all-about-land-area-measurement-unit.html |title=बीघा क्या है? वर्ग मीटर, एकड़ और हेक्टेयर में कैसे कन्वर्ट करें ? |work=Kotak Mahindra |access-date=28 July 2025 }}</ref>

==Sub-unit==
A bigha may have 5 to 20 [[Katha (unit)|Katha]] or Biswa in different regions, where 1 Katha usually range between {{convert|1089|ft2}} and {{convert|1361.25|ft2}}. In Assam and [[West Bengal]] Katha is {{convert|2880|ft2}}.

Commonly used size of Bigha in [[Uttar Pradesh]], Bihar and Jharkhand are as follows: (here 1 Katha/ Biswa is 1,361.25 sq feet)

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Type of Bigha !! [[Square feet|Sq feet]] !! [[Square yard|Sq yard]] !! [[Square metre|Sq metre]]
|-
| 5 [[Katha (unit)|Biswa]] || 6,806.25 || 756.25 || 632.32
|-
| 6.6667 Biswa || 9,075 || 1,008.33 || 843.09
|-
| 20 Biswa || 27,225 || 3,025.00 || 2,529.28
|}

Commonly used size of Bigha in [[Haryana]], Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and [[Himachal Pradesh]] are as follows: (here, 1 Biswa is 1,089 sq feet)

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Type of Bigha !! [[Square feet|Sq feet]] !! [[Square yard|Sq yard]] !! [[Square metre|Sq metre]]
|-
| 8 [[Katha (unit)|Biswa]] || 8,712 || 968.00 || 809.37
|-
| 16 Biswa || 17,424 || 1,936.00 || 1,618.74
|-
| 20 Biswa || 21,780 || 2,420.00 || 2,023.43
|}

== Uses in India ==
{{Main|List of customary units of measurement in South Asia}}

The Bigha is a traditional unit of land in several parts of North & East [[India]]. Sale and purchase of land (particularly agricultural land) is still done unofficially in this unit. However, the area is recorded mostly in [[hectare]] or [[Acre]] and sometimes in [[square metre]] or [[square yard]] in official land records. Bigha varies in size from one part of India to another. Various states and often regions within the same state have different sizes attributed to the bigha. It is usually less than one [[acre]] or {{convert|43560|ft2}} but can extend up to 3 acres in some areas.

In India, Bigha is commonly used in the states of [[Uttarakhand]], [[Haryana]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Bihar]], [[Jharkhand]], [[West Bengal]], [[Assam]], [[Gujarat]] and [[Rajasthan]]. However, in [[Maharashtra]] and [[Tamil Nadu]], Bigha is not in practical measurement unit.

===Assam (অসম)===
In [[Assam]], a bigha (বিঘা) is {{convert|14400|ft2}} or 1,600 sq yard. One bigha is divided into 5 Katha.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nedfi.com/node/193|title=Land System Conversion Table - North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd.|website=www.nedfi.com|access-date=2019-04-04|archive-date=2019-04-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404190357/https://www.nedfi.com/node/193|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://landrevenue.assam.gov.in/|title=Home - Revenue & Disaster Management - Government Of Assam, India|website=landrevenue.assam.gov.in|access-date=2018-04-15|archive-date=2017-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210224350/http://landrevenue.assam.gov.in/|url-status=live}}</ref> Each [[Katha (unit)|Katha]] (কঠা) consists of 20 Lessa (লেচা). Hence each Katha is {{convert|2880|ft2}} in area, although this may vary within different regions of Assam. 4 bighas together are further termed as a Pura (পূৰা).
* 1 [[Katha (unit)|Katha]] (কঠা) = {{convert|2880|ft2}} or 320 sq yard
* 1 Lessa (লেচা) = {{convert|144|ft2}} or 16 sq yard
* 1 [[Acre]] (একৰ) = 3.025 bigha and 1 [[Hectare]] (হেক্টৰ) = 7.475 bigha (Assam)

===Bihar===
In [[Bihar]], different regions have different sizes of Bigha. Near the capital, [[Patna]], one bigha is equivalent to 20 [[Katha (unit)|Katha]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/election/2005/feb/11spec2.htm|title=A village that symbolises Bihar|access-date=2016-07-18|archive-date=2016-08-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801113820/http://www.rediff.com/election/2005/feb/11spec2.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> 1 [[Katha (unit)|Katha]] is equals to {{convert|1361.25|ft2}} or 151.25 [[square yard]].

One Katha is further subdivided in 20 dhur. Hence each Dhur is {{convert|68.05|ft2}}. One Dhur is subdivided in 20 dhurki, each Dhurki being {{convert|3.403|ft2}}.
* One [[Decimal (unit)|decimal]] is equal to 435.60 sq feet<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/upper-caste-poor-in-bihar-to-get-land/|title=three decimal land (1,306 square feet)|date=15 December 2015|access-date=22 July 2016|archive-date=29 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829044930/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/upper-caste-poor-in-bihar-to-get-land/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.isid.ac.in/~epu/acegd2015/papers/HemanshuKumar.pdf|title=sq feet decimal|access-date=2016-07-22|archive-date=2016-10-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161004002612/http://www.isid.ac.in/~epu/acegd2015/papers/HemanshuKumar.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/25-679-mahadalit-landless-families-to-get-plots-in-bihar-587232|title=25,679 Mahadalit Landless Families to Get Plots in Bihar|website=NDTV.com|access-date=2019-04-04|archive-date=2019-04-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404190346/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/25-679-mahadalit-landless-families-to-get-plots-in-bihar-587232|url-status=live}}</ref> or 1/100 acre.
* One [[Acre]] = {{convert|43560|ft2}} or 4,840 sq. yard.
* 1 Bigha (बीघा) = 20 Katha (कठ्ठा) = 2,529 m2 or 3,025 sq. yard or 27,225 sq. feet
* 1 [[Katha (unit)|Katha]] (कठ्ठा) = 20 Dhur (धुर) = 126.46 m2 or 151.25 sq. yard or 1,361.25 sq. feet
* 1 [[Acre]] = 1.6 Bigha = 100 decimal; and 1 [[Hectare]] = 3.95 Bigha (Patna)

Note: Katha also varies from place to place. 1 Katha in [[Muzaffarpur]] is {{convert|1901|ft2}}; and in [[West Champaran]] is {{convert|3267|ft2}}.

===Himachal Pradesh===
In [[Himachal Pradesh]], five bigha is equal to one [[Acre]]. Hence, 1 Bigha = {{convert|8712|ft2}} or 968 square yard. One [[Hectare]] is equal to 12.35 bigha.

===Punjab===
{{Main|Measurement of land in Punjab}}
In [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] and [[Haryana]], 2 bigha is equal to one acre, each bigha is 4 kanals, each kanal is 20 marlas, each marla is 9 square karam. Each square Karam is 30.25 [[square feet]] (5.5 feet X 5.5 feet), each karam is 5.5 feet.

See [[measurement of land in Punjab]] as below:

* 1 Killa = 1 [[Acre]] (4,046.8 [[square metre]] or 4,840 [[square yard]])
* 1 Killa = 8 Kanal = 2 Bigha = 160 Marla
* 1 Bigha = 4 Kanal = 0.5 Killa = 80 Marla
* 1 Bigha = 2,023.4 [[square metre]] or 2,420 [[square yard]]
* 1 [[Kanal (unit)|Kanal]] = 20 Marla = 0.25 Bigha (605 [[square yard]])
* 1 [[Marla (unit)|Marla]] = 25.2928 [[square metre]] or 30.25 [[square yard]]

===Madhya Pradesh===
In [[Madhya Pradesh]], one Bigha has 20 Katha, where 1 [[Katha (unit)|Katha]] = {{convert|600|ft2}}. Therefore 1 bigha = {{convert|12,000|ft2}}.

===Rajasthan===
In [[Rajasthan]], One Pucca Bigha = {{convert|27225|ft2}} or 3,025 square yard. A plot of land with each side 165 feet is called as Bigha (165 ft × 165 ft).
* One Kaccha Bigha = {{convert|17424|ft2}} or 1,936 square yard.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sizes.com/units/bigha.htm|title=bigha|website=www.sizes.com|access-date=2019-04-04|archive-date=2019-04-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404190349/https://www.sizes.com/units/bigha.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Uttar Pradesh===
In [[Uttar Pradesh]], one bigha can mean different things to people in different districts of the state. One Bigha in UP ranges from 5 biswa to 20 biswa. Here one [[Katha (unit)|Biswa]] is {{convert|1361.25|ft2}} or 151.25 square yard.
* In Western UP, 1 bigha is usually equal to 5 biswa i.e. {{convert|6806.25|ft2}} or 756.25 [[square yard]]. In some districts it can be 6.6667 biswa i.e. {{convert|9075|ft2}} or 1,008.33 [[square yard]].
* In [[Purvanchal|Eastern UP]] and [[Lucknow]], 1 bigha is equal to 20 biswa. Hence 1 Bigha in [[Purvanchal]] is {{convert|27225|ft2}} or 3,025 [[square yard]].

===Uttarakhand===
In [[Uttarakhand]], one bigha is different in plain and hilly areas.

* In Hilly area, 1 Bigha is 6,806.25 [[square feet]] or {{convert|632.32|m2|sqyd}}.
* In Plain area, 1 Bigha is 17,424 square feet or {{convert|1618.74|m2|sqyd}}

Nali is also commonly used in Hilly area. 1 Nali is 2,160 [[square feet]] or {{convert|200.67|m2|sqyd}}. 1 Bigha can vary from 3.151 to 8.06 Nali.

===West Bengal===
In [[West Bengal]], the Bigha was standardized under British colonial rule at {{convert|14400|ft2}} or 1,600 square yard. This is often interpreted as being 1/3 Acre (it is precisely {{frac|40|121}} Acre). Therefore, 1 [[Acre]] = 3.025 bigha and 1 [[Hectare]] = 7.475 bigha in West Bengal.

== Uses in Bangladesh ==
Bigha is a traditional unit of land in entire [[Bangladesh]], with land purchases still being undertaken in this unit. One bigha is equal to 20 Katha (14,400 square feet or 1,600 square yard) as standardized in pre-partition [[Bengal]] during the British rule. In other words, 3 bigha are just 0.5 [[katha (unit)|Katha]] or 360 sq ft short of 1 [[acre]]. (One Acre = 4,840 sq yd or 43,560 sq ft or 4,047 sq m).

===Measurements of area===
* 1 [[Katha (unit)|Katha]] (কাঠা) = 720 sq ft (80 sq yd or 66.89 sq m)
* 1 Bigha = 14,400 sq ft (1,337.8 sq m or 1,600 sq yd)
* 1 [[Acre]] (একর) = 3.025 bigha (বিঘা) = 60.5 Katha (কাঠা)
* 1 [[Hectare]] = 7.475 bigha = 149.5 Katha

== Use in Nepal ==
{{Main|Nepalese customary units of measurement}}
A Bigha is a [[Nepalese customary units of measurement|customary unit of measurement]] in [[Nepal]], equal to about 6,773 square meters. Officially, most measurement of lands use units of either Bigha (in Terai region) or Ropani (Nepali: रोपनी) (in Hilly regions). Metric system ([[International System of Units|SI unit of square metre]]) is very seldom used officially in measuring area of land.

Measurement of area in terms of bigha
:1 Bigha (बिघा)= 20 Katha (कठ्ठा) (about 6,772.63 m2 or 72900 sq.ft.)
:1 [[Katha (unit)|Katha]] (कठ्ठा) = 20 Dhur (धुर) (about 338.63 m2 or 3,645 sq.ft.)
:1 Dhur (धुर) = 16.93 m2 or 182.25 sq.ft.
:1 Kanwa (कनवा) = 1/16 Dhur (धुर)
:1 Kanaee (कनई) = 1/16 Kanwa (कनवा)
[Note: Kanwa is largely obsolete and is used only when tiny lands are very precious].
:1 Bigha = 13.31 Ropani (रोपनी)
:1 Ropani = 16 aana (आना) (about 508.72 m2 or 5476 sq. ft.)
:1 aana = 4 paisa (पैसा) (about 31.80 m2 or 342.25 sq.ft.)
:1 paisa = 4 daam (दाम) (7.95 m2)
;1 Bigha = 6,772.63 m2
:1 Bigha = 0.677263 hectare = 1.6735 acre
:1 Hectare = 19.6565 Ropani

==In popular culture==
The classic Hindi movie ''[[Do Bigha Zamin]]'' ("Two bighas of land", 1953) by [[Bimal Roy]] portrayed the struggle of a poor peasant with very little landholding.

==See also==
* [[Doab]]
* [[Jagir]]
* [[Khadir and Bangar]]
* [[Khadir and Bangar#Bangar areas and subtypes|Barani, Nahri, Chahi, Taal]]
* [[Khadir and Bangar#Related terms|Banjar, Jungle, Abadi, Shamlat, Gair Mumkin]]
* [[Measurement of land in Punjab]]
* [[Patwari]]
* [[Zaildar]]
* [[Zamindar]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Sources ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060427153814/http://www.royalreality.com/areaconversion.asp Area conversion], royalreality.com (archived 27 April 2006)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110629180401/http://etawah.nic.in/bhulekh/land_glossary.htm Land glossary], Bhulekh – etawah.nic.in (archived 29 June 2011)
* [http://www.landzone.in/land_measurement_in_india.php Land measurement in India] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190628104051/http://www.landzone.in/land_measurement_in_india.php |date=2019-06-28 }}, landzone.in
* [http://bhulekh.uk.gov.in/ Bhulekh], uk.gov.in

== External links ==
* [http://www.sizes.com/units/bigha.htm Bigha] at Sizes.com

[[Category:Customary units of area in India]]

Bigha - Revision history

BrigitteHosking at 14:25, 9 February 2026