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{{Use Indian English|date=June 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Malbazar
| other_name = Mal
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Town
| image_skyline = Murti-malbazar.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = India West Bengal#India3#Asia
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in West Bengal, India
| coordinates = {{coord|26.85|N|88.75|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = 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 = [[Municipal Corporations in India|Municipality]] Panchayat Samiti
| governing_body = {{hlist|Malbazar Municipality|Malbazar Panchayat Samiti}}
| leader_title = Municipality Chairperson
| leader_name = Utpal Bhadhury
| leader_title1 = Sabhapati
| leader_name1 = Shusil Kumar Prasad
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|title=Malbazar Info|url=https://malmunicipality.org/placestovisite.php|website=malmunicipality.org|access-date=26 November 2020}}</ref>
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 = 3.50
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total = 25,218<ref name="census2011.co.in">{{cite web | url=http://www.census2011.co.in/data/town/801639-mal.html | title=Mal Municipality City Population Census 2011-2022 | West Bengal }}</ref>
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = 9851
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Bengali language|Bengali]]<ref name="wblangoff">{{cite web|title=Fact and Figures|url=https://wb.gov.in/portal/web/guest/facts-and-figures;jsessionid=JzdD9RHb7aMY5esZPtcsIVLy|website=Wb.gov.in|access-date=14 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India|url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|website=Nclm.nic.in|publisher=[[Ministry of Minority Affairs]]|access-date=14 August 2019|page=85|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525141614/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|archive-date=25 May 2017}}</ref>
| demographics1_title2 = Additional official
| demographics1_info2 = [[English language|English]]<ref name="wblangoff"/>
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 735221
| registration_plate =
| blank1_name_sec1 = [[Human sex ratio|Sex ratio]]
| blank1_info_sec1 = 950/968 [[male|♂]]/[[female|♀]]<ref name="census2011.co.in"/>
| blank2_name_sec1 = [[Lok Sabha]] constituency
| blank2_info_sec1 = [[Jalpaiguri (Lok Sabha constituency)|Jalpaiguri (SC)]]
| blank3_name_sec1 = [[Vidhan Sabha]] constituency
| blank3_info_sec1 = [[Mal (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Mal (ST)]]
| blank1_name_sec2 = [[Literacy rate]]
| blank1_info_sec2 = 88.68%
| website = [http://www.malmunicipality.org/ www.malmunicipality.org]
| footnotes =
}}

'''Malbazar''', also known as '''Mal''', is a town and a [[municipality]] in [[Jalpaiguri district]]<ref>[http://jalpaiguri.gov.in/MAP2.htm Administrative setup of Jalpaiguri district] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208201633/http://jalpaiguri.gov.in/MAP2.htm |date=8 December 2008 }} from official website of [[Jalpaiguri District]]</ref> in the state of [[West Bengal]], [[India]]. It is the headquarters of the [[Malbazar subdivision]]. It lies about 65 km from [[Jalpaiguri]] and 55 km from [[Siliguri]]. It lies on the bank of river Neora.

==History==
Before 1947 Malbazar was a very small place, mainly known for its tea gardens mostly owned by [[British people]]. Those tea gardens had a few [[Bengalis|Bengali]] white collar employees and the work force consisted of tribal people.

After independence of India as well as [[Partition of Bengal (1947)|partition of Bengal]] refugees from the then [[East Pakistan]] (now Bangladesh) started to settle here by cutting down forests. By that time, Narayan Chandra Bannerjee, Dr Amalendu Biswas (came from [[Pabna]]), Debaprasad Ghosh(Patal Babu), Dr Tarak Mukherjee, Nripendra nath Choudhary who came there from [[Dhaka]] established this city.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}

==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|53|1|N|88|47|53|E}}| label-pos1=top|label1= Chalsa| numbered1=CT| mark-title1= [[Chalsa, India]] (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|52|30|N|88|44|10|E}}| label-pos2=top|label2=Malbazar| numbered2=CT| mark-title2= Malbazar (CT)|shape-color2=black| label-size2=13|label-color2=black 
|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= #A42222
|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===
Mal is at {{coord|26.85|N|88.75|E|}}.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://maps.yahoo.com/#mvt=m&lat=26.85017&lon=88.74724&zoom=14&q1=mal%252C%2520west%2520bengal%252C%2520india
|title = Yahoo maps of Mal
|publisher = Yahoo maps
|access-date = 29 November 2008
}}</ref>

Malbazar is one of the more important towns in [[Dooars]].{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} It is strategically located in the eastern part of the [[Dooars]] region. The town itself is rather an economical hub and a doorway to Dooars than being a tourist spot. tourist destination of Eastern Dooars – [[Gorumara National Park]], [[Chapramari Wildlife Reserve]], [[Jhalong]], [[Bindu, India|Bindu]], [[Samsing]], [[Suntalekhola]] etc. could be accessed through the town.

There is a government tourist lodge in Malbazar apart from a few private accommodations. An annual flower show is held, visited by people from places far and near.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

===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 | access-date = 13 July 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.north-bengal.com/dooars.html |title = Dooars Tour |publisher= North Bengal Tourism | access-date = 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 |access-date = 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 |access-date = 13 July 2020 |archive-date = 21 January 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190121045803/http://www.wbpspm.gov.in/publications/District%20Statistical%20Handbook |url-status = dead }}</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 | access-date = 13 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.teaboard.gov.in/TEABOARDCSM/MTA=|title = Dooars-Terai |publisher= Tea Board India | access-date = 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 | access-date = 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]], Mal had a total population of 25,218 of which 12,814 (51%) were males and 12,404 (49%) were females. There were 1,161 persons in the age range of 0 to 6 years. The total number of literate people in Mal was 20,354 (84.61% of the population over 6 years).<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 | access-date = 2 July 2020 }}</ref>

In the [[Demographics of India|2001 census]], Malbazar had a population of 23,212 out of which 12,111 were males and 11,101 were females. Decadal growth for the period 1991–2001 was 13.81% for Malbazar, against 21.52% in [[Jalpaiguri district|Jalpaiguri]] district. Decadal growth in [[West Bengal]] was 17.84%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.cmc.net.in/wbcensus/DataTables/02/Table4_2.htm |title=Provisional population totals, West Bengal, Table 4, Jalpaiguri District |access-date=23 August 2007 |work=Census of India 2001 |publisher=Census Commission of India |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719040713/http://web.cmc.net.in/wbcensus/DataTables/02/Table4_2.htm |archive-date=19 July 2011 }}</ref>

===Languages===
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Languages spoken in Mal Town (2011)<ref name=Census_Language/>
|label1 = [[Bengali language|Bengali]]
|value1 = 64.07
|color1 = red
|label2 = [[Hindi]]
|value2 = 16.43
|color2 = orange
|label3 = [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]]
|value3 = 5.65
|color3 = green
|label4 = [[Nepali language|Nepali]]
|value4 = 5.53
|color4 = pink
|label5 = [[Sadri language|Sadri]]
|value5 = 3.68
|color5 = black
|label6 = Others
|value6 = 4.61
|color6 = white
}}

[[Bengali language|Bengali]] is the most spoken language of the town, followed significant number of [[Hindi]], [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]], [[Nepali language|Nepali]] and [[Sadri language|Sadri]] speakers.<ref name=Census_Language>{{cite web |title=C-16 City: Population by mother tongue (town level) |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10245/download/13357/DDW-C16-TOWN-STMT-MDDS-1900.XLSX |website=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |access-date=29 June 2024}}</ref>

==Government and politics==
The chairperson of Mal Municipality is Swapan Saha and vice chairperson is Utpal Bhaduri.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wbdma.gov.in/htm/DIS%5CMUNI_ULB_Mal.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312094524/http://www.wbdma.gov.in/HTM/DIS/MUNI_ULB_Mal.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 March 2016 |title=Mal municipality |publisher=Official website of the Department of Municipal Affairs, West Bengal |access-date=29 November 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=জল্পনা কল্পনার অবসান ঘটিয়ে, মাল পুরসভার নাম ঘোষণা |url=https://khabarindiaonline.in/2022/03/16/announcing-the-name-of-mal-municipality-putting-an-end-to-speculation/ |access-date=31 March 2022 |work=Khabar India Online |date=16 March 2022}}</ref>

==Transport==
===Railway===
[[File:Board Showing New Mal Junction railway station.jpg|thumb|[[New Mal Junction railway station|New Malbazar Junction railway station]]]]
[[File:Malbazar Railway Station Board.jpg|thumb|[[Malbazar railway station|Old Malbazar Railway Station Board]]]]
There are two Railway Stations which serves Malbazar, they are [[Malbazar Railway Station]] (station code MLBZ) and [[New Mal Junction]] (station code NMZ).[[Malbazar railway station]] (MLBZ) is a small station where only local and DEMU trains are available whereas New Mal Junction is the major junction from where many Express trains, Intercity trains, and local trains are available. New Mal Junction is connected by the newly converted [[Broad Gauge]] of the [[New Jalpaiguri–Alipurduar–Samuktala line]], whereas Malbazar Railway Station lies on [[New Mal–Changrabandha–New Cooch Behar line]]. The 1st railway line leads from the forests of [[North Bengal]] to the foothills near the [[India]] - [[Bhutan]] border, whereas the 2nd railway line originates from Malbazar and terminates in [[Changrabandha]], which lies in [[India]] - [[Bangladesh]] border.

===Roadways===
Malbazar is well connected by road with cities like [[Siliguri]] and [[Jalpaiguri]]. Since it lies on the route towards Jaigaon, so Jeep/Taxi services are available towards [[Jaigaon]], [[Hasimara]], [[Birpara]], [[Binnaguri]], [[Gangtok]], [[Kalimpong]], [[Rangpo]], [[Singtam]], [[Jorethang]], [[Pakyong]], [[Namchi]], [[Pelling]], [[Darjeeling]], [[Panitanki]], [[Bagdogra]], [[Mainaguri]], [[Dhupguri]], [[Falakata]], [[Jalpaiguri]], [[Alipurduar]], [[Cooch Behar]] etc. Some long distance buses connecting [[Siliguri]] to [[Guwahati]], [[Shillong]], [[Jorhat]] etc also runs via Malbazar. Malbazar became popular to tourists as a gateway to many more spots like [[Gorumara]], [[Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary|Chapramari]] and [[Chalsa, India|Chalsa]].{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} There is a short route between Malbazar to hill stations like [[Lava, West Bengal|Labha]], [[Algarah]], [[Pedong]], [[Kalimpong]], [[Rhenock]], [[Mansong]], [[Aritar, Sikkim|Aritar]] via [[Gorubathan]] by [[State Highway 12 (West Bengal)|State Highway 12]] and [[National Highway 717A (India)|National Highway 717A]].<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2018/may/28/doklam-effect-sikkim-to-get-new-all-weather-highway-1820559.html| title = Doklam effect: Sikkim to get new all-weather highway |date=28 May 2018 |work=The New Indian Express |access-date=19 February 2022}} </ref>

Frequent Bus services are available from Malbazar to [[P.C. Mittal Memorial Bus Terminus|P.C. Mittal Memorial Bus Terminus, Siliguri]].

Also many buses are available from the town to [[Birpara]], [[Hasimara]], [[Jaigaon]], [[Cooch Behar]], [[Alipurduar]], [[Dhupguri]], [[Jalpaiguri]] etc.

===Airways===
The nearest airport is [[Bagdogra Airport|Bagdogra International Airport]] 74 kilometres away. [[Vistara]], [[IndiGo]], [[Go First]], [[Akasa Air]], [[AIX Connect]], [[Air India]], [[SpiceJet]] and [[Druk Air]] ([[Bhutan]]) are the major carriers that connects Bagdogra Airport to [[Chennai International Airport|Chennai]], [[Kempegowda International Airport|Bangalore]], [[Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport|Ahmedabad]], [[Rajiv Gandhi International Airport|Hyderabad]], [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport|Mumbai]], [[Indira Gandhi International Airport|Delhi]], [[Paro International Airport|Paro]] ([[Bhutan]]), [[Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport|Guwahati]], [[Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport|Kolkata]], [[Dibrugarh Airport|Dibrugarh]] and [[Suvarnabhumi Airport|Bangkok]] ([[Thailand]]).

==Education==
* [[Caesar School]] (CBSE, English)(H.S.)
* [[Mal Adarsha Bidya Bhaban]] (WBCHSE, Bengali)(H.S.)
* [https://school.banglarshiksha.gov.in/ws/website/index/19021600404 Subhasini High School] (WBCHSE, Bengali) (H.S.)
* [[Parimal Mitra Smriti Mahavidyalaya]]

==References==
{{reflist|3}}

{{Jalpaiguri district}}
{{Municipalities of West Bengal}}
{{Jalpaiguri topics}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in Jalpaiguri district]]

Malbazar - Revision history

Itssuvam at 13:10, 11 January 2026