Barpeta district is one of the administrative districts of Assam. Headquarters of this district are situated at Barpeta. The Barpeta district covers an area of 3245 sq km. Barpeta is popularly known as the `Land of the Satras`. This Lower Assam District is bounded by international border of Bhutan in the north, Nalbari District in the east, Kamrup district and Goalpara districts in the south and Bongaigaon district in the west. The Barpeta District lies between latitude 26 degrees 5 minutes north to 26 degrees 49 minutes North and longitude 90 degrees 39 minutes east to 91 degrees 17 minutes East.
History of Barpeta district
Barpeta District was carved out of the former Kamrup District of Assam in July 1983. This district derived its name from the headquarter town of Barpeta. It was created as a Civil Sub-Division in the year 1841 by the British Administration; John Batlor was the first administrative Officer of erstwhile Civil Sub-Division. Today this district consists of two Civil Sub-Divisions and these are Barpeta and Bajali. Barpeta district has always been a place of huge religious importance.
Geography of Barpeta district
Barpeta District basically involves large low-lying plains having small hillocks specifically in the southwest part. Brahmaputra River flows through this region. The major streams of this river flowing through the Barpeta district are Beki, Manas River, Pohumara, Kaldia, Palla, Nakhanda, Marachaulkhowa and Bhelengi. The climate of this district is mild and pleasant throughout the year. The Barpeta district has Tropical monsoon climate providing two distinct seasons mainly summer and winter.
Demography of Barpeta District
According to the Population Census in 2011, Barpeta District had a population of 1,693,190 of which male and female were 867,891 and 825,299 respectively. The population of Barpeta District constituted 5.43 percent of total population of Assam. The population density of Barpeta district is 632 people per sq. km. Barpeta district administers 2,679 square kilometres of areas. The average literacy rate of Barpeta District is 65.03 percent. If things are looked out at gender wise, male and female literacy were 70.72 and 59.04 respectively. The total literates in Barpeta District were 918,708 of which male and female were 512,330 and 406,378 respectively.
Culture of Barpeta district
In Barpeta district, several Satras were founded by some great saints that are considered as the cultural institutions or monasteries that created deep impact in the society, polity, economy etc. in the region. Although the Satra institutions were established for the propagation of Vaishnavism faith but with passage of time these institutions gradually transformed into open universities to become socio-cultural centres covering many subjects including education, music, dance, sculpture ,drama, fine-art, Ivory-works etc.
Some of the important satras of this region are -
•Patbaushi
•Ganakkuchi
•Jania
•Sundaridia
•Barpeta
•Baradi
•Kanara
Further, the traditional handicrafts of Barpeta District including the ivory carving are popular all over Assam. The indigenous fire cracker industry is also well known in Assam. Brass metal industry of Sarthebari is popular throughout the world.
Tourism in Barpeta district
Barpeta district is considered as the region with immense cultural importance. With the passage of time, Barpeta district has become a popular tourist place with the numbers of Satras that were established by the disciples of Vaishnava saint Shrimanta Sankardeva. Interestingly, these Satras attract a large number of devotees from various parts of the world mostly during festivals. The most visited Satras are Barpeta, Patbaushi, Sundaridiya, Sunpura, Ganak Kuchi, Satra Kanara and Jania. Barpeta District is well connected by road and train services. The nearest Railway Station is Barpeta Road that lies at a distance of 21 kms from Barpeta Town. Barpeta Road is connected to all over the state. There are regular bus services between Barpeta and Guwahati.
