View source for Biswanath district

{{Short description|District of Assam, India}}
<!-- See [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Indian cities]] for details -->
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Biswanath District
| native_name             =
| native_name_lang        =
| other_name              =
| settlement_type         = [[List of districts of Assam|District]] of [[Assam]]
| image_skyline           = বাসুদেৱ দৌল.jpg
| image_alt               =
| image_caption           = Vasudeva Doul
| nickname                =
| image_map               = Biswanath in Assam (India).svg
| image_map1              = {{maplink |frame=yes
|frame-width=250 |frame-height=200 |frame-align=center
|zoom= 8
|text= '''Biswanath district'''
|type=shape |id=Q28110722
|stroke-colour=#C60C30
|stroke-width=2
|title= Biswanath district of Assam
}}
| map_alt                         =
| map_caption                     = Location in Assam
| subdivision_type        = Country
| subdivision_name        = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1       = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Assam]]
| subdivision_type2       = [[Divisions of Assam|Division]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[North Assam Division|North Assam]]
| established_title1 = Incorporated (District)
| established_date1        = 15 August 2015
| founder                 =
| seat_type               = Headquarter
| seat                    = [[Biswanath Chariali]]
| government_footnotes    =
| leader_party            =
| leader_title            = [[Lok Sabha|Lok Sabha constituencies]]
| leader_name             = [[Tezpur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Tezpur]]
| leader_title1                   = [[Vidhan Sabha|Vidhan Sabha constituencies]]
| leader_name1                    = [[Biswanath (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Biswanath]], [[Behali (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Behali]], [[Gohpur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Gohpur]]
| leader_title2                   =
| leader_name2                    =
| unit_pref               = Metric<!-- or US or UK -->
| area_footnotes          =
| area_total_km2          = 1415
| area_rank               =
| elevation_footnotes     =
| elevation_m             = 48-849
| elevation_ft            = 157-2787
| population_total        = 612,491
| population_as_of        = 2011
| population_footnotes    =
| population_density_km2  = auto
| population_rank         =
| population_demonym      =
| demographics_type1      = Languages
| demographics1_title1    = Official
| timezone1               = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1             = +5:30
| postal_code_type        = <!-- [[Postal Index Number|PIN]] -->
| postal_code             = 784 XXX
| registration_plate      = AS-32
| website                 = [https://biswanath.gov.in biswanath.gov.in]
| footnotes               =
| demographics1_info1     = [[Assamese language|Assamese]]
}}

'''Biswanath''' (IPA: ˌbɪswəˈnɑːθ ˈtʃɑːrɪˌælɪ) is an administrative [[districts of Assam|district]] in the state of [[Assam]] in [[India]]. It is one of newly created district in the year by 2015, declared by Assam Chief Minister [[Tarun Gogoi]] on 15 August 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-cm-tarun-gogoi-announces-5-new-districts-in-assam-on-independence-day-2114724|title=CM Tarun Gogoi announces 5 new districts in Assam on Independence Day|access-date=2016-01-27|archive-date=2016-03-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221239/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-cm-tarun-gogoi-announces-5-new-districts-in-assam-on-independence-day-2114724|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://zeenews.india.com/news/assam/assam-gets-five-more-districts_1647470.html|title = Assam gets five more districts|date = 15 August 2015|access-date = 27 January 2016|archive-date = 25 April 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190425061706/https://zeenews.india.com/news/assam/assam-gets-five-more-districts_1647470.html|url-status = live}}</ref>

The district is created amalgamating [[Gohpur]] and most part of Biswanath Sub division on earlier [[Sonitpur district]]. The district is bounded by [[Arunachal Pradesh]] on north, [[Golaghat district|Golaghat]], [[Brahmaputra River]] on the south, [[Lakhimpur district]] on the east and [[Sonitpur district]] on the west. The administrative headquarter is located at [[Biswanath Chariali]].

On 31 December 2022, the district remerged with existing Sonitpur district ahead of delimitation process by [[Election Commission of India|ECI]] in the state.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tribune |first=The Assam |date=2022-12-31 |title=Assam: Four districts to re-merge with existing districts |url=https://assamtribune.com/assam/assam-four-districts-to-re-merge-with-existing-districts-1455186 |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=assamtribune.com |language=en |archive-date=2023-01-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103153104/https://assamtribune.com/assam/assam-four-districts-to-re-merge-with-existing-districts-1455186 |url-status=live }}</ref>

However, on August 25, 2023, the Assam cabinet announced the restoration of Biswanath's district status.<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 August 2023 |title=Assam Cabinet decides to 'create' 4 districts |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/assam-cabinet-decides-to-create-4-districts/article67235407.ece |access-date=26 August 2023 |archive-date=26 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230826015150/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/assam-cabinet-decides-to-create-4-districts/article67235407.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

==History==
The major part of Biswanath district formed a part of the [[Chutiya kingdom]] until it was annexed in the 16th century by the Ahoms. The western part of the district was under the rule of independent Bhuyan chieftains. The border between the Chutia kingdom and Bhuyan principalities were marked by the Dikarai <ref>{{harvcol|Baruah|1986|p=193}}</ref> and the Ghiladhari rivers.<ref>{{harvcol|Neog|1980|p=66}}</ref> The Chutia kings built many forts in the region which included the Buroi fort (near [[Daphla Hills|Nyishi hills]])<ref>Basu, Nagendra Nath. ''Thee Social History of Kamrupa'',1988, p. 271.</ref> and the Pratapgarh fort built by king Pratap Narayan.<ref>Bilgrami, Syaed Ali. ''Journal Of The Asiatic Society Of Bengal'',1904, p. 258.</ref><ref>The stone inscription found in Umatamani, Biswanath states that a king named Lakshminah was crowned as the Lord of Pratapapura (''Pratapapura-adhikari Dalapati Shri Lakshminah''). This was none other than the Chutia king Lakshminarayan</ref> The [[Ita Fort]] lies to the north of Biswanath Chariali

==Administration==
; Headquarter : [[Biswanath Chariali]]
; Name of Sub-Divisions : [[Biswanath Chariali]], [[Gohpur]]
; Name of Revenue Circles/ Tehsils : [[Biswanath Chariali]], [[Gohpur]], [[Helem]]
; Name of Development(C.D.) Blocks :
* Pub-Chaiduar Development Block
* Chaiduar Development Block
* Behali Development Block
* Baghmora Development Block
* Biswanath Development Block
* Sakomotha development Block
* Sotea Development Block
; Name of Police Stations   :
* Gohpur Police Station
* Helem Police Station
* Behali Police Station
* Ginjia Police Station
* Biswanath Chariali Police Station
* Sootea Police Station
* Hawajan Police Outpost
* Borgang Police Outpost
; Number of Villages          :  832  
; Names of Towns              :  Biswanath Chariali, Gohpur
; Name of Town Committees     :  Biswanath Chariali, Gohpur

== Demographics ==
According to the 2011 census, Biswanath district has a population of 612,491, of which 31,368 (5.12%) live in urban areas. Biswanath had a sex ratio of 968 females per 1000 males. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 43,763 (7.15%) and 93,174 (15.21%) of the population respectively.<ref name="districtcensus">{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=District Census Handbook: Sonitpur |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/242/download/618/DH_2011_1807_PART_A_DCHB_SONITPUR.pdf |website=censusindia.gov.in |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]] |access-date=2023-03-27 |archive-date=2024-08-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240820143937/https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/242/download/618/DH_2011_1807_PART_A_DCHB_SONITPUR.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{bar box
|title=Religions in Biswanath district (2011)<ref name="Religion"/>
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=left
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism in Assam|Hinduism]]|darkorange|83.96}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam in Assam|Islam]]|green|8.52}}
{{bar percent|[[Christianity in Assam|Christianity]]|dodgerblue|6.92}}
{{bar percent|Other or not stated|black|0.60}}
}}

As of the 2011 census, Hindus made up 514,259 (83.96%), while Muslims made up 52,155 (8.52%) and Christians (6.92%) of the population respectively.<ref name="Religion">{{cite web |date=2011 |title=Table C-01 Population By Religion: Assam |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11365/download/14478/DDW18C-01%20MDDS.XLS |website=census.gov.in |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]] |access-date=2023-03-27 |archive-date=2023-03-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327151548/https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11365/download/14478/DDW18C-01%20MDDS.XLS |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Pie chart
|caption = Languages of Biswanath district (2011)<ref name="languages"/>
|label1 = [[Assamese language|Assamese]] |value1 = 34.06 |color1 = purple
|label2 = [[Sadri language|Sadri]] |value2 = 13.56 |color2 = burlywood
|label3 = [[Bengali language|Bengali]] |value3 = 8.58 |color3 = orchid
|label4 = [[Nepali language|Nepali]] |value4 = 7.93 |color4 = lightcoral
|label5 = [[Boro language (India)|Boro]] |value5 = 7.23 |color5 = royalblue
|label6 = [[Mising language|Mising]] |value6 = 7.09 |color6 = lightskyblue
|label7 = [[Odia language|Odia]] |value7 = 6.76 |color7 = saddlebrown
|label8 = [[Mundari language|Mundari]] |value8 = 3.41 |color8 = teal
|label9 = [[Karbi language|Karbi]] |value9 = 2.56 |color9 = darkblue
|label10 = [[Hindi]] |value10 = 1.84 |color10 = orange
|label11 = Others |value11 = 6.98 |color11 = grey
}}
At the time of the 2011 census, 34.06% of the population speaks [[Assamese language|Assamese]], 13.56% [[Sadri language|Sadri]], 8.58% [[Bengali language|Bengali]], 7.93% [[Nepali language|Nepali]], 7.23% [[Boro language (India)|Boro]], 7.09% [[Mising language|Mising]], 6.76% [[Odia language|Odia]], 3.41% [[Mundari language|Mundari]], 2.56% [[Karbi language|Karbi]] and 1.84% [[Hindi]] as their first language.<ref name="languages">{{cite web |date=2011 |title=Table C-16 Population By Mother Tongue: Assam |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10195/download/13307/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-1800.XLSX |website=censusindia.gov.in |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]] |access-date=2023-03-27 |archive-date=2022-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809135120/https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10195/download/13307/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-1800.XLSX |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Railway Station==
# Dubia
# Gohpur
# Brahmajan
# Helem
# Niz Borgang
# Monabari
# [[Viswanath Charali railway station|Viswanath Chariali]]
# Niz Sotea

== See also ==
* [[List of districts of Assam]]
* [[Maral gaon]]
* [[Gelapukhuri]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}
==References==
* {{Citation |last=Baruah |first=S L |title=A Comprehensive History of Assam |publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd.|place=New Delhi |year=1986}}
* {{cite book |surname=Neog |given=Maheswar |author-link=Maheshwar Neog |title=Early History of the Vaiṣṇava Faith and Movement in Assam: Śaṅkaradeva and His Times |year=1980 |url={{Google books|DcReZM-rI0MC|page=|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}} |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] |place=Delhi}}

==External links==
* [https://biswanath.gov.in/ Bishwanath District Official Website]

[[Category:Biswanath district| ]]
[[Category:Districts of Assam]]
[[Category:2015 establishments in Assam]]