South 24 Parganas lies in the south eastern region of
West Bengal, near the
Kolkata urban area. It is bordered by the districts of
Midnapore,
Howrah,
Kolkata, and
North 24 Parganas. The southern region is bounded by the
Bay of Bengal. The district covers an area of 9,960 sq km. The population is around 6.9 million. Alipore is the headquarters.
Nearly 40 percent is covered by forests.
Sunderbans, the vast tract of marshy land covered by forest, is a famous region. The area, with plenty of mangrove trees, is a preserved wildlife area. Sunderbans is a home to the protected Bengal tigers. The rivers Hooghly, Bidyadhari, and Matla flow through South 24 Parganas District. The northern part is mostly cultivated land. Main crops of the region include rice, chilies, coconuts, and potatoes. Some well established industrial units are found in the area.
Major tourist destinations in the area include Diamond Harbour, Bakkhali, Kakdwip, Sagardwip, Chandraketugarh, and Narendrapur.
