North 24 Parganas District is bordered by the metropolitan city
Kolkata, with the city of Salt Lake and the new city at Rajarhat on one side and the Sundarbans villages on the other. The district, which covers an area of 4,094 sq km, has a population of 8.9 million. Barrackpore, the district headquarters, is situated on the eastern side of the
river Hooghly. The town is located 24 km north of Kolkata.
The district is rich in agricultural resources. It receives an annual rainfall of 1,579 mm. Rice, jute, coconuts, potatoes, wheat, and rapeseed are among the major crops. The horticultural products include mango, banana and
guava. Main rivers are Hooghly, Ichamati, and Yamuna. A number of prosperous industries such as jute mills, petrochemicals, food processing, and electronics enhance the economy.
Important tourist destinations include
Bibhutibhushan Wildlife Sanctuary,
Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya, Jawahar Kunj, Nicco Park, Nalban Boating Complex, and the temple of
Dakshineswar.
