Kurseong

Kurseong is a hill station and sub-divisional town in the Darjeeling district of the Indian state of West Bengal.

Located at an altitude of 1,458 metres (4,783 ft), Kurseong is 32 kilometres (20 mi) from Darjeeling and has a pleasant climate throughout the year.

Kurseong is 47 kilometres (29 mi) from Siliguri and is connected to the city by road and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. The nearest airport is at Bagdogra and the nearest major railway station is New Jalpaiguri [NJP], which is about 53 kilometres (33 mi) from the town. The economy is based primarily on education and tourism.

Etymology

The origin of the name is unclear; stories suggest it comes from the Lepcha language word for "small orchid", kurson-rip because of the little white orchids (Coelogyne cristata) dotting the valleys, or perhaps the term for a stick made out of a local cane.(O'Malley 1999, p. 216)

History

The original inhabitants were the Lepcha people, who named their home "Kurseong", because every spring it was alive and bright with Kurson-Rip orchids. In the remote past, Kurseong was a part of the Kingdom of Sikkim, even before the British came to India. However, in around 1780 the Nepalese conquered and annexed Kurseong and its surrounding areas. Then came the Gurkha War, which the Nepalese lost. The 1817 Treaty of Titalia restored Kurseong to Sikkim.

Kurseong (Vidhan Sabha constituency)

Kurseong (Vidhan Sabha constituency) is an assembly constituency in Darjeeling district in the Indian state of West Bengal.

Overview

As per orders of the Delimitation Commission, No. 24 Kurseong (Vidhan Sabha constituency) covers Kurseong municipality, Kurseong community development block, Mirik municipality, Mirik community development block, Gorabari Margaret’s Hope, Lower Sonada I, Lower Sonada II, Munda Kothi and Upper Sonada gram panchayats of Jorebunglow Sukhiapokhri community development block, Rangli Rangliot community development block, and (i) Sitong Forest (Village), (ii) Sivok Hill Forest (Village), and (iii) Sivok Forest (Village) in Champasari GP of Matigara community development block.

Kurseong (Vidhan Sabha constituency) is part of No. 4 Darjeeling (Lok Sabha constituency).

Members of Legislative Assembly

Election results

2011

In the West Bengal state assembly election, 2011, Rohit Sharma of GJM defeated his nearest rival Pemu Chhetri of GNLF.

Kurseong (community development block)

Kurseong (community development block) is an administrative division in Kurseong subdivision of Darjeeling district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Kurseong police station serves this block. Headquarters of this block is at Kurseong. There is one census town in this block: Cart Road.

Geography

Kurseong is located at 26°53′N 88°17′E / 26.88°N 88.28°E / 26.88; 88.28.

Kurseong community development block has an area of 342.58  km².

Demographics

As per 2011 Census of India Kurseong CD Block had a total population of 94,347, of which 79,903 were rural and 14,444 were urban. There were 47,030 males and 47,317 females. Scheduled Castes numbered 4,285 and Scheduled Tribes numbered 29,232.

Literacy

As per 2011 census the total number of literates in Kurseong CD Block was 69,646 out of which 39,895 were males and 31,751 were females.

References