Malda, also written as Maldah, is an important district of West Bengal known for its mangoes, silk, historic monuments and strategic position between South and North Bengal. English Bazar, commonly called Malda town, is the district headquarters. The district covers about 3,733 sq. km and shares an international border of approximately 165.5 km with Bangladesh. Malda is also historically significant because the ancient cities of Gaur and Pandua served as important centres of Bengal.
Quick Overview of Malda District
| Particular | Details |
| State | West Bengal |
| District Headquarters | English Bazar (Malda) |
| Area | 3,733 sq. km |
| Population | 39,97,970 |
| Literacy Rate | 62.71% |
| Subdivisions | 2 |
| Development Blocks | 15 |
| Gram Panchayats | 146 |
| Villages | 3,701 |
| Municipalities | 2 |
| Main Court | District and Sessions Court, Malda |
| Main Railway Station | Malda Town Railway Station |
| Railway Station Code | MLDT |
| Railway Zone | Eastern Railway |
| Railway Division | Malda Division |
| Main Malda PIN Code | 732101 |
| Nearest Operational Airport | Bagdogra Airport |
| Official District Website | malda.gov.in |
Census 2011 recorded a population of 39,97,970 and a literacy rate of 62.71% for Maldah district. The current district administration lists 15 development blocks, 146 Gram Panchayats and 3,701 villages.
Location of Malda District
Malda district is located in the northern part of West Bengal, about 347 km north of Kolkata. It occupies an important position on the main route connecting South Bengal with Siliguri and North Bengal.
The district is bordered by:
- Bihar and Uttar Dinajpur towards the north
- Murshidabad towards the south
- Bangladesh towards the east
- Jharkhand and Bihar towards the west
The Ganga enters West Bengal near Manikchak in Malda district. The Mahananda and Kalindi are also important rivers in the region. Because large parts of Malda form a low-lying river basin, some areas are vulnerable to flooding and river erosion.
Malda is well known for Fazli and other mango varieties, mulberry cultivation, silk production, jute and agriculture.
Administration of Malda District
The district headquarters is at English Bazar. The main Collectorate is located in English Bazar, Malda – 732101.
Malda has two subdivisions:
- Malda Sadar
- Chanchal
Malda Sadar Subdivision
It contains nine development blocks:
- English Bazar
- Gazole
- Habibpur
- Kaliachak I
- Kaliachak II
- Kaliachak III
- Manikchak
- Old Malda
- Bamangola
Chanchal Subdivision
It contains six development blocks:
- Chanchal I
- Chanchal II
- Ratua I
- Ratua II
- Harishchandrapur I
- Harishchandrapur II
The district has two municipalities – English Bazar Municipality and Old Malda Municipality. English Bazar and Old Malda together form the principal urban area of the district.
Malda District Court
The principal judicial institution is the District and Sessions Court, Malda. It serves as the main district-level court for civil and criminal judicial matters, supported by Additional District Courts, Civil Judge courts, Judicial Magistrate courts and other judicial establishments.
Court information can be checked online through the official eCourts Services system. Users can search for:
- Case status
- Hearing dates
- Court orders
- Cause lists
- Case numbers
- CNR details
A CNR number is generally the easiest way to locate a particular case.
District Court Location
Malda District Court is located in English Bazar, the district headquarters.
A commonly used location is:
District and Sessions Court, Court Bandh Road area, English Bazar, Malda, West Bengal – 732101
The court is situated within the central administrative part of Malda town and is accessible from the Collectorate, bus facilities and Malda Town Railway Station. Court records identify the district judiciary as Malda District Court, English Bazar, West Bengal.
Malda Town Railway Station
Malda Town Railway Station is the principal railway station serving Malda district headquarters and one of the major railway junctions of eastern India.
Railway Station Code: MLDT
The station belongs to the Eastern Railway and is the headquarters station of Malda Railway Division. Indian Railways currently classifies Malda Town as an NSG-3 station.
Malda Town has good rail connectivity towards:
- Kolkata
- New Jalpaiguri
- Delhi
- Patna
- Guwahati
- Bhagalpur
- North Bengal
- Northeast India
The district administration places Malda Town station about 328 km by rail from Sealdah and 234 km from New Jalpaiguri.
Malda Town Railway Station Location
The railway station is located within the main Malda urban area at:
- B. A. Ghani Khan Choudhury Sarani, English Bazar, Malda, West Bengal
The station is well connected with the rest of the city by:
- Autorickshaws
- E-rickshaws
- Taxis
- Local buses
- Private vehicles
The station is close to the Jhaljhalia area and is around 1.5 km from the main national highway corridor according to Eastern Railway’s divisional information.
Road Connectivity
Malda is an important road transit point between Kolkata and North Bengal. National highway routes provide direct connectivity towards:
- Kolkata
- Farakka
- Raiganj
- Siliguri
- Murshidabad
- North Bengal
Government and private buses operate from Malda towards Kolkata, Siliguri and neighbouring districts. Local buses and shared vehicles connect English Bazar with Chanchal, Gazole, Kaliachak, Manikchak and other parts of the district.
Nearest Airport to Malda
Malda has an airport facility, but regular commercial passenger services are not currently available from it. The district administration describes Malda Airport as under development/construction for regular use.
The nearest major operational airports listed by the district administration are:
- Bagdogra Airport – about 224 km
- Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata – about 316 km
Bagdogra is generally the nearer option for scheduled commercial flights.
Malda Pin Code
The main PIN code of Malda/English Bazar is 732101.
The district Collectorate, English Bazar Municipality and several important government institutions use PIN 732101.
Other parts of the district have different PIN codes, for example:
- Old Malda – 732128
- Chanchal – 732123
- Gazole – 732124
- Kaliachak – 732201
- Manikchak – 732202
Therefore, 732101 should not be treated as the PIN code for the entire Malda district.
Major Tourist Places in Malda District
Gaur
Gaur is the district’s most important historic zone. Its monuments include Dakhil Darwaza, Firoz Minar, Boro Sona Mosque, Chika Mosque and Lukochuri Gate.
Adina and Pandua
The Adina-Pandua area is known for Adina Mosque, Eklakhi Mosque and other medieval remains. Pandua was once an important seat of power in Bengal.
Ramkeli
Ramkeli lies about 14 km south of Malda and is associated with Sri Chaitanya. It is an important religious and historical destination.
FAQs About Malda District
Q. Are Malda and Maldah the same district?
Yes. Malda, Maldah and Maldaha are spellings used for the same West Bengal district. Malda is the spelling commonly used by the present district administration.
Q. Is English Bazar the same as Malda city?
English Bazar is the official district headquarters and forms the main urban area commonly referred to as Malda town or Malda city.
Q. What is the main railway station for Malda?
The principal station is Malda Town Railway Station, with station code MLDT. It belongs to Eastern Railway and serves as the headquarters of Malda Railway Division.
Q. Why is Malda famous for mangoes?
Malda has extensive mango orchards and is particularly associated with varieties such as Fazli. Mango cultivation and trade are important parts of the district’s agricultural economy and identity.
