Diamond Harbor (India)
Diamond Harbor | ||
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State : | India | |
State : | West Bengal | |
District : | Dakshin 24 Pargana | |
Location : | 22 ° 12 ′ N , 88 ° 12 ′ E | |
Height : | 16 m | |
Residents : | 41,802 (2011) | |
Diamond Harbor Municipality |
Diamond Harbor is a city in the Indian state of West Bengal .
The city is part of the Dakshin 24 Pargana district . Diamond Harbor has the status of a municipality . The city is divided into 16 wards . It had 41,802 inhabitants on the cut-off date of the 2011 census, of which 21,050 were men and 20,752 women. Hindus make up the majority of the city's population with a share of around 86%. Muslims form a minority with a share of around 14%. The literacy rate in 2011 was 85.6%, slightly above the national average.
Formerly known as Hajipur, this town was called Diamond Harbor by the British. It used to be a safe resting place for seagoing ships. Here the Rupnarayan River flows into the Hugli River , then turns further south and widens into a huge expanse of water. A little further down the river Haldi flows into it.
In earlier days, Diamond Harbor was a stronghold of Portuguese pirates. The ruins of the fortress of Chingrikhali (known locally as Purano Kella) can still be seen. There is an old lighthouse nearby.