Udalguri district

Udalguri district is one of the 27 districts of Assam state in north-eastern India. Udalguri town is the headquarters of the district. This district is bounded by Bhutan and West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh state in the north, Sonitpur district in the east, Darrang district in the south and Baksa district in the west. Area of the district is 1852.16 km². Population of the district is 7,56,671 (2001 census).

Origin of name
The name of the district is derived from its headquarters, Udalguri. There are three traditions regarding the etymology of Udalguri. According to one tradition, the name is derived from Odal (a tree) and Guri (roots or surrounding) and it was named because originally the town developed around an Odal tree. According to another tradition, this town derived its name because this place was originally a hermitage of sage Uddalaka. According to the third tradition, the name is derived from two Bodo words Ordla (wide and spacious) and Gundri (powdered object).

History
This district was formed on June 14, 2004 as one of the four districts under the Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District. This district was carved out by bifurcating erstwhile Darrang district, the territory of the present district was earlier Udalguri sub-division of the undivided district. There are Hindu,Christians and Muslim population living together in the district. The main composition of people there are Assamese (Borpetia), Boro Kachari, Saotal, Marwari, Bengali Hindu and Muslims, Nepali,Garo and other tribes. This was a very peaceful place till mid 80s but various communal clashes took place from time to time. Late Jojaram Sharma was one of the prominent India freedom fighters from Assam lived here.

There is an old Namghar ( Assamese Worship Place), an old Hanuman temple and an old Baptist Christian church in the Udalguri town.

Divisions
The district has two sub-divisions: Udalguri and Bhergaon. These two sub-divisions are further divided into 9 revenue circles: Udalguri, Majbat, Harishinga, Kalaigaon, Khoirabari, Dalgaon, Patherighat, Mangaldai and Dhekiajuli. Three Vidhan Sabha constituencies of this district are Panery, Majbat and Udalguri. All of these are part of Mangaldoi Lok Sabha constituency.