South 24 Parganas district

is an important district of State with its district headquarters in. It has the urban fringe of on one side and the remote riverine villages in the.

Agriculture, Industry and Pisciculture are all at their peak in the district.

, formerly, is a vast tract of forest and saltwater swamp forming the lower part of the , extending about 160 miles (260 km) along the from the  Estuary (India) to the  Estuary in Bangladesh. The whole tract reaches inland for 60-80 miles (100-130 km).

A network of estuaries, tidal rivers, and creeks intersected by numerous channels, it encloses flat, marshy islands covered with dense forests. The name Sundarbans is perhaps derived from the term meaning "forest of sundari," a reference to the large mangrove tree that provides valuable fuel. Along the coast the forest passes into a mangrove swamp; the southern region, with numerous wild animals and crocodile-infested estuaries, is virtually uninhabited. It is one of the last preserves of the and the site of a tiger preservation project. The cultivated northern area yields rice, sugarcane, timber, and betel nuts.

The region is also famous for some commonly domesticated livestock breeds which includes the Garole breed of sheep and Chinae hans or Muscuovy ducks, the Garole sheep is considered as the progenator of the Booroola merino sheep and is noted for its prolific character. However, the wool of the sheep which can be a valuable natural asset does not find any use among the natives.

beach resort located on one of the islands jutting out into the is gaining in popularity, with improvements in transport links with Kolkata.