Goalpara

The name Goalpara is said to have originated from the word "Gwaltippika" meaning Guwali village, or The village of the milk men.[2] In local dialect, "para" means village.

Goalpara is located on the bank of the river Brahmaputra.[3] Goalpara Kingdom was being ruled by KochRajbongshi Kings. It has an average elevation of 35 metres (114 feet).

Goalpara is endowed with scenic beauty. Hulukanda Hill, located at the heart of Goalpara on the bank of the Brahmaputra river, is one of the natural scenic views in the town, with various kinds of waterfowl and monkeys. There are some other bodies of water such as Hashila beel, Kumri beel, and Urpad beel. The Urpad beel becomes the centre of migratory birds during Oct-March. The evergreen forests on low hills create an undulating landscape. People of Goalpara speak Rajbongshi language, colloquially known as Goalpariya language.

Goalpara district consists of 8 blocks:

• Balijana
• Jaleswar
• Kharmuza
• Krishnai
• Kuchdhowa
• Lakhipur
• Matia
• Rangjuli

As of 2001 India census,[4] Goalpara had a population of 48,911. Males constituted 52% of the population and females 48%. Goalpara had an average literacy rate of 69%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. Male literacy rate is 73% and female literacy rate is 64%. In Goalpara, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Bengali Muslims constitute the majority of population in Goalpara.[5] Most residents of Goalpara refer to themselves as "deshi" (of the local region) in order to avoid addressing this issue directly. Goalpariya dialect is widely spoken by the residents and the most spoken language in the area. It was once a princely state ruled by the Rajbongshi/Koch Rajbongshi kings.

The widely spoken language is Koch Rajbongshi. Other languages spoken here include Assamese, Bengali, Rabha, Hindi, Garo, Bodo, Hajong, Nepali, etc. But most of the people use Koch-Rajbongshi(Deshi) as a common language for daily communication.

The notable places to visit in and around Goalpara are:

• Shyamrai Sattra

Shyamrai Sattra, the center of Vaishnavite culture of Srimanta Sankardeva, was established in Goalpara about 366 years ago. In the preliminary stages, the Sattra was managed by two brothers named Late Raghu Medhi and Late Kush Medhi. Subsequently, the people of Goalpara assembled there and decided to permanently establish the Sattra. They approached the Meshpara Estate Zamindar, who in turn, allotted 8 bighas of land in the center of the town for the establishment of the Sattra. Since then, the Sattra has continuously observed all formalities and aspects of Vaishnav culture. Regular 'Nam Prasanga', etc. are held in coordination with the observance of the yearly religious festivals. 'Thiyo Naam / Paal Naam Competition' is organised every year and groups come from all over Assam come to participate. One of the most important aspects of the Sattra is that the Sattra authority has preserved the 'Asthi' of Srimanta Sankardeva, which is exhibited in the Sattra campus during Sankar Jayanti period i.e., in the month of Sukla Dasami (during September–October).

• Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math

It was established at Goalpara in 1969 in order to protect, preserve and expand Sri Krishna Chaitanya culture in the area on a donated plot of land in the center of the town. Regular 'Puja Sangkirtan', etc. are held in the Math in addition to the observance of the religious festivals, as per the Sri Chaitanya Calendar. A large number of devotees from different parts of Assam visit the Math regularly. During important annual festivals, devotees from different parts of the country, including foreigners, visit the Math.

• Pir Majhar

The 'Majhar' (tomb) of Hazarat Sayed Abul Kasem Kharasani is situated at the heart of Goalpara. The Muslim graveyard grew around the "MAJHAR". Every year, 'Uros-Mubarak' is observed here which marks the anniversary of the death of the Pir which is attended by thousands of people from across different religions. The saint Sayed Abul Kasem was a resident of Kherasan and he was born at a place called Fatima Killa. He had set off on a spiritual journey to India and eventually reached Rangpur, which is now in Bangladesh. He used to visit Goalpara frequently to spread his spiritual teachings.

• Hulukanda Pahar

It is a hill located on the bank of the Brahmaputra.

• Sri Surya Pahar

Sri Surya Pahar, located about 12 km southeast of Goalpara town and about 136 km northwest of Guwahati, is a significant but relatively unknown archaeological site in Assam, India. The site is centered on the hills (Pahar) of Sri Surya, which is profusely filled up with Shiva Lingas Lingam. The popular belief is that 99,999 Shiva Lingas were engraved here by Vyasa in order to build up a second Kashi (where there were 100,000 Shiva Lingas), and once it was one of the holiest pilgrimage sites in the region. The site has the distinction of possessing valuable cultural remains of three important religions of India, i.e. Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism.

• Paglatek Shiv Mandir

This is a renowned Shiva Temple situated at Barbhita, near Pancharatna, about 7 km from Goalpara Town. Many devotes visit this temple during the 'Mela'.

• Nandeswar Devalaya

Nandeswar Devalaya is one of the oldest devalayas (Shiva Temple) established on the top of Nandeswar hill which stands by the side of river Dudhnoi. There is reason to believe that the temple was established in the 10th or 11th century AD. Shivaratri, Durga Puja and Dol jatra festivals are celebrated in the temple.

• Tukreswari

Tukreswari Temple is also a famous religious spot located by the side of National Highways 37 at Tukura about 15 KM from Goalpara Town. As per religious faith a portion of (TUKURA) the Goddess Sati fell in this place and therefore the temple is known as Tukreswari. Two temples are there at the top of Tukreswari hill , one is a Shiva Temple and the other is known as JOYA- VIJOYA Temple.

Some of the major educational institutions are:

Goalpara District have a 200 bedded Government Civil Hospital located in Bhalukdubi with all state-of art equipment's and various OT's. Goalpara district have total 181 hospitals including Block PHC, Mini PHC, SHC, State Dispensaries and Sub centres. Following are some private and Govt Hospitals of Goalpara Town

• 200 bedded Govt civil hospital.
• Solace Hospital & Research Centre Pvt. Ltd., Baladmari[6]
• Florence Hospital.
• Nirmala Hospital.
• Al-Salam Hospital.
• Life Care Hospital, Baladmari
• Apollo Tele clinic, New Bakurpara.
• All Times Doctor Chamber, Bhalukdubi.
• Seven Sisters Hospital & Research Centre, Bapuji Nagar.

Goalpara district consists of four assembly constituencies which are Goalpara East, Goalpara West, Jaleshwar and Dudhnoi. The first three are part of Dhubri (Lok Sabha constituency). Following are the present MLA's of Goalpara-

• Goalpara East: AK Rasheed Alam(INC)
• Goalpara West: Abdur Rashid Mondal. (INC)
• Jaleswar : Sahab Uddin Ahmed . (AIUDF )
• Dudhnoi : Deepak Rabha. (BJP).[7]

• Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha- Spiritual Master[8]
• Adil Hussain - Actor and theatre personality[9]
• Ashraful Haque-Bollywood Actor
• Baharul Islam -Actor and theatre personality