Bijnor district is an administrative district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It forms part of the Moradabad division and lies in the upper Doab region of western Uttar Pradesh, on the eastern bank of the Ganges. The district takes its name from its headquarters town, Bijnor.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Uttar Pradesh |
| Division | Moradabad |
| Headquarters | Bijnor |
| Region | Western Uttar Pradesh (Upper Doab) |
| Major river | Ganges |
Geography
Bijnor district lies in the north-western part of Uttar Pradesh. It is bounded by the Ganges on the west, which separates it from the districts of Haridwar (Uttarakhand) and Muzaffarnagar. To the north lies Pauri Garhwal in Uttarakhand, while Moradabad and Amroha districts adjoin it to the south and east. The terrain is largely a fertile alluvial plain that supports intensive agriculture, with sugarcane being the leading commercial crop. The district falls within the catchment of several Ganges tributaries, including the Malin and Ramganga.
Administration
The district is divided into administrative tehsils and community development blocks, with the town of Bijnor serving as the administrative headquarters. Other significant urban centres in the district include Najibabad, Nagina, Dhampur, Nehtaur, Chandpur, Noorpur, Sherkot and Kiratpur. The district is administered by a District Magistrate, while law and order is supervised by a Superintendent of Police.
History
The area corresponding to present-day Bijnor has a long historical association with the Doab plains. In the 18th century, parts of the region were controlled by the Rohilla chiefs, and Najibabad was founded by Najib-ud-Daula, a prominent Rohilla noble who built the fort of Pathargarh nearby. After the British defeat of the Rohillas, the territory passed under the East India Company and was later organised as a district of the North-Western Provinces, which subsequently became part of the United Provinces and then Uttar Pradesh after independence.
The district figures in accounts of the 1857 uprising, during which local chiefs and communities took part in the events. The Hindi novelist and reformer Sayyid Ahmad Khan served as a judicial officer at Bijnor during this period, and his experiences there informed his later writings.
Economy
Agriculture dominates the economy of Bijnor, with sugarcane, wheat, rice and pulses being the principal crops. The district is one of the leading sugarcane-producing areas of Uttar Pradesh, and several sugar mills operate in towns such as Dhampur, Najibabad, Bijnor, Chandpur and Sherkot. Allied industries include paper, distilleries and small-scale engineering. Sherkot and Nagina are known for handicrafts, particularly woodwork in ebony and other fine timbers.
Demographics and culture
The district has a mixed population of Hindus and Muslims, with Hindi and Urdu being widely spoken alongside local dialects of the Khari Boli–Kauravi continuum. The cultural landscape reflects a blend of Rohilla, Awadhi and Doabi influences, visible in cuisine, architecture and festivals.
Transport
Bijnor is connected by road to Meerut, Moradabad, Haridwar and other regional centres. The district lies on rail routes linking Najibabad, Nagina and Dhampur with Moradabad and the Himalayan foothills; Najibabad junction is an important station providing connections towards Kotdwar and the hill regions of Uttarakhand. The Ganges is crossed by road bridges that link Bijnor with the trans-Ganga districts.
Notable places
- Najibabad – historic town associated with Najib-ud-Daula and the ruins of Pathargarh fort.
- Vidur Kuti – a pilgrimage site on the Ganges associated with traditions concerning the Mahabharata sage Vidura.
- Nagina – noted for its woodcraft industry.
- Dhampur – a major sugar-producing town.