Hooghly
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Overview
The Hooghly is the distributary of the Ganga in West Bengal on which Kolkata stands. It leaves the main stream below Farakka, where the Ganga enters Bangladesh as the Padma, and has a tidal bore.
The Hooghly belt is one of India's main industrial regions, and National Waterway 1 runs along it. In history, Hooghly was a Mughal-era port; the Portuguese lost it to Shah Jahan in 1632.
Geography and key facts
- Ganga distributary in West Bengal; Kolkata stands on it
- Has a tidal bore
- Hooghly industrial belt
- Portuguese lost Hooghly to Shah Jahan (1632)
Why it matters for UPSC
Asked in a 2004 statements question on gulfs, tides and estuaries.
Note for UPSC
The Ganga distributary in West Bengal on which Kolkata stands.
Prelims asks about tributaries, the states a river flows through, its basin and the projects on it, so trace the course on the map.
Asked in PYQs
- UPSC Prelims 2004 · Q66Which one of the following statements is not correct?…
Questions from our Prelims bank whose text names Hooghly.
Key facts
- Type
- River
- State / UT
- West Bengal
- River system
- Himalayan
- Basin
- Ganga
- Extent on map
- 21.8°–24.5°N, 88.0°–88.5°E
- Asked in Prelims
- 1 question · 2004
From the Map Explorer data; positions are for orientation.
In the lessons
- Mughal Administration, Mansabdari, Land Revenue and Economy
- Advent of the Europeans: Portuguese, Dutch, English, French and the Carnatic Wars
- Drainage Systems of India: Himalayan and Peninsular Rivers
- Mineral and Energy Resources and the Location of Industries in India
- Oceanography: Relief, Temperature, Salinity, Currents and Tides
- Transport Infrastructure: Roads, Railways, Ports and Aviation