Midnapore District in West Bengal was a major site of the freedom movement during British rule. The district borders the states of Orissa and Jharkhand on the western side. Midnapore is also bounded by the districts of Bankura, Hooghly, Howrah, and South 24 Parganas. Spread over an area of 14,081 sq km, it has a population of around 9.6 million. The headquarters is Midnapore, a major educational center in West Bengal.
About 70 percent of the workers are engaged in agriculture and related activities. Main rivers flowing through the district are Kangsabati, Silabati, Rupnarayan,
Haldi, and Subarnarekha. Rice, jute, potatoes, coconut, and rapeseed are among the important crops cultivated.
The district has excellent infrastructure facilities. Kharagpur is a major railway junction. Among the major tourist destinations are
Digha, Shankarpur,
Tamluk,
Jhargram, Belpahari, and Kankrajhor.
