Murgihatta

Murgi Hatta is a small densely populated area in the heart of Kalimpong town in Darjeeling district, West Bengal, India. At present, nobody knows exactly how the name was acquired by this place. The Hindi dictionary meaning of Murgi is chicken and Hatta is a market place. Probably is could be a small market town for selling and buying the chicken way back in 19th century. It is a two minutes of walk from Kalimpong motor stand. It (Upper Murgihatta) presently falls under ward No. XI of Kalimpong Municipality (DI Fund Area). The remaining part (Lower Murgihatta) fall under Dungra gram panchayat of Kalimpong Development Block (Khas Mahal). Murgihatta is mostly populated by the Gurkha community of India. One of the oldest family as per record belongs to Late Dal Bahadur Lama (Tamang) (Writer Baje). Main business of this place at present is to let house in rental basis and houses are rented to hawkers /small business communities, mostly consisting of Hindu and Muslim Bihari from Bihar state. The oldest ferrous concrete building is Lhasha Villa which was constructed in 1953. Another oldest business is selling of dried fish (Sidra / Sukuti macha) carried out by second generation of Rai family (decedent of Sidrawalni Boju).