Bigha

The bigha (Hindi: , Assamese: , Bengali: ) is a unit of measurement of area of

a land, commonly used in Nepal, Bangladesh and in a few states
of India includingUttarakhand, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West

, , , etc. The precise size of a bigha appears to vary considerably. Sources

Bengal Assam Gujarat Rajasthan
have given measurements that range from 1,500 to 6,771 square meters, but in several
smaller pockets, it is as high as 12,400 square meters.
Uses in India

Bigha is a traditional unit of land in several parts of India, with land purchases still being
undertaken in this unit. However, it varies in size from one part of India to another. It is
usually less than an acre (0.4 hectare), however could extend up to 3 acres. Various states and
often parts within states have different sizes attributed to 1 Bighaa.

In Assam, India, a Bigha is 14400 square feet (1337.8 m ). It is subdivided into 5 Kotha. Each
2

Kotha consists of 20 Lecha. Each Lecha is 144 sq.ft (13.378 m )in area, and hence each 2

Kotha is 2880 sq.ft (267.56 m ) in area. (may vary)

2

In Bihar, different parts use different sizes for Bigha. Near the capital, Patna, 1 Bigha is
equivalent to 20 Kattha each worth 1361 sq.ft (126.44 m ). Furthermore, One Kattha are
2

subdivided in 20 Dhur. Hence, each Dhur is approximnately 68.06 sq.ft (6.321 m ). 2

Further, in some of the eastern parts of the state including Munger, Bhagalpur and Jamui, one Dhur is
further subdivided into 1 square Lagga (pole length). One Lagga is equivalent to 5.5 hand
lengths, with each hand length being 18 inches (45.72 cm). Therefore one Lagga is 99 inches,
or 251.46 cm.

In Himachal Pradesh, India, 5 Bigha is equal to 1 acre (0.0809 hectare).

In Punjab, India, 4 Bigha is equal to 1 acre (0.1012 hectare).
In central India, Bighas were standardized at 3025 square yards (2529.3 m ) or 5/8 acre 2

(0.2529 hectare).

In Madhya Pradesh, India, 1 Kattha = 600 sq.ft (55.74 m ). 2

In Uttar Pradesh 1 Bigha is divided into 20 Biswas. Each Biswas is 125 m or 154.32 sq.yd, hence2

one Bigha is 0.25 Hectare (or 2500 m or 3087.41 sq.yd). 7 Bisa ~ 1 Bigha (Kaccha)(In
2

Western UP)
In Uttar Pradesh (West) the measurements are slightly different: 1 Bigha=20 Bishwa=60
Decimal=2428.80 m 2
In Uttarakhand, 1 Bigha is subdivided into 19 Bissas or 12 Nali. In Imperial and SI Units, each
Bigha is 968 sq.yd or 800 m .2

, the Bigha was standardized under British colonial rule at 1600 sq.yd (0.1338
In West Bengal
hectare or 0.3306 acre); this is often interpreted as being 1/3 acre (it is precisely acre).
40 121

In Metric units, a Bigha is hence 1333.33 m .2