Bigha - Uses in India

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 Bigha.

• In Assam, India, a Bigha is 14400 square feet (1337.8 m2). It is subdivided into 5 Kotha. Each Kotha consists of 20 Lecha. Each Lecha is 144 sq.ft (13.378 m2)in area, and hence each Kotha is 2880 sq.ft (267.56 m2) in area. (may vary)

• 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 m2). Furthermore, One Kattha are subdivided in 20 Dhur. Hence, each Dhur is approximnately 68.06 sq.ft (6.321 m2).
  • 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 m2) or 5/8 acre (0.2529 hectare).

• In Madhya Pradesh, India, 1 Kattha = 600 sq.ft (55.74 m2).

• In Uttar Pradesh 1 Bigha is divided into 20 Biswas. Each Biswas is 125 m2 or 154.32 sq.yd, hence one Bigha is 0.25 Hectare (or 2500 m2 or 3087.41 sq.yd). 7 Bisa ~ 1 Bigha (Kaccha)(In Western UP)
• In Uttar Pradesh (West) the measurements are slightly different: 1 Bigha=20 Bishwa=60 Decimal=2428.80 m2
• 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 m2.

• In West Bengal, the Bigha was standardized under British colonial rule at 1600 sq.yd (0.1338 hectare or 0.3306 acre); this is often interpreted as being 1/3 acre (it is precisely 40⁄₁₂₁ acre). In Metric units, a Bigha is hence 1333.33 m2.