HALISAHAR

formerly Kumarhata, city, southeastern West Bengal state, northeastern India, just east of the Hooghly River. Halisahar is a noted home of Sanskrit scholars, or pandits. It was constituted a municipality in 1903 when separated from Naihati municipality and includes Kanchrapara town. A part of the Calcutta urban agglomeration, it is a major paper-milling centre. Pop. (1991 prelim.) 113,670.