city, north-central West Bengal state, northeastern India, just west of the Mahananda River. The city was chosen as the site of the British East India Company's silk factories (trading stations) in 1676. The Dutch and French also had settlements there. It was constituted a municipality in 1869. A major road and rail junction, Ingraj Bazar is an important silk and agricultural trade centre. There is a sericultural station nearby. Pop. (2001) city, 161,456; urban agglom., 224,415.