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 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, 6 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).
UttarPradesh East Vs Uttar Pradesh West
The traditional measurment of area of land in India is based on Yard (Gaj) and not in Meter it started from Gattha. Now see the Unit below:
1. Gattha is a measurment instrument (Bamboo stik or Iron Rod) used to measure mainly Agriculture Land and is equal to 99 inches.
2. The Land Area which is 1 Squire Gattha (1 Gattha Long X 1 Gattha Wide) is know as 1 Biswasi and equal to 7.5625 Squire Yard.
3. 20 Biswasi (20 Squire Gattha) is known as 1 Bissa and equal to 151.25 Squire Yard.
Now there is a confusion in Bigha. In East of UP 1 Bigha is equal to 20 Bissa which is also known as 1 Packka Bigha in West UP and Haryana and equal to 3 Bigha (Kacha Bigha)
3. 1 Pakka Bigha is equal to 20 Bissa which is equal to 3025 Squire Yard.
4. 1 Kachha Bigha is equal to 20/3 Bissa which is equal to 1008.33 Squire Yard.
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 m2.
In Nepal
A Bigha is a customary unit of measurement in Nepal, equal to about 6,773 square meters. Officially, most measurement of lands use units of either Bigha (in Terai region) or Ropani (Nepali: रोपनी) (in Hilly regions). Metric system is very seldom used officially in measuring area of Land.
Measurement of area in terms of bigha
1 Bigha (बिघा)= 20 Kattha (कठ्ठा) (about 6,772.63 m² or 1 sq.ft.)
1 Kattha (कठ्ठा) = 20 Dhur (धुर) (about 338.63 m² or 3,645 sq.ft.)
1 Dhur (धुर) = 16.93 m² or 182.25 sq.ft.
1 Kanwa (कनवा) = 1/16 Dhur (धुर)
1 Kanaee (कनई) = 1/16 Kanwa (कनवा) [Kanwa is largely obsolete and is used only when tiny lands are very precious]
1 Bigha = 13.31 Ropani (रोपनी)
1 Ropani = 16 aana (आना) (about 508.72 m² or 5476 sq. ft.)
1 aana = 4 paisa (पैसा) (about 31.80 m² or 342.25 sq.ft.)
1 paisa = 4 daam (दाम) (7.95 m²)
1 Bigha = 6,772.63 m²
For the different Ropani system from the one above
1 Bigha = .677263 hectare = 1.6735 acre = 13.31 Ropani
1 Hectare = 19.965 Ropani
19.965 Ropani = 1 Hectare
1 Ropani = 508.83771 m²
In Bangladesh
The following measure of land existed in Bangladesh:
A Katha (also spelled Cottah) is a unit of area approximately equal to 1/20th of a Bigha (720 ft² or 66.89 m²).
A Katha is approximately 720 square foot or 1/20 of a Bigha. It is still in use in much of Bangladesh and India.
1 Kattah (or Cottah) = 720 Sq Feet
20 Kattah (or Cottah) = 1 Bigha
3 Bighas = 1 Acre approx. (4800square yards)
And related with Gonda measure of land in Noakhali, Bangladesh:
4 Kora = 1 Gonda
20 Gonda = 1 Kani
80 Kora = 1 Kani
120 Decimal = 1 Kani
.jpg)
