India is a large country with 28 states and 8 union territories. These states and UTs are further divided into districts for better administration. There are a total of 783 districts in India (as of August 2023). This article lists the top 10 largest districts in India. Let’s read.
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Note: In August 2023, 19 new districts in Rajasthan were announced. Due to this the list may change. The website will try to update the post as soon as new data is available. Top 3 will not change though.
Top 10 largest districts in India
- Kutch, Gujarat (45,674 square kilometers)
- Leh, Ladakh (45,110 square kilometers)
- Jaisalmer, Rajasthan (38,401 square kilometers)
- Bikaner, Rajasthan (30,247.90 square kilometers)
- Barmer, Rajasthan (28,387 square kilometers)
- Jodhpur, Rajasthan (22,850 square kilometers)
- Nagaur, Rajasthan (17,718 square kilometers)
- Ahmednagar, Maharashtra (17,048 square kilometers)
- Pune, Maharashtra (15,643 square kilometers)
- Nashik, Maharashtra (15,582 square kilometers)
1. Kutch (Kachchh)
| State/UT | Area (sq km) | Population | Literacy rate (%) |
| Gujarat | 45,674 | 20,92,371 | 70.59 |
Kutch district of Gujarat is the largest district in India. It is famous for its Rann of Kutch which is one of the largest salt deserts in the world. The district has an area of 45,674 square kilometers. The town of Bhuj serves as the administrative headquarters of the district.
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The famous Rann Utsav that is organized every year in Rann of Kutch showcases the natural beauty and culture of Kutch.
(Also read: Forest cover in India (2024) – important statistics)
2. Leh
| State/UT | Area (sq km) | Population | Literacy rate (%) |
| Ladakh | 45,110 | 1,33,487 | 77.20 |
Leh district is one of the two districts in the newly formed union territory Ladakh, the other one is Kargil. As the second-largest district in India, Leh has an area of 45,110 square kilometers. The district has many tourist and trekking destinations. It is also famous for the Hemis National Park which is the largest National Park in India. The majority population in Leh is Buddhist and speaks the Bauti (Ladakhi) language.
3. Jaisalmer
| State/UT | Area (sq km) | Population | Literacy rate (%) |
| Rajasthan | 38,401 | 6,69,919 | 57 22 |
Located in the Thar desert, Jaisalmer is the third largest district in India. The district is sparsely populated and shares a border with Pakistan. The district has an area of 38,401 square kilometers and is the largest district in Rajasthan state.
The city of Jaisalmer serves as the headquarters of the district and is famous for the Jaisalmer Fort which is a UNESCO world heritage site. Jaisalmer is one of the most visited places in Rajasthan.
4. Bikaner
| State/UT | Area (sq km) | Population | Literacy rate (%) |
| Rajasthan | 30,247.90 | 23,63,937 | 65.13 |
Bikaner district of Rajasthan comes at number 4 on this list. Bikaner has an area of 30,239 square kilometers. Just like Jaisalmer, Bikaner also shares a border with Pakistan. The district headquarters is in Bikaner city which is famous for the Junagadh fort.
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5. Barmer
| State/UT | Area (sq km) | Population | Literacy rate (%) |
| Rajasthan | 28,387 | 26,03,751 | 56.53 |
As one of the largest districts in India, Barmer has an area of 28,387 square kilometers. It is the third-largest district in Rajasthan.
6. Jodhpur
| State/UT | Area (sq km) | Population | Literacy rate (%) |
| Rajasthan | 22,850 | 36,87,165 | 65.94 |
Another district from Rajasthan on this list, Jodhpur is large and also has a huge population. The district covers an area of 22,850 square kilometers and is home to around 37 lakh people.
The city of Jodhpur, popularly known as the “Blue City” is a tourist magnet. A large number of tourists from India and around the world visit Jodhpur every year. The best places to see in Jodhpur are Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada, Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum, etc.
7. Nagaur
| State/UT | Area (sq km) | Population | Literacy rate (%) |
| Rajasthan | 17,718 | 33,07,743 | 62.80 |
Nagaur is the fifth district on this list from Rajasthan. It is the 8th largest district in India. The district has a huge population of 33 lakhs. The administrative headquarters is located in Nagaur city.
8. Ahmednagar
| State/UT | Area (sq km) | Population | Literacy rate (%) |
| Maharashtra | 17,048 | 45,43,159 | 79.05 |
The first entry on this list from the state of Maharashtra, Ahmednagar is the eighth largest district in India. It has an area of 17,048 square kilometers.
9. Pune
| State/UT | Area (sq km) | Population | Literacy rate (%) |
| Maharashtra | 15,643 | 94,26,959 | 87.2 |
Pune with an area of 15,643 square kilometers is the ninth-largest district in India and the second-largest in Maharashtra. Pune is one of the most industrialized districts of India with developed IT and automobile industries.
10. Nashik
| State/UT | Area (sq km) | Population | Literacy rate (%) |
| Maharashtra | 15,582 | 61,07,187 | 82.31 |
Nashik district of Maharashtra is the number 10 entry on this list. The district has an area of 15,582 square kilometers. The district is one of the four places in India where the Kumbh Mela is organized.
Some useful information
- Uttar Pradesh has the most, 75 districts. UP also has the most Lok Sabha seats, 80.
- Kutch, the largest district in India is famous for its Rann of Kutch. Rann of Kutch has two parts – the great Rann of Kutch and the little rann of Kutch. The great Rann of Kutch is one of the largest salt deserts in the world.
- Leh is the second-largest district. It is a popular destination for biking adventures. Moreover, it is also famous for its monasteries and breathtaking mountain views.
- 5 of the 10 largest districts in India are in Rajasthan.
- 3 of the 10 largest districts in India are in Maharashtra.
- The states are divided into districts to have a better administration. Most districts on this list have a large area as they are less populated.
- Districts are further divided into Tehsils or Talukas.
Disclaimer: The stats are as per the 2011 census.
Quick question
Which is the newest state in India?
Read more
- Lok Sabha seats in India | State-wise composition | interesting facts
- States and union territories of India – area rank, population rank, etc.
Answer to quick question
Telangana is the newest state in India. It was carved out of Andhra Pradesh on 2 June 2014.
Leh district would have been the largest if we did not have the disputed regions.
True
Nicely written
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Useful Information
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