English Bazar, better known as Malda, is a city and a municipality in Malda district in the state of West Bengal, India. It serves as the district headquarters. Panini mentioned a city named Gourpura, which by strong reason may be identified as the city of Gouda, ruins of which are situated in this district. It had been within the limits of ancient ‘Gour’ and ‘Pandua’(Pundrabardhana). These two cities had been the capital of Bengal in ancient and medieval ages and are equidistant, north and south, from English Bazar town (once known as Engelzavad established by the British rulers). The boundary of Gour was changed in different ages since 5th century BC and its name can be found in Puranic texts. Pundranagar was the provincial capital of Maurya Empire.. .

Directions: The city is located on National Highway 34 the North-South arterial road of West Bengalsome 347 km north of Kolkata and 256 km south of Siliguri..