Katha or Biswa (also spelled kattha or cottah; Hindi: à ¤Âà ¤Âà ¥Âà ¤ à ¤¾, Assamese: à ¦Âà ¦ à ¦¾, Bengali: à ¦Âà ¦¾à ¦ à ¦¾) is a unit of area mostly used for land measurement in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. After metrication in the mid-20th century by these countries, the unit became officially obsolete. But this unit is still in use in much of Bangladesh, Northern India, Eastern India and Nepal. The measurement of katha varies significantly from place to place.
In Purvanchal, 1 Katha = or 151.25 square yard. One Bigha is made up of 5 to 20 Katha. Katha is divided into 20 Dhur and Dhur is subdivided into 20 Dhurki.
In Bangladesh, one katha is standardized to , and 20 katha equals 1 bigha.
In Assam, 1 Katha is equal to 2,880 ft<sup>2</sup> and 1 Bigha = 5 Katha; 1 bigha = 14,400 ft<sup>2</sup> and in lower assam such as cachar it is 720 square feet.
In Bihar, one Katha may vary from 720 to 3,267 square feet (ft<sup>2</sup>). 1 Bigha = 20 Katha. One katha is divided in 20 dhur. One dhur is subdivided in 20 dhurki. The origin of the term and measurement unit was during the Pala Empire. 1 Decimal = 435.6 square feet & 1 Acre = 100 decimal.
In Jharkhand, 1 Katha ranges from 720 to 2535 square feet. In Ranchi, 1 Katha is equal to 720 ft<sup>2</sup>. 1 bigha is equal to 20 Katha; 1 bigha = 14,400 ft<sup>2</sup>.
In Punjab and Haryana, Katha is known as Biswa. 1 Bigha = 20 Biswa and 1 Biswa = 20 Biswansi.
In Uttar Pradesh, Katha is also known as Biswa. One Katha is equal to 1,361.25 ft<sup>2</sup> or 151.25 square yard or 126.46 square metre. One Bigha in UP can range from 5 to 20 Katha.
In Western UP, 1 Bigha can be 5.0 Katha (756.25 square yard) or 6.6667 Katha (1,008.33 square yard). In Eastern UP, 1 Bigha is 20 Katha (3,025 square yard).
In West Bengal, 1 Katha is equal to 720 ft<sup>2</sup>. 1 bigha is equal to 20 Katha; 1 bigha = 14,400 ft<sup>2</sup>.
1 Acre = 3.025 Bigha, 1 katha= 16 chatak, 1 chatak=45 sq.ft
In Nepal, 1 Katha is equivalent to 338.55 m<sup>2</sup> With Manoj Chhetri