Mahendranagar
Encyclopedia
Bhim Dutta, formerly Mahendranagar (महेन्द्रनगर), is a city and municipality in far western Nepal
, six kilometre
s from the border of India
and the Mahakali River. It is the headquarters of the district of Kanchanpur
in the Mahakali Zone
, which is inhabited by people of various races including the indigenous Tharu people.
Mahendranagar is the 8th largest city in Nepal after the cities of Kathmandu, Pokhara
, Lalitpur, Biratnagar, Dharan
, Birganj
and Bharatpur
. It is 5 km east of the Indian border and 700 km west of Kathmandu. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census
, it had a population of 62,050. According to the census of 2001, the city's population was 80,839.
The name of Mahendranagar is related to the name of late king Mahendra
of Nepal. After becoming a republic in 2008, the city name was changed to Bhim Dutta.
. Mahendranagar is now the unique combination of all ethnic groups representing the overall society of Nepal
. The festivals celebrated by people in Mahendranagar fully reflects the blend of all groups. The ethnic Tharu people celebrate Dhikri festival while Brahmin
and Chhetri of Farwestern origin primarily celebrate Gora (commonly called Gaura
Parba). Later Deepawali or Diwali
appears as a major festival which includes Laxmi Pooja , Gai Tihar , and Bhai Tika. More recently Dashain has been accepted as a major festival. It appears the people of Mahendaranagar have truly accepted all festivals as an integral part of their joyful life.
. Mahendranagar is a major provider of education, health and employment opportunities in west Nepal. Mahakali Zonal Hospital and other private hospitals provide health care. Similarly, Siddhanath Science Campus, Siddhanath Multiple Campus, Mahendranagar Medical College, Radiant Higher Secondary School, Adarsh College (Brixton College), International Public Higher Secondary School and other colleges provide advanced education. That is why students from other regions migrate here for education.
, the longest highway of Nepal has its one end in Mahendranbagar the other being in eastern city Kankarbhitta And is also connected by some of the sub highways with the hill towns of Dipayal, Baitadi, Amargadhi, and Darchula.
Road transport is also linked with bordering India
to Banbasa
and Tanakpur
through the bridges in Mahakali river making Mahendranagar the nearest city of Nepal from New Delhi
, the capital of city of India
.
Mahendranagar is also hub of activity for various industries running between India and Nepal. It is 8 miles away from the famous Mahakali
river. It is one of the best places to live in Nepal and also is host to Shuklafanta National Park.
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, six kilometre
Kilometre
The kilometre is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to one thousand metres and is therefore exactly equal to the distance travelled by light in free space in of a second...
s from the border of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and the Mahakali River. It is the headquarters of the district of Kanchanpur
Kanchanpur District
-Basic statistics:* District: Kanchanpur* Headquarters: Mahendranagar* Area: 1610 km²* Total Population: 377,899* Literacy rate: 57.60% -Political divisions:* Political constituencies: 4...
in the Mahakali Zone
Mahakali Zone
Mahakali|Kali River]] or Mahakali River, which originates from Kalapani.Mahakali's headquarter is Mahendranagar in Kanchanpur District. The zone covers the Himalayan range including Api Peak in the North, Hill valleys, Inner Terai valleys such as Patan in Baitadi District in the center and the...
, which is inhabited by people of various races including the indigenous Tharu people.
Mahendranagar is the 8th largest city in Nepal after the cities of Kathmandu, Pokhara
Pokhara
Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City is the second largest city of Nepal. Pokhara is city of close to 350,000 inhabitants in central Nepal located at 28.25°N, 83.99°E, which is the centre of the country from east to west or from north to south, 198 km west of Kathmandu or 90 km west of Mugling, and...
, Lalitpur, Biratnagar, Dharan
Dharan, Nepal
Dharan is a major city in eastern Nepal, in the Sunsari District, situated on foothills of Mahabharat Range with southern tip touching the edge of the Terai at an altitude of 1148 ft . It serves as a trading post between the hilly region and the plains of Terai region. It was once the...
, Birganj
Birganj
Birganj is a sub-metropolitan municipality and border town in Parsa District in the Narayani Zone of southern Nepal. It lies 283 km south of the capital Kathmandu, 3 km north of the border of the Indian state of Bihar. As an entry point to Nepal from Patna and Calcutta it is also known...
and Bharatpur
Bharatpur, Nepal
Bharatpur is a city in the central-southern part of Nepal. Located in Chitwan Valley, Bharatpur is the district headquarters of the Chitwan District, as well as a separate Municipal authority, and is the seventh largest city of Nepal with the population of 89,323 . The estimated population for...
. It is 5 km east of the Indian border and 700 km west of Kathmandu. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census
1991 Nepal census
The 1991 Nepal census was a widespread national census conducted by the Nepal Central Bureau of Statistics.Working with Nepal's Village Development Committees at a district level,...
, it had a population of 62,050. According to the census of 2001, the city's population was 80,839.
The name of Mahendranagar is related to the name of late king Mahendra
Mahendra of Nepal
Possibly no heir for the time period of 1911 through 1920. Previous Crown Prince: Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah, from 1906 to 1911....
of Nepal. After becoming a republic in 2008, the city name was changed to Bhim Dutta.
Society
Indigenous people are the Ranatharus but now people from all over country have migrated to the area but mostly from the districts such as Baitadi and DadeldhuraDadeldhura
Dadeldhura is a Village Development Committee in Dadeldhura District in the Mahakali Zone of western Nepal.-External links:*...
. Mahendranagar is now the unique combination of all ethnic groups representing the overall society of Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
. The festivals celebrated by people in Mahendranagar fully reflects the blend of all groups. The ethnic Tharu people celebrate Dhikri festival while Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
and Chhetri of Farwestern origin primarily celebrate Gora (commonly called Gaura
Gaura
Gaura is a genus of flowering plants in the family Onagraceae, native to North America. The genus includes many species known commonly as beeblossoms...
Parba). Later Deepawali or Diwali
Diwali
Diwali or DeepavaliThe name of the festival in various regional languages include:, , , , , , , , , , , , , popularly known as the "festival of lights," is a festival celebrated between mid-October and mid-December for different reasons...
appears as a major festival which includes Laxmi Pooja , Gai Tihar , and Bhai Tika. More recently Dashain has been accepted as a major festival. It appears the people of Mahendaranagar have truly accepted all festivals as an integral part of their joyful life.
Services
Mahendranagar is the main business centre of the Mahakali ZoneMahakali Zone
Mahakali|Kali River]] or Mahakali River, which originates from Kalapani.Mahakali's headquarter is Mahendranagar in Kanchanpur District. The zone covers the Himalayan range including Api Peak in the North, Hill valleys, Inner Terai valleys such as Patan in Baitadi District in the center and the...
. Mahendranagar is a major provider of education, health and employment opportunities in west Nepal. Mahakali Zonal Hospital and other private hospitals provide health care. Similarly, Siddhanath Science Campus, Siddhanath Multiple Campus, Mahendranagar Medical College, Radiant Higher Secondary School, Adarsh College (Brixton College), International Public Higher Secondary School and other colleges provide advanced education. That is why students from other regions migrate here for education.
Transport and Communication
Telephone fax, email and Internet is available from here, there is a domestic airport in Mahendranagar with air service to Kathmandu. Bus service connects Mahendaranagar to all the other parts of the country. Mahendra HighwayMahendra Highway
Mahendra Highway also called East West Highway runs across the Terai region of Nepal, from Kankarbhitta in the east to Mahendranagar in the west, cutting across the entire width of the country. It is the longest highway in Nepal.-Overview:...
, the longest highway of Nepal has its one end in Mahendranbagar the other being in eastern city Kankarbhitta And is also connected by some of the sub highways with the hill towns of Dipayal, Baitadi, Amargadhi, and Darchula.
Road transport is also linked with bordering India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
to Banbasa
Banbasa
Banbasa is a census town in Champawat district in the state of Uttarakhand, India.-Demographics: India census, Banbasa had a population of almost 8,000 . Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%...
and Tanakpur
Tanakpur
Tanakpur is a town and a municipal board in Champawat district in the Indian state of UttarakhandKnown in the northern part of India as the gateway for the Purnagiri Temple , Tanakpur is a calm and small town located on riverside of Sarda River.It is located at the foothills and is the last plain...
through the bridges in Mahakali river making Mahendranagar the nearest city of Nepal from New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, the capital of city of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Mahendranagar is also hub of activity for various industries running between India and Nepal. It is 8 miles away from the famous Mahakali
Mahakali
Mahakali , literally translated as Great Kali, is a Hindu Goddess, considered to be the consort of Shiva the God of consciousness, and as the basis of Reality and existence...
river. It is one of the best places to live in Nepal and also is host to Shuklafanta National Park.