Nepalgunj
Encyclopedia
Nepalgunj also spelled Nepalganj, is a municipality in Banke
District
, Nepal
on the Terai
plains near the southern border with Bahraich district
, Uttar Pradesh
state of India
. It is 16 km south of Kohalpur
and the east-west Mahendra Highway.
Nepalgunj is the administrative center of Banke
District
as well as Bheri
Zone
. It's also the main transport hub for Nepal's Mid-Western
and Far-Western
regions
. The nearest Indian border is about 8 km south and Bahraich
city is about 55 km south of the city center.
of Nepal
: Bheri
, Rapti
, Mahakali
, Karnali
and Seti
Banke District
-Geography:Banke is bordered on the west by Bardiya district. Rapti zone's Salyan and Dang Deukhuri Districts border to the north and east. To the south lies Uttar Pradesh, India; specifically Shravasti and Bahraich districts of Awadh. East of Nepalganj the international border follows the...
District
Districts of Nepal
Nepal's 14 administrative zones are subdivided into 75 districts . These districts are listed below, by zone...
, 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...
on the Terai
Terai
The Terai is a belt of marshy grasslands, savannas, and forests located south of the outer foothills of the Himalaya, the Siwalik Hills, and north of the Indo-Gangetic Plain of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and their tributaries. The Terai belongs to the Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands ecoregion...
plains near the southern border with Bahraich district
Bahraich District
Bahraich District is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and Bahraich town is the district headquarters. Bahraich District is a part of Devipatan Division.-History:...
, Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
state 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...
. It is 16 km south of Kohalpur
Kohalpur
Kohalpur is a town in Banke District in the Bheri Zone in mid-western Nepal. The town is in East-West highway and one of the fastest developing places in Nepal. A neighboring city Nepalgunj is on South , and further 6 km is the Indian border. In fact it is a growing city in the western...
and the east-west Mahendra Highway.
Nepalgunj is the administrative center of Banke
Banke District
-Geography:Banke is bordered on the west by Bardiya district. Rapti zone's Salyan and Dang Deukhuri Districts border to the north and east. To the south lies Uttar Pradesh, India; specifically Shravasti and Bahraich districts of Awadh. East of Nepalganj the international border follows the...
District
Districts of Nepal
Nepal's 14 administrative zones are subdivided into 75 districts . These districts are listed below, by zone...
as well as Bheri
Bheri Zone
Bheri Anchal in the Mid-Western Development Region of Nepal. Nepalgunj is the administrative headquarters.Cities and towns are Narayan, Jajarkot and Chhinchu in the "hills"; Nepalgunj, Gularia and Kohalpur in Terai; Birendranagar in Surkhet Valley in the Inner Terai.Bheri Zone is divided into five...
Zone
Zones of Nepal
Nepal is divided into 14 administrative zones , and 75 districts . The 14 administrative zones are grouped into five development regions...
. It's also the main transport hub for Nepal's Mid-Western
Mid-Western Region, Nepal
Mid-Western Region is one of Nepal's five development regions. Westward from the Central region surrounding Kathmandu are the Western, Mid-Western and finally Far-Western regions. Counter-intuitively, Mid-Western lies west of Western....
and Far-Western
Far-Western Region, Nepal
Far-Western Region is one of Nepal's five development regions. It is located at the western end of the country with headquarters at Dipayal.It comprises two zones :* Mahakali* Seti...
regions
Regions of Nepal
Nepal is divided into 14 administrative zones , which are divided into 75 districts . The 14 administrative zones are grouped into five development regions...
. The nearest Indian border is about 8 km south and Bahraich
Bahraich
Bahraich is a city and a municipal board in Bahraich district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Located on the Saryu River, a tributary of river Ghaghra, Bahraich is 125 km north-east of Lucknow, the state capital. The towns of Barabanki, Gonda, Balrampur, Lakhimpur and Sitapur share...
city is about 55 km south of the city center.
Overview
Nepalgunj is an important business centre for at least 5 zonesZones of Nepal
Nepal is divided into 14 administrative zones , and 75 districts . The 14 administrative zones are grouped into five development regions...
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...
: Bheri
Bheri Zone
Bheri Anchal in the Mid-Western Development Region of Nepal. Nepalgunj is the administrative headquarters.Cities and towns are Narayan, Jajarkot and Chhinchu in the "hills"; Nepalgunj, Gularia and Kohalpur in Terai; Birendranagar in Surkhet Valley in the Inner Terai.Bheri Zone is divided into five...
, Rapti
Rapti Zone
Rapti Anchal in the Mid-Western Development Region of Nepal. It is named after the West Rapti River which drains Rolpa, Pyuthan and part of Dang district. The remainder of Dang and part of Salyan are drained by the Babai. The remainder of Salyan and all of Rukum are drained by the Bheri.The...
, Mahakali
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...
, Karnali
Karnali Zone
Karnali Zone in the Mid-Western Development Region of Nepal. The headquarters is Jumla.Karnali Zone is one of the poorest and most remote regions of Nepal, not very accessible by road yet. There are airfields in all districts except Kalikot which is connected by seasonal roadways to Jumla...
and Seti
Seti Zone
Seti ZoneSeti ZoneSeti ZoneSeti ZoneSeti ZoneSeti ZoneSeti ZoneSeti ZoneSeti Zone' onMouseout='HidePop("4610")' href="/topics/Birendra_of_Nepal">Birendra
Chowk, is the main business hub with several banks,book shops,lodges, motor-parts and hardware
dealears, and other general home appliance
distributors. The 24 km long Surkhet
Road, starting from Mahendra
Chowk in Kohalpur and terminating at the Nepal-India Border, runs through the middle of the city passing through Birendra Chowk and two other important junctions- Pushpalal Chowk and BP Chowk, creating a network of roads that cover the major portion of city's industrial and residential areas.
Tribhuvan
Chowk is famous for its commodity and fancy shops along Sadar Line and Ek-Laineeh, and for its garment stores. The zonal hospital of Bheri Zone
- Bheri Hospital is located a few hundred meters south, and most of the important government offices like Chief District Office, Telecommunication Office, Post office, etc. are located within a radius of a few kilometers around it. Another famous area called New Road, while still under development, is emerging as a major attraction for its modern fashion retail shops, hotels and restaurants.
Restaurants in Nepalgunj are famous for its samosas, chaat
, golgappas, momos(Nepalese-style Dumplings), sekuwa (fry dried-meat), biryani
and chilled beer. Samosas, chaat
, golgappas and sekuwa from Nepaljung are considered to be the most delicious in all Nepal
.
The city is also popular for its religious significance. Bageshwori temple is renowned temple for hindu
devotees. Hinduism
and Islam
are two major religions in Nepalgunj with Hindus comprising larger percentage of the population.
There are a lot of other areas in Nepalgunj that are developing rapidly and attracting new residents and industries. The city is developing fast due to relocation of mid-hill migrants. It is also a center for business for vicinity zones and their districts. The is a high possibility of Nepalgunj being developed into a major IT
city in Nepal
since a large population of young generation are showing keen interest and motivation towards new computer technology and internet-world. Adoption of new technologies and marketing into new sectors have shown a promising future for this city.
Nepalgunj is considered the hottest place in Nepal, with temperature rising well above 40°C in summer.
is spoken natively by Paharis
as well as by virtually everyone as the national language and lingua franca
.
s, hindu(sanatan)s, Buddhists, Christian
s and Atheists all live here. Similarly people of different ethnicity have traditionally lived harmoniously together.
This tradition was badly disturbed by a riot in the last week of December 2006 causing violence between Nepal origin (people mainly from the hills) and Madhesi people of ganga river origin. At least one person was killed and dozens injured. A mob destroyed the statue of late King Tribhuvan and attempted to rename the chowk (intersection) as Kamal Madheshi Chowk after a person killed in the violence. The local administration had to impose a curfew and later formed a commission to investigate the causes of the riot.
Birendra of Nepal
Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev was a King of Nepal. The son of King Mahendra, whom he succeeded in 1972, he reigned until his death in the 2001 Nepalese royal massacre...
Chowk, is the main business hub with several banks,book shops,lodges, motor-parts and hardware
Hardware
Hardware is a general term for equipment such as keys, locks, hinges, latches, handles, wire, chains, plumbing supplies, tools, utensils, cutlery and machine parts. Household hardware is typically sold in hardware stores....
dealears, and other general home appliance
Home appliance
Home appliances are electrical/mechanical machines which accomplish some household functions, such as cooking or cleaning. Home appliances can be classified into:*Major appliances, or White goods*Small appliances, or Brown goods...
distributors. The 24 km long Surkhet
Surkhet District
-Village Development Committees :*Agragaun*Awalaching*Babiyachaur*Bajedichaur*Betan*Bidyapur*Bijaura*Birendranagar*Chapre*Chhinchu*Dahachaur*Dandakhali*Dasarathpur*Dharapani*Gadi...
Road, starting from 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....
Chowk in Kohalpur and terminating at the Nepal-India Border, runs through the middle of the city passing through Birendra Chowk and two other important junctions- Pushpalal Chowk and BP Chowk, creating a network of roads that cover the major portion of city's industrial and residential areas.
Tribhuvan
Tribhuvan of Nepal
King Tribhuhvan Bir Bikram Shah , King of Nepal was King of Nepal from 11 December 1911 until his death...
Chowk is famous for its commodity and fancy shops along Sadar Line and Ek-Laineeh, and for its garment stores. The zonal hospital of Bheri Zone
Bheri Zone
Bheri Anchal in the Mid-Western Development Region of Nepal. Nepalgunj is the administrative headquarters.Cities and towns are Narayan, Jajarkot and Chhinchu in the "hills"; Nepalgunj, Gularia and Kohalpur in Terai; Birendranagar in Surkhet Valley in the Inner Terai.Bheri Zone is divided into five...
- Bheri Hospital is located a few hundred meters south, and most of the important government offices like Chief District Office, Telecommunication Office, Post office, etc. are located within a radius of a few kilometers around it. Another famous area called New Road, while still under development, is emerging as a major attraction for its modern fashion retail shops, hotels and restaurants.
Restaurants in Nepalgunj are famous for its samosas, chaat
Chaat
Chaat is a term describing savoury snacks, typically served at road-side tracks from stalls or carts in India. With its origins in east India, chaat has become immensely popular in the rest of India and the rest of South Asia...
, golgappas, momos(Nepalese-style Dumplings), sekuwa (fry dried-meat), biryani
Biryani
Biryani, biriani, or beriani is a set of rice-based foods made with spices, rice and meat, fish, eggs or vegetables. The name is derived from the Persian word beryā which means "fried" or "roasted"....
and chilled beer. Samosas, chaat
Chaat
Chaat is a term describing savoury snacks, typically served at road-side tracks from stalls or carts in India. With its origins in east India, chaat has become immensely popular in the rest of India and the rest of South Asia...
, golgappas and sekuwa from Nepaljung are considered to be the most delicious in all 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 city is also popular for its religious significance. Bageshwori temple is renowned temple for hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
devotees. Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
and Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
are two major religions in Nepalgunj with Hindus comprising larger percentage of the population.
There are a lot of other areas in Nepalgunj that are developing rapidly and attracting new residents and industries. The city is developing fast due to relocation of mid-hill migrants. It is also a center for business for vicinity zones and their districts. The is a high possibility of Nepalgunj being developed into a major IT
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
city in 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...
since a large population of young generation are showing keen interest and motivation towards new computer technology and internet-world. Adoption of new technologies and marketing into new sectors have shown a promising future for this city.
Nepalgunj is considered the hottest place in Nepal, with temperature rising well above 40°C in summer.
Population
The 2001 census counted 57,535 inhabitants, with 20% growth since 1991. NepaliNepali language
Nepali or Nepalese is a language in the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family.It is the official language and de facto lingua franca of Nepal and is also spoken in Bhutan, parts of India and parts of Myanmar...
is spoken natively by Paharis
Pahari people
The Pahari people, ; also called Pahadi, Parbati, Khāsā, or Chhetri, are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group of the Himalaya living in Nepal, India, and Pakistan. In Nepal, the Pahari constituted the single largest ethnic group at about 20,000,000, or three-fifths of the Nepalese population through the 1990s...
as well as by virtually everyone as the national language and lingua franca
Lingua franca
A lingua franca is a language systematically used to make communication possible between people not sharing a mother tongue, in particular when it is a third language, distinct from both mother tongues.-Characteristics:"Lingua franca" is a functionally defined term, independent of the linguistic...
.
Culture and Religion
Nepalgunj has a diverse culture. muslimMuslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
s, hindu(sanatan)s, Buddhists, Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
s and Atheists all live here. Similarly people of different ethnicity have traditionally lived harmoniously together.
Transport
- Nepalgunj AirportNepalgunj AirportNepalgunj Airport is an airport serving Nepalgunj , a municipality in Banke district of the Bheri zone in Nepal.The airport has been in service since 1961. It is a major domestic hub after TIA in terms of number of airport network, and also second largest airport in Nepal in terms of land area,...
is 6 km north from Birendra Chok. The airport was officially named Mahendra Airport after the late King MahendraMahendra of NepalPossibly no heir for the time period of 1911 through 1920. Previous Crown Prince: Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah, from 1906 to 1911....
. It has flights to KathmaduTribhuvan International AirportTribhuvan International Airport is an international airport situated in Kathmandu, Nepal.Tribhuvan is the sole international airport in Nepal. There are two terminals, one domestic and one international...
and to airports in less developed western districts like DolpaDolpa AirportDolpa Airport is an airport serving Dolpa, a district in the Karnali zone in Nepal.-Facilities:The airport resides at an elevation of above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 06/24 with a dirt surface measuring .-Airlines and destinations:...
, JumlaJumla AirportJumla Airport is an airport serving Jumla, the capital of the Jumla District in the Karnali Zone in Nepal.-Facilities:The airport resides at an elevation of above mean sea level. It has one asphalt paved runway designated 09/27 which measures ....
, MuguMugu DistrictMugu District of 43,937. The biggest lake in Nepal, Rara Lake, also known as Mahendra Daha, lies in the Mugu District.It is one of the biggest districts of Nepal.Pulu is one of the famous Village Development Committee of Mugu district...
and RukumRukumkot AirportRukumkot Airport is an airport serving Rukumkot, a town in the Rukum district of the Rapti zone in Nepal.-Facilities:The airport resides at an elevation of above mean sea level. It has one runway which is in length....
.
- A branch of Indian RailwaysIndian RailwaysIndian Railways , abbreviated as IR , is a departmental undertaking of Government of India, which owns and operates most of India's rail transport. It is overseen by the Ministry of Railways of the Government of India....
reaches the border at Rupaidiha immediately opposite Nepalgunj. It would involve possible train changes at Gonda, BahraichBahraichBahraich is a city and a municipal board in Bahraich district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Located on the Saryu River, a tributary of river Ghaghra, Bahraich is 125 km north-east of Lucknow, the state capital. The towns of Barabanki, Gonda, Balrampur, Lakhimpur and Sitapur share...
and NanparaNanparaNanpara is a city and a municipal board in Bahraich district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is a region along the Nepal Border and includes tracts of dense forests.-Geography:...
. It is also possible to take an express train to LucknowLucknowLucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
, then a direct bus to Nepalgunj.
- Long-distance buses to road destinations in Nepal depart from Dhamboji.
Infrastructure
- Bheri Zonal Hospital
- Fatah Bal Eye Hospital
- Nepalgunj Medical College
Climate
The climate is sub-tropical. Temperatures sometimes exceed 40°C (104°F) from April to June. During the rainy season—arriving in June and lasting into September—it is less hot but sometimes very humid. Winter is usually pleasant while the sun is out. It sometimes is foggy and overcast; then it can be chilly with temperatures below 10°C (41°F) but no frost.Hotels
With the opening of the tourist industry after the change over in the political scenario of Nepal in 1950, hotel industry got a boost. Now, Nepalgunj boasts of several good hotels such as Sneha, Batika, Traveller's Village, Siddhartha, etc. According to the tourists survey in 2010, among all, Traveller's Village was regarded the best in the town. According to Heather, an American Jounalist, "Traveller's Village is a Nepalgunj 5-star. Now, "Nepalgunj 5-star" is a denomination by itself... At least among the four best hotels, in town, if I may say so, stars probably not ready for awarding yet, but simply the best, still.... And in terms of ease, Traveller's Village is the best. They have good accommodation, good food, good air con, good mosquito protection, good just about everything. Quiet location away from minarets, hollering military personnel, dusty roads and screaming buses. There is a very nice and peaceful garden with chairs, tables - good for breakfast or evening beer. Price is also affordable. When I visited last time in June 2010 the kitchen was up for renovation. So it may get even better".Places of interest
- Bageswory temple in Nepalgunj is one of the most important temples for Hindus. It is a sacred temple for Bageswory mata (Goddess Bageswory). Opposite the main temple, is another temple for Lord Shiva. This temple is surounded by an artificial pond and in the center is a statue of Lord ShivaShivaShiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
, which possesses a moustacheMoustacheA moustache is facial hair grown on the outer surface of the upper lip. It may or may not be accompanied by a type of beard, a facial hair style grown and cropped to cover most of the lower half of the face.-Etymology:...
. It is often referred to as Junge Mahādeva and is the only one of its kind.
- Nepalgunj has one of Nepal's best Women's cricketWomen's cricketWomen's cricket is the form of the team sport of cricket that is played by women.-History:The first recorded match of women's cricket was reported in The Reading Mercury on 26 July 1745, a match contested "between eleven maids of Bramley and eleven maids of Hambledon, all dressed in white." The...
teams. An international stadium is under construction. - Banke National ParkBanke National ParkBanke National Park is located in the Mid-Western Region, Nepal and was established in May 2010 as Nepal’s tenth national park, covering an area of 550 km2 with most parts falling on the Churia range....
- Bardia National Park is an hour's drive west.
- Karnali River is 90 minutes drive west.
- Tharu villages in Deukhuri Valley to the east along the east-west highway.
- SurkhetSurkhetSurkhet is a district in the Bheri Zone of the Mid-Western Development Region of Nepal. Birendranagar is the administrative headquarter of Surkhet as well as the whole Mid-Western Development Region...
, an Inner Terai ValleyInner Terai Valleys of NepalThe Inner Terai Valleys or Bhitri tarai are various elongated valleys in Nepal situated between the Himalayan foothills, the 600–900 m high Siwalik or Churia Range and the 2,000-3,000 m high Mahabharat Range further north. Major examples are the Chitwan Valley southwest of Kathmandu and the...
north of Nepalgunj.
External links
