Terai
Encyclopedia
The Terai is a belt of marshy grassland
s, savanna
s, and forest
s 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
. In northern India
, the Terai spreads eastward from the Yamuna River across Himachal Pradesh
, Haryana
, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh
and Bihar
. Corresponding parts of West Bengal
, Bangladesh
, Bhutan
and Assam
east to the Brahmaputra River
are called Dooars. The lowland plains of the Terai lie at an altitude of between 67 and 300 m (219.8 and 984.3 ft). North of the Terai rises the Bhabhar
, a narrow but continuous belt of forest about 8 – wide.
, the region is called तराई tarāī meaning foot-hill. In Nepali
, the region is called तराइ tarāi meaning the low-lying land, plain, especially the low-lying land at the foot of the Himālayas, south to the border with India. Nepalis may also call it Madhes , particularly when noting its ethnic compositions similar to adjacent India and unlike the ethnic makeup of the "hills" . The region's name in Urdu
is ترائي tarāʼī meaning lands lying at the foot of a watershed or on the banks of a river low ground flooded with water, valley, basin, marshy ground, marsh, swamp; meadow.
, Karnali, Narayani and Kosi that have each built alluvial fans covering thousands of km2 below their exits from the hills. Medium rivers such as the Rapti
rise in the Mahabharat Range. The geological structure of the region consists of old and new alluvium
, both of which constitute as alluvial deposits mainly of sand, clay, silt, gravels and coarse fragments. The new alluvium is renewed every year by fresh deposit brought down by active streams, which engage themselves in fluvial action
. Old alluvium is found rather away from river courses, especially on uplands of the plain where silting is a rare phenomenon.
The Terai region has a large number of small and usually seasonal rivers, most of which originate in the Siwalik Hills. The soil in the Terai is alluvial and fine to medium textured. Forest cover in the Terai and hill areas has decreased at an annual rate of 1.3% between 1978 and 1979, and 2.3% between 1990 and 1991.
As the Terai is increasingly deforested, drained and brought under cultivation, the connection with wetness fades in contemporary usage. Terai becomes a geographic, not a hydrographic term, for districts in the plains near or bordering the Siwaliks. A permeable mixture of gravel, boulders, and sand enables the water table to sink 5 – deep. The Terai zone is composed of less permeable layers of clay and fine sediments, bringing groundwater to the surface in springs and wetland
s.
The reduction in slope as rivers exit the hills and then transition from the sloping Bhabhar to the nearly level Terai causes current to slow and the heavy sediment load to fall out of suspension. This deposition process creates multiple channels with shallow beds, enabling massive floods as monsoon
-swollen rivers overflow their low banks and shift channels. The 2008 Bihar flood
was only an example of recurrent catastrophes in the Terai.
in India at the Terai's western edge with Biratnagar in Nepal near the eastern edge illustrates several differences:
Outer Terai or Madhes begins at the southern edge of the Siwalik Hills
. In ordinary usage the Terai extends to the border with India, even if drier, cleared agricultural land well south of the marshes may be included. The Outer Terai of far-western Nepal
consists of Kanchanpur
, Kailali
, Bardiya
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
s, savanna
Savanna
A savanna, or savannah, is a grassland ecosystem characterized by the trees being sufficiently small or widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to support an unbroken herbaceous layer consisting primarily of C4 grasses.Some...
s, and forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s located south of the outer foothills of the Himalaya, the Siwalik Hills
Siwalik Hills
The Sivalik hills is a mountain range of the outer Himalayas also known as Manak Parbat in ancient times. Shivalik literally means 'tresses of Shiva’. This range is about long enclosing an area that starts almost from the Indus and ends close to the Brahmaputra, with a gap of about between the...
, and north of the Indo-Gangetic Plain
Indo-Gangetic plain
The northern Plains also known as the Indo - Gangetic Plain and The North Indian River Plain is a large and fertile plain encompassing most of northern and eastern India, the most populous parts of Pakistan, parts of southern Nepal and virtually all of Bangladesh...
of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and their tributaries. The Terai belongs to the Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands
Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands
The Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands is a narrow lowland ecoregion at the base of the Himalayas, about wide and a continuation of the Gangetic Plain colloquially called Terai in the Ganges Basin east to Nepal, then Dooars in West Bengal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Assam east to the Brahmaputra River...
ecoregion
Ecoregion
An ecoregion , sometimes called a bioregion, is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than an ecozone and larger than an ecosystem. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of land or water, and contain characteristic, geographically distinct assemblages of natural...
. In northern 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...
, the Terai spreads eastward from the Yamuna River across Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh is a state in Northern India. It is spread over , and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the south, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east...
, Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
, Uttaranchal, 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...
and Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
. Corresponding parts of West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
, Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
, Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
and Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
east to the Brahmaputra River
Brahmaputra River
The Brahmaputra , also called Tsangpo-Brahmaputra, is a trans-boundary river and one of the major rivers of Asia. It is the only Indian river that is attributed the masculine gender and thus referred to as a in Indo-Aryan languages and languages with Indo-Aryan influence...
are called Dooars. The lowland plains of the Terai lie at an altitude of between 67 and 300 m (219.8 and 984.3 ft). North of the Terai rises the Bhabhar
Bhabhar
Bhabhar is the region south of the Lower Himalayas and the Siwalik Hills It is the alluvial apron of sediments washed down from the Siwaliks along the northern edge of the Indo-Gangetic Plain.-Etymology:...
, a narrow but continuous belt of forest about 8 – wide.
Etymology
In HindiHindi languages
The Hindi languages, also known as Madhya and the Central Zone of the Indo-Aryan languages, is a subset of the varieties of Hindi spoken across northern India that descend from the Madhya prakrits, and includes the official languages of India and Pakistan, Hindi and Urdu...
, the region is called तराई tarāī meaning foot-hill. In Nepali
Nepali 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...
, the region is called तराइ tarāi meaning the low-lying land, plain, especially the low-lying land at the foot of the Himālayas, south to the border with India. Nepalis may also call it Madhes , particularly when noting its ethnic compositions similar to adjacent India and unlike the ethnic makeup of the "hills" . The region's name in Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
is ترائي tarāʼī meaning lands lying at the foot of a watershed or on the banks of a river low ground flooded with water, valley, basin, marshy ground, marsh, swamp; meadow.
Geology
The Terai is crossed by the large perennial Himalayan rivers Yamuna, Ganges, SardaSarda River
Sarda River forms part of the border between the nations of India and Nepal. It is called the Mahakali River in Nepal and Kali Gad by local pahari people . This boundary was established by the 1816 Sugauli treaty, but a portion of this border near China has been in dispute...
, Karnali, Narayani and Kosi that have each built alluvial fans covering thousands of km2 below their exits from the hills. Medium rivers such as the Rapti
West Rapti River
Not to be confused with the East Rapti in Chitwan Valley some to the east, this Rapti drains Rapti Zone in Mid-Western Region, Nepal, then Awadh and Purvanchal regions of Uttar Pradesh state, India before joining the Ghaghara a major left bank tributary of the Ganges.The West Rapti is notable for...
rise in the Mahabharat Range. The geological structure of the region consists of old and new alluvium
Alluvium
Alluvium is loose, unconsolidated soil or sediments, eroded, deposited, and reshaped by water in some form in a non-marine setting. Alluvium is typically made up of a variety of materials, including fine particles of silt and clay and larger particles of sand and gravel...
, both of which constitute as alluvial deposits mainly of sand, clay, silt, gravels and coarse fragments. The new alluvium is renewed every year by fresh deposit brought down by active streams, which engage themselves in fluvial action
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
. Old alluvium is found rather away from river courses, especially on uplands of the plain where silting is a rare phenomenon.
The Terai region has a large number of small and usually seasonal rivers, most of which originate in the Siwalik Hills. The soil in the Terai is alluvial and fine to medium textured. Forest cover in the Terai and hill areas has decreased at an annual rate of 1.3% between 1978 and 1979, and 2.3% between 1990 and 1991.
As the Terai is increasingly deforested, drained and brought under cultivation, the connection with wetness fades in contemporary usage. Terai becomes a geographic, not a hydrographic term, for districts in the plains near or bordering the Siwaliks. A permeable mixture of gravel, boulders, and sand enables the water table to sink 5 – deep. The Terai zone is composed of less permeable layers of clay and fine sediments, bringing groundwater to the surface in springs and wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
s.
The reduction in slope as rivers exit the hills and then transition from the sloping Bhabhar to the nearly level Terai causes current to slow and the heavy sediment load to fall out of suspension. This deposition process creates multiple channels with shallow beds, enabling massive floods as monsoon
Monsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
-swollen rivers overflow their low banks and shift channels. The 2008 Bihar flood
2008 Bihar flood
The 2008 Bihar flood was one of the most disastrous floods in the history of Bihar, an impoverished and densely populated state in India. A breach in the Kosi embankment near the Indo-Nepal border occurred on 18 August 2008. The river changed course and inundated areas which hadn't experienced...
was only an example of recurrent catastrophes in the Terai.
Climate
Comparing the climates of ChandigarhChandigarh
Chandigarh is a union territory of India that serves as the capital of two states, Haryana and Punjab. The name Chandigarh translates as "The Fort of Chandi". The name is from an ancient temple called Chandi Mandir, devoted to the Hindu goddess Chandi, in the city...
in India at the Terai's western edge with Biratnagar in Nepal near the eastern edge illustrates several differences:
- Moving inland and away from monsoon sources in the Bay of BengalBay of BengalThe Bay of Bengal , the largest bay in the world, forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It resembles a triangle in shape, and is bordered mostly by the Eastern Coast of India, southern coast of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to the west and Burma and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the...
, climate becomes more continentalContinental climateContinental climate is a climate characterized by important annual variation in temperature due to the lack of significant bodies of water nearby...
with greater summer-winter difference. - In the far western Terai, which is five degrees latitude further north, the coldest months average 3 °C (37.4 °F) cooler.
- Total rainfall markedly diminishes from east to west. The monsoonMonsoon of Indian subcontinentA Monsoon of the India is among the several geographically distributed observations of the global monsoons. In the subcontinent, it is one of oldest weather observations, an economically important weather pattern and the most anticipated weather event and unique weather phenomenon. Yet it is only...
arrives later, is much less intense and ends sooner. Winters are wetter in the west.
Terai in Nepal
In Nepal, Terai is differentiated into "Outer" and "Inner" Terai.Outer Terai or Madhes begins at the southern edge of the Siwalik Hills
Siwalik Hills
The Sivalik hills is a mountain range of the outer Himalayas also known as Manak Parbat in ancient times. Shivalik literally means 'tresses of Shiva’. This range is about long enclosing an area that starts almost from the Indus and ends close to the Brahmaputra, with a gap of about between the...
. In ordinary usage the Terai extends to the border with India, even if drier, cleared agricultural land well south of the marshes may be included. The Outer Terai of far-western Nepal
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...
consists 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...
, Kailali
Kailali District
Kailali District of 616,697. Dhangadhi is a center of attraction of not only Kailali district but of the whole seti zone. The district also contains Tikapur Park, one of the biggest parks in Nepal, and Godha-Ghodi Tal lake.-Towns and villages:Baliya...
, Bardiya
Bardiya District
Bardiya DistrictBardiya DistrictBardiya DistrictBardiya DistrictBardiya DistrictBardiya DistrictBardiya DistrictBardiya DistrictBardiya District' onMouseout='HidePop("98757")' href="/topics/Banke_District">Banke district
s. These were once called the Naya Muluk and lay on the periphery of the Awadh
dynasty. After Nepal lost the Anglo–Nepalese War (1814–16) these districts were annexed by the British in the Sugauli Treaty
and returned in 1860 as reward for Nepal's military aid in the Indian Rebellion of 1857
.
East of Banke the Nepalese outer Terai is interrupted where the international border swings north and follows the edge of the Siwaliks adjacent to Deukhuri Valley. Here the Outer Terai is entirely in Uttar Pradesh's Shravasti
and Balrampur district
s. East of Deukhuri the international border extends south again and Nepal has three more Outer Terai districts Kapilvastu
, Rupandehi
and Nawalparasi
.
In Chitwan district
east of Nawalparasi the international border again follows the southernmost Siwaliks, placing the outer terai in Bihar
's West Champaran district. Then the international border extends south and the Nepalese Outer Terai is continuous across eleven districts to the country's eastern border. These additional districts are: Parsa
, Bara
, Rautahat
, Sarlahi
, Mahottari
, Dhanusa
, Siraha
, Saptari
,, Sunsari
, Morang
and Jhapa
.
The 2001 national census counted 10.3 million population (45% of the national total) in the outer Terai districts.
is also called 'Bhitrī Madhes . It consists of seven elongated valleys lying within the Siwalik Hills or between them and the 1,500-2,700 metre Mahabharat Range further north. In India
these valleys would be called Dūn , for example Dehradun
. Most of these valleys extend east-west or SSE-WNW parallel to enclosing ranges. They are five to ten kilometers wide (north-south) and up to a hundred kilometers long (east-west).
Nepal's Inner Terai valleys are (from west to east):
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...
s. These were once called the Naya Muluk and lay on the periphery of the Awadh
Awadh
Awadh , also known in various British historical texts as Oudh or Oude derived from Ayodhya, is a region in the centre of the modern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, which was before independence known as the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh...
dynasty. After Nepal lost the Anglo–Nepalese War (1814–16) these districts were annexed by the British in the Sugauli Treaty
Sugauli Treaty
The Sugauli Treaty was signed on December 2, 1815 and ratified by March 4, 1816, between the British East India Company and Nepal, which was a kingdom during that era. This ended the second British invasion of the Himalayan kingdom during the Anglo-Nepalese War...
and returned in 1860 as reward for Nepal's military aid in the Indian Rebellion of 1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of sepoys of the British East India Company's army on 10 May 1857, in the town of Meerut, and soon escalated into other mutinies and civilian rebellions largely in the upper Gangetic plain and central India, with the major hostilities confined to...
.
East of Banke the Nepalese outer Terai is interrupted where the international border swings north and follows the edge of the Siwaliks adjacent to Deukhuri Valley. Here the Outer Terai is entirely in Uttar Pradesh's Shravasti
Shravasti District
Shravasti District is one of the districts of the Uttar Pradesh state of India and Bhinga town is district headquarter. Shravasti district is a part of Devipatan Division...
and Balrampur district
Balrampur district
Balrampur district is one of the 72 districts of Uttar Pradesh state in India. Balrampur town located on the bank of the Rapti is the district headquarters. Balrampur district is a part of Devipatan division, and historic Awadh region....
s. East of Deukhuri the international border extends south again and Nepal has three more Outer Terai districts Kapilvastu
Kapilvastu District
Kapilvastu district of 481,976.-Geography:The district situated at the height of 93 to 1491 meters from sea level. Geographically, the district can be divided into plain low lands of terai and low Chure hills.Kapilvastu is bounded by-...
, Rupandehi
Rupandehi District
-Village Development Committees :*Aama*Aanandaban*Amari*Amawa Marchawar*Amuwa Paschim*Asurena*Babhani*Bagaha*Bagauli*Bairghat*Balarampur*Bangai*Bangai Marchwar*Baragadewa*Barsauli*Basantapur*Betakuiya*Bhagawanpur*Bisunpura*Bodabar*Bogadi...
and Nawalparasi
Nawalparasi District
Nawalparasi District of 562,870. This district has given birth to many Nepal's top level people including late Prime Minister Tanka Prasad Acharya...
.
In Chitwan district
Chitwan District
Chitwan District and one sub-Metropolitan city - Bharatpur and a municipality Ratnanagar each of which has more than nine wards or urban areas....
east of Nawalparasi the international border again follows the southernmost Siwaliks, placing the outer terai in Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
's West Champaran district. Then the international border extends south and the Nepalese Outer Terai is continuous across eleven districts to the country's eastern border. These additional districts are: Parsa
Parsa District
-Village Development Committees :*Alau*Amarpatti*Auraha*Bagahi*Bagbana*Bageswori*Bahauri Pidari*Bahurbamatha*Basadilwa*Basantpur*Belwa Parsouni*Beriya Birta*Bhawanipur*Bhedihari*Bhisawa*Bijbaniya*Bindabasini*Biranchibarba*Birganj...
, Bara
Bara District
Bara District of 559,135. Pasaha, Dudhaura and Bangari are the main rivers of Bara. Gamahariya is one of the villages of Bara District which is situated near the border area of India....
, Rautahat
Rautahat District
-Village Development Committees :*Ajagabi*Akolawa*Auraiya*Badharwa*Bagahi*Bahuwa Madanpur*Bairiya*Banjaraha*Bariyarpur*Basantapatti*Basatpur*Basbiti Jingadiya*Bhalohiya*Bhediyahi*Birtipraskota*Bishrampur*Bisunpurwa Manpur*Brahmapuri...
, Sarlahi
Sarlahi District
-Village Development Committees :*Achalgadh*Arnaha*Atrouli*Aurahi*Babarganj*Bagdaha*Bahadurpur*Balara*Bara Udhoran*Barahathawa*Basantapur*Batraul*Bela*Belhi*Belwajabdi*Bhadsar*Bhagawatipur*Bhaktipur*Bhawanipur*Brahmapuri*Chandra Nagar...
, Mahottari
Mahottari District
Mahottari District of 553,481.Its headquarters is located in Jaleshwor, a neighbouring town of historical city, Janakpur. The name Jaleshwor means the 'God in Water'. One can find a famous temple of Lord Shiva in Water there...
, Dhanusa
Dhanusa District
Dhanusa District of 671,364. It lies in the Central Development Region of Nepal. Also famous as a cultural center, the city attracts many Hindu pilgrims during festivals from both Nepal and India....
, Siraha
Siraha District
-Village Development Committees :*Arnama Lalpur*Arnama Rampur*Asanpur*Ashokpur Balkawa*Aurahi*Ayodhyanagar*Badharamal*Barchhawa*Bariyarpatti*Basbita*Bastipur*Belaha*Belhi*Betauna*Bhadaiya*Bhagawanpur*Bhagawatipur*Bhawanipur...
, Saptari
Saptari District
Saptari District of 570,282. Saptari is renowned for its agricultural output, and is bordered on the east by the massive Sapt Koshi river.Significant towns are Rajbiraj, the district centre, Hanumannagar, and Fattepur with the area government "Matsya Palan Kendra" fish farm.The famous Chhinna...
,, Sunsari
Sunsari District
Sunsari District of 625,633.The area was originally part of Morang but became its own district in 1962 when Nepal was divided into 14 zones and 75 districts....
, Morang
Morang District
Morang District , a part of Kosi Zone, is one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal, a landlocked country of South Asia. The district, with Biratnagar as its district headquarters, covers an area of 1,855 km² and has a population of 843,220....
and Jhapa
Jhapa District
Jhapa District, a district of Mechi Zone, is one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal. The district, with Chandragadhi as its district headquarters, covers an area of 1,606 km² and has a population of 688,109.-Location:...
.
The 2001 national census counted 10.3 million population (45% of the national total) in the outer Terai districts.
Inner Terai
Inner TeraiInner Terai Valleys of Nepal
The 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...
is also called 'Bhitrī Madhes . It consists of seven elongated valleys lying within the Siwalik Hills or between them and the 1,500-2,700 metre Mahabharat Range further north. In 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...
these valleys would be called Dūn , for example Dehradun
Dehradun
- Geography :The Dehradun district has various types of physical geography from Himalayan mountains to Plains. Raiwala is the lowest point at 315 meters above sea level, and the highest points are within the Tiuni hills, rising to 3700 m above sea level...
. Most of these valleys extend east-west or SSE-WNW parallel to enclosing ranges. They are five to ten kilometers wide (north-south) and up to a hundred kilometers long (east-west).
Nepal's Inner Terai valleys are (from west to east):
- Jogbudhā in Dadeldhura districtDadeldhura DistrictDadeldhura district, a part of Mahakali zone, is one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal, a landlocked country of South Asia. The district, with Dadeldhura as its district headquarters, covers an area of 1,538km² and has a population of 126,162....
north of outer terai Kanchanpur districtKanchanpur District-Basic statistics:* District: Kanchanpur* Headquarters: Mahendranagar* Area: 1610 km²* Total Population: 377,899* Literacy rate: 57.60% -Political divisions:* Political constituencies: 4...
; a relatively small and undeveloped valley near the western border with India. - Surkhet in Surkhet districtSurkhet District-Village Development Committees :*Agragaun*Awalaching*Babiyachaur*Bajedichaur*Betan*Bidyapur*Bijaura*Birendranagar*Chapre*Chhinchu*Dahachaur*Dandakhali*Dasarathpur*Dharapani*Gadi...
, located north of outer terai KailaliKailali DistrictKailali District of 616,697. Dhangadhi is a center of attraction of not only Kailali district but of the whole seti zone. The district also contains Tikapur Park, one of the biggest parks in Nepal, and Godha-Ghodi Tal lake.-Towns and villages:Baliya...
and Bardiya districtBardiya DistrictBardiya DistrictBardiya DistrictBardiya DistrictBardiya DistrictBardiya DistrictBardiya DistrictBardiya DistrictBardiya DistrictBardiya District, in DangDang Deokhuri DistrictDang-Deukhuri, District is an Inner Terai district some 280 km west of Kathmandu in Rapti Zone of Nepal's Mid-Western Region. Dang-Deukhuri covers an area of 2,955 km² with population of 462,380...
and eastern Banke districtBanke 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...
s. The international border follows the Duduwa Siwaliks south of this valley.- Dāng Valley parallels Deukhuri but north of it, also in Dang
Dang Deokhuri DistrictDang-Deukhuri, District is an Inner Terai district some 280 km west of Kathmandu in Rapti Zone of Nepal's Mid-Western Region. Dang-Deukhuri covers an area of 2,955 km² with population of 462,380...
and Banke districtBanke 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...
s.- Chitwan occupies Chitwan
Chitwan DistrictChitwan District and one sub-Metropolitan city - Bharatpur and a municipality Ratnanagar each of which has more than nine wards or urban areas....
and Makwanpur districtMakwanpur DistrictMakwanpur District of 392,604. Bhimfedi market of the district was the traditional route to enter Kathmandu valley from the south.-Village Development Committees :*Agara*Ambhanjyang*Bajrabarahi*Basamadi*Betini*Bhaise*Bharta Pundyadevi*Bhimfedi...
s. Chitwan district borders BiharBiharBihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
, India's West Champaran district to the south while Makwānpur lies north of Nepal's Parsa districtParsa District-Village Development Committees :*Alau*Amarpatti*Auraha*Bagahi*Bagbana*Bageswori*Bahauri Pidari*Bahurbamatha*Basadilwa*Basantpur*Belwa Parsouni*Beriya Birta*Bhawanipur*Bhedihari*Bhisawa*Bijbaniya*Bindabasini*Biranchibarba*Birganj...
.- Marin Kholā is a small valley in Sindhuli district
Sindhuli District-Historical Importance:This place has a huge historic significance. The Sindhuli Gadhi in Sindhuli is the place where British soldiers were defeated for the first time in Asia in 1767 A.D . The British under the leadership of Captain Kinloch came to help the then ruler of Kathmandu, Jai Prakash...
north of outer terai Sarlahi, Mahottari and Dhanusa districts.- Udayapur is in Udayapur district
Udayapur District-Village Development Committees :*Aaptar*Balamta*Baraha*Barre*Basabote*Bashasa*Beltar*Bhumarashuwa*Bhuttar*Chaudandi*Dumre*Gaighat*Hadiya*Hardeni*Iname*Jalpachilaune*Jante*Jogidaha*Katari*Katunjebawala*Khanbu*Laphagaun*Lekhani*Lekhgaun...
north of SirahaSiraha District-Village Development Committees :*Arnama Lalpur*Arnama Rampur*Asanpur*Ashokpur Balkawa*Aurahi*Ayodhyanagar*Badharamal*Barchhawa*Bariyarpatti*Basbita*Bastipur*Belaha*Belhi*Betauna*Bhadaiya*Bhagawanpur*Bhagawatipur*Bhawanipur...
and SaptariSaptari DistrictSaptari District of 570,282. Saptari is renowned for its agricultural output, and is bordered on the east by the massive Sapt Koshi river.Significant towns are Rajbiraj, the district centre, Hanumannagar, and Fattepur with the area government "Matsya Palan Kendra" fish farm.The famous Chhinna...
.
The 2001 national census counted 2.3 million population (10% of the national total) in these seven Inner Terai districts (counting Banke district as Outer Terai). Adding 45% in the outer Terai gives 55% of Nepal's population living in its Terai districts.
History
The Terai was heavily forested with Sal before heavy logging began in the 19th century, particularly for use as railroad sleepers. Foresters of the British RajBritish RajBritish Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
were of the opinion that in ancient times the Terai was cleared and cultivated. After Buddhism went into decline, the area was largely abandoned, and quickly re-vegetated with shrubs and trees, but took much longer — centuries perhaps — for Sal forest to return.
Inner Terai valleys historically were agriculturally productive but extremely malariaMalariaMalaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
l. Some parts were left forested by official decree during the Rana dynastyRana dynastyThe Rana dynasty ruled the Kingdom of Nepal from 1846 until 1953, reducing the Shah monarch to a figurehead and making Prime Minister and other government positions hereditary...
as a defensive perimeter called Char Kose Jhadi, meaning four kos forest; one kos equals about 3 km (1.9 mi). A British observer noted, "Plainsmen and paharis generally die if they sleep in the Terai before November 1 or after June 1." British travelers to Kathmandu went as fast as possible from the border at RaxaulRaxaulRaxaul or Raxaul is a sub-divisional town in the East Champaran district of the Indian state of Bihar. It is situated on the India-Nepal border with Birganj on the other side of the border.-Demographics:...
in order to reach the hills before nightfall.
Except for indigenous peoples with genetic resistance, a malariaMalariaMalaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
eradication campaign in the 1950s using DDT made the Inner Terai habitable for the first time.
Ethnic groups
Tharu people have been living in the Terai for many centuries, and reputedly had an innate resistance to malariaMalariaMalaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
. Following the malaria eradication program using DDTDDTDDT is one of the most well-known synthetic insecticides. It is a chemical with a long, unique, and controversial history....
in the 1960s, a large and heterogeneous non-Tharu population settled in the region.
PahariPahari peopleThe 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...
farmers from the mid-hills moved to the plains in search of arable land including BahunBahunBahun is a colloquial Nepali term for a member of the Pahari or "hill" Brahmin caste, who are traditionally educators, scholars and priests of Hinduism. They are also known as Barmu in Newari. By tradition—and by civil law until 1962—they represented the highest of the four Hindu...
, Chhetri and NewarNewarThe Newa , Newār or Newāl) are the indigenous people and the creators of the historical civilization of Nepal's Kathmandu Valley. The valley and surrounding territory have been known from ancient times as Nepal Mandala, its limits ever changing through history.Newas have lived in the Kathmandu...
. Tharus constitute the traditional population in the western Terai. The eastern part has been occupied by castes and ethnic groups that migrated from India — the Madhesi people, a term that sometimes also includes the Tharu people. High casteEthnicity and caste in Nepal- Caste :Caste systems are hereditary systems of social class in many parts of the world. Today, it is most commonly associated with the Indian caste system and the varna in Hinduism. In a caste society, the assignment of individuals to places in the social hierarchy is decided by birth or...
migrants from the hills have purchased, or otherwise got hold of large landholdings. Together with traditional Tharu landlords, they constitute the upper level of the economic hierarchy, which in the rural parts of the Terai is determined to a large extent by the distribution and the value of agriculturally productive land. The poor are the landless, or near landless, Terai DalitDalitDalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
s, including the MusaharMusaharThe Musahar are a Hindu scheduled caste found in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in India, & Terai. They are also known as Arya or Banbasi.- Origin :...
and ChamarChamarChamar |tanner]]"; from the Sanskrit Charmakara) is a prominent occupational caste in India, Pakistan and Nepal. Chamar is a Dalit sub-caste mainly found in the northern states, such as Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi and in Nepal at least north to the Himalayas...
, as well as the traditional fishermen, the MallaahMallaahThe Mallah are the traditional boatmen caste and ethnic group of North India, East India and Pakistan. A small number of Mallah are also found in Nepal....
, and some of the hill Dalits. In particular the Musahars rarely get other work than hard farm labor.
Economy
The Terai is the most productive region in Nepal with the majority of the country's industries. Agriculture is the basis of the economy. Major crops include riceRiceRice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
, wheatWheatWheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
, pulses, sugarcaneSugarcaneSugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
, juteJuteJute is a long, soft, shiny vegetable fibre that can be spun into coarse, strong threads. It is produced from plants in the genus Corchorus, which has been classified in the family Tiliaceae, or more recently in Malvaceae....
, tobaccoTobaccoTobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
, and maizeMaizeMaize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
. In the eastern districts from Parsa to Jhapa they support agro-based industries: jute factories, sugar mills, rice mills and tobacco factories.
Cities over 50,000 population in Nepal's Terai include:Municipality District Census 2001 Economy Biratnagar Morang Morang DistrictMorang District , a part of Kosi Zone, is one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal, a landlocked country of South Asia. The district, with Biratnagar as its district headquarters, covers an area of 1,855 km² and has a population of 843,220....
166,674 agro-industry, education, trade/transport Hub Birganj BirganjBirganj 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...
Parsa Parsa District-Village Development Committees :*Alau*Amarpatti*Auraha*Bagahi*Bagbana*Bageswori*Bahauri Pidari*Bahurbamatha*Basadilwa*Basantpur*Belwa Parsouni*Beriya Birta*Bhawanipur*Bhedihari*Bhisawa*Bijbaniya*Bindabasini*Biranchibarba*Birganj...
112,484 trade/transport hub, agro and other industry Dharan Dharan, NepalDharan 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...
Sunsari Sunsari DistrictSunsari District of 625,633.The area was originally part of Morang but became its own district in 1962 when Nepal was divided into 14 zones and 75 districts....
95,332 tourism hub and destination, education, financial services Bharatpur Bharatpur, NepalBharatpur 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...
Chitwan Chitwan DistrictChitwan District and one sub-Metropolitan city - Bharatpur and a municipality Ratnanagar each of which has more than nine wards or urban areas....89,323 agro-industry and food processing, tourism, health care, education Mahendranagar Kanchanpur 80,839 transport hub, education, health services Butwal ButwalButwal is a large town in southern Nepal in Rupandehi District, in Lumbini Zone -- of which Butwal is the administrative center. It is located 240 kilometres west of Kathmandu and 22 kilometers north of Bhairahawa, at the northern edge of the Terai plain below the Siwalik Hills...
Rupandehi Rupandehi District-Village Development Committees :*Aama*Aanandaban*Amari*Amawa Marchawar*Amuwa Paschim*Asurena*Babhani*Bagaha*Bagauli*Bairghat*Balarampur*Bangai*Bangai Marchwar*Baragadewa*Barsauli*Basantapur*Betakuiya*Bhagawanpur*Bisunpura*Bodabar*Bogadi...
75,384 transport hub, retailing, agro-industry, health care, education Hetauda HetaudaHetauda is a town in the Makwanpur District of the Narayani Zone in southern Nepal. It is also the administrative headquarters of the Makwanpur district. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 53,836 people living in 10,420 individual households...
Makwanpur Makwanpur DistrictMakwanpur District of 392,604. Bhimfedi market of the district was the traditional route to enter Kathmandu valley from the south.-Village Development Committees :*Agara*Ambhanjyang*Bajrabarahi*Basamadi*Betini*Bhaise*Bharta Pundyadevi*Bhimfedi...
68,482 transport hub, cement factory, large and small-scale industry Dhangadhi DhangadhiDhangadhi is a city in Far western Nepal bordering India. It is the capital of Kailali District in the province of Seti.Located in the Far Western Region of Nepal on the border of India, the city of Dhangadhi is one of the entry points into the country for people traveling from India.It was...
Kailali Kailali DistrictKailali District of 616,697. Dhangadhi is a center of attraction of not only Kailali district but of the whole seti zone. The district also contains Tikapur Park, one of the biggest parks in Nepal, and Godha-Ghodi Tal lake.-Towns and villages:Baliya...67,447 Janakpur Dhanusa Dhanusa DistrictDhanusa District of 671,364. It lies in the Central Development Region of Nepal. Also famous as a cultural center, the city attracts many Hindu pilgrims during festivals from both Nepal and India....
67,192 transport hub, agro-industry, education, health care, pilgrimage site Nepalganj 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...
57,535 transport hub, retailing, financial services, health services Triyuga TriyugaTriyuga is a city and municipality in the Udayapur District in the Sagarmatha zone of south-eastern Nepal. According to the 1991 Nepal census, it had a population of 55,291.-Geography and wildlife:...
Udayapur Udayapur District-Village Development Committees :*Aaptar*Balamta*Baraha*Barre*Basabote*Bashasa*Beltar*Bhumarashuwa*Bhuttar*Chaudandi*Dumre*Gaighat*Hadiya*Hardeni*Iname*Jalpachilaune*Jante*Jogidaha*Katari*Katunjebawala*Khanbu*Laphagaun*Lekhani*Lekhgaun...
55,291 tourism Siddharthanagar SiddharthanagarThis article is on the Nepali town. For the district in Uttar Pradesh, see Siddharthnagar District.Siddharthanagar is a municipality near the Indian border on the Outer Terai plains of Nepal, west of Kathmandu Nepal's capital...
Rupandehi Rupandehi District-Village Development Committees :*Aama*Aanandaban*Amari*Amawa Marchawar*Amuwa Paschim*Asurena*Babhani*Bagaha*Bagauli*Bairghat*Balarampur*Bangai*Bangai Marchwar*Baragadewa*Barsauli*Basantapur*Betakuiya*Bhagawanpur*Bisunpura*Bodabar*Bogadi...52,569 trade/transport hub, retailing, tourist and pilgrim services
Mahendra HighwayMahendra HighwayMahendra 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:...
crosses the Nepal Terai from Kankarbhitta on the eastern border in Jhapa DistrictJhapa DistrictJhapa District, a district of Mechi Zone, is one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal. The district, with Chandragadhi as its district headquarters, covers an area of 1,606 km² and has a population of 688,109.-Location:...
, Mechi ZoneMechi ZoneMechi and other ethnic groups like Koche and Meche, and hill castes like Bahun and Chhetris.Mechi is divided into four districts:*Ilam District*Jhapa District*Panchthar District*Taplejung District...
to Mahendranagar near the western border in Kanchanpur DistrictKanchanpur District-Basic statistics:* District: Kanchanpur* Headquarters: Mahendranagar* Area: 1610 km²* Total Population: 377,899* Literacy rate: 57.60% -Political divisions:* Political constituencies: 4...
, Mahakali ZoneMahakali ZoneMahakali|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...
. It is the only motor road spanning the country from east to west.
Tourism
Tourist attractions in the Terai include:- LumbiniLumbiniLumbinī is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Rupandehi district of Nepal. It is the place where Queen Mayadevi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama, who as the Buddha Gautama founded the Buddhist tradition. The Buddha lived between roughly 563 and 483 BCE...
, birthplace of Lord BuddhaBuddhaIn Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
(near Siddharthanagar) - Bardia National Park (near Nepalganj)
- Chitwan National Park (near Bharatpur)
- Janakpur - the birthplace of SitaSITASITA is a multinational information technology company specialising in providing IT and telecommunication services to the air transport industry...
, wife of RamaRamaRama or full name Ramachandra is considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in ancient Indian...
in the RamayanaRamayanaThe Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
.
Terai in India
In India, Terai extends over the states of Uttar PradeshUttar PradeshUttar 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...
and UttarakhandUttarakhandUttarakhand , formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship...
. These are mostly the districts of these states that are on the Indo-NepalNepalNepal , 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...
border.
- Uttar PradeshUttar PradeshUttar 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...
: PilibhitPilibhitPilibhit |Hafizabad]]) is a city and a municipal board in the Pilibhit district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Pilibhit is the north-eastern most district of Bareilly division, situated in the Rohilkhand region of the sub-Himalayan Plateau belt on the boundary of Nepal, known for the origin... - Uttaranchal: Udham Singh Nagar district, Gonda districtGonda DistrictGonda is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh, India. Gonda is the district headquarters, and also the administrative centre for the Devipatan Division....
, BalliaBalliaBallia is a city with a municipal board in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The eastern boundary of the city lies at the junction of the Ganges and the Ghaghara...
, 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...
, ...
Further reading
- Chaudhary, D. 2011. Tarai/Madhesh of Nepal : an anthropological study. Ratna Pustak Bhandar, Kathmandu. ISBN 9789993387824.
External links
- Dāng Valley parallels Deukhuri but north of it, also in Dang
