Biratnagar
Biratnagar is a metropolitan city in Nepal, which serves as the capital of Koshi Province. With a Metropolitan Urban Agglomeration population of 244,750 as per the 2021 census, it is the largest city and fastest growing city in the province and also the headquarters of Morang district. As per the preliminary report of 2022 Nepal census, Biratnagar Metropolitan has an estimated city population of 243,927 excluding the suburban areas which are now very well connected to the old town. It is the administrative center of the Greater Birat Development Area which incorporates the cities of Biratnagar and its suburbs and towns of-Itahari-Gothgau-Biratchowk-Dharan primarily located on the Koshi Highway in Eastern Nepal, with an estimated total urban agglomerated population of 804,300 people in 159,332 households including the town of Ithari. Biratnagar is located east of the capital, Kathmandu, and north of the bordering town of Jogbani in the Indian state of Bihar which is very well connected through Rani Path and Koshi Path, and serves as a major entry point from India.
Biratnagar was declared a metropolitan city on 22 May 2017, a merger with additional wards pushing the total population to over 240,000. It is the sixth largest city of Nepal, with 244,750 inhabitants as per 2021 Nepal census.
The city is home to various large and medium scale industries including the Biratnagar Jute Mills, the first large-scale industry of Nepal. Besides being considered as the industrial capital of Nepal, the city has contributed actively to the Nepalese democracy movement by being the birthplace of five prime ministers of democratic Nepal. The latter claim is also evident from the fact that the first labor strike leading to the anti-Rana movement started from Biratnagar.
Modern-day Biratnagar serves as an entry point to eastern Nepal as well as north-eastern India. It is the second Nepalese city, after Janakpur, to have a connection with the Indian Railways and the only city other than Birgunj to operate an integrated check post on the Indian border.
Mayors
History
In 1914, Colonel Jit Bahadur Khatri, the then district governor, laid the foundations of modern Biratnagar by moving the hospital, post office, prison and the customs, land registry, forestry and auditor offices to Gograha Bazaar from Rangeli, the then district capital of Morang.The recorded history of Biratnagar dates back to the beginning of the 7th century, when King Mung Mawrong Hang came to prominence in the terai lands of Limbuwan. He cleared much of the forest area in present-day Rangeli, east of Biratnagar, and built a town there. He named his Kingdom Morang after his name and rose to power.
The old name of Biratnagar was Gograha Bazaar. The ruins of temples, palaces, and ponds are scattered in a vast area to the south of the current city, in Vedhyari, Buddhanagar. The preservation of this heritage has been a major problem citing the encroachment of newcomers into the city.
The town was named Biratnagar in 1919 by Keshar Shamsher Rana after the ruins of a palace, thought to be of King Virat, and other objects of historical importance were found. Kingdom of Virata mentioned in Mahabharata is however believed to be Viratnagar, located in present-day Rajasthan. King Virata was the king of the Matsya Kingdom, in whose court the Pandavas spent a year in concealment during their Agyaata Vaasa in the exile. According to the Markandeya Purana, the famous seven Kirata kingdoms during the Mahabharat time were Aswakut or Kabul, Kulya or Kulu Valley, Matsya or North Bihar Paundra or Bengal, Sumer or Assam, Malak or Mlek or Lohit, Kinner Kirat or Garhwal and Nepal. In those days, the Kirat people were ruling all the lands from Himalayan Mountains to the sea shores of the Bay of Bengal.
In Nepali, Birat refers to King "Virata" of the Matsya Kingdom and Nagar means "city"; literally King Virata's City.
On 4 March 1947, the first anti-Rana movement in Nepal started in Biratnagar at the Biratnagar jute mills under the leadership of Girija Prasad Koirala and B. P. Koirala. This sparked a countrywide anti-Rana demonstration that eventually led to the abolishment of Rana rule in Nepal. During the panchayat system in Nepal the Pradhan Pancha who also happened to manage district level body for Biratnagar was Govinda Bahadur Baruwal. He was also the committee member of Mahendra Morang Adarsha Multiple Campus which is one of the oldest, most prestigious and leading academic institution of providence 1.
Climate
The city has its best climate between February to mid April and August to early December.The highest temperature ever recorded in Biratnagar was on the 14 April 1992, while the lowest temperature ever recorded was in December 1970 and January 1971.
Demography
The population of Biratnagar has been increasing consistently due to various reasons and more recently due to close proximity to India resulting to low cost of living as compared to other cities in Nepal due to proximity to Inida and lower cost of import.At the time of the 2021 Nepal census, Biratnagar Metropolitan City had a population of 218,526. Of these, 39.4% spoke Maithili, 38.3% Nepali, 5.3% Urdu, 2.5% Rajasthani, 2.3% Tharu, 2.1% Rajbanshi, 2.0% Bhojpuri, 1.9% Hindi, 1.6% Newar, 0.8% Bengali, 0.6% Magahi, 0.5% Tamang, 0.4% Rai, 0.3% Gurung, 0.3% Limbu, 0.3% Magar, 0.2% Bhujel, 0.2% Uranw/Urau, 0.1% Bantawa, 0.1% Santali, 0.1% Sunuwar and 0.2% other languages as their first language.
In terms of ethnicity/caste, 16.1% were Hill Brahmin, 10.0% Chhetri, 8.7% Musalman, 5.9% Yadav, 4.6% Newar, 3.9% Kewat, 3.3% Marwadi, 2.9% Dhanuk, 2.8% Teli, 2.8% Tharu, 2.6% Mallaha, 2.6% Rajbanshi, 2.2% other Terai, 2.0% Musahar, 1.8% Halwai, 1.6% Kathabaniyan, 1.5% Kayastha, 1.4% Sudhi, 1.3% Nuniya, 1.2% Dusadh/Paswan/Pasi, 1.2% Magar, 1.2% Rai, 1.0% Bengali, 1.0% Tamang, 0.9% Hajam/Thakur, 0.8% Kalwar, 0.8% Rajput, 0.7% Bantar/Sardar, 0.6% Chamar/Harijan/Ram, 0.6% Gurung, 0.6% Kami, 0.6% Koiri/Kushwaha, 0.6% Sanyasi/Dasnami, 0.6% Tatma/Tatwa, 0.5% Terai Brahmin, 0.5% Kurmi, 0.5% Limbu, 0.5% Sonar, 0.4% Badhaee, 0.3% other Dalit, 0.3% Dhobi, 0.3% Dom, 0.3% Gangai, 0.3% Gharti/Bhujel, 0.3% Jhangad/Dhagar, 0.3% Khatwe, 0.3% Majhi, 0.3% Punjabi/Sikh, 0.2% Badi, 0.2% Baraee, 0.2% Damai/Dholi, 0.2% Dev, 0.2% Khawas, 0.2% Sarki, 0.2% Thakuri, 0.1% Amat, 0.1% Bantawa, 0.1% Bin, 0.1% Chamling, 0.1% Danuwar, 0.1% Dhimal, 0.1% foreigners, 0.1% Gaderi/Bhedihar, 0.1% Halkhor, 0.1% Kahar, 0.1% Kumal, 0.1% Kumhar, 0.1% Lohar, 0.1% Satar/Santal, 0.1% Sunuwar, 0.1% Yakkha and 0.2% others.
In terms of religion, 88.7% were Hindu, 8.9% Muslim, 1.1% Buddhist, 0.7% Kirati, 0.7% Christian, 0.3% Jain, 0.1% Prakriti and 0.2% others.
In terms of literacy, 79.0% could read and write, 1.5% could only read and 19.4% could neither read nor write.
Transport
- Air: Biratnagar Airport serves as a regional hub for the eastern part of the country. A subtotal of 10 flights per day are operated to Kathmandu which makes it the busiest domestic airport in the country after Pokhara. Frequent flights are also operated to Tumlingtar as well as other airports within the country.
- Road: Biratnagar is roughly by road from Kathmandu. It is also well connected to all the parts of Province No. 1 including Dharan, Itahari and Dhankuta as well as to most parts of the country through regular bus service. The easternmost border-point of Kakarbhitta lies at a distance of from the city and can be reached via frequent buses running half-hourly from the .
- Trains: There are direct trains from the Indian cities of Katihar, Kolkata Patna Siliguri Raxaul and New Delhi to the border town of Jogbani. The rail line ends in Jogbani, Araria district on the Indian side. Biratnagar is north of Nepal's southern border with Bihar, India. The crossing has a customs checkpoint for goods called as Rani Bhansar. Indian and Nepalese nationals cross the border freely. A monorail extension to Biratnagar has been proposed and surveyed. As of 1 August 2019, the provincial government of Province No. 1 plans to establish a monorail system running 30 km from Rani, Biratnagar to Itahari at an estimated budget of Rs. 30 billion.
- Intracity: Cycle, motor vehicles, rickshaws, and taxis serve the city center. Auto rickshaws are available for longer distances outside the center. City safari or electric rickshaws are the most used transportation here, connect all parts of Biratnagar, and are very cheap as well as environmentally friendly.
Economy
Tourism
Biratnagar is a hub for explorers of places in eastern Nepal like Ilam, Taplejung, Sankhuwasabha and Panchthar and other terai districts due to a functioning airport and an important border checkpoint Jogbani in the Araria District of Indian State of Bihar. A number of colorful haat bazaars are held each week in different parts of the town, where farmers from the rural hinterland set up stalls to trade agricultural products, spices and handicrafts. There are several gardens, temples and places of religious importance in Biratnagar. Gopal Garden, located near Hathkhola, and Hridreyandra Bal Udhhyan near Thulo Mill, are two main gardens.Dharan is and Itahari is north of Biratnagar. These places are famous for Taltalaiya, Ocean Park, Gokulam Resort, Dantakali Temple, Pindeshwor Temple, Budha Subba Temple and Panch Kanya. The hill-station of Bhedetar is a local viewpoint. The tea gardens of Ilam are approximately 4 hours' drive away. Another place of interest is the hilly district of Dhankuta with its orange orchards. The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, popular with bird-watching enthusiasts, is a 90-minute drive from the city. It is home to the endangered wild buffaloes called "Arna" in Nepali. The largest rhododendron forests of Tinjure, Milke and Jaljale can be reached in about 3–4 hours. Treks with views of Mt. Makalu and Kanchenjunga can be started from the small towns of Basantapur or Tumlingtar.