Kamalamai


Kamalamai is a municipality in Sindhuli District of Bagmati Province in Nepal. It has a total area of 482.57 km2. In terms of area, it is the largest municipality of Bagmati Province and 6th largest municipality of Nepal. At the time of the 2021 Nepal census, it had a population of 71,016 people in 18,135 households. Sindhulimadhi, commonly referred to simply as Sindhuli, serves as both the administrative center of the municipality and the headquarter of Sindhuli District.
The municipality was established on 27 March 1997 and further expanded on 10 March 2017.
The historic Sindhuli Gadhi fort lies within the municipality on the Mahabharat Hills north of Sindhulimadhi. The iconic BP Highway passes through the municipality.

Etymology

The municipality is named after the Kamalamai Temple, a historic Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Kamalamai. The temple is located near the confluence of the Kamala and Gwang rivers, south of Sindhulimadhi.

Background

Kamalamai Municipality was established on 27 March 1997 by merger of existing Siddheshwar VDC, which contained district headquarter, Sindhulimadhi, and Bhiman VDC. It had a total area of 208.09 km2.
As part of Nepal’s restructuring of local governments, the municipality was expanded on 10 March 2017 to include Dandiguranse, Bhadrakali, Jalkanya, Ranichuri and Ranibas VDCs. The total area increased to 482.57 km2.

Geography

Topography

The municipality’s topography ranges from lower elevation flatlands to rugged hills. It encompasses the areas of Inner Terai, Chure (Sivalik Hills) and some parts of the Mahabharat Hills (Lower Himalayan Range). It includes Sindhuli Valley along with a part of Kamala River Plain, a small part of Marin River Plain and other smaller river plains. Large areas of the municipality are covered with forest.
Major rivers flowing through this municipality include Kamala, Gwang, Gadauli and Marin.

Areas

Kamalamai consists of various areas and places.
Sindhulimadhi, located in Sindhuli Valley is the center of the municipality. It contains neighbourhoods like Madhi Bazar, Dhura Bazar, Dhungrebas, Ratmata, Madhutar, Majhitar, Panityanki, Laxman Chowk, Rammadi, Milan Chowk, Dhakal Gaun and Gayatar.
Karkare, Bhiman and Ranibas are located on Kamala Plain southeast of Sindhulimadhi. Places like Pipal Bhanjyang, Selfie Danda, Sindhuli Gadhi and Chapauli lie on Mahabharat Hills to the north. The area of Ranichuri containing places like Jarayotar and Tintale lies to the east. Dandiguranse lies on Marin Plain to the west.

Ward division

During the time of incorporation in 1997, Kamalamai Municipality was divided into 18 wards. After the incorporation of 5 more VDCs in 2017, the municipality was reorganized into 14 wards.
Current WardPrevious Municipality / VDC WardsArea Population Admin. Centre
1Dandigunrase 82.664,565Majhini Damar
2Bhadrakali 50.483,790Nibuwatar
3Jalkanya 9.051,359Chapauli
4Kamalamai 27.128,818Dhungrebas
5Kamalamai 26.848,292Madhutar
6Kamalamai 5.9312,498Madhi Bazar
7Kamalamai 28.796,828Majhitar
8Kamalamai 57.843,672Karkare
9Kamalamai 24.224,728Bhiman
10Kamalamai 37.353,397Dandatol
11Ranichuri 38.133,800Jarayotar
12Ranichuri 43.343,822Sundanda
13Ranibas 24.382,258Mathillo Ranibas
14Ranibas 26.443,211Tallo Ranibas

The previous 18 wards and their constituent VDC wards are as follows:
Previous
Wards		Previous VDC WardsPopulation
1Siddheshwar 1611
2Siddheshwar 21,027
3Siddheshwar 31,706
4Siddheshwar 46,045
5Siddheshwar 52,289
6Siddheshwar 69,783
7Siddheshwar 75,255
8Siddheshwar 8750
9Siddheshwar 92,243
10Bhiman 11,909
11Bhiman 21,818
12Bhiman 31,714
13Bhiman 4688
14Bhiman 5714
15Bhiman 6720
16Bhiman 7733
17Bhiman 8595
18Bhiman 9813

Demographics

At the time of the 2021 Nepal census, Kamalamai Municipality had a population of 71,016 in 18,135 households. The population was composed of 34,316 males and 36,700 females.
In terms of language, 65.13% spoke Nepali, 20.23% Tamang, 4.59% Magar Dhut, 2.94% Newar, 2.23% Danwar, 1.95% Maithili, 0.76% Vayu (Hayu), 0.56% Sunwar, 0.52% Majhi, 0.31% Bhojpuri, 0.16% Bhujel, 0.13% Rai and 0.49% other languages.In terms of ethnicity/caste, 22.78% were Tamang, 19.78% Chhetri, 11.44% Magar, 9.68% Newar, 8.80% Hill Brahmin, 5.20% Biswakarma, 3.97% Mijar, 3.39% Majhi, 3.30% Pariyar, 2.37% Danuwar, 2.16% Gharti/Bhujel, 1.41% Hayu, 1.14% Sunuwar, 0.64% Thakuri, 0.44% Sanyasi/Dasnami, 0.39% Terai Brahmin, 0.30% Rai, 0.24% Kalwar, 0.20% Sonar, 0.18% Sundi, 0.17% Gurung, 0.16% Yadav, 0.15% Hajam/Thakur, 0.15% Tharu, 0.15% Muslim, 0.14% Teli, 0.14 Thami, 0.12% Kamar, 0.10% Koiri/Kushwaha and 1.09% others.In terms of religion, 74.79% were Hindu, 21.39% Buddhist, 2.61% Christian, 0.71% Kirati, 0.28% Prakriti, 0.21% Muslim and 0.01% Bon.
In terms of literacy, 77.83% were literate with male literacy at 85.20% and female at 71.03%.
The historical population of the municipality is given in the following table:
YearPopulationAnnual Growth RateDensity Notes
199124,368—117Population of VDCs later incorporated into Kamalamai Municipality in 1997
200132,8383.03%158Population within pre-2017 municipal boundaries
201139,4131.84%189Population within pre-2017 municipal boundaries
2011 64,386—133Population within post-2017 municipal boundaries, including VDCs incorporated in 2017
202171,0160.98%147—

Economy

The economy of Kamalamai Municipality is predominantly agrarian, with agriculture and livestock rearing constituting the primary sources of livelihood for the majority of its population. A significant proportion of residents are engaged in subsistence and commercial farming, producing staples such as rice, maize, wheat, potatoes and millet along with seasonal fruits and vegetables.
Livestock farming, including dairy production, plays an increasingly important role in household economies. Initiatives to modernise dairy farming—supported through collaborations such as the establishment of the “Korea-Nepal Model Dairy Village” in Kamalamai—have aimed to enhance milk production and provide new opportunities, especially for women farmers.
Sindhulimadhi, the administrative centre and commercial hub of the municipality, plays a key role in local trade and commerce. As both the district headquarters and principal market town, Sindhulimadhi serves as a focal point for business activities and services within the region. Weekly markets are held at Sindhulimadhi on Wednesdays and Saturdays, attracting vendors and buyers from surrounding rural areas. Bhiman is another market town of the municipality where weekly market is held on Fridays. These markets are important venues for the exchange of agricultural produce, livestock, household goods and other commodities.
The service sector—encompassing education, finance, health, and public administration—provides additional employment. Remittances from migrant workers supplement local incomes and are an important economic factor across the municipality, reflecting broader national trends.
Tourism is a developing sector in Kamalamai. Natural, cultural and historical attractions including Kamalamai Temple and Sindhuli Gadhi Fort draw visitors to the muncipality. In support of tourism, a range of hotels and resorts operate in and around the municipality, offering lodging and services to visitors.

Public services

Health Services: The municipality is served by Sindhuli Hospital, a 100 bed provincial level hospital. Located in Sindhulimadhi, it is the principal public health facility in the area, offering both inpatient and outpatient care and acting as a referral centre for surrounding communities.
Drinking Water: Drinking water supply in parts of the municipality, particularly in Sindhulimadhi and surrounding areas, is managed by the Siddheshwar Drinking Water and Sanitation Consumers Committee, a community-based organisation that operates a piped water system sourcing from local springs and reservoirs. This system supplies piped water to several thousand households, with infrastructure including treatment and storage facilities to meet local demand.
Sanitation and Waste Management: Municipal waste management is overseen by Kamalamai’s Public Health and Environment section, which coordinates solid waste collection, street cleaning and environmental sanitation across wards.

Transportation

Regional

Two national highways, BP Highway and Madan Bhandari (Inner Terai) Highway run through Kamalamai Municipality.
BP Highway connects the municipality to Kathmandu via Dhulikhel and to Terai via Bardibas. It passes through places like Bhiman, Sindhulimadhi and Sindhuli Gadhi. The Sindhulimadhi-Khurkot section of this highway, part of which lies within the municipality, is famous for its scenic route around the Mahabharat Hills, characterized by numerous hairpin turns.
Dharan-Hetauda section of Madan Bhandari Highway connects the municipality to Katari, Udayapur to the east and to Hetauda to the west. It passes through Ranibas and merges with BP Highway at Bhiman. The highway resumes at Sindhulimadhi and runs westwards towards Hetauda.
Long-route vehicles run from Sindhulimadhi to cities like Kathmandu, Janakpur, Biratnagar, Birgunj, Hetauda and Pokhara. Janakpur Airport is the closest major airport to the municipality located about 70 kilometers away from Sindhulimadhi.

Local

Most of the parts of Kamalamai are accessible by road. Nowadays, auto rickshaws have common mode of transport within municipality.

Education

Primary and secondary education

Kamalamai municipality has a good facility of education up to SEE levels. Janata,Suryodaya, Bhagwati, Siddhasthali, Swiss are some of the best private schools in Sindhuli district. The quality of +2 levels too is fine here. Many private colleges run +2 commerce affiliated to HSEB. However, the number of +2 science colleges are very few. Science college like Kamala Higher Secondary School is providing good practical based education to students of Sindhuli. This college has been serving as the central of excellence for all science students throughout Sindhuli valley.

Schools

  • Scholars' Academy Boarding School, Bhiman
  • Janata Secondary English Boarding School, Ratmata
  • Kamala Academic Boarding School, Bhiman
  • Shree Janajagriti Mavi Bidyalaya, Bhiman
  • Bhagawati English Secondary School, 2 no. Bazaar
  • Shining Moon Academy, Madhutar
  • Sindhuli Vidhyashram English Boarding School, Dovantaar
  • Sindhuli Pathshalaa, Dhungrebas
  • Kamala Higher Secondary School, Dhungrebas
  • Gaumati Model Secondary School, Majhitaar
  • Shree Jana Jyoti Secondary School
  • Barun Devi Secondary School
  • Daurali Nimna Secondary School
  • Shree Siddhabba Secondary School, Panityanki
  • New English Secondary Boarding School, Milan Chowk
  • Kalimati Nimna Secondary School
  • Suryodaya English Secondary School, Ratmata
  • Siddhababa English Boarding High School
  • New Siddhasthali English Boarding School
  • Swiss Sindhuli Secondary English Medium School
  • Shree Navajyoti Deaf Lower Secondary School
  • Shree Gyan Jyoti Aadarbhut Bidyalaya, Kauchhe
  • Aadhunik English Boarding School, Panityanki

Higher education

There are many colleges which facilitate higher education. There are a large number of colleges running courses with affiliation to universities of Nepal. Colleges like Sindhuli Multiple Campus fall under this category. Kamala Science Campus enables students to acquire Bachelor of Science courses. There are also colleges for technical education were subjects affiliated with CTEVT are taught.

Colleges

  • Shree Janajagriti Ma Vi Bidyalaya, Bhiman
  • Gaumati Model Secondary School
  • Kamala Science Campus
  • Siddha Jyoti Shiksha Campus
  • Sindhuli Multiple College
  • Sindhuli Community Technical Institute, Sindhuli
  • Shree Prabhat Ma Vi, Ranibas

Communication and Media

Kamalamai Municipality has good mobile network coverage with 4G service, mainly provided by Nepal Telecom and Ncell. High-speed optical fiber internet is also available, offered by various internet service providers.
To promote local culture, Kamalamai Municipality has three FM radio stations: Sindhuligadhi FM - 92 MHz, Radio Siddhababa - 98.4 MHz and Radio Sahara - 104.2 MHz.
The KM Club holds various events in colleges of Sindhuli.

Places of attraction

Historical sites

  • Sindhuli Gadhi Fort
  • Ranichuri Durbar

Temples

  • Kamalamai
  • Siddhababa
  • Rameshwar Dham
  • Ganesh Than
  • Maisthaan
  • Kalimaithaan
  • Rakta Mala
  • Sibalaya
  • Gayadevi
  • Krishna Mandir
  • Bakeshwor Mahadev
  • Bhimsen Mandir
  • Ganesh Mandir
  • Bhadrakaali Mandir