Biratnagar विराटनगर | |
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| Biratnagar Metropolitan City | |
    From top, left to right: Biratnagar Gate, Biratnagar industrial skyline, Biratnagar market skyline, Greenery panorama seen from Biratnagar Eye Hospital | |
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 Interactive map of Biratnagar | |
  Biratnagar Location of Biratnagar in Koshi Province Show map of Koshi Province Biratnagar Biratnagar (Nepal) Show map of Nepal | |
| Coordinates:26°27′15″N87°16′47″E / 26.45417°N 87.27972°E /26.45417; 87.27972 | |
| Country |  Nepal |
| Province | Koshi |
| District | Morang |
| Incorporated | 1914(as district headquarters) |
| Upgraded to metropolitan city | 2017 |
| Named after | KingBirat |
| Wards | 19 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council |
| • Body | Biratnagar Metropolitan City Council |
| • Mayor | Nagesh Koirala (Congress)[5] |
| • Deputy Mayor | Shilpa Niraula Karki (CPN-UML) |
| • Chief Administrative Officer | [6] |
| Area | |
• Total | 77.06 km2 (29.75 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 80 m (260 ft) |
| Population (2021[7]) | |
• Total | 244,750 |
| • Rank | 6th (Nepal)[7] 1st (Koshi Province) |
| • Density | 3,176/km2 (8,226/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Nepali |
| • Regional | Maithili, |
| Time zone | UTC+5:45 (NST) |
| Postal code | 56613 |
| Area code | 021 |
| Website | biratnagarmun |
Biratnagar (Nepali:विराटनगर) is ametropolitan city inNepal, which serves as the capital ofKoshi Province.[8][9][10] With a Metropolitan Urban Agglomeration population of 244,750 as per the2021 census,[11] it is the largest city and fastest growing city in the province and also the headquarters ofMorang district.[12] As per the preliminary report of2022 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 theGreater Birat Development Area which incorporates the cities of Biratnagar and its suburbs and towns of-Itahari-Gothgau-Biratchowk-Dharan[13] primarily located on theKoshi Highway in Eastern Nepal, with an estimated total urban agglomerated population of 804,300 people in 159,332 households including the town of Ithari.[14] Biratnagar is located 399 km (248 mi) east of the capital,Kathmandu, and 6 km (3.7 mi) north of the bordering town ofJogbani in the Indian state ofBihar which is very well connected through Rani Path (old highway) and Koshi Path (new highway), and serves as a major entry point from India.
Biratnagar was declared a metropolitan city on 22 May 2017,[15] a merger with additional wards pushing the total population to over 240,000.[16] It is the sixth largestcity of Nepal, with 244,750 inhabitants as per2021 Nepal census.[7]
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 theNepalese democracy movement by being the birthplace of fiveprime ministers of democratic Nepal. The latter claim is also evident from the fact that the firstlabor strike leading to theanti-Rana movement started from Biratnagar.
Modern-day Biratnagar serves as an entry point to eastern Nepal as well asnorth-eastern India.[citation needed] It is the second Nepalese city, afterJanakpur, to have a connection with theIndian Railways[17][18] and the only city other thanBirgunj to operate an integrated check post (ICP) on the Indian border.[19][20]
| Election[21] | Mayor | Party | Tenure | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2074 | Bhim Parajuli | Nepali Congress | 2074-2079 | |
| 2079 | Nagesh Koirala | Nepali Congress | 2079-2084 | |
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 fromRangeli, the then district capital ofMorang.[22]
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 ofLimbuwan (present-daySunsari, Morang, and Jhapa areas). 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.[23][24]
The old name of Biratnagar wasGograha 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 (1976BS) byKeshar Shamsher Rana after the ruins of a palace, thought to be ofKing Virat, and other objects of historical importance were found.[22] Kingdom of Virata mentioned in Mahabharata is however believed to beViratnagar, 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 theirAgyaata Vaasa in the exile. According to theMarkandeya 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.[25]
In Nepali,Birat (Nepali:विराट) refers to King "Virata" of theMatsya Kingdom andNagar (Nepali:नगर) means "city"; literallyKing Virata's City.
On 4 March 1947, thefirst anti-Rana movement in Nepal started in Biratnagar at the Biratnagar jute mills under the leadership ofGirija Prasad Koirala andB. P. Koirala. This sparked a countrywide anti-Rana demonstration that eventually led to the abolishment ofRana rule in Nepal. During the panchayat system in Nepal the Pradhan Pancha who also happened to manage district level body for Biratnagar wasGovinda Bahadur Baruwal. He was also the committee member of Mahendra Morang Adarsha Multiple Campus (MMAMC) which is one of the oldest, most prestigious and leading academic institution of providence 1.
The city has its best climate between February to mid April and August to early December.The highest temperature ever recorded in Biratnagar was 43.0 °C (109.4 °F) on the 14 April 1992, while the lowest temperature ever recorded was −1.0 °C (30.2 °F) in December 1970 and January 1971.[26]
| Climate data for Biratnagar (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1968–2017) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 29.7 (85.5) | 33.5 (92.3) | 39.2 (102.6) | 42.0 (107.6) | 41.5 (106.7) | 41.3 (106.3) | 38.7 (101.7) | 39.0 (102.2) | 38.2 (100.8) | 36.6 (97.9) | 34.0 (93.2) | 30.5 (86.9) | 42.0 (107.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 22.3 (72.1) | 26.3 (79.3) | 31.1 (88.0) | 33.9 (93.0) | 33.6 (92.5) | 33.1 (91.6) | 32.6 (90.7) | 33.0 (91.4) | 32.6 (90.7) | 31.9 (89.4) | 29.5 (85.1) | 25.3 (77.5) | 30.4 (86.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 15.8 (60.4) | 18.9 (66.0) | 23.5 (74.3) | 27.4 (81.3) | 28.6 (83.5) | 29.2 (84.6) | 29.3 (84.7) | 29.5 (85.1) | 28.8 (83.8) | 26.7 (80.1) | 22.5 (72.5) | 18.1 (64.6) | 24.9 (76.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 9.2 (48.6) | 11.5 (52.7) | 15.9 (60.6) | 20.8 (69.4) | 23.5 (74.3) | 25.3 (77.5) | 25.9 (78.6) | 26.0 (78.8) | 25.0 (77.0) | 21.4 (70.5) | 15.5 (59.9) | 10.9 (51.6) | 19.2 (66.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 2.5 (36.5) | 4.0 (39.2) | 8.0 (46.4) | 9.6 (49.3) | 15.0 (59.0) | 18.0 (64.4) | 19.0 (66.2) | 19.7 (67.5) | 17.5 (63.5) | 11.0 (51.8) | 7.0 (44.6) | 4.9 (40.8) | 2.5 (36.5) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 11.1 (0.44) | 11.0 (0.43) | 16.8 (0.66) | 58.8 (2.31) | 172.0 (6.77) | 306.2 (12.06) | 475.6 (18.72) | 353.1 (13.90) | 269.1 (10.59) | 75.7 (2.98) | 3.8 (0.15) | 4.3 (0.17) | 1,757.5 (69.19) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 4.5 | 9.9 | 15.1 | 18.8 | 16.3 | 13.5 | 3.7 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 87.1 |
| Source 1:World Meteorological Organization[27] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Department of Hydrology and Meteorology[28] | |||||||||||||
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 the2021 Nepal census, Biratnagar Metropolitan City had a population of 218,526. Of these, 39.4% spokeMaithili, 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.[31]
In terms of ethnicity/caste, 16.1% wereHill 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% TeraiBrahmin, 0.5%Kurmi, 0.5%Limbu, 0.5%Sonar, 0.4% Badhaee, 0.3% otherDalit, 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.[32]
In terms of religion, 88.7% wereHindu, 8.9%Muslim, 1.1%Buddhist, 0.7%Kirati, 0.7%Christian, 0.3%Jain, 0.1%Prakriti and 0.2% others.[33]
In terms of literacy, 79.0% could read and write, 1.5% could only read and 19.4% could neither read nor write.[34]
The Biratnagar Airport is being developed into an international airport to cater to increasing tourist traffic and improve regional connectivity.
Biratnagar is the economic center of eastern Nepal. It is also known as the "Gateway to Eastern Nepal". The first industry in Nepal, the Biratnagar jute mills, was established here. Biratnagar is driven by astartup culture. The multi-million dollar business house, Golchha Organisation, has its roots in Biratnagar where it started as a small startup business. Biratnagar is connected to a major custom route with India and has the second-largest land port in Nepal.
Biratnagar is a hub for explorers of places in eastern Nepal likeIlam,Taplejung,Sankhuwasabha andPanchthar and other terai districts due to a functioning airport and an important border checkpointJogbani in theAraria District of Indian State ofBihar. A number of colorfulhaat bazaars (weekly markets) 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 46 km (30 mi) andItahari is 24 km (10 mi) 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 ofBhedetar 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. TheKoshi 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 andKanchenjunga can be started from the small towns of Basantapur or Tumlingtar.
The district headquarters ofMorang were moved to Biratnagar fromRangeli in 1914 by the then district governor, Colonel Jit Bahadur Khatri. The next governor, Shiva Pratap Shumsher Thapa, further developed the town.[37]Krishna Prasad Koirala was the first major political leader based in Biratnagar. His sonsMatrika Prasad Koirala andBishweshwar Prasad Koirala were the prime ministers of Nepal after the fall of the Rana rule. Since then Biratnagar has been a major contributor to Nepali politics, and is the most politically active city in the country.Girija Prasad Koirala, the younger brother of Matrika and BP Koirala, was elected prime minister on four occasions; from 1991 to 1994, 1998 to 1999, 2000 to 2001, and from 2006 to 2008. He also served as the acting Head of State from January 2007 to July 2008.Man Mohan Adhikari, the first communist prime minister of Nepal was also born in Biratnagar. Leaders likeBharat Mohan Adhikari,Shailaja Acharya,Sushil Koirala,Lal Babu Pandit,Amod Prasad Upadhyay andMahesh Acharya all hail from this city. The1973 plane hijack, which was to fund the political revolution, took place at theBiratnagar Airport. The hijack plan, masterminded byGirija Prasad Koirala, was executed by Durga Subedi, Nagendra Dhungel and Basant Bhattarai.[38]
Nepali Congress's Nagesh Koirala and CPN UML's Shilpa Nirala Karki are the current Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the metropolitan respectively.
Biratnagar is the center of education in eastern Nepal. Biratnagar is home to old constituent campus ofTribhuvan University, theMahendra Morang Adarsh Multiple Campus.
The medium of teaching is English in all the private schools, colleges and universities whereas Nepali is the medium of instruction in government schools up to secondary level. There are more than 80 schools, over 20 colleges and 21 hospitals in Biratnagar, the most after Kathmandu.
Biratnagar has been the ground for many prominent literary personalities like,Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala,Tarini Prasad Koirala,Dev Kumari Thapa,Bal Krishna Pokharel,Parashu Pradhan,Krishna Bhooshan Bal,Dadhiraj Subedi,Bibas Pokharel,Suman Pokhrel,Bhola Rijal,Bhuwan Dhungana and others. Some of the prominent books in Nepali literature have emerged from Biratnagar. Landmark books in Nepali poetry,Bholi Basne Bihan byKrishna Bhooshan Bal andJeevanko Chheubaata bySuman Pokhrel were first published in this city. There is a popular culture of poetry recitation in regular sessions in various locations of Biratnagar.[39]
Biratnagar is the birthplace of the theater group,Aarohan Gurukul. The theater group was founded and registered withDistrict Administration Office,Morang here in Biratnagar in 1982. The group has expanded its activities to Kathmandu and aboard.[40] This theatre group has produced dozens of theatrical plays includingAgniko Katha andYajnaseni and has got them performed across the countries. At present day,Aarohan Gurukul is considered as one of the major places of public attraction in Biratnagar.[41][42][43]
Biratnagar is also known for its religious sites, such as the Kali Mandir, and its diverse cultural landscape.
Cricket andassociation football are the most popular sports in Biratnagar.Biratnagar City F.C. is one of the heart beats of the footballing culture of the city.Sahid Rangsala with a capacity of 15,000+ spectators is the largest football stadium in the city. Sahid Maidan is the home stadium of Morang Football Club. The Mahendra Gold Cup, nowBirat Gold Cup, is held in the stadium along with district divisional league matches. There is a covered hall nearby Sahid Maidan where indoor events can be organized. A cricket stadium is being constructed in Baijanathpur on the outskirts of Biratnagar with the objective of organizing local and national-level cricket tournaments. Other facilities in the city include lawn tennis and basketball courts
Biratnagar istwinned with:
Nabin Kumar Shrestha (actor)
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Places adjacent to Biratnagar | |
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Capital:Kathmandu | ||
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