Nepalgunj,small city of Nepal.It is a small and plain land where honesty and helpful people live in a perfect harmony.
Nepalgunj (Nepali: नेपालगञ्ज or नेपालगन्ज [nepaːlɡəndʒ]), 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 85 kilometers south west of Ghorahi and 16 km south of Kohalpur and the east-west Mahendra Highway.
The heart of the city- Dhumboji, where lies the center and perhaps the most important traffic junction of the town referred to as 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, while 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.
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. Recently the city has been a possibility of being developed into a major IT center in Nepal since a large population of young entrepreneurs are investing new technologies and marketing into new sectors.
There is also better education facility in the city. Several boarding and government schools have been established in the city with M.P. School and Mahendra School being among the oldest schools of the city and Jaycees Bal Sansar E.M. School being the first English Medium school in the city. Angels High School, Brightland H.S. School, Gorkha United (situated in Kohalpur), Jaya Bageshwori H.S. School, etc. are among the most famous schools of Nepalgunj.
Nepalgunj is considered the hottest place in Nepal, with temperature rising well above 40°C in summer.
Restaurants in Nepalgunj are famous for its samosas, chaat, golgappas, dahibada, 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 of Nepal. Its is also famous for ravadi (milk item) in all over the country.
The city is also popular for its religious significance. Bageshwori temple is a renowned temple for Hindu devotees in the country as well as those from nearest border cities of India.
Mutilated statue of Tribhuvan at Tribhuvan Chowk Nepalgunj.
However, there have been religious conflicts in the past in the city
between its Hindu and Muslim majorities. Recent conflict occurred in
December 2006 betweenPahari people of the hill-origin and Madhesi people
of Ganges-river origin. The conflict resulted in the death of at least
one person, while dozens were injured. The conflict followed immediately
after the 2006 democracy movement in Nepal. During the conflict, a mob destroyed the statue of late King Tribhuvan placed at a junction named after him while demanding to rename the junction as Kamal Madheshi Chowk
after a man from the madhesi side who was killed in the violence. The
local administration had to impose a curfew to take the mob under
control, and later formed a commission to investigate the causes of the
riot.
Nepal-India border along Nepalgunj-Rupaidiha road section.
While India and Nepal have an open border with no restrictions on the
movement of people on either side, there are 22 agreed transit and
customs posts along the Nepal-India border for the purposes of trade.
These are: 1. Pashupatinagar / Sukhiapokhari 2.Kakarbhitta / Naxalbari (Panitanki) 3. Bhadrapur / Galgalia 4. Biratnagar / Jogbani 5. Setobandha / Bhimnagar 6. Rajbiraj / Kunauli 7. Siraha, Janakpur / Jayanagar 8. Jaleswar / Bhitamore, Sursand 9. Malangawa / Sonbarsa 10. Gaur / Bairgania 11. Birganj / Raxaul 12. Bhairahawa / Nautanwa 13.Taulihawa / Khunwa 14. Krishnanagar / Barhni 15. Koilabas / Jarwa 16. Nepalgunj / Rupaidiha (Nepalgunj Road) 17. Rajapur / Katerniyaghat 18. Prithivipur / Sati (Kailali) / Tikonia 19. Dhangadhi / Gauriphanta 20. Mahendranagar / Banbasa 21. Mahakali / Jhulaghat (Pithoragarh) 22. Darchula/Dharchula.[2]
There are six immigration points along the Indo Nepal border for the entry and exit of nationals from third countries. These are: Banbasa, Dhangadhi, Nepalganj, Bhairahawa (Sunauli), Birganj and Kakarbhita.[2]
Bageshwori pond skyline with temple of Junge Mahādeva in the center.
The statue of Junge Mahādeva.
Nepalgunj (Nepali: नेपालगञ्ज or नेपालगन्ज [nepaːlɡəndʒ]), 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 85 kilometers south west of Ghorahi and 16 km south of Kohalpur and the east-west Mahendra Highway.
The heart of the city- Dhumboji, where lies the center and perhaps the most important traffic junction of the town referred to as 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, while 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.
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. Recently the city has been a possibility of being developed into a major IT center in Nepal since a large population of young entrepreneurs are investing new technologies and marketing into new sectors.
There is also better education facility in the city. Several boarding and government schools have been established in the city with M.P. School and Mahendra School being among the oldest schools of the city and Jaycees Bal Sansar E.M. School being the first English Medium school in the city. Angels High School, Brightland H.S. School, Gorkha United (situated in Kohalpur), Jaya Bageshwori H.S. School, etc. are among the most famous schools of Nepalgunj.
Nepalgunj is considered the hottest place in Nepal, with temperature rising well above 40°C in summer.
[edit] Population
The 2001 census[1] counted 57,535 inhabitants, with 20% growth since 1991. Nepali is spoken natively by Paharis as well as by people of other ethnicity as the national language and lingua franca. The mother tongue for the older residents is still awadhi, which is understood and normally spoken by the entire population of the district.[edit] Lifestyle
Temperature highly affects the lifestyle of Nepalgunj. Due to extreme heat in summer season, people wear light cotton clothes and rarely come out during the day time. While in the winter season, the temperature may drop to 6° C during which people wear thick woolen clothes.Restaurants in Nepalgunj are famous for its samosas, chaat, golgappas, dahibada, 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 of Nepal. Its is also famous for ravadi (milk item) in all over the country.
The city is also popular for its religious significance. Bageshwori temple is a renowned temple for Hindu devotees in the country as well as those from nearest border cities of India.
[edit] Culture and Religion
Nepalgunj has a diverse culture with people from different faiths living within mixed communities. Hinduism and Islam are two major religions in the city with Hindus comprising larger percentage of the population. Other religions like Buddhism and the Christianity are among in the minorities. People of different ethnicity are known to have traditionally lived together, without any significant conflicts.
Border crossing
There are six immigration points along the Indo Nepal border for the entry and exit of nationals from third countries. These are: Banbasa, Dhangadhi, Nepalganj, Bhairahawa (Sunauli), Birganj and Kakarbhita.[2]
[edit] Infrastructure
Main article: List of hospitals in Nepal
[edit] Climate
Nepalgunj has a sub-tropical climate. 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.[edit] Hotels
With the boost in the tourism industry after the change over in political scenario of Nepal in 1950, hotel industry in Nepalgunj picked-up a significant growth. Now, Nepalgunj boasts of several good hotels such as Sneha, Batika, Traveller's Village, Siddhartha, etc. There are a number of good restaurants in the city that offer traditional Nepalese, as well as, a variety of Indian, Chinese and Western cuisines.[edit] Places of interest
- Bageswory temple in Nepalgunj is one of the most important temples for Hindus. It is dedicated to goddess Bageshwori and the temple area also houses another famous temple- the temple of lord Shiva with mustache, which is one of the only two such temples in the country. The Lord Shiva's statue in the temple is often referred to as Junge Mahādeva (Nepali: जुंगे महादेव).
- 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.
- Surkhet, an Inner Terai Valley north of Nepalgunj.
