Nepalgunj

Nepalgunj ([neˈpalɡʌnd͡z]), also spelled Nepalganj, is a Sub-Metropolitan City in Banke District, Nepal. It lies on the Terai plains near the southern border with Bahraich district in Uttar Pradesh, India. Nepalgunj is 153 kilometers south-west of Ghorahi and 16 km south of Kohalpur. Former Village Development Committee: Udayapur, Bhawaniyapur, Piprahawa, Jaispur, Paraspur, Indrapur, Khaskarkado, Bashudevpur, Manikapur and Puraina were added to territory in order to make it Sub metropolitan city on 2071 Paush 28 and later Puraini was also added in list on 2072 Paush 21. Further, while restructuring of local levels nationwide, ward no. 23 (former Indrapur VDC) was taken out to Janaki Rural Municipality and ward no. 7 of Hirminiya VDC was added to Nepalgunj.

Nepalgunj
Sub-Metropolitan City
Nepalgunj
Nepalgunj
Coordinates: 28°03′N 81°37′E
Country   Nepal
ProvinceLumbini Province[1]
ZoneBheri
DistrictBanke
Government
 • TypeMayor–council
 • MayorDhawal Shamsher JBR[2] (RPP)
 • Deputy MayorUma Thapa Magar (NC)[2]
 • Executive OfficerBhim Bahadur Kunwar
Area
 • Total85.94 km2 (33.18 sq mi)
Elevation
150 m (490 ft)
Population
 (2017)
 • Total138,951
 • Density1,616.84/km2 (4,187.6/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+5:45 (NST)
Area code(s)081
Websitewww.nepalgunjmun.gov.np

Demographics

The 2011 census counted 73,779 inhabitants, with 20% growth since 2001.[3] Currently it is estimated around 1,60,000 inhabitants in Nepalgunj city.

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 the larger percentage of the population. The city also has followers of other religions like Buddhism, Sikhism and Christianity. People of different ethnicity are known to have traditionally lived together, without any significant conflicts. Muslim have grown in unprecedented numbers in the region.

Damaged statue of Tribhuvan at Tribhuvan Chok Nepalgunj.

However, recent conflict occurred in December 2006 between the Pahari people and the Madhesi people, following immediately after the 2006 democracy movement in Nepal. The conflict resulted in the death of at least one person, while dozens of others were injured.

Transport
Nepalgunj Airport

Nepalgunj Airport is located 6 km north of the city centre. The airport was officially named Mahendra Airport after the late King Mahendra, but it is commonly referred to as Ranjha Airport. It operated flights to Kathmandu and to airports in less-developed western districts such as Dolpa, Jumla, Mugu and Rukum. Nepalgunj airport is undergoing major redevelopment, and by 2025 its capacity will be increased and will have world-class facilities inside the airport for the customers.

Nepalgunj to Kohalpur highway has been widened to four lanes and it is considered to be one of the best in the country. This has made journey to Kolhapur and easy access for commuters and visitors.

Section of the newly widened Surkhet road at Pipari

Nepalgunj has bus and mini-bus services. The country's longest highway, Mahendra Highway, runs through the town of Kohalpur, 10 kilometers from Nepalgunj city center.

An Indian Railways line reaches Rupaidiha across the border. It involves train changes at Gonda, Bahraich and Nanpara. For travellers coming in from India it is also possible to take an express train to Lucknow and from there a direct bus to Rupaidiha. Indian and Nepalese nationals may cross the border without restrictions; however, there is a customs checkpoint for goods and third country nationals.

Infrastructure

Hospitals
See also: List of hospitals in Nepal
  • Bheri Zonal Hospital
  • Nepalgunj Medical College Teaching Hospital

Schools

Nepalgunj has several boarding and government-run schools. Mahendra Multiple Campus is the largest public higher-level institution in the district, and is affiliated to Tribhuvan University. The following is a list of secondary and higher-level academic institutions in the city:

  • ABC Residential Higher Secondary School
  • Angels High School
  • Adarsh Higher Secondary School
  • Bright Hope Academy
  • Brightland Higher Secondary School
  • Bheri Vidhya Mandir
  • British English Boarding School
  • City College of Management
  • City Public High School
  • College of Engineering and Management
  • Dream Land Secondary School
  • GVN Higher Secondary School
  • Golden ABC High School
  • Holy Land Higher Secondary School
  • Jaya Bageshwori H.S. School
  • Junior Cambridge Higher Secondary School
  • Jaycees Bal Sansar E.M. School
  • Lotus English Medium School
  • Mahendra Model Higher Secondary School
  • Mahendra Multiple Campus
  • Maithawa higher secondary school
  • Modern Public Higher Secondary School
  • Muntara Secondary School
  • Shree Sharada Lower secondary school Nepalgunj-10, Banke
  • Nepalgunj Medical College
  • Nepalgunj Multiple Campus (NMC)
  • Nepalgunj Technical College
  • National Engineering College
  • Pashupati Higher Secondary School
  • Shree Buddha English Medium School
  • Shree Shaileshwori Vidhya Niketan
  • St. Thomas Higher Secondary School
  • United Educational Academy
  • West Zone E. M. Higher Secondary School
  • Nepalgunj Model Academy
  • Bheri English Medium High School
  • Sun Beam Higher Secondary School
  • Shanti Bidhya Niketan
  • Dhumbojhi Higher Secondary School
  • Gorkha School
  • Nepalgunj Model Academy
  • Deep Jyoti Vidyashram Secondary School
  • Saraswati Secondary School
  • Shree Ma.Vi. Bhawaniyapur
  • Narayan High School
  • Mahendra High School
  • Mangal Prasad High School
  • Shanti Nandan English Medium School

Communications
  • A Post Office is located at Charbahini Chok
  • Telephone networks (land lines) including telephone exchange systems
  • Mobile phone networks
  • Cable television physical networks including receiving stations and cable distribution networks
  • Internet services

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. The highest temperature ever recorded in Nepalgunj was 45.0 °C (113.0 °F) on 16 June 1995, while the lowest temperature ever recorded was −0.3 °C (31.5 °F) on 9 January 2013.[4]

Climate data for Nepalgunj 144m (1981-2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 20.9
(69.6)		 25.2
(77.4)		 30.9
(87.6)		 36.5
(97.7)		 37.4
(99.3)		 36.5
(97.7)		 33.3
(91.9)		 33.0
(91.4)		 32.5
(90.5)		 31.5
(88.7)		 28.0
(82.4)		 23.4
(74.1)		 30.8
(87.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 14.9
(58.8)		 18.4
(65.1)		 23.3
(73.9)		 28.6
(83.5)		 31.0
(87.8)		 31.5
(88.7)		 29.8
(85.6)		 29.7
(85.5)		 28.8
(83.8)		 26.1
(79.0)		 21.6
(70.9)		 17.0
(62.6)		 25.1
(77.2)
Average low °C (°F) 9.0
(48.2)		 11.6
(52.9)		 15.8
(60.4)		 20.8
(69.4)		 24.6
(76.3)		 26.4
(79.5)		 26.4
(79.5)		 26.4
(79.5)		 25.1
(77.2)		 20.8
(69.4)		 15.1
(59.2)		 10.5
(50.9)		 19.4
(66.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 22.8
(0.90)		 24.3
(0.96)		 14.9
(0.59)		 16.3
(0.64)		 71.4
(2.81)		 199.4
(7.85)		 430.7
(16.96)		 353.8
(13.93)		 235.2
(9.26)		 58.3
(2.30)		 5.1
(0.20)		 11.7
(0.46)		 1,443.9
(56.85)
Source: Department Of Hydrology and Meteorology[5]

Hotels

With the boost in the tourism industry after the change in political scenario of Nepal in the 1950s, the hotel and restaurant industries in Nepalgunj have experienced significant growth. The Sneha Hotel features in the atmospheric travel memoir A Glimpse of Eternal Snows by Jane Wilson-Howarth.[6]

Places of interest
The statue of Junge Mahādeva

Sports

Cricket and association football are the two most popular sports in Nepalgunj. Most of the city's big sports tournaments are held in the city's football stadium and gymnasium. As of September 2011, an international cricket stadium is under construction in Kohalpur.[7]

Media

Two cinema halls, Laxmi hall and QFX Bageshwori, can be found in Nepalgunj. The city also has several community radio stations:

  • Radio Himal 92.6 MHz
  • Nepalgunj Community FM 104.8 MHz
  • Bheri FM 105.4 MHz
  • Radio Krishnasar 94 MHz
  • Radio Bageshwori 94.6 MHz
  • Bheri Awaj FM 95.6 MHz
  • Morning Star 90.0 MHz

See also

References
  1. "Protests, clashes in Province 5 districts over demarcations".
  2. "Nepalgunj electorate elect RPP candidate Rana as mayor again".
  3. "Nepal: Provinces, Zones, Districts, Cities, Urban Municipalities - Population Statistics in Maps and Charts". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  4. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link). Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  5. . Department Of Hydrology and Meteorology Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  6. Jane Wilson-Howarth (2012). A Glimpse of Eternal Snows: a journey of love and loss in the Himalayas. Bradt Travel Guides, UK. p. 390. ISBN 978-1-84162-435-8.
  7. "International Cricket ground under delay | Cricnepal.com". cricnepal.com. 26 September 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
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