Biratnagar
| Biratnagar बिराटनगर | |
|---|---|
| — Sub-metropolitan — | |
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Biratnagar
| |
| Coordinates: 26°28′N 87°16′ECoordinates: 26°28′N 87°16′E | |
| Country |  Nepal |
| Development Region | Eastern |
| Zone | Kosi Zone |
| District | Morang District |
| Elevation | 72 m (236 ft) |
| Population (2009) | |
| • Total | 189,000 |
| est. | |
| Time zone | Nepal Time (UTC+5:45) |
 |
| Biratnagar Airport |
Biratnagar
is a sub metropolitan city in south east Nepal which is considered as
the second largest city after Kathmandu. In Nepali "Birat" means Huge
and "Nagar" means city. Biratnagar is the hometown of many influential
leaders in Nepalese politics including Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala,
Girija Prasad Koirala, Manmohan Adhikari and Kirtinidhi Bista.
Biratnagar is an industrial power house of Nepal with many industries
located in and around its suburbs. It is in Koshi Zone - one of the
fourteen administrative zones of Nepal and is also the headquarter of
Morang district. Its geographical location is 26°28'60"N 87°16'60"E.
Since
it is located in the fertile Gangetic plains, the land is very fertile
and hence Biratnagar has traditionally been an agricultural hub and is
home to many agriculture based industries of the country. It is located
near the border of India and is therefore a major center for trade and
commerce with India. Biratnagar is linked with Kathmandu by roadways and
airways. Biratnagar Airport is the regional hub for vital air services
serving the Eastern part of the country.
Demography
According
to 2009 census, the total population of the city of Biratnagar was
696,636. Biratnagar's demography chiefly consists of groups like
Brahman,Kshtriya, Madhesis, Marwaris, Tharus and it consists a
significantly large Muslim population in Nepal. By percentage of
population most people follow Hinduism followed by Islam, Buddhism,
Jainism and Christianity.
Transport
The
major mode of transport to the city is road transport. It is well
connected to other parts of the country through buses. Biratnagar is
also well connected to Kathmandu and some hilly places by air transport.
Biratnagar Airport is one of the busiest airports in Nepal with most
flights to Kathmandu.
It
is also easy to travel to and from India by trains from the bordering
Indian city of Jogbani. There are direct trains to the city of Kolkata
and the Indian capital New Delhi from Jogbani. In 2008, a survey for a
railway extension from India was done. It was completed in 2009.
The
best way of getting around the city is by using cycle rickshaws and
taxi. There are also auto rickshaws running short distances but they
don't operate in the main market area. For easy roundabout of the city
there are tempos and mini bus.
Religious Fare
Biratnagar
is equally famous for its high-spirited festival celebration. In
Dashain, Nepal's biggest festival, large number of people including
youths visit the Kali Mandir, a temple which lies in the heart of the
town. Also famous is Tihar in Biratnagar, festival of lights, when the
residents line their homes with diyo (an earthen oil lamp), candles and
decorative electrical lamps during the two days of celebration. Krishna
Astami (Birthday of Krishna) is a festival which is heavily celebrated
in Biratnagar. Thousands of people gather on that day to pull the Holy
Cart (Rath) which goes around the city. This event is termed as the Rath
Yatra (the Cart Journey). Traffic will be hault for one or two hours on
that day. It is believed that the Holy Cart (Rath) was driven by Lord
Krishna. So, people keep young child in the Holy Cart as a symbol of
Krishna and pull the Cart with joy to celebrate the Birthday of Lord
Krishna. The Cart (Rath) is very big and heavy, so needs hundreds of
people to move. It has generator to run if required to move fast. It has
brakes to stop as it has to stop at many places to allow people to
worship the Lord. Some people will be in the Cart (Rath) to distribute
prasad (fruits) to the people. The Holy Cart will be followed by many
smaller carts which are pulled by oxen. people in the smaller carts play
the music and sing hymns with joy and happiness. It is the most
important festival for the people of Biratnagr. So, almost all the
schools and offices close after 1pm Nepali time to let the believers and
spectators attend the Rath Yatra (the Cart Journey).
Politics
Biratnagar,
being the home and a political turf to Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala, the
first democratically elected Prime Minister of Nepal, has always been a
fertile bed for emerging as well as established politicians. Leaders
like Man Mohan Adhikari, Sailaja Acharya, Bharatmohan Adhikari and
Mahesh Acharya all herald from this city. The man who has been elected
prime minister the most number of times in Nepal, and in the world,
Girija Prasad Koirala also hails from Biratnagar. He was Prime Minister
of Nepal four times, serving from 1991 to 1994, 1998 to 1999, 2000 to
2001, and from 2006 to 2008; he was also Acting Head of State from
January 2007 to July 2008. Biratnagar is the politically most active
city in the modern history of Nepal. The first and the historical plane
hijack which was to fund the political revolution also took place at the
Biratnagar Airport. The hijack plan masterminded by Girija Prasad
Koirala was executed by Durga Subedi, *"Nagendra Dhungel" and *"Basant
Bhattarai". *"Operation Ganesh out, place hijack plan in" . Biratnagar
also had a king in the past whose name was Birat. There is a historical
place near to the border of India where we could see the remains of the
palace of Birat king. That place lacks the protection as it is in remote
area and lacks proper transportation. The name "Biratnagar" for the
city came after the name of King Birat.
Education
Biratnagar
is the centre of education in the eastern Development Region of Nepal.
People in Biratnagar are more inclined to education followed by
business, industry and politics although Biratnagar was politically very
active in the past. The teaching medium of education is English in all
the private schools, colleges and universities whereas Nepali medium in
government schools up to secondary level.
Universities and Colleges:
Purbanchal University
Mahendra Morang Multiple Campus, (affiliated to the Tribhuvan University)
Tribhuvan University Post Graduate College
Medical Colleges:
Nepal Homeopathic Medical College (Affiliated to Purbanchal University)
Nobel Medical College (Affiliated to Kathmandu University)
Engineering Colleges:
Purbanchal university school of Engineering and Technology (PUSET)
Eastern College of Engineering
Higher Secondary Schools and Colleges:
Arniko Higher Secondary School
Bal Kalyan Vidya Mandir Higher Secondary School
Bhanu Memorial English Boarding School
Birat Science Campus
Birat College of Management
Collage of Business and Social Studies
City College
Devkota Memorial Higher Secondary School
Koshi College
Kritika Education and Health Foundation
Lord Buddha College
Manokamana Higher Secondary School
Mahendra Secondary High School
Merryland Higher Secondary School
Model College
National Academy of Science and Commerce
Orchid College
Shree Gograha Higher Secondary School
Sikshayadip College
South Asian School of Tourism and Hotel Management
St. Joseph's Higher Secondary School
Zenith collage
Management campus
Secondary Schools:
Namuna Vidya Mandir Secondary School
Aadarsha Vidya Mandir
Arniko Boarding School
Balmiki Secondary English Medium School
Birat Co-operative English School
Budhanilkantha English Boarding School
DAV School
Deokota Memorial School
Don Bosco School(nilgiri)
DPS Biratnagar
Eden National Secondary Boarding School
Everest English Borading School
Koshi Vidya Mandir
Shree Sagarmatha Secondary Boarding School
Shree Saraswati Madhyamik Vidyalya
Siddhartha Sishu Sadan
St. Joseph's Boarding School
Crescent Public School
Jamia Islamia Secondary School
Bal Kalyan Vidhya Mandhir
Sagarmatha Secondary Boarding School
Economy, Trade and Commerce
The
main economy of Biratnagar comes from business and industry. Biratnagar
exports instant noodles, biscuits and garments to India and some other
cities of Nepal. It also export some garments to United States and some
Europen countries. Biratnagar imports machinery, vehicles, computers,
iron, steel, etc from India and imports clothes, slippers, shoes, etc
from China. Biratnagr Sugar Mill and Biratnagar Jute Mill are the
biggest industries of Biratnagar. Biratnagar has always been the center
of business and commerce in Nepal.Biratnagar is also known as the
industrial capital of Nepal.
Recreation and Entertainment
There
are many places in Biratnagar to hang out.For example dhadhiram complex
where you can swim and workout.Especially during Dashain and Tihar
people make lingey Pings(a swing made up of three bamboo poles and jute
rope).A lot of melas(Recreation sites) are organized in various times of
year where people from all factions of society come to enjoy the rides
and swings.Although very few national tournaments are organized here
many regional soccer tournaments can be observed in the sahid maidan(a
stadium).You can watch latest english and hindi movies in Himalaya
Takiz.You can hang out in casinos and dance bars in city central near
the traffic chowk and jana-andolan Chowk area.You can just stroll in the
local Hat-bazzars that takes place almost every day of the week.The
city also has a theatre named Gurukul which regularly stages various
dramas and is a major hub for theatrical artists from across the country
and nearby India. There are many recreational parks and libraries
dotted around the city. recently various Yoga Shivir or centres have
been built by public bodies.
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