Chitwan District

Chitwan
चितवन
District

Narayangarh city view from Maula Kalika temple Gaindakot
Motto: हाम्रो चितवन, राम्रो चितवन
Chitwan

Location in Nepal

Coordinates: 27°35′N 84°30′E / 27.583°N 84.500°ECoordinates: 27°35′N 84°30′E / 27.583°N 84.500°E
Country Nepal
Development Region Central
Zone Narayani Zone
District Chitwan District
Headquarters Bharatpur
HDI Increase 0.520 Medium[1]
HPI Decrease 31.9 Low
Established 1300s AD[2]
Area
 • Total 2,238.39 km2 (864.25 sq mi)
Elevation 415 m (1,362 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 579,984[3]
 • Ethnicities Brahmin, Chhetri, Tharu, Newar, Gurung, Magars, Tamang, Chepang
 • Religions Hindu, Buddhist
Languages
 • Local Nepali, Tharu, Newari, Tamang, Gurung, Magar, Chepang
 • Official Nepali
Time zone Nepal Time (UTC+5:45)
Area code(s) 056
Website www.ddcchitwan.gov.np

The Chitwan District (Nepali: चितवन जिल्ला Listen  is one of 75 Districts of Nepal, and is located in the southwestern part of Narayani Zone with Bharatpur, the fifth largest city of Nepal, as its district headquarters. It covers an area of 2,238.39 km2 (864.25 sq mi), and in 2011 had a population of 579,984 (279,087 male and 300,897 female) people. Bharatpur is a commercial and service centre of central south Nepal and merger destination for higher education, health care and transportation of the region.

The district takes its name from the Chitwan Valley, one of Nepal's Inner Terai valleys between the Mahabharat and Siwalik ranges, both considered foothills of the Himalayas.

Bharatpur is located on the banks of the Narayani River, and is the main town with numerous shopping zones where people come from all over the district and neighbouring districts.

Now there are about 40 Village Development Committees, each of which has nine wards or villages and one sub-Metropolitan city, Bharatpur. The Ratnanagar, Khairhani and Chitrawan municipalities have more than nine wards or urban areas.

Chitwan is one of the few remaining undisturbed vestiges of the Terai region, which formerly extended over the foothills of Nepal.

Origin

There are several predication on the origin of the name Chitwan. Some of the most satisfactory predications on the origin of its name are:

1. The name Chitwan is a composite of the Sanskrit words चित्त, transliterated "citta" meaning heart and वन, transliterated "vana" meaning jungle or forest.[4][5] Thus, the meaning of Chitwan is Heart of the Jungle.

2. Chitwan was a dense forest ruled by the Tharu God/King Chitrasen Baba. He used to worship in the deep forest and ruled over his state. People believe him as the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Still today, Tharu people worship his idol during HariBodhini Ekadashi in Chitrasari (Headquarters of Chitrasen Baba), way to Sauraha. Since the forest locally called ban (वन) was ruled by Lord Chitrasen, it was called Chitra Ban, later transliterated to Chitwan.

3. Chitwan, still known as Dense Forest was a land of leopard and Bengal tiger. Leopard is locally called चित्रि according to Tharu language. Since the forest (वन) was densely populated by leopard or चित्रि, it was called the forest of leopard, namely चित्रि वन (Chitri Ban), later transliterated to Chitwan.

4. Chitwan is the home land of Tharu people, who are renowned for their art and drawing. Their houses are decorated by religious drawings denoting different phases of history, culture and environment along that time. Since their homes in the forest were decorated with their drawings, locally called चित्र, the land was called चित्र वन (Chitra Ban), later transliterated to Chitwan.

Chitwan was originally a dense forest ruled by Chitrsen Baba, where different RishiMunis came to have their meditation during ancient time with numbers of wild animals like leopard and Bengal tiger.

Agriculture and industry

The people inhabiting the Chitwan District are predominantly peasant farmers cultivating mainly food and cash crops such as rice, maize, wheat, beans, lentils, mustard and vegetables. The district is the major maize producing area in Nepal, with an area under maize cultivation of 27,170 ha (104.9 sq mi) in the year 2003-04. Maize is cultivated on irrigated /seasonal irrigated land in winter and spring, and on rain fed land in summer. Due to an easy road access, maize produced can be easily distributed to other parts of the country. The poultry industry in the district constitutes a significant proportion of the country's poultry industry.[6]

Chitwan is famous in Nepal for mustard growing and production of mustard oil. This popularity of the mustard in Chitwan is attributed to the predominant soil type silt, resulting from the flooding of the Narayani River and tributaries. Chitwan is also profusely spotted with clay lands, which are very good for growing rice, wheat and vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, radish, potato, broccoli, cucumbers, pumpkins, and carrot. Chitwan is also famous for floriculture, mushroom cultivation and bee keeping.

At present Bharatpur's largest business area, Narayangarh, is less accessible due to the movement of the main bus terminal due to the previous king's son's anger with the politics of the citizens of the city. This bus terminal is however no longer in use following a successful people's movement in 2006. It is believed that Nepali leftist revolutionary leader Prachanda spent his childhood and youth in Chitwan. Chitwan is adapting the New Community Movement South Korean model of development.

Cuisine

Chitwan is very popular for tasty Taas (Nepali: तास) a spicy fried goat-meat lunch dish served with Bhuja or Cheura available in many restaurants. Momo, Sukuti Khaja Set and other Newa Cuisine also available. Dal bhat is the staple food of the area, meat and dairy products are also widely consumed. For centuries, traditional fermented foods and beverages have constituted about 20 per cent of the local diet. Depending on altitudinal variation, finger millet, wheat, buckwheat, barley, vegetable, potato, and soybeans are grown.

Places of interest

Chitwan National Park
IUCN category II (national park)

Elephant safari after an Indian rhinoceros
Beeshazar Lake near Chitwan National Park
Narayani bridge in Narayangarh, Chitwan, Nepal
Elephant polo World cup 2012 in Meghauli, Nepal
Chitwan Mahotsav 2063 (Chitwan Mahotsav 2007 A.D.) in Narayangarh, Chitwan

Chitwan has a particularly rich flora and fauna. Nepal's first national park, the Chitwan National Park together with the adjacent Parsa Wildlife Reserve support a species diversity much higher than any other on the Indian subcontinent. Rare species include Bengal tiger, gharial, rhino, leopards, mugger crocodile, Indian rock python and several species of deer. The protected areas are guarded by a battalion of the Nepal Army and patrolled by anti-poaching units.[7]

The Rapti River flows east to south west in the south of Bharatpur and forms the northern border of the Chitwan National Park. The Narayani River flows north to south in the west of Bharatpur. It is the deepest and also one of the biggest rivers of Nepal. The Narayani Bridge over the river connects Chitwan District with Nawalparasi District of Nepal. Small islands, like Nagarban in Narayani river are popular picnic spots.

Beeshazar (20 Thousand) Lake is close by Chitwan National Park, about 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Bharatpur. The lake serves as an important bird watching centre and is attractive for bird lovers. It also harbours crocodiles.

Das Dhunga is a famous place in Chitwan. The people's leader Madan Bhandari was killed there in an accident.

Narayangarh is the main shopping area of Bharatpur city, and the main transit point for all the vehicles traveling via the east-west Mahendra Highway, also for the people traveling from Kathmandu, Gorkha, and Pokhara through Mugling. Recently, Narayangarh has become a retail and commercial capital of Chitwan District and Bharatpur Municipality. It is also the center for hospitality industry which includes hotels, lodges, restaurants and transportation hub for the district.

Transportation and communication

Bharatpur Airport

Bharatpur Airport in the central part of the city offered four domestic airlines and one government airline with seven to 11 flights daily to Kathmandu. Mahendra East West Highway connects the city to various parts of the country, and another highway connects Bharatpur with Kathmandu to the north east and with Birgunj on the border of India to the south. Bus, micro bus and other land transportation are available to go out of the city, for internal transportation taxi, rickshaw and car/jeep hiring is available. Hakim Chowk and Chaubiskothi, Shaheed Chok, Pul Chowk, Bel Chowk and Lila Chowk are major centres at intersections of major roads. Four major local FM radio stations broadcast from Bharatpur. They are "Synergy FM", "Hamro FM", "Radio Triveni", "Radio Chitwan", "Radio Kotagiri","Chitwan Online FM" "Kalika music FM", "Kalika FM" and "Narayani FM". The city also has Beso Channel, "Aviyan Channel", Unique Television and Avass Television.

Land line telephone services and mobile telephone services are available to the majority of areas. There are multiple private Internet service providers.

Fort Palace and landmark buildings

Geography and Climate

Climate Zone[8] Elevation Range % of Area
Lower tropical below 300 m (980 ft) 58.2%
Upper tropical 301 to 1,000 m (988 to 3,281 ft) 32.6%
Subtropical 1,001 to 2,000 m (3,284 to 6,562 ft) 6.7%

Major places

Village Development Committees (VDCs)

Map of the VDCs in Chitwan District

Ayodhyapuri, Bagauda, Bhandara, Bharatpur Nagar, Birendra Nagar, Chandi Bhanjyang, Dahakhani, Darechok, Dibyanagar, Fulbari, Gardi, Gitanagar, Gunjanagar, Jagatpur, Jutpani, Kabilas, Kathar, Kaule, Khairhani Municipality, Korak, Lothar, Madi Kalyanpur, Mangalpur, Meghauli, Narayanpur, Padampur, Pancha Kanya, Parbatipur, Patihani, Piple, Ratnanagar, Saradanagar, Shaktikhor, Sibanagar, Siddi, Sukranagar[9]

Medical City and Hospitals

Chitwan district is also known as the medical city of Nepal. There are many top rated medical institutions in the district, although most of them are situated in and around Bharatpu Municipality. People from all over Nepal and also from North India come here for treatment. After Kathmandu and Pokhara, it is the third most medically developed district. Hospitals in the district comprise:

Other important hospitals and nursing homes are Asha Hospital, Manakamana Hospital, Janasewa Hospital, Chitwan Hospital, Bharatpur Community hospital, Om Hospital, Lok Sewa Pharmacy, and Shanti hospital, Sanjivani Ayurveda & Nature Cure Hospital, Bharatpr-10

Educational institutions

Chitwan Higher Secondary School is the first school of Chitwan District. It was established in 2011 BS. It is situated in Bharatpur Municipality, Ward No. 10. Not only it having classes of Higher Secondary but it also has the Bachelor's degree in various subjects. Chitwan Higher Secondary School operates graduate courses as Pragya Chitwan Campus. It is the richest government school in Chitwan District.

Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Rampur

Banks

Bharatpur has become a city of banks. There are more than 60 banks and financial institutions in Narayangarh.

Class B Development Banks

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ Merlen, S. (ed.) (2011). An Overview of the Central Development Region. United Nations Resident & Humanitarian Coordinator’s Office, Nepal
  2. ↑ "History". Retrieved 16 May 2010.
  3. ↑ National Planning Commission Secretariat, Central Bureau of Statistics, Government of Nepal (September 2011). "National Population Census 2011".
  4. ↑ Sanskrit-English Dictionary spokensanskrit.de: Sanskrit word चित्त
  5. ↑ Sanskrit-English Dictionary spokensanskrit.de: Sanskrit word वन
  6. ↑ Paudel, P. and A. Matsuoka (2008). Factors Influencing Adoption of Improved Maize Varieties in Nepal: A Case Study of Chitwan District. Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences 2(4): 823–834.
  7. ↑ Gurung, K. K. (1983). Heart of the Jungle. The Wildlife of Chitwan, Nepal. André Deutsch, London.
  8. ↑ The Map of Potential Vegetation of Nepal - a forestry/agroecological/biodiversity classification system (PDF), Forest & Landscape Development and Environment Series 2-2005 and CFC-TIS Document Series No. 110, 2005, ISBN 87-7803-210-9, retrieved Nov 22, 2013
  9. ↑ "Nepal Census 2001". Nepal's village development committees. Digital Himalaya. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  10. ↑ Nepali PM Prachanda Sworn In. English.cri.cn. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  11. ↑ "Surendra PandeyCommunist Party of Nepal (Unified-Marxist- Leninist) Election Area: Chitwan-1 (Elected)". Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  12. ↑ CPN-Maoist Gen Secy Thapa bereaved of father. thehimalayantimes.com. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  13. ↑ About Shristi Shrestha – Miss Nepal. shristishrestha.org. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  14. ↑ Regmi no more. ekantipur.com. Retrieved 10 Dec 2013.
  15. ↑ Guest on today's episode is popular folk singer. imagechannels.com. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  16. ↑ Biography of Binita Baral. kathmanducraze.com. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  17. ↑ Nepalese pop collection. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  18. ↑ Book launch program.. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  19. ↑ 'That's My Love Story' Bimochan.. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  20. ↑ Facing Death.. Retrieved 06 August 2014.
  21. ↑ The Shadows, Nepal First Hard Rock Band.. Retrieved 06 August 2014.

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Chitwan.