Banepa

Banepa
बनेपा (भोंत),Bandikapur
भों देय् (नेपाल भाषा)
Municipality/ Town
Banepa

Banepa including Araniko Highway
Banepa

Location in Nepal

Coordinates: 27°38′N 85°31′E / 27.633°N 85.517°E / 27.633; 85.517Coordinates: 27°38′N 85°31′E / 27.633°N 85.517°E / 27.633; 85.517
Country Nepal
Zone Bagmati Zone
District Kabhrepalanchok
Government
 • Mayor Laxmi Narsingh Bade
 • Deputy Mayor Ms. Rekha Dahal
Area
 • Total 5.56 km2 (2.15 sq mi)
Population (2011)
 • Total 24,764
 • Density 4,500/km2 (12,000/sq mi)
Time zone NST (UTC+5:45)
Post code 45210
Area code(s) 011
Website http://www.banepamun.gov.np

Banepa (Nepal Bhasa: भोंत) is a valley situated at about 4,800 ft (1,500 m) above sea level in central Nepal which is said to be the smallest municipality of the country. Banepa, the historical town, is about 25 kilometres (16 mi) east from Kathmandu. At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, it has a population of 24,764. The main attraction of Banepa is the temple of Chandeshwori, located approximately 1 km (0.62 mi) northeast of the town along the Rudramati River. The Dhaneshwor Temple is 1 km south of the town. Banepa is also well known for its eight different temples of Lord Ganesh, Narayanthan, the temple of Lord Narayan, Bhimshenthan, the temple of Lord Bhimshen and eight different ponds.

History

Chandeshwari Temple of Banepa

"After having had the favours and directions of goddess Chandeshwori, King Anandadeva Malla founded seven cities, viz,

King Anandedeva Malla united the scattered villages and made modern Banepa surrounded by eight gates with a Ganesh (the elephant - headed god of good omen) at each of the gates in eight different directions in Kaligat Year 4197 (around 1153 B.S.). He also built a temple of Chandeshwori and arranged a trust fund for the goddess. It is also believe that when entire Kathmandu Valley was covered with lake, there was a small kindgdom in Banepa.

Some of the ancient names of Banepa were Banepur, Baniyapur, Banipur . As it had trade relationship with Tibet from ancient period, Banepa is also known as "Bhont", "Bhonta", "Bhon dey(भों देय्)". Banepa is the combination of two words i.e. "Bane" means 'Business' and "Pa" means 'Place'. Therefore, "Banepa" means 'Place of Business'.[1]

Old town

Pond of Waku Ganesh Temple

The old Newari town is located at the central part of the City. It is surrounded by 8 ganesh temples with 8 adjacent ponds and Phalchaa(फल्चा). The name of the Ganesh are:

These Ganesh temples are said to be the boundaries of old Banepa. Many Temple is Ganesh Temple but main temple of Banepa city is Chandeswori. Dhaneshwor temple is famous for the followers of Lord Shiva (Mahadev). Along with this, King Ananda Dev Malla also built wells and taps for providing the Banepalis with the good source of water.<ref>बनेपा सात गाउँ - ज्ञानकाजी मानन्धर र किट्टि

Present situation

Punyamata River, which was the major source of drinking water, irrigation and many other activities, is being polluted day by day. The bank of Punyamata River has been a place where solid wastage has been disposed.The sewage has been connected directly to the river without any treatment and in an unmanaged way has adversely affected the river water. Waste materials produced from local industry have turned the river water black. The surrounding countryside is also being polluted.

Although Banepa is a small place of an area of 5.56 square kilometres (2.15 sq mi), it has got the population density of 4,454 per square kilometre (11,540/sq mi). Due to the connection of Banepa with other places through roadways, about 300 buses, minibuses, cars, trucks, motorcycles altogether are helping in the transportation in a day. Along with this, the gases emitted from those vehicles have polluted the environment of Banepa.

In the boundary of three municipalities of Kavrepalanchowk District, namely; Banepa, Dhulikhel and Panauti, the country's only IT Park is being contructed. All the three cities have been declared as the 'Cyber City'.

Festivals

Chandeshwori Jatra

A lot of festivals are celebrated in Banepa as follows:

Health services

Scheer Memorial Hospital

Banepa has a Seventh-day Adventist hospital called Scheer Memorial Hospital, which was established in 1957. This hospital has been expanded as a medical college associated with Vanderbilt University in the USA and Kathmandu University. Many students enroll in the MBBS and B.Sc. Nursing programs at this hospital. Banepa is also the location of the Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children and Reiyukai Eiko Masunaga Eye Hospital.

Transportation

Araniko Highway

Banepa is also a major trade route to Tibet, with the Arniko Rajmarg, the only highway that connects Nepal and China (Tibet), running through this town. Furthermore, another newly constructed highway, the B.P. Koirala Highway (named after great leader of Nepal Bishweswor Prasad Koirala), also passes through this town. Though it is a small town, but it is well devolved and Banepa is the major economic center east of Kathmandu.

Media

To promote local culture, Banepa has two FM radio stations: Radio ABC - 89.8 MHz which is a Community Radio Station and Prime Fm. This area also has a Television Channel named as Araniko Television.

Education

Banepa is also the best place for education in Kabhre district of Nepal. There are a number of high schools and colleges.

Some of the well-known private boarding schools are:

Among them the oldest private school is Pragati Prabhat School and the newest one is Kshitij English Boarding School which was established in 2006 A.D.

References

  1. ↑ Banepa Stawan - Jnan Kaji Manandhar
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