Biratnagar

Biratnagar
विराटनगर
Metropolitan City
Biratnagar Metropolitan City
From top, left to right: Biratnagar Gate, Biratnagar industrial skyline, Biratnagar market skyline, Greenery panorama seen from Biratnagar Eye Hospital
Nicknames: 
Capital of Nepal[1][2][3]
Biratnagar is located in Koshi Province
Biratnagar
Biratnagar
Location of Biratnagar in Koshi Province
Biratnagar is located in Nepal
Biratnagar
Biratnagar
Biratnagar (Nepal)
Coordinates: 26°27′15″N 87°16′47″E / 26.45417°N 87.27972°E / 26.45417; 87.27972
Country Nepal
ProvinceKoshi
DistrictMorang
Incorporated1914 (as district headquarters)
Upgraded to metropolitan city2017
Wards19
Government
 • TypeMayor-council
 • BodyBiratnagar Metropolitan City Council
 • Mayor (2022-2027)Chirag Gautam (Congress)[4]
 • Deputy MayorShilpa Niraula Karki (CPN-UML)
 • Chief Administrative OfficerRajendra Parajuli [5]
Area
 • Total
77 km2 (30 sq mi)
Elevation
80 m (260 ft)
Population
 (2021[6])
 • Total
244,750
 • Rank6th (Nepal)[6]
1st (Koshi Province)
 • Density3,200/km2 (8,200/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialNepali
 • RegionalMaithili
Time zoneUTC+5:45 (NST)
Postal code
56613
Area code021
Websitebiratnagarmun.gov.np
Biratnagar Drone Shot by Thulung Photo
Aerial View of Biratnagar, Eastern Nepal

Biratnagar (Nepali: विराटनगर) is a metropolitan city in Nepal, which serves as the capital of Koshi Province.[7][8][9] With a Metropolitan Urban Agglomeration population of 244,750 as per the 2021 census,[10] it is the largest city and fastest growing city in the province and also the headquarters of Morang district.[11] As per the preliminary report of 2022 Nepal census, Biratnagar Metropolitan has an estimated city population of 243,927 excluding the suburban areas which are now very well connected to the old town. It is the administrative center of the Greater Birat Development Area which incorporates the cities of Biratnagar and its suburbs and towns of-Itahari-Gothgau-Biratchowk-Dharan[12] primarily located on the Koshi Highway in Eastern Nepal, with an estimated total urban agglomerated population of 804,300 people in 159,332 households including the town of Ithari.[13] Biratnagar is located 399 km (248 mi) east of the capital, Kathmandu, and 6 km (3.7 mi) north of the bordering town of Jogbani in the Indian state of Bihar. It is one of the major entry point in Nepal for Businessmen as well as Tourists who come to visit Nepal for various purposes.

Biratnagar was declared a metropolitan city on 22 May 2017,[14] a merger with additional wards pushing the total population to over 240,000.[15] It is the sixth largest city of Nepal, with 244,750 inhabitants as per 2021 Nepal census.[6]

The city is home to various industries inducing the Biratnagar Jute Mills, the first large-scale industry of Nepal. Besides being considered as the industrial capital of Nepal, the city has contributed actively to the Nepalese democracy movement by being the birthplace of five prime ministers of democratic Nepal. The latter claim is also evident from the fact that the first labor strike leading to the anti-Rana movement started from Biratnagar.

Modern-day Biratnagar serves as an entry point to eastern Nepal[16] as well as north-eastern India.[17] It is the second Nepalese city, after Janakpur, to have a connection with the Indian Railways[18][19] and the only city other than Birgunj to operate an integrated check post (ICP) on the Indian border.[20][21]

  1. ^ ""Biratnagar is the most industry-friendly chut city in Nepal" | New Business Age - monthly business magazine in English published from Nepal". www.newbusinessage.com. Archived from the original on 2020-09-26. Retrieved 2018-04-21.
  2. ^ "Biratnagar, so special to Nepal's industrial history". Archived from the original on 2018-10-11. Retrieved 2018-04-21.
  3. ^ "Flights To Biratnagar - Book Tickets Online To Biratnagar | Buddha Air". www.buddhaair.com. Archived from the original on 2021-01-16. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  4. ^ name="brt">"विराटनगर महानगरपालिका गृहपृष्ठ". विराटनगर महानगरपालिका. Archived from the original on 2021-01-23. Retrieved 2018-10-28.
  5. ^ "विराटनगर महानगरपालिका गृहपृष्ठ". विराटनगर महानगरपालिका.[permanent dead link‍]
  6. ^ a b c "Preliminary Report of Census 2021" (PDF). cbs.gov.np. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 February 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  7. ^ "Biratnagar celebrates its status of provincial capital". thehimalayantimes.com. 19 January 2018. Archived from the original on 20 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  8. ^ "Locals intensify protest in Dhankuta after Biratnagar named as provincial HQ". kathmandupost.ekantipur.com. 19 January 2018. Archived from the original on 18 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  9. ^ "Nepal government announces Provincial Capitals and Chiefs". ddinews.gov.in. 17 January 2018. Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  10. ^ "National Population Census 2011" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
  11. ^ "विराटनगर महानगरपालिका | नेपाल सरकार". biratnagarmun.gov.np. Archived from the original on 2017-01-25. Retrieved 2017-01-22.
  12. ^ "Capital of Province 1 to be scattered in various districts". Archived from the original on 2021-05-13. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  13. ^ "National Census 2021". censusnepal.cbs.gov.np. Archived from the original on 27 January 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  14. ^ "Taskforce recommends adding 23 local units, elevating Birgunj and Biratnagar as metros". Archived from the original on 2017-05-22. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  15. ^ "Biratnagar excited to celebrate metropolitan promotion". Archived from the original on 2017-11-14. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  16. ^ "Things to Do & Places To Visit Near Biratnagar Nepal". 2018-08-11. Archived from the original on 2019-02-17. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
  17. ^ Tripoto. "Weekend Getaways from Biratnagar: Places to Visit Near Biratnagar,it Getaways from Biratnagar". Tripoto. Archived from the original on 2021-11-10. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
  18. ^ Subedi, Binod. "Biratnagar town connected with Indian railway network". My Republica. Archived from the original on 2021-11-10. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
  19. ^ "1st cargo train arrives near Biratnagar". kathmandupost.ekantipur.com. Archived from the original on 2018-08-01. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
  20. ^ "Biratnagar ICP to be operational from next week". GorakhaPatra. Archived from the original on 2020-09-19. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  21. ^ "PM Oli, Modi to inaugurate Biratnagar ICP via video conferencing". Khabarhub English News. 2020-01-18. Archived from the original on 2020-11-27. Retrieved 2020-01-19.