Jhapa District is the Terai plains district of Mechi Zone in Nepal's Eastern
Development Region. The district covers 1,606 km2 (620 sq mi).
The 2011 census counted 812,650 population. Bhadrapur is the district
headquarters.
Location
Jhapa is the easternmost district of Nepal and lies in the fertile Terai
plains. It borders Ilam district in the north, Morang district in the west, the
Indian state of Bihar in the south and east, and the Indian state of West
Bengal in the east.
Climate
Jhapa observes moderate climate complexion as it lies in the Indo-gangetic
plain and Churia low hills. Though due to close proximity to lower Himalaya,
weather seems to be calm throughout the year. Seasonal monsoon is well
distributed across the district. The temperature is highest during May through
September, though winter is not that much extreme keeping aside fogging during
morning. Climatic variation is not that much extreme however the southern parts
of districts are warmer than the northern ones.
Administration
The district is divided into 42 Village Development Committees (VDC) and
seven municipalities, namely Bhadrapur, in the south, Mechinagar in the east
and Damak in the west. In 2012, Birtamod was slated for municipality status,
however, from 2014 only it has been functioning as a municipality . Other major
centers are Damak, Dhulabari, Budhabare, Surunga, Charali, Baniyani, Kechana, Patharia,
Balubadi, Gherabari, Pathamari, Prithivinagar, Halddibari, Maharanijhora, Lakhanpur,
Gauradaha, Topgachhi, Bahundagi,Gauradaha, Rajgadh, Ghailadubba, Charpane, Laxmipur[disambiguation
needed].
Towns (Municipalities)
Bhadrapur Municipality
Birtamode Municipality
Damak Municipality
Kankai Municipality
Mechinagar Municipality
Shani-Arjun Municipality
Shiva Sathasi Municipality
Village Development Committees (VDCs)
|
Arjundhara
|
Bahundangi
|
Baigundhura
|
Balubadi
|
|
Baniyani
|
Budhabare
|
Chakchaki
|
Chandragadhi
|
|
Dangibari
|
Dhaijan
|
Dharmpur
|
Duhagadhi
|
|
Garamani
|
Gauradaha
|
Gauriganj
|
Gherabari
|
|
Goldhap
|
Haldibari
|
Jalthal
|
Juropani
|
|
Jyamirgadhi
|
Kechana
|
Khajurgachhi
|
Khudnabari
|
|
Kohabara
|
Korobari
|
Kumarkhod
|
Lakhanpur
|
|
Mahabhara
|
Maharanijhoda
|
Maheshpur
|
Panchganchi
|
|
Pathamari
|
Pathariya
|
Prithivinagar
|
Rajgadh
|
|
Shantinagar
|
Sharanamati
|
Taganduba
|
Topgachhi
|
Demography
Not much is known about its early settlements. A few scattered and small
villages used to be in the vast and dense forest area of Jhapa. In the 60's and
early 70's landscape of Jhapa began to change forever as people from the hills
came there to own and cultivate the land under the 'resettlement program'. The
eradication of malaria helped change its old name and perception of 'kalapani'
into an attractive and fertile place. Fertile land, beautiful landscape,
proximity to Nepali speaking part of India, attracted many people there for
settlement. No indigenous ethnicity are known to have settled there. Small
number of Rajbongsi and Maithali population and some other even smaller in
numbers were found to have lived there before the mass migration from various
parts of the country and North-eastern part of India and Burma.
Jhapa is home to many indigenous ethnic nationalities such as the Rajbongsi,
Maithali, Limbu and Dhimal . Other ethnic groups such as Dhangad, Santhal, Tamang,
Uraon, Magar, Gurung, Sunuwar and many others came to Jhapa in the late 19th
century, so did the hill/mountain castes Bahun, Chhettri, and Newar. Jhapa is
diverse and rich in culture and traditions due to the influences of its
different tribes. All the tribes/ethnic groups have their own languages,
customs and traditions, and they celebrate their festivals every year.
Geography and Climate
|
Climate Zone
|
Elevation Range
|
% of Area
|
|
Lower Tropical
|
below 300 meters
|
98.8%
|
|
Upper Tropical
|
300 to 1,000
|
1.2%
|
Jhapa receives 250 to 300 cm of rainfall a year, mostly during the
summer monsoon season. Its hilly northern area receives more rainfall than the
south. Its major rivers, like the Mechi, Kankai Mai, Ratuwa, Biring, Deuniya,(Aduwa),
(Bhuteni), (Dhangri), Hadiya, Ninda, Krishne Khola, Gauriya, Ramchandre etc.
provide water for irrigation.
Due to its alluvial soil best suited for agriculture, Jhapa has been the
largest producer of rice and is therefore known as the Grain Grocery of Nepal[citation needed]. Besides cereal crops
like rice and wheat, it is also one of the largest producers of jute, tea, betel
nut, rubber and other cash crops. Jhapa also has vast areas of forests, such as
Deonia, Charali, Charkose Jhaadi, Hadiya, Sukhani, Jalthal, and others. Its
name itself is derived from the Rajbanshi word "jhapa" meaning
"canopy", which suggests that the area was a dense forest in the
past. It was once such a dense and dangerous forest that it was called
Kaalapaani and prisoners were sent here to die of malaria and other diseases in
the jungle.
Attractions and sites
Jhapa also has several religious and historical sites of great importance
like Kankai Mai, Kichakbadh, Satasidham, Arjundhara, Chillagadh, Biratpokhar,
and Krishnathumki among others. It is believed that Pandu's son Bhim had killed
Kichak in Kichakbadh (near Kechana in the south border) in the time of the Mahabharata
and a great festival is observed on that day every year. There is also the
historical fort of Chandragadh which gave its name to Chandragadhi. Other sites
too have their own religious and historical values. It is also the gateway to Darjeeling
and Sikkim and the rest of north-east India from Nepal. Arable land and
majestic tea gardens manufacturing fastest and largest tea contribution in
Nepal have added beauty in the lap of uprising hills, however paddy production
and coconuts are also significant in this Jhapa. Recently, Jhapa is gaining
popularity in the medical field especially in eye treatment. Each day hundreds
of patient from adjoining district of Nepal and neighbouring country India
visits Mechi Eye Hospital for eye treatment.The other major centers of
attractions are Jhamunkhadi Simsar Tourism Area in Surunga and Domukha as well.
Development
Jhapa is one of the most developed districts of the country. Almost all the
villages and towns are linked by roads, facilitated with drinking water,
electricity, health centers, schools. There are schools and colleges in
virtually all parts of the district. There is also an airport [Chandragadhi
Airport] and a zonal hospital in Bhadrapur. It has the highest literacy rate in
the country after Kathmandu, Kaski and Chitwan districts. Airport is domestic
and you can get several regular flights from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur to Kathmandu
daily. It takes forty five minutes by flight. There is a hundred bedded Zonal
hospital. It has different departments as Medicine, Surgery, Gynaecology &
obstetrics, Paediatrics, and the 24 hours emergency facilities. AMDA Hospital
Damak,established in 1992 as AMDA referral center of 15-bed capacity with the
help of AMDA International, and Damak Municipality. There are some private
hospitals like Life Line Hospital,Damak, Mechi Model Hospital, Kanchunga
Hospital, Pathivara Hospital & Research Center Pvt.Ltd.Birtamod etc.It also
has Mechi eye Hospital which is supposed to be one of the biggest eye hospital
in Nepal. The government hospital also provides the plastic surgery services
occasionally.
Education
Jhapa has a literacy rate of 66.93[3]
percent. Chulla Chulli English Boarding School,Emerald Academy, Siddhartha
Sishu Sadan[4]
and Little Flowers School are some of the best schools in the country. There
are also some good private schools like East Horizon English School, Shree
Harikul Model Higher Secondary School(+2), Suryodaya English School, Siddhartha
Boarding School, Newtons Education Academy, Shree Pashupati Secondary School,
Balmiki Academy, Gyanjyoti Higher Secondary School, Dipjan English Boarding
School, Divya Jyoti Secondary School, Purwanchal Academy etc. The number of
Colleges providing opportunity of higher studies has been increasing in Jhapa. Mechi
Multiple Campus Bhadrapur and Damak Multiple Campus are the wings of Tribhuvan
University. Kankai Adarsh Campus Birtamode Gomendra Multiple College
Birtamode,College for Higher Education (COHED) and Kanakai Multiple Campus
Surunga are the other main Colleges Providing higher education up to Master's
Degree in Management, Education and Humanities Stream. Mechi Multiple Campus is
one of the most Known Campus in Jhapa which provides better education
qualities. It provide education in different faculties like Science, Management
and Humanities.
Role in national politics
It plays the main role in national politics. The Communist revolution was
started from the Jhapa, which led to formation of one the most prominent party
and largest communist party of Nepal; CPN-UML. Many national political figures
are from Jhapa such as Late C.K. Prasai(Bharat Babu), R.K Mainali, Pukar
Bhandari, K.P Oli, Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Chakra Bastola, C.P Mainali.
Recently during JanaAndolan 2063 (April Revolution) Jhapa played a significant
role in the agitation against Royal takeover. Around 5 peoples were killed by
the Royal Army in Bhadrapur and many more deaths weren't disclosed. Moreover,
Jhapa is recognized as the site of intelligence across the country, and major
political agenda are guided by Jhapali leaders. The inception of movements and
awareness could be observed in Jhapa first and disseminated elsewhere. Role in
bureaucracy, policy making, legislation, innovation and science and technology
would nevertheless be underestimated.
Agriculture and industry
Jhapa is also famous for microcredit development. The Small Farmer
Development Programme (SFDP) was the first rural and micro-financing program in
Jhapa. The Agricultural Development Bank started this Small Farmer Development
Programm in 1988. It started in a few VDCs and spread. After lifted many people
out of poverty, the SFDP was handed over to the local people and the new
institution was named Small Farmer Cooperative Ltd (SFCL). There are currently
13 SFCLs in Jhapa, each of which covers a single VDC. It is one of the major
districts for the Production of Tea and Rice. Budhabare situated on the
northern side of the Mahendra Highway is one of the most fertile lands of
Nepal. Jhapa as a district is also popular for the bittle nuts (Supari).
Several large Tea Estate are also located in Jhapa. Giri Bandhu Tea Estate,
Burne tea state, Tokla Tea Estate,Himalaya Tea State,Damak, Sattighatta Tea
Estate are the Major ones. Jhapa has been equipped with different sorts of
communication medium. The internet provided by different ISP link Jhapa with
the rest of the world.
Source: