Chitwan District is one of Nepal's 77 districts and is located in Bagmati Province's southwestern corner. Bharatpur, Nepal's second-largest city after Kathmandu, serves as the country's administrative capital. It has a population of 579,984 people (279,087 males and 300,897 females) and occupies 2,238.39 km2 (864.25 sq mi) in 2011.
Bharatpur is the commercial and service capital of South Central Nepal and a major regional centre for higher education, health care, and transportation. Chitwan is located in Nepal's Terai district.
It lies in the Gandaki River's drainage basin. It is approximately triangular in shape, with the river as its meandering northwestern boundary and a small watershed border with India as its southern limit.
History of Chitwan District
The Chitwan Valley, one of Nepal's Inner Terai valleys between the Mahabharat and Siwalik ranges, both called Himalayan foothills, gave the district its name.
Chitwan: Wildlife Harmony Captured
Credit:whc.unesco.org
Chitwan is one of the last undisturbed remnants of the Terai district, which once covered most of Nepal. It used to be a thick jungle teeming with wild animals such as leopards and Bengal tigers. Chitrsen Baba ruled it, and rishis meditated in the wilderness.
Hindus in Nepal believe that Ayodhyapuri, in Southern Chitwan, is the birthplace of the Hindu god Ram.
How did Chitwan get its name?
There are several hypotheses about the name Chitwan's origin:
- Chitwan was a dense forest ruled by the Tharu God-King Chitrasen Baba, thought of Vishnu's incarnation. Today, the Tharu worship his idol during HariBodhini Ekadashi in Chitrasari en route to the village of Sauraha. Ban is the local word for a forest. According to this theory, the area was called Chitra Ban (Chitrasen's woods), which then became Chitwan.
- The name Chitwan is a combination of the Sanskrit words "citta," which means "heart," and "vana," which means "jungle" or "forest." As a result, Chitwan means "Heart of the Jungle."
- The Chitwan woods were home to leopards and Bengal tigers, and the area was named Chitwan after the Tharu word for leopard, Chitri.
- Chitra is also the Tharu term for religious paintings, so Chitwan was born from the "Chitra ban."
How can you reach Chitwan?
Bharatpur Airport is the region's only airport, with flights to and from Kathmandu. The district is intersected by the Mahendra Highway, Nepal's most significant east-west highway, and the Prithvi Highway, which stretches north-south from the Indian border to Kathmandu.
Narayangarh is the central transit point for vehicles travelling east-west on the Mahendra Highway and people travelling via Mugling from Kathmandu, Gorkha, and Pokhara.
Geography of Chitwan District
In the south of Bharatpur, the Rapti River flows east to west, forming the northern boundary of the Chitwan National Park. The Narayani River passes through Bharatpur from north to south.
It is Nepal's most profound and one of its largest rivers. The Narayani Bridge spans the river and links Nepal's Chitwan and Nawalparasi districts.
Chitwan Elephant Riding Adventure
The Flora and fauna of Chitwan are incredibly diverse. Chitwan National Park, Nepal's first national park, and the nearby Parsa National Park host a greater diversity of biodiversity than anywhere else on the Indian subcontinent.
Bengal tigers, gharials, rhinos, leopards, mugger crocodiles, Indian rock pythons, and even deer species are all rare. The secured areas are patrolled by anti-poaching forces and defended by a battalion of the Nepal Army.
Bishazari Tal ("20 Thousand") Lake is located about 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) south of Bharatpur, near Chitwan National Park. The lake is a popular place for birdwatching.
Agriculture and Industry in Chitwan
The Chitwan District is primarily populated by peasant farmers who cultivate food and cash crops such as rice, maize, wheat, beans, lentils, mustard, and vegetables. In the year 2003–04, the district was Nepal's largest maize-producing area, with a total area under maize cultivation of 27,170 ha (104.9 sq mi).
Lush Green Grass Field
In the winter and spring, maize is grown on irrigated/seasonal irrigated land, and in the summer, it is grown on rain-fed land. Maize developed in the district can be easily transported to other parts of the world because it is easily accessible by good roads. Poultry farming is also a big business in Chitwan.
In Nepal, Chitwan is known for its mustard farming and mustard oil production. The prevalent soil type silt, arising from floods of the Narayani River and its tributaries, is credited with the mustard's success in Chitwan.
Clay-streaked soil in Chitwan is ideal for growing rice, wheat, and vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, radish, potatoes, broccoli, cucumbers, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, and carrots. Floriculture, mushroom cultivation, and beekeeping are also common in Chitwan.
Chitwan has adopted the New Community Movement growth model from South Korea. Agam Food Industry, one of Nepal's largest rice mills, is based in Bharatpur and employs a large number of locals.
Famous Cuisines of Chitwan
Taas, a spicy fried goat meat dish served with bhuja or cheura, is popular in Chitwan. Other common dishes include momos, Bhuteko Bhat (fried rice), and sukuti. The area's staple food is dal bhat (steamed rice and lentils), though meat and dairy products are also eaten.
One-Horn Rhino: Majestic Wilderness Marvel
Credit:chitwantourism.com
Newari, Tharu, and Thakali cuisines are also typical. Common fermented foods and drinks have made up about 20% of the local diet for generations. Finger millet, maize, buckwheat, barley, vegetable, rice, potato, and soybeans, among other crops, are grown depending on altitude.
Famous Landmarks in Chitwan District
- Satrubhanjan Shah, the son of Prince Bahadur Shah, is said to have constructed the Upardanghari fort in the old headquarters of Chitwan district to protect the newly created Kingdom in the 17th century.
- Within Chitwan National Park, Kasara Durbar is an old palace designed by the Rana Regime. It also works as both a park office and a museum.
- The Shah Dynasty of Nepal used Diyalo Bangala Palace (Aptari Bharatpur) as their spring season palace. The late king Mahendra Bir Bikram Shahdev built this palace to rest in during the winter season. It is built on the embankment of the Narayani River in Ward 2 of the Bharatpur Municipality.
- The DAO Building in Bharatpur was constructed after the relocation of the headquarters from Upardangghari. It is also used as the chief district officer's office.
- Bharatpur Covered Hall: Indoor games hall in a Bharatpur guesthouse.
