Bardiya District

Bardiya lies in Lumbini Province in midwestern Nepal. It covers 2025 square kilometers and lies west of Banke District, south of Surkhet District of Karnali Province, east of Kailali District of Sudurpashchim Province. To the south lies Uttar Pradesh, India.

Most of Bardiya is in the fertile Terai plains, covered with agricultural land and forest. The northernmost part of the district extends into the Churiya or Siwalik Hills. Bardiya National Park covers 968 km² (374 sq mi) occupies most of the northern half of the district. This park is the largest undisturbed wilderness in Nepal's Terai. It provides forest, grassland and riverine habitat for endangered mammal, bird and reptile species. More than 30 species of mammals and more than 250 of birds have been recorded.

Most people living in this district are farmers. The district headquarter Gulariya lies on the Babai River. The Karnali, one of Nepal's largest rivers, divided into multiple branches when it reaches the Terai. The westernmost branch forms the boundary between Bardiya and Kailali districts. An eastern branch is called the Geruwa. The endangered Gangetic dolphin was often seen in its waters, but populations have been declining.[3]

Nepal lost it to the East India Company after Anglo-Nepalese war (1814–1816) between the then Kingdom of Nepal and East India Company followed by territorial concessions of Sugauli Treaty.[5] Later during the administration of Jang Bahadur Rana, it was returned to Nepal along with Banke, Kailali and Kanchanpur. In the early twentieth century, Bardiya was still covered with forest and sparsely populated with indigenous tribal people called Tharu. Additional Tharus immigrated west from Dang and Deukhuri Valleys. Tharu from Dang and Deukhuri make up a majority of Bardiya's population. Other tribes called Sonaha live near the Karnali River and western periphery of Bardia National Park, who are historically engaged in extracting golden ores from sediments of river and fishing.

At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, Bardiya District had a population of 426,576.

As their first language, 52.3% spoke Tharu, 35.2% Nepali, 7.2% Awadhi, 2.3% Urdu, 0.7% Magar, 0.4% Hindi, 0.4% Maithili, 0.3% Bhojpuri, 0.3% Gurung, 0.2% Newar, 0.2% Raji, 0.1% Doteli, 0.1% Sonaha, 0.1% Tamang, and 0.1% other languages.[7]

Ethnicity/caste: 53.3% were Tharu, 11.3% Chhetri, 8.7% Hill Brahmin, 5.7% Kami, 2.9% Magar, 2.6% Musalman, 2.3% Thakuri, 1.9% Yadav, 1.8% Damai/Dholi, 1.1% Mallaha, 0.9% Lodh, 0.8% Chamar/Harijan/Ram, 0.7% Gurung, 0.7% Sanyasi/Dasnami, 0.6% Newar, 0.6% Sarki, 0.3% Dusadh/Pasawan/Pasi, 0.3% Kurmi, 0.3% Tamang, 0.3% other Terai, 0.2% Badi, 0.2% Terai Brahmin, 0.2% other Dalit, 0.2% Dhobi, 0.2% Hajam/Thakur, 0.2% Halwai, 0.2% Kathabaniyan, 0.2% Lohar, 0.2% Raji, 0.1% Bengali, 0.1% Gaine, 0.1% Kayastha, 0.1% Koiri/Kushwaha, 0.1% Kumal, 0.1% Rajbanshi, 0.1% Teli and 0.1% others.[8]

Religion: 94.2% were Hindu, 2.6% Muslim, 2.2% Christian and 1.0% Buddhist.[9]

Literacy: 65.2% could read and write, 1.9% could only read and 32.9% could neither read nor write.[10]

The district consists of eight municipalities, out of which six are urban municipalities and two are rural municipalities. These are as follows:[11]

• Gulariya municipality
• Rajapur municipality
• Madhuwan municipality
• Thakurbaba municipality
• Basgadhi municipality
• Barbardiya municipality
• Badhaiyatal rural municipality
• Geruwa rural municipality

Former village development committees

Prior to the restructuring of the district, Bardiya District consisted of the following municipalities and Village development committees:

Map of the VDC/s and Municipalities (blue) in Bardiya District

• Badalpur Nepal
• Baganaha
• Baniyabhar
• Belawa
• Bhimapur
• Deudakala
• Dhadhawar
• Dhodhari
• Gola
• Jamuni
• Kalika
• Khairapur
• Khairi Chandanpur
• Magaragadi
• Mahamadpur
• Manau
• Manpur Mainapokhar
• Manpur Tapara
• Mathurahardwar
• Motipur
• Naya Gaun
• Neulapur
• Padanaha
• Pasupatinagar
• Patabhar
• Sanesri
• Shivapur
• Sorhawa
• Suryapatawa
• Taratal
• Thakudwara

• Zones of Nepal
• "Districts of Nepal". Statoids.

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