Bhimdatta

At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, Bhimdatta Municipality had a population of 106,666. Of these, 58.6% spoke Doteli, 13.3% Nepali, 9.7% Baitadeli, 8.0% Tharu, 4.1% Bajhangi, 1.6% Achhami, 1.3% Darchuleli, 1.2% Hindi, 0.7% Maithili, 0.4% Bajureli, 0.3% Magar, 0.1% Bengali, 0.1% Bhojpuri, 0.1% Dadeldhuri, 0.1% Newar, 0.1% Sonaha, 0.1% Tamang, 0.1% Uranw/Urau and 0.1% other languages as their first language.[5]

In terms of ethnicity/caste, 32.4% were Chhetri, 25.3% Hill Brahmin, 9.6% Thakuri, 8.2% Tharu, 6.6% Kami, 6.2% other Dalit, 2.7% Damai/Dholi, 2.3% Sanyasi/Dasnami, 1.7% Sarki, 1.1% Magar, 0.7% Lohar, 0.4% Kathabaniyan, 0.4% Newar, 0.3% Gurung, 0.2% Badi, 0.2% Hajjam/Thakur, 0.2% Jhangad/Dhagar, 0.2% Musalman, 0.1% Bengali, 0.1% Terai Brahmin, 0.1% foreigners, 0.1% Halwai, 0.1% Limbu, 0.1% Rai, 0.1% Tamang, 0.1% Teli, 0.1% other Terai and 0.1% others.[6]

In terms of religion, 98.6% were Hindu, 0.5% Christian, 0.3% Buddhist, 0.2% Muslim, 0.2% Prakriti and 0.1% others.[7]

In terms of literacy, 77.3% could read and write, 1.7% could only read and 20.9% could neither read nor write.[8]

The indigenous people living here are the Rana-Tharus but people from other parts mostly from the hill districts Baitadi, Darchula and Dadeldhura find themselves at home. Bhimdatta has become a unique combination of ethnic groups which has a different way of life within an already diverse country Nepal. The festivals celebrated by the ethnic Tharu people are Holi and Maghi. Tharu people celebrate Maghi as New year, while Hill People primarily celebrate Gora (commonly called Gaura Parba). Deepawali or Diwali or Tihar is a major festival which is celebrated with Laxmi Puja, Gai Puja, and Bhai Tika on their respective days. Dashain is also a major festival here. Small population from western Nepal mainly arghakhachi, gulmi, pyuthan etc. have settled here (mostly in bhasi), even before local people of the same region settled from the hills of Far-west Nepal.

Bhimdatta is the business and educational hub of the Mahakali Zone. Since it is in close proximity to the border with India, Bhimdattaa plays a major role in trade in the region. Students from neighbouring districts come for education. Far-western University, which teaches diversified disciplines ranging from economics to the humanities to the sciences, is the only university in the city. People here are mainly occupied by agriculture as Nepal is an agrarian society. Business is another source of empowering the local economy which is concentrated in the bazaar area of Bhimdatta. Government services is a significant part of the economy. Being comparatively closer to the major industrial areas of India, Mahendranagar could serve as a portal for industrial exchange between India and Nepal.

Nepal Telecom and Ncell provide 3G and 4G facilities in the area. Bhimdatta is connected to other parts of Nepal by East-West Highway which is the only road which connects it to the rest of Nepal. There is a domestic airport in Bhimdatta which is out of service. Bus service connects Bhimdatta to all the other parts of the country. There is a customs post for goods and third country nationals, while Indian and Nepalese nationals may cross the border freely. Banbasa, Uttarakhand state, India is the other side of the border. Bhimdatta is the nearest place in Nepal to Uttarakhand, part of India. Bhimdatta is also connected by sub-highways to hill towns Dipayal, Baitadi, Amargadhi, and Darchula.

Mahendranagar is the home of the Far Western University, It has a number of colleges and educational institutes.

• Florida International Boarding Higher Secondary School

• Adarsh Vidya Niketan
• Bal jagreeti secondary school
• Diamond Public Higher Secondary School
• Everest Evergreen English school
• Ghatal higher secondary school
• Holi Family English Boarding School
• International Public Higher Secondary School
• Kanchan Vidya Mandir
• Little Buddha Academy
• Mahakali Modern Public School
• Oxford National Academy
• Radient Secondary School
• Rastriya Bal Vidhyalaya
• Rauleshwar Multiple Campus Beldandi
• Shree Shishya English Boarding school
• Shree Siddhanath Science Campus
• Sunrise Public Higher Secondary School
• United public higher secondary school
• Morning Glory higher secondary school Janaki Tole
• Shree Jaycees Secondary School Rajipur
• Sikhar Academy Rajipur

Shree Siddhanath Science Campus is the first Science Campus in Mahendranagar and was established in 2033 B.S. It is a constituent campus of Tribhuvan University.[9]

Shuklaphanta National Park

• Lingaa
• Shuklaphanta National Park
• Jhilmila Lake
• Bedkot Lake
• Vishnu Temple
• Dodhara Chandani Suspension Bridge
• Bhimdatta Memorial Park
• Kalikich Lake
• Banda Lake
• Siddhanath Temple

Mahendranagar is a beautiful city from a tourist point of view. There are natural, religious and historical areas here. Chure (चुरे) is connected to the east–west spread in the north. At the foot of the same Chure are the beautiful villages of Rautela (राउटेला) and Barakunda (बाराकुण्डा). Rautela temple (राउटेला मन्दिर) in Rautela and Bishnu temple (बिष्णु मन्दिर), Linga (लिंगा धाम), Shiva temple etc. are the major religious places here. Dodhara Chandani is one of the famous bridge. Jhilmila Lake (झिलिमिला ताल) and Bedkot Lake (बेदकोट ताल) are famous lakes. There are further more areas for tourists.

To promote local culture Bhimdatta has many radio stations:

• Radio Mahakali 96.2 MHz
• Shuklaphanta FM 94.4 MHz
• Radio Nagarik FM 104.3 MHz