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Biratnagar
Overview
Biratnagar (Nepali: विराटनगर) is the capital and largest & fastest growing city of the easternmost Koshi Province, Nepal. The city had a population of 244,750 at the 2021 census, It is also the headquarters of the district of Morang. Biratnagar was declared a metropolitan city on 22 May 2017 with merger of additional wards from different local bodies Based on the 2021 census, it is the sixth largest city of Nepal in terms of population. As the home to Nepal's first large-scale industry, the Biratnagar Jute Mills, the city is also popularly known as the industrial capital of Nepal. The city has contributed actively to the Nepalese democracy movement by being the birthplace of five democratically elected prime ministers and that of an interim prime minister of 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 as well as north-eastern India. It is the second Nepalese city, after Janakpur, to have a connection with the Indian Railways and the city operates an integrated check post (ICP) on the Indian border. It is also the starting point of the Koshi highway, which forms one of the three crucial Nepalese north-south corridors that are designed to connect India and China via land.
Facts
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Source
WBP almanac
External sources
Media
From Wikipedia3,126 words
WBP editorial3
Cross‑border pulse
Biratnagar’s proximity to the Indian state of Bihar gives the city a rhythm that feels half‑neighbourhood, half‑metropolis. The daily flow of traders, bus commuters and schoolchildren across the border creates a market scene where Nepali and Indian staples sit side by side—spiced lentil snacks next to Bengali sweets, and Bangladeshi tea stalls serving alongside local mandarins. For travellers, a short rickety boat ride to the nearby town of Jogbani can reveal how fluid the frontier truly is, with customs checkpoints that feel more like informal greeting points than rigid barriers. This cross‑border dynamism colours the city’s culinary offerings, street‑level bargaining styles and even the cadence of everyday conversation, offering a glimpse of South Asia’s intertwined economic tapestry.
Industrial heritage walk
While most guidebooks list Biratnagar as an industrial hub, few guide visitors through its factories‑turned‑public spaces. The old jute mill precinct, now partially repurposed as a community art venue, offers an uncommon perspective on how labour history informs contemporary urban life. Strolling along the reclaimed warehouse lanes, one can spot murals depicting workers’ stories, juxtaposed with modern cafés that serve as informal meeting spots for engineers and students alike. Timing the walk for early morning, when the former mill whistles echo faintly, adds a sensory layer that bridges past and present, allowing travellers to sense the city’s manufacturing pulse beyond the conventional skyline view.