Butwal

About Butwal

Butwal is a large town in southern Nepal in Rupandehi District, in Lumbini Zone of which Butwal is the administrative center. It is located 240 kilometres west of Kathmandu and 22 kilometers north of Bhairahawa, at the northern edge of the Terai plain below the Siwalik Hills. Its name is derived from Batauli Bazaar in the town's oldest district.
Through highway and air links, Butwal connects western Nepal to the capital Kathmandu. It has highway connections to the Indian Border at Sunauli and to hill towns Tansen and Pokhara. Butwal is a major gateway to Nepal.

Contents:
1 History
2 Population
3 Culture and religion
4 Economy
5 Transport
6 Education
7 Hospitals
8 Places of interest
9 Notes

History

Fossils of ancient hominoids Ramapithecus were found near the Tinau (Tilottama) River as early as 1932, including a 10.1 million year old tooth.
Historically Butwal connected Nepali people with their Indian neighbors. As the British East India Company annexed Awadh from its hereditary rulers while the Shah Dynasty attempted to annex the Terai, Butwal became one of bones of contention leading to the Gurkha War 1814-16.
When King Tribhuvan fled to India in 1950 during the revolt against the Rana dynasty he travelled through Butwal. Then it was little more than a village on the western bank of Tilottama River (also known as Tinau). With completion in 1968 of Siddhartha Highway from the border at Sunauli through Butwal to Pokhara and then in the 1990s Mahendra Highway across the full east-west expanse of Nepal's Terai, Butwal has developed rapidly.

Population

Most of the population in butwal 600'000 consists of Pahari immigrants from nearby hill districts especially (Palpa), (Arghakhanchi) (Gulmi)and (Syangja). There are also students, and ex-Gurkha soldiers commonly called Lahure, and a significant Madheshi population.

Culture and religion

Hindus in the majority celebrate Holi, Teej, Maha Shivratri, Dashain, Tihar and Bhai Tika. Many Paharis go to their native villages during the month from Dashain through Tihar and the town becomes nearly deserted.
There are also Muslims of Terai origin.

Economy

The economy of Butwal centers around education, trade and transportation. Butwal has always been a major trading centre for Pahari (hill people) from districts to the north, as is evident from the establishment of Batauli Bazar at the edge of the hills in old Butwal. Presently the main trading centre are near Traffic Chowk and Puspalal Park. Numerous shops sell Chinese and Indian goods. Butwal also has small and medium scale manufacturers of woodwork, ironsheet, metalware and aluminium sheet. There are rice mills including Siddhababa Rice mill,Aryal Rice Mill(Jharbaira-Murgiya) and Sita rice mill. Butwal is also famous for gharelu udyog.
An influx of students from nearby hilly regions contributes to Butwal's economy. Additional income is remitted by expatriate Nepalis and from Gurkha Soldiers employed by the Indian and British Armies.

Transport

Buses are the dominant form of transportation. Private operators offer service to various destinations. Until 2003 most of the fleet was older large buses; since then operators have added newer minibuses popularly called micro. Older jeeps are used to take people to nearby hilly regions. Rickshaws are used for short-distance urban transport, however taxicabs are gaining popularity with increasing affluence. Motorcycles are a common means of personal transportation around town. The number registered has increased from 1,200 in 1999 to 80,000 in 2008.

Education

Butwal is a major center of education in nepal [after kathmandu]. Two colleges are affiliated with Tribhuvan University:
Siddhartha Gautam Buddha Campus, where more than 3000 students are studying. The Principle of the college is quality education and cost recovery, since it is a public college.

• Butwal Multiple Campus has more than 5000 students and classes in Arts, Education, and Science.
• Annapurna Model College has a B.A. program.
• lumbini commeres campus semi government college

Local schools affiliated with Pokhara University include:

• College Of Computer Technology
• Lumbini Engineering College
• Tilottama Campus.

Private colleges with two-year post-secondary programs and courses in commerce and management:

• Achievers College: Management, Hotel Management
• Canon Higher Secondary School
• Glorious College for science and management.
• Lumbini Banijya Campus
• Manimukunda Higher Secondary
• New Horizon Institute
• Oxford College for science,management, huminities and education
• Ram Mani Multiple Campus, Manigram
• Shree Sungaba Public Higher Secondary School, Jharbaira
• Tilottama campus for science, management and BBA

Government high schools:

• Butwal Madyamik Vidhalaya
• Shree Nawaratna Boarding School, Butwal-14 Tamnagar
• Shanti Namuna Ma. Vi.
• Shree Gautam Buddha High School, Kewlani
• Private High Schools
• Horizon English Boarding School
• Deep bording School
  Everest School
• Ideal English Boarding secondary School
• Munal Secondary Boarding School
• New Environment Higher Secondary School.
• New Light bording high School
• Parmount School
• Siddhartha English Boarding School
• Smriti School
• nava prabhat english boarding school saljhandi
• shree pashupati high school saljhandi
• pamir international academy english school shankernagar 3

Hospitals

Main article: List of hospitals in Nepal
AMDA Hospital specializes in women and children.
Butwal Hospital pvt ltd. - private hospital
Lumbini Nursing Hospital - private hospital
Lumbini Zonal Hospital Government Hospital

Places of interest

Aap Khola (mango river) where people go for swimming and to obtain water during droughts. There is a view of nearby Manakamana Temple.
Butwal Hill Park (Deepnagar) - an historic place for the Gurung community. This hill used to be called Gurung Dada because Gurungs were buried here. It separates the city into 2 parts and gives views of both sides.
Jitgadhi - a fortress during Angol Nepal war, Narayan temple built by (1864 B.S.) Hanuman temple and Shivalaya of Hanumagngadhi, Jalabinayak Mehadev temple, Siddababa temple, Nuwakot etc. are famous centres of attraction in Butwal.
Murgiya Jharbaira - about 13 km west from Butwal city. This place is known for secondary schools, rice and oil mills, temples and natural beauty. Temple of Lord Shiva (Parroha Parmeshower Bolbam Dham) is situated near by here with is internationally famous for receiving blessings from Lord of the Lord Shiva Shankar and temple of Goddess Durga at the center of town.
Phulbari (Manimukunda Park) - The winter palace of Palpali Sen clan is very fascinating from natural and archaeological values. There are ruins and antiquities of the majestic palace of Manimukunda Sen an ancient Palpali king containing 6 large rooms as well as royal residence, administrative and fascinating scenic grandeur of Butwal, Siddharthanagar and other neighbouring villages of Rupandehi district can be vividly seen from here at night also. His Majesty's Government, archaeological department has attempted to maintain it in 1991. Now Butwal municipality has formed council for the conservation of Manimukunda Sen Park to conduct Phulbari Development Programme and attempted to make it an amusing and a tourist resort.
Sainamaina - Located about 12 km. west from Butwal and to North from Banakatti, Sainamaina as an open museum is very famous and fascinating resort from historical archaeological culture and natural points of view. Among the different Gramas villages of Shakya King, it was in the samgrama site. An Indian queen (Begum Hazrat Mahal of Awadh) because of the British disturbance in her kingdom came to this area with her soldiers and porters (‘Sena’ and Mena’) and finally this area came to be known as Saina Maina. It is an exquisite treasure trove of ancient ruins and antiquities: statues of dancing saints, ruins of palace, well etc.
Siddha Baba Temple is located on hills at the border of Butwal Municipality.[6Devotees believe that Siddha Baba will grant their wishes and offer pigeons at the temple. On Saturdays, the weekly holiday in Nepal, large number of devotees visit this temple and special Microbus services are offered.
The Statue of Buddha (Jogidanda) was very significant different ruins of having the values of classical art are scattered here and there. This famous archaeological site is being occupied by homeless and landless people. Some of the antiquities of this site are seen thrown around the Lumbini museum.