Siddharthanagar (Nepali: सिद्धार्थनगर), formerly and colloquially still called Bhairahawa (Nepali: भैरहवा), is a municipality and the administrative headquarter of Rupandehi District in Lumbini Province of Nepal, 265 km (165 mi) west of Nepal's capital Kathmandu. It is the closest city to Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautama Buddha, which is located 25 km (16 mi) to the west. The city borders the Indian city of Sonauli in Maharajganj district of Uttar Pradesh.

Siddhārthanagar / Bhairahawa
सिद्धार्थनगर / भैरहवा
Lumbini Gate, Bhairahawa
Lumbini Gate, Bhairahawa
Nickname: 
Bhairahawa
Location of Siddhārthanagar / Bhairahawa
Siddhārthanagar / Bhairahawa is located in Nepal
Siddhārthanagar / Bhairahawa
Siddhārthanagar / Bhairahawa
Location in Nepal
Coordinates: 27°30′N 83°27′E / 27.500°N 83.450°E / 27.500; 83.450
Country   Nepal
ProvinceLumbini
DistrictRupandehi
Incorporated1967
Government
 • TypeMayor–council
 • MayorIshtiyak Ahmad Khan (NC)
 • Deputy MayorUma Adhikari (CPN (UML))
 • Chief Administrator OfficerNabaraj Poudyal [1]
Area
 • Total
36.03 km2 (13.91 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total
74,436
 • Density2,066/km2 (5,350/sq mi)
Language
 • OfficialNepali[2]
Time zoneUTC+5:45 (NST)
Postal code
32900
Area code071
Websitewww.siddharthanagarmun.gov.np/ne

Although the current name was first used in 1977,[3] many still refer to it as Bhairahawa.[4]

History and etymology

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The city was founded as Bhairahawa in 1967. The city's current name Siddharthanagar derives from Buddha's given name Siddhartha, as the birthplace of Buddha is located only 25 km (16 mi) to the west. The name was changed to Siddhartanagar in 1977 AD[3] by poet Komal Dutta Tiwari.[citation needed]

Climate

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The highest temperature ever recorded in Siddharthanagar was 45.7 °C (114.3 °F) on 7 June 2023, while the lowest temperature ever recorded was −1.1 °C (30.0 °F) on 20 January 1971.[5]

Climate data for Siddharthanagar (Gautam Buddha Airport) (1991–2020)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 20.1
(68.2)
25.4
(77.7)
31.3
(88.3)
36.2
(97.2)
36.6
(97.9)
35.5
(95.9)
33.5
(92.3)
33.7
(92.7)
33.4
(92.1)
32.6
(90.7)
29.1
(84.4)
23.5
(74.3)
30.9
(87.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) 14.4
(57.9)
18.2
(64.8)
23.0
(73.4)
28.2
(82.8)
30.3
(86.5)
30.7
(87.3)
29.9
(85.8)
29.9
(85.8)
29.2
(84.6)
26.6
(79.9)
21.9
(71.4)
16.9
(62.4)
24.9
(76.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 8.7
(47.7)
10.9
(51.6)
14.7
(58.5)
20.2
(68.4)
23.9
(75.0)
25.9
(78.6)
26.3
(79.3)
26.0
(78.8)
24.9
(76.8)
20.6
(69.1)
14.6
(58.3)
10.2
(50.4)
18.9
(66.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 20.8
(0.82)
27.8
(1.09)
18.7
(0.74)
30.4
(1.20)
87.6
(3.45)
254.7
(10.03)
497.4
(19.58)
399.7
(15.74)
216.8
(8.54)
65.5
(2.58)
4.9
(0.19)
8.2
(0.32)
1,632.5
(64.27)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 2.5 2.2 1.7 2.5 6.5 11.9 18.3 16.1 10.9 3.2 0.4 0.5 76.7
Source 1: Department of Hydrology and Meteorology[6]
Source 2: World Meteorological Organization[7]

Demographics

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The population of Siddharthanagar in 2001 was 52,569. In 2011 it was 64,566 and in 2021 it was 74,436.[8][9]

Bhojpuri is spoken by 42.2%, Nepali by 40.7%, Awadhi by 5.9%, Magar by 1.9% and Hindi by 1.9% of the Siddharthnagar municipality population as their first language.

Languages in Siddharthanagar

  Bhojpuri (42.2%)
  Nepali (40.7%)
  Awadhi (5.9%)
  Magar (1.9%)
  Hindi (1.9%)
  Others (7.4%)

Education

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Bhairahawa Multiple Campus, Shantinagar

Rupandehi Lilaram Ma Vi, Bhairahawa Ma Vi, Paklihawa Ma Vi are old higher secondary schools.

There are several higher education facilities in Siddharthanagar including Rupandehi Campus,[10][11] IAAS Paklihawa Campus, Universal College of Medical Sciences and Bhairahawa Namuna Campus.

 
Academic building of Rupandehi Campus.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Chief Administrative Officer of Siddharthanagar".
  2. ^ "52nd REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR LINGUISTIC MINORITIES IN INDIA" (PDF). nclm.nic.in. Ministry of Minority Affairs. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  3. ^ a b "ब्रोसर २०१४". Siddharthanagar Municipality. Archived from the original on 19 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  4. ^ Pant, Shashwat (23 January 2020). "New names for old places reflect the changing times, but not everyone is happy". The Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  5. ^ "Extreme Temperatures of Month January" (PDF). www.dhm.gov.np. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  6. ^ "PRECIPITATION NORMAL (MM) (1991-2020)" (PDF). Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  7. ^ "World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020". World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  8. ^ "Siddharthanagar (Municipality, Nepal) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  9. ^ "population | national_population and housing_census_year results". censusnepal.cbs.gov.np. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Home | Rupandehi Campus". www.rupandehicampus.edu.np. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  11. ^ "Rupandehi Campus granted QAA certificate". My Republica. Retrieved 23 January 2019.