Nepedia
Back to Discover
Advanced Reader
🗺️

Bharatpur, Nepal

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Bharatpur is a major metropolitan city located in south central Nepal. It serves as the administrative headquarter for the Chitwan District. The city sits on the eastern bank of the Narayani River. This river is one of the largest and deepest in the country. Bharatpur is a vital commercial center for both the Chitwan district and the central region of Nepal. It is currently one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation.

Bharatpur Airport
Bharatpur Airport

The city's growth was significantly shaped by recent administrative changes. In March 2017, Bharatpur was officially declared a metropolitan city. This status came after the merger of three distinct areas: Narayani Municipality, Chitrawan Municipality, and Kabilas Village. Today, it ranks as the third most populous city in Nepal. According to the 2021 census, the population reached 369,268 inhabitants. It also holds the title of the second largest metropolitan city in Nepal by total area.

Bharatpur's economy is built on several different pillars. Traditionally, the local economy has been based on agriculture. Small-scale processing industries exist to handle food surpluses from the Chitwan district. These products are distributed to major urban centers like Kathmandu and Pokhara. The poultry industry is also expanding rapidly in the municipality. This sector provides a significant amount of poultry products for the entire country. It also serves as a primary source of employment for people in the Chitwan District. Additionally, the city produces honey, mushrooms, and flowers.

Education and healthcare are critical sectors for the city. Bharatpur features a highly developed healthcare system compared to other parts of Nepal. It is home to the B.P. Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, which was established with assistance from China in 1994. The city also contains the second-largest government hospital in Nepal. This facility was created with American aid during a malaria control program. In the field of education, the city hosts the Agriculture and Forestry University. Established in 2010, it is the first technical university in Nepal.

Bharatpur Airport
Bharatpur Airport

Nature and tourism provide a major draw for visitors to the region. The nearby Chitwan National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It has been listed on this global registry since 1983. The park is the third largest tourist destination in Nepal. It provides habitats for Bengal tigers, elephants, one-horned rhinos, and crocodiles.

Chitwan national park. It was taken inside the chitwan national park. This was taken while safari
Chitwan national park. It was taken inside the chitwan national park. This was taken while safari

In south Bharatpur, you can find Bishazari Tal. This lake, which means "Lake twenty thousand," is a center for bird watching. It also houses many crocodiles.

Beautiful Bishazaari Lake
Beautiful Bishazaari Lake

The city is a diverse place with many different cultures and religions. The 2021 census shows a wide linguistic distribution. While 73.3% of the population spoke Nepali, others spoke Tharu, Gurung, or Magar Dhut. The religious landscape is also varied. Most residents are Hindu, making up 83.6% of the population. However, there are also significant Buddhist, Muslim, and Christian communities. The Barkati Jame Masjid is a notable historical site for the Muslim community. Established in 1955, it is one of the oldest and largest mosques in Nepal.

Barkati Jame Masjid
Barkati Jame Masjid

History is visible through many of the city's landmarks and religious sites. The Ganeshthan Temple is a famous Hindu temple in the Baseni area. It is believed that Muni Makunda Sen, the King of Palpa, built the original temple in the 15th century. The modern structure was built in 1952 during the reign of King Mahendra. Other historical sites include the Upardanghari Fort. It is believed that Satrubhanjan Shah built this fort in the seventeenth century. The city also features the Diyalo Bangala Palace. This was a palace used by the Shah Dynasty for the spring season.

Durga mandir
Durga mandir

Transportation connects Bharatpur to the rest of the country. The city sits at the intersection of the Mahendra Highway and the Madan Ashrit Highway. It is unique in Nepal because it has two operating airports. Bharatpur Airport is located in the central part of the city. It provides daily flights to Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Bharatpur Airport
Bharatpur Airport

The second, smaller airstrip is known as Meghauli Airport. For local travel, people rely on privately run bus and microbus services. These services connect the city to many other major cities and small towns.

683 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (5)
File:Beautiful Bishazaari Lake.jpg
Beautiful Bishazaari Lake.jpg
File:Chitwan national park. It was taken inside the chitwan national park. This was taken while safari.jpg
Chitwan national park. It was taken...
File:Durga mandir.jpg
Durga mandir.jpg
File:Barkati Jame Masjid.jpg
Barkati Jame Masjid.jpg
File:Bharatpur Airport.jpg
Bharatpur Airport.jpg
More to explore

✨ What else?

Related topics you might enjoy

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.