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Dhangadhi (Nepali: धनगढी) is a sub-metropolitan city[3] and the district headquarters of Kailali District in Sudurpashchim Province of Nepal. It shares a border with India in the south, Godawari and Gauriganga Municipality in the North, Kailari Rural Municipality in the east and Kanchanpur District in the west. Dhangadhi is a sub-metropolis divided into 19 wards.[4] It has an area of 271.74 Sq. KM. It is one of the major cities of Far - West Province of Nepal along with Mahendranagar.[5][6] The city is connected with the Mahakali Highway, about 750 kilometers west of Kathmandu.
Dhangadhi
धनगढी | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Behda Baba Temple | |
  Dhangadhi Location in Nepal  Dhangadhi Dhangadhi (Nepal) | |
| Coordinates: 28°42′49″N 80°34′09″E / 28.71361°N 80.56917°E | |
| Country |  Nepal |
| Province | Sudurpashchim |
| District | Kailali |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Gopal Hamal (Independent)[1] |
| • Deputy Mayor | Kandakala Kumari Rana (UML) |
| Area | |
• Total | 271.74 km2 (104.92 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 109 m (358 ft) |
| Population (2021)[2] | |
• Total | 204,788 |
| • Rank | 7th largest |
| • Density | 750/km2 (2,000/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+5:45 (NST) |
| Post code | 10900 |
| Area code | 091 |
| Website | www |
Dhangadhi was established in 1976 as a municipality.[7] There is a fable. Rana Tharu of Dhangadhi used to bury their wealth in the ground due to the fear of robbers. That is why the name of Dhangadhi remained Dhangadhi.[8]
The population was 198,792 as per the 2021 Nepal census. It is the most densely populated city in the province.[9] It became the first sub-metropolitan city in the far-west after it was upgraded to a sub-metropolis from municipality status on 18 September 2015 as the village development committees Fulbari and Urma were merged into Dhangadhi and later wards 9 and 11 of former Attariya Municipality were also merged.
Economy
edit
Dhangadhi serves as the primary commercial and industrial hub for Sudurpashchim Province and one of the fastest developing cities of Nepal.[10] It got its first democratically elected mayor who was affiliated with the Nepali Congress Kishor Kumar Bam (1964-2014) who held his office for full term.
It is one of the major trading centres in Sudurpashchim Province.[11] The city has health care facilities, a number of parks, private schools, colleges, and internet service providers. There are medical, engineering, and management colleges that are affiliated to Tribhuvan University and Far Western University.
The city attracts migrants from the surrounding area, who move to the city for educational and health services.[12]
Dhangadhi is the gateway to nearby tourist places like Shuklaphanta National Park, Ghodaghodi Lake and Khaptad National Park. It is the connecting city between nearby cities of Mahendranagar, Attariya and Dipayal Silgadhi. It is also a land route to enter Nepal from India. Thus, it is also involved in hospitality sector.
The city has many commercial banks such as regional office of Nepal Rastra Bank, National Commercial Bank, Agricultural Development Bank, Everest Bank, Nabil Bank, Bank of Kathmandu, Nepal Credit and Commerce Bank, Siddharth Bank, Machhapuchhre Bank, Kumari Bank, Nepal Bangladesh Bank and Kanchan Development Bank.
A number of haat bazaars are held each week in different parts of the town, where farmers from the rural hinterland set up stalls to trade agricultural products, spices and handicrafts.
Every year, the Kailali Chamber of Commerce and Industry organizes Sudurpaschim Mahotsav in Dhangadhi on the month of Mangsir.
Dhangadhi's economy is predominantly based on agriculture. The fertile plains surrounding the city make it an ideal location for cultivating crops such as rice, wheat, sugarcane, maize, and vegetables. The region's agricultural produce not only serves the local market but also contributes to the national supply chain. Additionally, Dhangadhi's proximity to the Indian border facilitates cross-border trade, making it a significant trading hub for goods and commodities.
In recent years, the city has witnessed the establishment of small-scale industries and businesses. These include manufacturing units, food processing plants, and trading enterprises, contributing to economic growth and employment opportunities.[13]
Climate
editDhangadhi is located in the Terai. It has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate (Cwa according to the Köppen climate classification).The months of March and April are hot and dry. It is a cold winter from December to February. It is affected by the south-west monsoon from June to September which brings heavy rainfall. The weather in this period remains hot and humid. The highest temperature ever recorded in Dhangadhi was 46.4 °C (115.5 °F) on 16 June 1995, which is the highest temperature to have ever been recorded in Nepal.[14] The lowest temperature ever recorded was 0.0 °C (32.0 °F) on 11 January 1985.[15]
| Climate data for Dhangadhi (1991-2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 19.9 (67.8) |
24.9 (76.8) |
30.6 (87.1) |
36.2 (97.2) |
37.6 (99.7) |
36.3 (97.3) |
33.2 (91.8) |
32.9 (91.2) |
32.7 (90.9) |
31.8 (89.2) |
27.9 (82.2) |
23.0 (73.4) |
30.6 (87.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 13.7 (56.7) |
17.4 (63.3) |
22.0 (71.6) |
27.2 (81.0) |
30.2 (86.4) |
30.9 (87.6) |
29.5 (85.1) |
29.3 (84.7) |
28.5 (83.3) |
25.4 (77.7) |
20.4 (68.7) |
15.8 (60.4) |
24.2 (75.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 7.4 (45.3) |
9.8 (49.6) |
13.4 (56.1) |
18.1 (64.6) |
22.7 (72.9) |
25.4 (77.7) |
25.8 (78.4) |
25.6 (78.1) |
24.2 (75.6) |
19.0 (66.2) |
12.9 (55.2) |
8.5 (47.3) |
17.7 (63.9) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 27.9 (1.10) |
30.4 (1.20) |
20.7 (0.81) |
20.2 (0.80) |
69.3 (2.73) |
251.5 (9.90) |
531.5 (20.93) |
534.2 (21.03) |
300.8 (11.84) |
49.9 (1.96) |
2.9 (0.11) |
12.0 (0.47) |
1,851.3 (72.89) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 2.6 | 2.9 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 5.3 | 11.4 | 19.3 | 18.8 | 11.3 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 79.0 |
| Source: World Meteorological Organization[17] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
editlanguage in Dhangadhi
At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, Dhangadhi Submetropolitan City had a population of 149,818. Of these, 36.4% spoke Tharu, 31.3% Doteli, 22.1% Nepali, 1.7% Hindi, 1.6% Maithili, 1.4% Magar, 1.1% Bajhangi, 0.8% Achhami, 0.7% Tamang, 0.5% Baitadeli, 0.4% Bajureli, 0.4% Newar, 0.4% Urdu, 0.2% Bhojpuri, 0.2% Kham, 0.1% Dadeldhuri, 0.1% Darchuleli, 0.1% Gurung, 0.1% Rai, 0.1% Rajasthani and 0.1% other languages as their first language.[18]
In terms of ethnicity/caste, 36.8% were Tharu, 20.5% Chhetri, 17.4% Hill Brahmin, 6.1% Thakuri, 5.7% Kami, 2.6% Magar, 1.6% Damai/Dholi, 1.5% Musalman, 1.2% Sarki, 1.1% Newar, 0.9% Tamang, 0.5% Terai Brahmin, 0.5% other Dalit, 0.5% Sanyasi/Dasnami, 0.4% Kathabaniyan, 0.3% Gurung, 0.2% Halwai, 0.2% Lohar, 0.2% Marwadi, 0.2% Rai, 0.2% other Terai, 0.1% Badi, 0.1% Dhanuk, 0.1% Hajam/Thakur, 0.1% Kalwar, 0.1% Kayastha, 0.1% Kurmi, 0.1% Limbu, 0.1% Musahar, 0.1% Teli, 0.1% Yadav and 0.1% others.[19]
In terms of religion, 93.9% were Hindu, 1.8% Christian, 1.7% Buddhist, 1.5% Muslim and 1.0% Prakriti.[20]
In terms of literacy, 75.2% could read and write, 2.1% could only read and 22.6% could neither read nor write.[21][22]
Transportation
editRoad
editDhangadhi is well connected with other major cities of Nepal and the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Indian and Nepali nationals may cross the international border without restrictions, however there is a customs checkpoint for goods and third country nationals. Frequent bus services operate between Dhangadhi and Nepalese cities. Local transport includes Cycle Rickshaws, Taxis and Public City Buses.Mahakali Highway connects Dhangadhi to different parts of Far western Nepal. The country's longest highway, Mahendra Highway, runs through the town of Attariya, 6 kilometers from Dhangadhi.[citation needed]
Air
editDhangadhi Airport is located 10 km from the administrative center and about 660 kilometers west of Kathmandu.[23] The runway has been extended to 1,524 metres (5,000 ft) length and blacktopped to accommodate Fokker 100 aircraft.[24][25][26] It operated flights to Kathmandu, Pokhara, Bajura, Dipayal Silgadhi, Bajhang, Surkhet, Achham.
Education
editDhangadhi has several Schools and Colleges. Kailali Multiple Campus is the oldest higher level institution in Kailali District.
Health
editHospital
edit- Seti Provincial Hospital
- Navajeevan Hospital
- CP Hospital
- Maya Metro Hospital
- Nisarga Hospital
- Dhangadhi Netralaya Eye Hospital
- NOVA Hospital
- Om Aasha Hospital
Places of interest
edit
- Shivapuri Dham Temple
- Behada Baba Temple
- Dhangadhi Fun City Park
- Tikapur Park is two hours' drive east
- Shuklaphanta National Park is an hour's drive west
- Karnali River is two hours east from Dhangadhi
- Godawari north from Dhangadhi
Notable People
edit- Bhuvan Karki, Cricketer
- Biraj Bhatta, Actor
- Raju Rijal, Cricketer and the former captain of Nepal national under-19 cricket team
- Reecha Sharma, Actress, model, and video jockey
- Deepika Prasain, Actress
- Ramlal Joshi, Writer
- Gopal Hamal, Politician, social worker and current mayor
- Pashupati Paneru, Former badminton player who represent Nepal in 2006 IBF World Championships
Sports
edit
The city has its own cricket league, Dhangadhi Premier League. Dhangadhi Rangsala with a capacity of 10,000+ spectators is the football stadium in the city. The Khaptad Gold Cup is held in the stadium. DPL is held on Fapla International Cricket Ground.
Media
editThe city has several radio stations:
- Dinesh FM 93.8 MHz
- Dhangadhi FM 90.5 MHz
- Paschim Today 98.8 MHz
- Radio Sudur Sandesh 104 MHz
- Khaptad FM 98.2 MHz
- Radio Daily Mail 94.6 MHz
- Radio Active FM 97.2 MHz
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "धनगढीका मेयर गोपाल हमालको मतले कैलाली जिससमा गठबन्धन विजयी".
- ^ "Preliminary Report of National Population 2021". Central Bureau Statistics, Nepal. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
- ^ "The Kathmandu Post :: Govt declares 26 new municipalities". Archived from the original on 22 November 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
- ^ "Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City". Retrieved 1 May 2018.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 April 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "PSU Dhangadhi | Local Governance and Community Development Programme (LGCDP) - II". lgcdp.gov.np. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ "Brief Introduction". Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City. Archived from the original on 13 May 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
- ^ "26 new Municipalities announced". The Rising Nepal. 18 September 2015. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
- ^ "population | national_population and housing_census_year results". censusnepal.cbs.gov.np. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ CHHATYAL, DIL BAHADUR. "Transforming Dhangadhi: Development Shaping the City's Face". My Republica. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- ^ "PSU Dhangadhi | Local Governance and Community Development Programme (LGCDP) - II". lgcdp.gov.np. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ "Families struggle to care for their children".
- ^ "Everything you need to know about Dhangadhi | Interesting things about Dhangadhi City". www.natureloverstrek.com. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ "Climatic Extremities in Nepal". Compendium of Environmental Statistics Nepal 2015. Central Bureau of Statistics. 2016. pp. 43–44. Archived from the original on 19 December 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link). Retrieved 27 February 2016. - ^ "Dhangadhi Weather Forecast". WorldWeatherOnline.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ "World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020". World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
- ^ NepalMap Language
- ^ NepalMap Caste
- ^ NepalMap Religion
- ^ NepalMap Literacy
- ^ "NepalMap profile: Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City". NepalMap. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
- ^ Dhangadhi Airport
- ^ "Flights To Dhangadhi - Book Tickets Online To Dhangadhi | Buddha Air". www.buddhaair.com. Archived from the original on 19 April 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ "Dhangadhi airport closed for a month from today". The Himalayan Times. 5 May 2019. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ CHHATYAL, DIL BAHADUR. "Dhangadhi airport shut for a month for upgrading". My Republica. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2019.