Bagmati Province

Geography

Bagmati Province has an area of 20,300 km² (7,800 sq mi) which is about 13.79% of the total area of Nepal. The elevation of the province ranges from 141 m (463 ft) at Golaghat in Chitwan District to 7,422 m (24,350 ft) at Ganesh Himal. The province has an altitude low enough to support deciduous, coniferous, and alpine forests and woodlands. 27.29% land is covered by forest. The temperature varies with altitude. There are 10 sub-basins and 33 major rivers flowing through the province. The longest river is the Sunkoshi measuring 160.19 km (99.54 mi).

Climate

Bagmati province has climatic variations, which are associated with the diverse nature of its topography and altitude. The climatic zone of Bagmati province starts from the High Himalaya in the north, above 5,000 m (16,000 ft) with tundra and an arctic climate to the Siwalik region in the south, 500–1,000 m (1,600–3,300 ft) with a sub-tropical climatic zone. The annual precipitation also varies from 150 to 200 mm (5.9 to 7.9 in) in the high Himalayas to 1,100–3,000 mm (43–118 in) in the southern plains. Similarly, the average annual temperature of the province varies from 30 to −10 °C (86 to 14 °F). Rainfall takes place mainly during the summer.

History

During the Licchavi and Malla period, this region was known as Nepalmandal and was ruled by Newar kings. Historically the area of Bagmati province known as "Kathmandu Kshetra", which was established in 1956. Kathmandu Kshetra was composed by grouping the then five districts. Those five districts are now divided into many districts. Kathmandu Kshetra had a total area of 6,144 square miles (15,910 km²) and total population was 17.93 Lakhs (1.7 million).

The five districts were:

1. Narayani District (Bara, Parsa, Rautahat)
2. Rapti District (Chitwan, Ramechap, Makwanpur)
3. Chautara District (Sindhupalchok, Kavrepalanchowk)
4. Trishuli District (Nuwakot, Dhading)
5. Kathmandu District (Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur)

In 1962, administrative system restructured and the "Kshetras" system cancelled and the country restructured into 75 development districts and those districts were grouped into zones. In 1972, the region was named to Central Development Region. It had 3 zones and 19 districts.

Major historical forts of Bagmati

Makwanpurgadhi is located about 17 kilometers northeast of Hetauda, the district headquarters of Makwanpur district. Makwanpur Fort is a place of historical and tourist importance in Makwanpur district.

Sindhuli Gadhi is an important place in terms of natural beauty and history. This place is about 150 kilometers east of Kathmandu. Sindhuligadi Nepal is a living document of the British War.

Rasuwa Fort on the Nepal-China border is considered to be an important security fort between Nepal and China. The historical fortress is about a century and a half old.

Demographics

According to the 2021 Nepal Census, Bagmati Province has a population of 61,16,866. The province has the First-highest population in the country having 20.84% of the population. The population density of the province is 300 people per square kilometre which is the second highest in the country. 6.51% of the population was under 5 years of age. Bagmati Province has a literacy rate of 82.06%.

Ethnic groups

Tamang is the largest ethnic group in the province making up around 19.89% of the population. Hill Brahmans are the next largest group making up around 17.84% of the population followed by Chhetris (17.41%) and Newars (15.57%) respectively. Similarly Magar, Kami and Gurung make up 5.11%, 2.75% and 2.30% of the population respectively. Tharu (1.80%), Rai (1.84%), Damai (1.55%), Sarki (1.38%) and Chepang (1.27%) are other smaller ethnic groups in the province.

Languages

Nepali is the most common mother tongue in the province with 56.04% of the population speaking Nepali as their mother tongues. Tamang language is spoken by 18.00% and Nepal Bhasa is spoken by 11.82% of the population as their mother tongue. Magar (2.30%), Gurung (1.11%) and Chepang (0.90%) are other languages spoken in the province. Madheshi languages such as Maithili and Bhojpuri are spoken by Madheshi and Muslim migrants to Kathmandu from the plains as well as in Chitawan district.

The Language Commission of Nepal has recommended Nepal Bhasa and Tamang as official language in the province.

Religion

Hinduism is the most followed religion in the province, with 72.03% of the population identifying as Hindus. Buddhists are the largest minority population with 23.3% of the population following Buddhism and Christianity is followed by 3.30% of the population in the province.

Administrative subdivisions

There are total 119 local administrative units in the province which include 3 metropolitan cities, 1 sub-metropolitan city, 41 urban municipalities and 74 rural municipalities.

Bagmati is divided into 13 districts, which are listed below. A district is administered by the head of the District Coordination Committee and the District Administration Officer. The districts are further divided into municipalities or rural municipalities.

Districts

Districts in Nepal are the second level of administrative divisions after provinces. Bagmati Province is divided into 13 districts, which are listed below. A district is administered by the head of the District Coordination Committee and the District Administration Officer. The districts are further divided into municipalities or rural municipalities.

Municipalities

Cities and villages are governed by municipalities in Nepal. A district may have one or more municipalities. Bagmati has two types of municipalities.

1. Urban Municipality (Urban Municipality has three levels):
   1. Metropolitan city (Mahanagarpalika)
   2. Sub-metropolitan city (Upa-mahanagarpalika) and
   3. Municipality (Nagarpalika)
2. Rural Municipality (Gaunpalika)

The government of Nepal has set out a minimum criteria to meet cities and towns. These criteria include a certain population, infrastructure and revenues.

Government and administration

Bagmati provincial assembly is the unicameral legislative assembly consisting of 110 members. Candidates for each constituency are chosen by the political parties or stand as independents. Each constituency elects one member under the first past the post (FPTP) system of election. The current constitution specifies that sixty percent of the members should be elected from the first past the post system and forty percent through the party-list proportional representation (PR) system. Women should account for one-third of total members elected from each party. If one-third percentage are not elected, the party that fails to ensure so shall have to elect one-third of the total number as women through the party-list proportional representation. The Governor acts as the head of the province, while the Chief Minister is the head of the provincial government. The Chief Judge of the Patan High Court is the head of the judiciary.

The present Governor, Chief Minister and Chief Judge are Yadav Chandra Sharma, Rajendra Prasad Pandey and Tek Bahadur Moktan respectively. The provincial assembly has 110 members while the province has 33 House of Representative constituencies. The term length of provincial assembly is five years. The Provincial Assembly is currently housed at the Regional Education Directorate in Hetauda.

Economy

Bagmati Province is the most industrialized province and has maintained the leading position in the economic sector in Nepal. With GDP of NPR 1.43 Trillion (as of 2019), Bagmati alone is the single largest contributor to the national economy with a share of 36.8% in the country's GDP.

Major business groups

• Ncell
• NTC
• Chaudhary Group
• Panchakanya Group

Education

The province has always been an educational hub of the country.

Enrollment rate in primary school in the province is 95.79, whereas adult literacy stands at 74.85%.

There are various education levels in Bagmati Province. They are: Primary Level (31%), Lower Secondary Level (18%), Secondary Level (11%), SLC (12%), Intermediate Level (11%), Beginner (3%), Non-formal (5%), Graduate (6%), Postgraduate and above (2%).

Universities

• Agriculture and Forestry University in Rampur, Chitwan
• Bagmati University
• Kathmandu University in Dhulikhel
• Nepal Open University in Lalitpur
• Madan Bhandari Academy of Health Sciences in Hetauda

• Madan Bhandari University of Science and Technology

(Nepali: मदन भण्डारी विज्ञान तथा प्रविधि विश्वविद्यालय)

• National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS)
• National Defense University (Nepali: राष्ट्रिय रक्षा विश्वविद्यालय)
• Nepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences
• Patan Academy of Health Sciences
• Tribhuvan University

Infrastructure

Health care

According to the National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) 2016, the Province's Neonatal Mortality (per 1000 live births) stands at 17 and Infant mortality rate (per 1000 live births) stands at 29, both of which are below the national average of 21 and 32, respectively.

According to the Annual report of Department of Health Services (DoHS) 2018/19, Bagmati Province has 35 public hospitals, 41 Primary Health Care Centres (PHCCs), 641 Health posts and 1417 Non-public facilities.

Communication

In Bagmati province, 58.6% have radio access, followed by 54.0% have access to TV, and only 10.0% have access to the internet. Similarly, 16.7% have access to landline telephones, while 76.1% have access to mobile phones. There are a total of 51 radio stations. Some of the radio stations are Radio Chitwan, Radio Upathyaka, and Radio Lalitpur. There are a total of 405 newspaper channels in Bagmati Province with national, Provincial and local outreach. As per the classification, some of the top-ranking newspapers are Gorkhapatra Dainik, Himalayan Times.

Energy

Bagmati Province has the second highest level of electrification with 94.44 percent electrification among the provinces. Districts like Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Nuwakot are fully electrified. Sindhuli district has the lowest electrification rate with the coverage of 69.51% so far.

Transportation

Highways

Roads connect all 13 districts of Bagmati Province. However, people living in the high-altitude regions of Rasuwa, Sindhuplachok and Dolakha experience difficulty accessing roadways perennially. Major highways of the province are as follows:

1. Tribhuvan Highway: Tribhuvan Highway (NH41) which is also part of Asian Highway 42 (AH42) connects the capital city with Birgunj, a major business hub in Province 2 bordered with India.
2. Araniko Highway: Araniko Highway (NH34) which is also part of Asian Highwa 42 (AH42) connects capital city with Kodari on the Nepal-China border.
3. Prithivi Highway: Prithivi Highway (NH17) connects capital city via Naubise, Dhading with Pokhara in Gandaki Province. This landslide-prone and heavily congested highway passes through five districts: Kathmandu, Dhading, Chitwan, Tanahuand Kaski.
4. BP Koirala Highway: The BP Highway(NH13), also known as the Banepa- Bardibas Highway, links Kathmandu Valley with Province 2 and connects with eastern Nepal.

Airways

Ropeways

• Manakamana Cable Car
• Chandragiri Cable Car
• Kalinchowk Cable Car

Sports

Bagmati Province in Nepal is a hub for sports, with football, cricket, and volleyball being the most popular modern games, alongside traditional sports like Dandi Biyo, while also excelling in events like athletics, karate, and table tennis, hosting national events and developing provincial leagues, showcasing strong sports development supported by the National Sports Council.

Bagmati Province Sports Development Council, Hetauda is the main Provincial Sports organizing and Managing body with in the Province. It's the Provincial branch of National Sports Council. Through the Council Team Bagmati participates in National Games.

Football

Bagmati Province Football Association is the provincial body for football in Bagmati Province. Currently there are 11 District FAs are affiliated to Bagmati Province FA.

Cricket

Bagmati Province Cricket Association is the provincial body for Cricket in Bagmati Province. Currently there are 6 District CAs are affiliated to Bagmati Province CA.

Volleyball

Bagmati Province Volleyball Association is provincial body for Volleyball in Bagmati Province. Currently 7 District VAs are affiliated to Bagmati Province VA.