Birganj
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Birgunj बीरगञ्ज/बीरगंज Gateway of Nepal. |
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| Sub-Metropolitan City | |
The Nepalese Border Crossing in Birgunj
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| Nickname(s): BRJ | |
 Birgunj
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| Coordinates: 27°0′N 84°52′E / 27.000°N 84.867°ECoordinates: 27°0′N 84°52′E / 27.000°N 84.867°E | |
| Country |
 Nepal
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| Zone | Narayani Zone |
| District | Parsa District |
| Official Language | Nepali |
| Population | |
| • Total | 207,980 |
| Time zone | NST (UTC+5:45) |
| Postal code | 44300, 44301 |
| Area code(s) | 051 |
| Website | birgunjmun.gov.np |
Birgunj (also Birganj) (Nepali: बीरगंज) is a sub-metropolitan city and border town in Parsa District in the Narayani Zone of southern Nepal. It lies 183 km (114 mi) south of the capital Kathmandu, attached to north of the border of the Indian state of Bihar. As an entry point to Nepal from Patna and Kolkata, it is known as the "gateway to Nepal". The town has significant economic importance for Nepal as most of its trade with India is via Birgunj and the Indian town of Raxaul. Tribhuvan Highway links Birgunj to Nepal's capital, Kathmandu.
Birgunj was established as a conglomerate of several villages in and around Gahawa Mai Temple. Gahawai Mai Temple remains the epicenter of the town. The settlement was named after the Rana Prime Minister Bir Shamsher, thus acquiring the name Birgunj.
According to the 2011 Census, Birgunj had a population of 207980. It is the biggest city in Narayani Zone and Terai(Madhesh) and the fourth biggest in Nepal after Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Patan. It serves as the headquarters of the Parsa District. Although Nepali is the official language, the native Bhojpuri language is the main language spoken. In addition to Bhojpuri, several other languages are spoken, including Maithili language, Hindi and English.
Birgunj was founded in 1897 by 3rd Rana Prime Minister Bir Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana. Ancient Name was Gahawa.
On 18 May 2006, the parliament of Nepal declared that the country would become a secular state. This led to unrest by Hindu fundamentalist groups across Nepal; the town of Birgunj was forced to close for two days.
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