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Sunsari District

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Sunsari District
सुनसरी जिल्ला
District
Night view of Dharan, Itahari and Tarahara, Barahakshetra Temple, Dharan Clock Tower
Location of Sunsari District in Province
Location of Sunsari District in Province
Country Nepal
ProvinceKoshi Pradesh
Established1962
Admin HQInaruwa
Government
 • TypeDistrict Coordination Committee
 • BodySunsari DDC
 • CDORamchandra Tiwari
 • HeadRajan Mehta (NC)
 • Deputy HeadKamala Dahal
 • District courtSunsari District court
 • ConstituenciesParliamentary constituencies 4 Provincial constituencies 8
Area
 • Total
1,257 km2 (485 sq mi)
Population
 (2022)
 • Total
934,461
 • Rank5
 • Density743.4/km2 (1,925/sq mi)
Demographics
 • Ethnic groups Tharu,Bahun, Chhetri, Madheshi, Limbu, Tamang
 • HDI0.5466(medium)
 • Male ♂/Female♀100/94
Education
 • Literacy rate78.1%
Time zoneUTC+05:45 (NST)
Telephone Code025
Official languageNepali
Other (s) LanguagesMaithili, Limbu, Tharu
WebsiteDDC, Sunsari
DAO, Sunsari

Sunsari District (Nepali: सुनसरी जिल्ला listenⓘ) is one of 14 districts in Koshi province of eastern Nepal. The district is located in the eastern part of the Outer Terai and covers an area of 1,257 km2 (485 sq mi). According to the 2011 Nepal census, the population was 753,328.[1] The district headquarters is located in Inaruwa.

History

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Sunsari, in southeastern Nepal, occupies an important position in the historical landscape of the eastern Himalaya and the Koshi–Kankai region. Its fertile plains, forests, and river systems have supported human settlement since ancient times. Archaeological discoveries in the eastern Terai, including sites around Sunsari and neighbouring Morang and Jhapa, indicate prehistoric and early historic occupation, although the precise ethnic identity of the earliest inhabitants cannot always be established from archaeological evidence alone.[2][3]

In historical traditions, the wider Koshi region is associated with the Kirat/Kirata peoples and their political influence. The Arun, Tamor and Koshi river systems connected the Himalayan hills with the Terai, facilitating movement, agriculture, trade and cultural exchange. Sunsari was therefore part of a broader cultural zone linking the Kirat-inhabited eastern hills with the plains. During the medieval and early modern periods, the eastern Terai and hill regions were politically connected with Morang and Vijaypur. The Sen rulers of Makwanpur and later the Sen polity centred at Vijaypur exercised influence over parts of eastern Nepal. Local chiefs and indigenous communities retained considerable authority within this political framework [4] The Gorkha expansion uder Prithvi Narayan Shah and his successors gradually incorporated the eastern territories into the expanding Nepalese state. The conquest and subsequent administrative reorganisation transformed the older political structure of the region. Today, Sunsari preserves important historical and cultural sites, particularly Barahakshetra, while its archaeological landscape reflects a much longer history of human settlement than the modern district boundary suggests. Its history should therefore be understood through archaeology, indigenous traditions, regional chronicles and the political history of Morang–Vijaypur.[5]

Administration

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The district consists of two Sub-metropolitan Cities, four urban municipalities and six rural municipalities.[6] These are as follows:[7]

Sub-metropolitan cities

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Municipalities

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Rural municipalities

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Geography and climate

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Map
Map
Climate Zone[8] Elevation Range % of Area
Lower Tropical below 300 m (980 ft) 86.6%
Upper Tropical 300–1,000 m (980–3,280 ft)  7.8%
Subtropical 1,000–2,000 m (3,300–6,600 ft)  2.0%

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1981 344,594—    
1991 463,481+3.01%
2001 625,633+3.05%
2011 763,487+2.01%
2021 934,461+2.04%
Sources:[9]

2021

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At the time of the 2021 Nepal census, Sunsari District had a population of 926,962. 8.42% of the population is under 5 years of age. It has a literacy rate of 78.10% and a sex ratio of 1064 females per 1000 males. 665,015 (71.74%) lived in municipalities.[10]

Ethnicity/caste of Sunsari district (2021)[11]
  1. Muslims (12.1%)
  2. Tharu (11.2%)
  3. Chhetri (10.8%)
  4. Bahun (7.54%)
  5. Rai (6.65%)
  6. Yadav (4.02%)
  7. Kushwaha (3.82%)
  8. Newar (3.64%)
  9. Limbu (3.47%)
  10. Musahar (3.39%)
  11. Kurukh (2.77%)
  12. Kami (2.53%)
  13. Tamang (2.37%)
  14. Teli (2.09%)
  15. Other Madheshi non-Dalit (8.89%)
  16. Other Hill Janjati (6.13%)
  17. Other Madheshi Dalit (4.12%)
  18. Other Khas Dalit (1.49%)
  19. Others (2.88%)

Sunsari has huge ethnic diversity with 115 castes/ethnic groups represented. The largest communities are the Muslims and Tharu. Other communities include the Janajati Limbu and other Kirati peoples.[11]

Languages of Sunsari district (2021)[12]
  1. Nepali (32.8%)
  2. Maithili (28.2%)
  3. Tharu (11.6%)
  4. Urdu (7.98%)
  5. Kurukh (2.69%)
  6. Limbu (2.63%)
  7. Bantawa (1.84%)
  8. Tamang (1.59%)
  9. Rai (1.51%)
  10. Newari (1.40%)
  11. Magar (1.14%)
  12. Others (6.65%)

As their first language, 32.80% of the population spoke Nepali, 28.18% Maithili, 11.59% Tharu, 7.98% Urdu, 2.69% Kurukh, 2.63% Limbu, 1.84% Bantawa, 1.59% Tamang, 1.51% Rai, 1.40% Newari and 1.14% Magar as their first language.[12]In 2011, Nepali was spoken by 28.8% of the population as their first language.[13]

Religion in Sunsari District (2021)[14]
Religion Percent
Hinduism
 
 74.35%
Islam
 
 12.34%
Kirat Mundhum
 
 7.72%
Buddhism
 
 3.64%
Christianity
 
 1.69%
Other or not stated
 
 0.26%

Religion: 74.35% were Hindu, 12.34% Muslim, 7.72% Kirat Mundhum, 3.64% Buddhist and 1.69% Christian and 0.26% others.[14]

2011

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At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, Sunsari District had a population of 763,487.[citation needed]

The most widely spoken language is Nepali: 28.8% spoke Nepali, followed by 28.5% Maithili.[15]

Ethnicity/caste: 12.1% were Tharu, 11.5% Muslims, 9.2% Chhetri, 7.9% Hill Brahmin, 6.6% Rai, 4.3% Yadav, 4.0% Kushwaha/Koiri, 3.8% Newar, 3.4% Musahar, 3.2% Limbu, 3.1% Jhangad/Dhagar, 2.3% Tamang, 2.3% Teli, 2.2% Kami, 2.0% Magar, 1.6% Dhanuk, 1.5% Bantar/Sardar, 1.2% Chamar/Harijan/Ram, 1.1% Halwai, 1.0% Damai/Dholi, 1.0% Gurung, 0.8% Kathabaniyan, 0.8% Khatwe, 0.6% Gharti/Bhujel, 0.6% Majhi, 0.6% Mallaha, 0.6% Marwadi, 0.6% other Terai, 0.5% Terai Brahmin, 0.5% Dhimal, 0.5% Hajam/Thakur, 0.5% Sanyasi/Dasnami, 0.4% Dusadh/Paswan/Pasi, 0.4% Kulung, 0.4% Sarki, 0.3% Bantawa, 0.3% Bengali, 0.3% Gaderi/Bhedihar, 0.3% Kalwar, 0.3% Kewat, 0.3% Khawas, 0.3% Sarbaria, 0.3% Tatma/Tatwa, 0.2% Badhaee, 0.2% Chamling, 0.2% Dom, 0.2% Kayastha, 0.2% Kumal, 0.2% Kumhar, 0.2% Rajbanshi, 0.2% Rajput, 0.2% Sherpa, 0.2% Sudhi, 0.2% Sunuwar, 0.1% Amat, 0.1% Badi, 0.1% Baraee, 0.1% Bhote, 0.1% Danuwar, 0.1% Dhobi, 0.1% Kurmi, 0.1% Lohar, 0.1% Munda, 0.1% Nuniya, 0.1% Pattharkatta/Kushwadiya, 0.1% Punjabi/Sikh, 0.1% Rajbhar, 0.1% Rajdhov, 0.1% Sonar, 0.1% Thakuri, 0.1% Thulung, 0.1% Yakkha and 0.3% others.[16]

Religion: 73.3% were Hindu, 11.5% Muslim, 6.9% Kirati, 4.4% Buddhist, 1.9% Prakriti, 1.5% Christian, 0.1% Jain and 0.4% others.[17]

Literacy: 68.0% could read and write, 2.0% could only read and 29.9% could neither read nor write.[18]

Former VDCs

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Map of the VDCs in Sunsari District

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "नेपाल प्रदेश नं. १ सुनसरी". Sthaniya Taha. MoFAGA. 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  2. ↑ Tribhuvan University Central Library. Conservation and Management of Archaeological Sites in Eastern Terai of Nepal.
  3. ↑ Karki, Babu Ram. “Historical ruins await preservation.” The Rising Nepal, 2026.
  4. ↑ Francis Buchanan Hamilton (1819), An Account of the Kingdom of Nepal
  5. ↑ Brihattar Barahakshetra Development Committee, Government of Koshi Province.
  6. ↑ "स्थानिय तह". 103.69.124.141. Retrieved 2018-12-04.
  7. ↑ "स्थानिय तह". 103.69.124.141. Retrieved 2018-12-06.
  8. ↑ Lillesø, J-P.B.; Shrestha, T.B.; Dhakal, L.P.; Nayaju, R.P.; Shrestha, R. (2005). The Map of Potential Vegetation of Nepal - a forestry/agroecological/biodiversity classification system (PDF). Forest & Landscape Development and Environment Series 2-2005 and CFC-TIS Document Series No.110. ISBN 87-7903-210-9.
  9. ↑ "Nepal: Provinces and Districts". www.citypopulation.de.
  10. ↑ "Provincial/District/Local reports: Koshi Province". Census Nepal 2021. Central Bureau of Statistics.
  11. 1 2 "Table 1: Caste/Ethnicity and sex". Census Nepal 2021. Central Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 June 2023.
  12. 1 2 "Table 5: Mother tongue and sex". Census Nepal 2021. Central Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 June 2023.
  13. ↑ "Social characteristics tables" (PDF). Central Bureau of Statistics.
  14. 1 2 "Table 5: Religion and sex". Census Nepal 2021. Central Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 June 2023.
  15. ↑ NepalMap Language
  16. ↑ NepalMap Caste
  17. ↑ NepalMap Religion
  18. ↑ NepalMap Literacy
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26°36′07″N 87°08′51″E / 26.602019°N 87.147550°E / 26.602019; 87.147550

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