Butwal (बुटवल)Lying at the very foot of Chure Pahad (Fragile Hills), Butwal (Nepali: बुटवल) is a large town in southern Nepal on the banks of Tinau river in Rupandehi District, in Lumbini Zone of which it is the adminisrative center. It is 240 kilometres west of Kathmandu and 22 kilometers north of Rupandehi District headquarters Bhairahawa. Through highway and air links, Butwal connects western Nepal to the capital Kathmandu. It also has a highway connection to the Indian Border at Sunauli[1] via towns Manigram, Bhalwari and Kotihawa.[2] Butwal is one of the major gateways to Nepal.Fossils of ancient hominoids Ramapithecus were found near the Tinau (Tilottama) River as early as 1932, including 10.1 million year old dental bones.
History in Butwal
Historically Butwal connected Nepali people with their Indian neighbors. As the British East India Company annexed Awadh from its hereditory rulers while the Shah Dynasty attempted to annex the Terai, Butwal became one of bones of contention leading to the Gurkha War 1814-16. [1] .
When King Tribhuvan fled from Nepal to India in 1950, he travelled through Butwal, then little more than a village on the western bank of Tilottama River (also popularly known as Tinau River). However with the construction through Butwal of Siddhartha Rajmarg from the border at Sunauli to Pokhara and then the east-west Mahendra Rajmarg across the Terai, the village grew rapidly and developed into a modern township.
Economy
The economy of Butwal centers around education, trade and transportation. Butwal has always been a major trading centre for Pahari (hill people) from districts to the north, as is evident from the establishment of Batauli Bazar at the edge of the hills in old Butwal. Presently the main trading centre is near Traffic Chowk. Numerous shops sell Chinese and Indian goods. Butwal also has small and medium scale manufacturers of woodwork, ironsheet, metalware and aluminium sheet. There are rice mills including Siddhababa Rice mill and Sita rice mill.
An influx of students from nearby hilly regions contributes to Butwal's economy. Additional income is remitted by expatriate Nepalis and from Gurkha Soldiers employed by the Indian and British Armies.
Like most of Nepal, buses are the most important means of transport with private operators offering service to various destinations. Until 2003 most of the fleet was older large buses. Since then operators have added newer minibuses popularly called micro. Older jeeps are used to take people to nearby hilly regions. Rickshaws are also a popular means of urban transport, however taxicabs are gaining popularity with growing affluence. Motorcycles are a common means of personal transportation around town. Numbers registered have increased from 1200 in 1999 to 80,000 in 2008.
Education
Butwal has emerged as a major center of education in Lumbini Zone. Butwal Multiple Campus (Nepali: बुटवल बहुमुखी क्याम्पस) affiliated with Tribhuvan University is the largest campus with more than 5000 students and classes in Arts, Education, and Science.
Local schools affiliated with Pokhara University include:
• Lumbini Engineering College
• College Of Computer Technology
• Tilottama Campus.
Private colleges offering courses for so-called +2 (two year post-secondary) and other courses in commerce and management include: Achievers College:
• Lumbini Banijya Campus
• Ram Mani Multiple Campus, Manigram
Private Renown College:
• Tilottama campus for science, management and BBA
• Glorious College for science and management.
• Oxford College for management and education.
• New Horizon College
Phulbari (Manimukunda Park)
Phulbari, the winter palace of Palpali Sen clan is very fascinating from natural and archaeological values. There are ruins and antiquities of the majestic palace of Manimukunda Sen an ancient Palpali King containing 6 large rooms as well as royal residence, administrative and fascinating scenic grandeur of Butwal, Siddharthanagar and other neighbouring villages of Rupandehi district can be vividly seen from here at night also. His Majesty's Government, archaeological department has attempted to maintain it in 1991. Now Butwal municipality has formed council for the conservation of Manimukunda Sen Park to conduct Phulbari Development Programme and attempted to make it an amusing and a tourist resort.
Butwal Hill Park(Deepnagar)This famous place was one of the historic for the people of Gurung community. This hill was called Gurung Gada before the hill park idea came into context, because Gurung people were buried here. But now it has been changed to view Butwal and nearby cities like Bhairawa. This gives good view of whole Butwal in either side. It separates Butwal city into 2 parts. The big growing city on east with population more than 45000 in small suburb (Deepnagar) with other parts of Butwal. You also can visit Aap Khola (mango river) popular among the residents of Butwal where people go for swimming and to collect water during drought.
Siddha Baba Temple
This famous temple is located on hills at the border of Butwal Municipality [5] . In fact the temple lies in Palpa. Devotees believe that Siddha Baba will grant their wishes, and whosoever's wishes are granted offers pigeons at the temple. Large number of pigeons can be seen at the temple.
On Saturdays, the weekly holiday in Nepal, large number of devotees from Butwal as well as nearby places visit the holy temple. Special Micro services are pressed into service on these days by bus operators for the convenience of devotees.
Sainamaina
Located about 12 km. west from Butwal and to North from Banakatti, Sainamaina as an open museum is very famous and fascinating resort from historical archaeological culture and natural points of view. Among the different Gramas villages of Shakya King, it was in the samgrama site. An Indian queen (Begam) because of the revolution in her kingdom came to this area with her soldiers and porters (‘Sena’ and Mena’) and finally this area came to be known as Saina Maina. It is an exquisite treasure trove of ancient ruins and antiquities: statues of dancing saints, ruins of palace, well etc. The statue of Buddha (Jogidanda) was very significant different ruins of having the values of classical art are scattered here and there. This famous archaeological site is being occupied by homeless and landless people. Some of the antiquities of this site are seen thrown around the Lumbini museum.
Jitgadhi
Jitgadhi a fortress during Angol Nepal war, Narayan temple built by (1864 B.S.) Hanuman temple and Shivalaya of Hanumagngadhi, Jalabinayak Mehadev temple, Siddababa temple, Nuwakot etc. are famous centres of attraction in Butwal.
The economy of Butwal centers around education, trade and transportation. Butwal has always been a major trading centre for Pahari (hill people) from districts to the north, as is evident from the establishment of Batauli Bazar at the edge of the hills in old Butwal. Presently the main trading centre is near Traffic Chowk. Numerous shops sell Chinese and Indian goods. Butwal also has small and medium scale manufacturers of woodwork, ironsheet, metalware and aluminium sheet. There are rice mills including Siddhababa Rice mill and Sita rice mill.
An influx of students from nearby hilly regions contributes to Butwal's economy. Additional income is remitted by expatriate Nepalis and from Gurkha Soldiers employed by the Indian and British Armies.
Like most of Nepal, buses are the most important means of transport with private operators offering service to various destinations. Until 2003 most of the fleet was older large buses. Since then operators have added newer minibuses popularly called micro. Older jeeps are used to take people to nearby hilly regions. Rickshaws are also a popular means of urban transport, however taxicabs are gaining popularity with growing affluence. Motorcycles are a common means of personal transportation around town. Numbers registered have increased from 1200 in 1999 to 80,000 in 2008.
Education
Butwal has emerged as a major center of education in Lumbini Zone. Butwal Multiple Campus (Nepali: बुटवल बहुमुखी क्याम्पस) affiliated with Tribhuvan University is the largest campus with more than 5000 students and classes in Arts, Education, and Science.
Local schools affiliated with Pokhara University include:
• Lumbini Engineering College
• College Of Computer Technology
• Tilottama Campus.
Private colleges offering courses for so-called +2 (two year post-secondary) and other courses in commerce and management include: Achievers College:
• Lumbini Banijya Campus
• Ram Mani Multiple Campus, Manigram
Private Renown College:
• Tilottama campus for science, management and BBA
• Glorious College for science and management.
• Oxford College for management and education.
• New Horizon College
Phulbari (Manimukunda Park)
Phulbari, the winter palace of Palpali Sen clan is very fascinating from natural and archaeological values. There are ruins and antiquities of the majestic palace of Manimukunda Sen an ancient Palpali King containing 6 large rooms as well as royal residence, administrative and fascinating scenic grandeur of Butwal, Siddharthanagar and other neighbouring villages of Rupandehi district can be vividly seen from here at night also. His Majesty's Government, archaeological department has attempted to maintain it in 1991. Now Butwal municipality has formed council for the conservation of Manimukunda Sen Park to conduct Phulbari Development Programme and attempted to make it an amusing and a tourist resort.
Butwal Hill Park(Deepnagar)This famous place was one of the historic for the people of Gurung community. This hill was called Gurung Gada before the hill park idea came into context, because Gurung people were buried here. But now it has been changed to view Butwal and nearby cities like Bhairawa. This gives good view of whole Butwal in either side. It separates Butwal city into 2 parts. The big growing city on east with population more than 45000 in small suburb (Deepnagar) with other parts of Butwal. You also can visit Aap Khola (mango river) popular among the residents of Butwal where people go for swimming and to collect water during drought.
Siddha Baba Temple
This famous temple is located on hills at the border of Butwal Municipality [5] . In fact the temple lies in Palpa. Devotees believe that Siddha Baba will grant their wishes, and whosoever's wishes are granted offers pigeons at the temple. Large number of pigeons can be seen at the temple.
On Saturdays, the weekly holiday in Nepal, large number of devotees from Butwal as well as nearby places visit the holy temple. Special Micro services are pressed into service on these days by bus operators for the convenience of devotees.
Sainamaina
Located about 12 km. west from Butwal and to North from Banakatti, Sainamaina as an open museum is very famous and fascinating resort from historical archaeological culture and natural points of view. Among the different Gramas villages of Shakya King, it was in the samgrama site. An Indian queen (Begam) because of the revolution in her kingdom came to this area with her soldiers and porters (‘Sena’ and Mena’) and finally this area came to be known as Saina Maina. It is an exquisite treasure trove of ancient ruins and antiquities: statues of dancing saints, ruins of palace, well etc. The statue of Buddha (Jogidanda) was very significant different ruins of having the values of classical art are scattered here and there. This famous archaeological site is being occupied by homeless and landless people. Some of the antiquities of this site are seen thrown around the Lumbini museum.
Jitgadhi
Jitgadhi a fortress during Angol Nepal war, Narayan temple built by (1864 B.S.) Hanuman temple and Shivalaya of Hanumagngadhi, Jalabinayak Mehadev temple, Siddababa temple, Nuwakot etc. are famous centres of attraction in Butwal.
0 comments:
Post a Comment