Siraha District (Nepali: सिराहा जिल्ला; ⓘ), a district in Madhesh Province, is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal. It is situated in the Terai belt of Nepal. The district, with Siraha Municipality as its district headquarters, covers an area of 1,188 km2 (459 sq mi). It has population of 739,953 according to census 2021 in which 49.2% are male where as 50.8% are female. The District is bordered with Saptari district in the east Balan River, Udayapur districting the north Chure Hill, Bihar state of India in the south and Dhanusa district in the west Kamala River. Majority of the population here is Yadav, Kushwaha(mahato), Tharus, Sahs(sahukar), Muslims and ethnic minorities with majority population speaking English, Maithili language and Nēpālī language.

Lahan is the biggest and developed city of Siraha district which is also a top 5 biggest city of Madhesh Province which is popular for Sagarmatha Chaudhary Eye Hospital. Where most of the patients comes from Bihar, India. It lies in Mahendra highway like Mirchaiya and Golbazar which are 2nd and 3rd big cities of siraha district. Siraha district do have tourism place like Salahesh Fulbari, Salhesh Palace, Kamal Daha, Haathi Daha, Patari Mela, Dhamini Than, Aakash Ganga, etc.

Thadi (Nepali: ठाड़ी) or Thadi Viswaspatti is the main entry point for the district form India and a very old border town and a market place of Nepal in Siraha District bordering Indian town of Laukaha.

Thadi is one of the few towns which is a part of agreed route for Mutual Trade between India and Nepal. Nepal Government has set up a dedicated customs office in the town. The town connects Lahan to India.

Infrastructure

There are no airports in this district but Rajbiraj Airport in nearby Saptari District is the nearest airport to the district, roughly 28–58 km away from various locations. Shree Airlines operates daily flights between Rajbiraj and Kathmandu

Thadi in Siraha is a part of one of the agreed route for Mutual Trade and custom point between India and Nepal. Nepal Government has set up a dedicated customs office in the town and Government of India has set up a Land Customs Station. So in simple import and export are allowed through this point.

The largest city is Lahan, where there is a popular eye hospital called Sagarmatha Choudhary Eye Hospital, Lahan.

Transportation

The district is well connected with Mahendra Highway as this national Highway passes right through the district while connecting all the major towns. Other rural municipalities are also well connected by Postal Highway which is under construction and taking shape rapidly. Another major project i.e. East-West Railway also will run through this district in future and is in the process of development.

Geography and climate

Kumbhikhadi Taal (lake), a tourist destination in Siraha district of Terai, Nepal.
Climate ZoneElevation Range% of Area
Lower Tropicalbelow 300 meters (1,000 ft)90.5%
Upper Tropical300 to 1,000 meters (1,000 to 3,300 ft)9.5%

Demographics

Historical population
Census yearPop.±% p.a.
1981375,358—
1991460,746+2.07%
2001572,399+2.19%
2011637,328+1.08%
2021739,953+1.50%
Source: Citypopulation

At the time of the 2021 Nepal census, Siraha District had a population of 739,953. 10.71% of the population is under 5 years of age. It has a literacy rate of 65.11% and a sex ratio of 1034 females per 1000 males. 513,568 (69.41%) lived in municipalities.

  1. Yadav (24.5%)
  2. Muslim (8.13%)
  3. Musahar (6.43%)
  4. Kushwaha (6.04%)
  5. Chamar (5.74%)
  6. Teli (5.24%)
  7. Tharu (3.80%)
  8. Dhanuk (3.69%)
  9. Paswan (3.34%)
  10. Sundi (2.94%)
  11. Mallaah (2.86%)
  12. Kewat (2.40%)
  13. Tatma (2.39%)
  14. Khatwe (2.20%)
  15. Other Madheshi non-Dalit (10.7%)
  16. Hill Janjati (4.26%)
  17. Khas non-Dalit (1.84%)
  18. Other Madheshi Dalit (1.46%)
  19. Others (2.02%)

Ethnicity/caste: Madheshis are the largest group. Yadavs are nearly 25% of the population. Muslims are 8% of the population, and Hill Janjati are 4% of the population.

Religion in Siraha district (2021)
ReligionPercent
Hinduism90.27%
Islam8.28%
Buddhism1.11%
Other or not stated0.34%

90% of the population was Hindu, 8% Muslim and 1% Buddhist.

  1. Maithili (84.6%)
  2. Nepali (3.53%)
  3. Urdu (3.42%)
  4. Tharu (3.23%)
  5. Magahi (2.66%)
  6. Others (2.58%)

Maithili is the largest language. Nepali is the second-largest language. Urdu and Tharu are spoken by a small minority.

Literacy: 50.1% could read and write, 2.7% could only read and 46.9% could neither read nor write.

English and Nepali are two major medium of written and spoken languages used in schools and public and government offices.

Notable people

Education

  • (CTEVT)
  • PVM Awasiya Bidyalaya

Administration

The district consists of seventeen municipalities, out of which eight are urban municipalities and nine are rural municipalities. These are as follows:

Former Village Development Committees (VDCs) and Municipalities

VDCs and Municipalities (blue) in Siraha District

See also

  • . Statoids.

26°39′0″N 86°12′0″E/26.65000°N 86.20000°E/ 26.65000; 86.20000