Siddharthanagar

Siddhārthanagar / Bhairahawa
सिद्धार्थनगर / भैरहवा
Lumbini Gate, Bhairahawa
Lumbini Gate, Bhairahawa
Nickname: 
Bhairahawa
Location of Siddhārthanagar / Bhairahawa
Siddhārthanagar / Bhairahawa is located in Nepal
Siddhārthanagar / Bhairahawa
Siddhārthanagar / Bhairahawa
Location in Nepal
Coordinates: 27°30′N 83°27′E
Country Nepal
Province Lumbini Province
District Rupandehi District
Incorporated 1967
Government
 • Type Mayor–council
 • Mayor Ishtiyak Ahmad Khan (NC)
 • Deputy Mayor Uma Adhikari (CPN (UML))
 • Chief Administrator Officer Nabaraj Poudyal
Area
 • Total 36.03 km2 (13.91 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total 74,436
 • Density 2,066/km2 (5,350/sq mi)
Language
 • Official Nepali
Time zone UTC+5:45 (NST)
Postal code
32900
Area code 071
Website www.siddharthanagarmun.gov.np/ne

Siddharthanagar (Nepali: सिद्धार्थनगर), formerly and colloquially still called Bhairahawa (Nepali: भैरहवा), is a municipality and the administrative headquarter of Rupandehi District in Lumbini Province of Nepal, 265 km (165 mi) west of Nepal's capital Kathmandu. It is the closest city to Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautama Buddha, which is located 25 km (16 mi) to the west. The city borders the Indian city of Sonauli in Maharajganj district of Uttar Pradesh.

Although the current name was first used in 1977, many still refer to it as Bhairahawa.

History and etymology

The city was founded as Bhairahawa in 1967. The city's current name Siddharthanagar derives from Buddha's given name Siddhartha, as the birthplace of Buddha is located only 25 km (16 mi) to the west. The name was changed to Siddhartanagar in 1977 AD by poet Komal Dutta Tiwari.

Climate

The highest temperature ever recorded in Siddharthanagar was 45.7 °C (114.3 °F) on 7 June 2023, while the lowest temperature ever recorded was −1.1 °C (30.0 °F) on 20 January 1971.

Climate data for Siddharthanagar (Gautam Buddha Airport, 1991–2020 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 20.1
(68.2)
25.4
(77.7)
31.3
(88.3)
36.2
(97.2)
36.6
(97.9)
35.5
(95.9)
33.5
(92.3)
33.7
(92.7)
33.4
(92.1)
32.6
(90.7)
29.1
(84.4)
23.5
(74.3)
30.9
(87.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) 14.4
(57.9)
18.2
(64.8)
23.0
(73.4)
28.2
(82.8)
30.3
(86.5)
30.7
(87.3)
29.9
(85.8)
29.9
(85.8)
29.2
(84.6)
26.6
(79.9)
21.9
(71.4)
16.9
(62.4)
24.9
(76.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 8.7
(47.7)
10.9
(51.6)
14.7
(58.5)
20.2
(68.4)
23.9
(75.0)
25.9
(78.6)
26.3
(79.3)
26.0
(78.8)
24.9
(76.8)
20.6
(69.1)
14.6
(58.3)
10.2
(50.4)
18.9
(66.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 20.8
(0.82)
27.8
(1.09)
18.7
(0.74)
30.4
(1.20)
87.6
(3.45)
254.7
(10.03)
498.1
(19.61)
399.7
(15.74)
216.8
(8.54)
65.5
(2.58)
4.9
(0.19)
8.2
(0.32)
1,633.2
(64.30)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 2.5 2.2 1.7 2.5 6.5 11.9 18.3 16.1 10.9 3.2 0.4 0.5 76.7
Source: World Meteorological Organization

Demographics

The population of Siddharthanagar in 2001 was 52,569. In 2011 it was 64,566 and in 2021 it was 74,436.

Education

Bhairahawa Multiple Campus, Shantinagar

Rupandehi Lilaram Ma Vi, Bhairahawa Ma Vi, Paklihawa Ma Vi are old higher secondary schools.

There are several higher education facilities in Siddharthanagar including Rupandehi Campus, IAAS Paklihawa Campus, Universal College of Medical Sciences and Bhairahawa Namuna Campus.

Academic building of Rupandehi Campus.

See also