Hetauda is a sub-metropolitan city in Makwanpur district of Bagmati Province in central Nepal. It is the administrative headquarters of the Makwanpur district and the capital of Bagmati Province as declared by a majority (105 out of 110) of the Provincial Assembly Members on 12 January 2020. Hetauda is one of the largest cities in Nepal. At the 2015 Nepal census, it had a population of 153,875 people. The city's population grew to 195,951 in 2021.

History

It is believed that Hetauda got its name from Hidimba, a demonic queen who ended up marrying Bhimsen as per a story in Mahabharat. The fact that there is a place called Bhimphedi just as the plains of Hetauda meets the mountains can be considered a manifestation of this belief. During the Rana regime in Nepal, there was a history of cars being carried by porters to Kathmandu through Bhimphedi.

Geography

Hetauda is a valley surrounded by chure hills in the south and midhills in the north. East Rapti river, Karra river and Kukhreni Khola flow through the city.

Demographics

At the 2011 Nepal census, Hetauda Submetropolitan City had a population of 154,660. Of these, 61.9% spoke Nepali, 26.4% Tamang, 4.8% Newar, 2.2% Bhojpuri, 1.4% Maithili, 1.0% Magar, 0.4% Chepang, 0.3% Gurung, 0.3% Hindi, 0.2% Tharu, 0.2% Urdu, 0.1% Bhujel, 0.1% Lepcha, 0.1% Rai, 0.1% Rajasthani and 0.2% other languages as their first language. In terms of ethnicity/caste, 31.1% were Tamang, 26.6% Hill Brahmin, 13.8% Chhetri, 8.8% Newar, 4.3% Magar, 3.1% Kami, 2.0% Rai, 1.0% Musalman, 0.9% Damai/Dholi, 0.9% Kathabaniyan, 0.8% Gurung, 0.7% Chepang/Praja, 0.7% Sarki, 0.6% Danuwar, 0.5% Tharu, 0.3% Gharti/Bhujel, 0.3% Sanyasi/Dasnami, 0.3% Thakuri, 0.2% Kalwar, 0.2% Kanu, 0.2% Marwadi, 0.2% Teli, 0.2% other Terai, 0.2% Yadav, 0.1% Terai Brahmin, 0.1% other Dalit, 0.1% Dhanuk, 0.1% Ghale, 0.1% Hajjam/Thakur, 0.1% Kayastha, 0.1% Koiri/Kushwaha, 0.1% Kumal, 0.1% Kurmi, 0.1% Limbu, 0.1% Majhi, 0.1% Rajput, 0.1% Sonar, 0.1% Sudhi, 0.1% Sunuwar and 0.1% others. In terms of religion, 67.3% were Hindu, 27.9% Buddhist, 3.5% Christian, 1.0% Muslim, 0.1% Kirati, 0.1% Prakriti and 0.1% others. In terms of literacy, 78.7% could read and write, 2.2% could only read and 19.0% could neither read nor write.

Economy

The Hetauda Industrial District (HID) is one of the biggest industrial districts in Nepal, housing large, medium-scale, and cottage industry. It was established in 1963 under technical and financial assistance of the government of the United States of America.

Attractions

One of the most popular attractions of Hetauda is Martyr Memorial Park, or Sahid Smarak (Nepali: शहीद स्मारक), which was completed in 1994. The park honors Nepalese martyrs, from those who died in the British colonial wars to those who overthrew the autocratic Panchayat system in 1989. A series of sculptures of these martyrs sit on a large boulder; their faces were sculpted by student volunteers from Lalit Kala Campus. The park is also popular as a picnic spot and as an escape from the busy city life. It has a swimming pool and a zoo that houses some endangered and some common wild animals, from monkeys to leopards. There are other attractions in Hetauda such as Makanpur Gadhi, Gumba Danda, Bhutandevi Mandir, Hatiya Jurethum Tourism Park, Banaskhandi Devi Mandir, Churia Mai Temple, Puspalal Smriti Peace Park, Kushmanda Sarowar Triveni Dham.

Education

Education in Hetauda started with the establishment of Shree Bhutan Devi Secondary School (now Shree Bhutan Devi Higher Secondary School). Some notable education institutions include:

Media

There are many radio, print, tv, online media in Hetauda. Popular FM radio are Hetauda 96.6 MHz and Radio Thaha Sanchar FM 99.6 MHz. News media like Hetauda Sandesh Dainik, Hetauda Khabar, Hetauda Today & Anirudrakhabar are active. The only television network in hetauda is Team TV hd.

Transportation

East-West Mahendra Highway and Madan Bhandari Highway connect Hetauda to other areas. Ongoing project Kathmandu - Kulekhani - Hetauda Tunnel (KKHT) Highway connects Hetauda to Kathmandu via Kulekhani. Kathmandu Terai Fast Track, KTFT, is being contruction which will shorten the travel duration between Hetauda and Kathmandu.