Parsa District, a part of Madhesh Province in Terai plain, is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal. The district, with Birgunj as its district headquarters, covers an area of 1,353 km2 and has a population (2001) of 497,219. According to the locals, Parsa is named after the Parashnath temple situated in Mahuwan.

Etymology

According to locals, the name of the district is derived from the Parsagadhi fort, where the Nepali Gorkhali Soldiers defeated British Soldiers.

Geography and Climate

Demographics

At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, Parsa District had a population of 601,017. As their first language, 78.4% spoke Bhojpuri, 6.1% Nepali, 5.1% Maithili, 3.8% Tharu, 2.2% Urdu, 1.3% Tamang, 0.8% Rajasthani, 0.7% Newari, 0.3% Uranw/Urau, 0.2% Hindi, 0.2% Rai, 0.1% Bengali, 0.1% Doteli, 0.1% Magar and 0.1% other languages. Ethnicity/caste: 14.5% were Musalman, 8.4% Kurmi, 7.6% Tharu, 6.6% Yadav, 5.8% Kanu, 4.7% Chamar/Harijan/Ram, 4.2% Teli, 3.2% Koiri/Kushwaha, 2.8% Chhetri, 2.7% Dusadh/Paswan/Pasi, 2.6% Hill Brahmin, 2.6% Mallaha, 2.0% Baraee, 1.9% Kalwar, 1.8% Dhanuk, 1.7% Nuniya, 1.7% Tamang, 1.6% Musahar, 1.6% Newar, 1.6% Sonar, 1.5% Bin, 1.4% Dhobi, 1.4% Hajam/Thakur, 1.4% Kathabaniyan, 1.3% Lohar, 1.3% Tatma/Tatwa, 1.2% other Terai, 1.0% Terai Brahmin, 1.0% Kayastha, 0.9% Marwadi, 0.8% Sanyasi/Dasnami, 0.7% Rajput, 0.6% Kewat, 0.6% Kumal, 0.6% Kumhar, 0.6% Magar, 0.4% Yakkha, 0.3% Dhunia, 0.3% Jhangad/Dhagar, 0.3% Kami, 0.2% Bengali, 0.2% Damai/Dholi, 0.2% Dom, 0.2% Halkhor, 0.2% Kahar, 0.2% Mali, 0.2% Rai, 0.1% Badhaee, 0.1% Gaderi/Bhedihar, 0.1% Gurung, 0.1% Halwai, 0.1% Majhi, 0.1% Natuwa, 0.1% Rajbhar, 0.1% Sarki, 0.1% Thakuri and 0.1% others. Religion: 83.1% were Hindu, 14.5% Muslim, 1.7% Buddhist, 0.4% Kirati, 0.1% Christian and 0.1% others. Literacy: 55.7% could read and write, 2.9% could only read and 41.3% could neither read nor write.

Notable people

Administration

VDC/s and Municipalities (blue) in Parsa District The district consists of one metropolitan city, three urban municipalities and ten rural municipalities. These are as follows:

Former Village Development Committees (VDCs) and municipalities