Siraha District, 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 as its district headquarters, covers an area of 1,188 km2. It has population of 637,328 according to census of 2011.The District is bordered with Saptari district in the east, Udayapur districting the north, Bihar state of India in the south and Dhanusa district in the west. 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 so far one of the most developed towns of Siraha and is popular for Sagarmatha Chaudhary Eye Hospital. It lies in Mahendra highway. Thadi 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 town 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

Demographics

At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, Siraha District had a population of 637,328. As their first language, 85.9% spoke Maithili, 4.2% Nepali, 3.6% Urdu, 2.7% Tharu, 1.0% Tamang, 0.8% Magar 0.2% Danuwar, 0.2% Newar, 0.2% Sunuwar, 0.1% Hindi, 0.1% Rai, 0.1% Rajasthani, 0.1% Uranw/Urau and 0.1% other languages. Ethnicity/caste: 20.4% were Yadav, 7.5% Musalman, 6.3% Musahar, 6.0% Koiri/Kushwaha, 5.7% Chamar/Harijan/Ram, 4.8% Teli, 4.1% Tharu, 4.0% Goswami, 3.7% Dhanuk, 3.3% Dusadh/Paswan/Pasi, 2.7% Sudhi, 2.5% Mallaha, 2.2% Kewat, 2.2% Khatwe, 2.2% Tatma/Tatwa, 2.1% Halwai, 1.7% Danuwar, 1.4% Hajam/Thakur, 1.3% Baraee, 1.1% Magar, 1.1% Tamang, 1.1% other Terai, 1.0% Chhetri, 1.0% Kathabaniyan, 0.9% Hill Brahmin, 0.9% Dhobi, 0.7% Badhaee, 0.6% Kami, 0.6% Kurmi, 0.5% Terai Brahmin, 0.5% Kalwar, 0.5% Newar, 0.5% Sonar, 0.3% Bantar/Sardar, 0.3% Gaderi/Bhedihar, 0.3% Kayastha, 0.3% Kumhar, 0.3% Rai, 0.3% Rajput, 0.2% Bin, 0.2% Damai/Dholi, 0.2% Dom, 0.2% Jhangad/Dhagar, 0.2% Majhi, 0.2% Marwadi, 0.2% Sanyasi/Dasnami, 0.2% Sarki, 0.2% Sunuwar, 0.1% Bengali, 0.1% Gharti/Bhujel, 0.1% Halkhor, 0.1% Kumal, 0.1% Lohar, 0.1% Mali, 0.1% Punjabi/Sikh, 0.1% Thakuri and 0.2% others. Religion: 90.2% were Hindu, 7.5% Muslim, 1.7% Buddhist, 0.1% Christian, 0.1% Kirati, 0.1% Prakriti and 0.4% others. 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

Dr.Hemant Khatiwada, Lyricist, Writer, Psychotherapist

Education

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