# Saptari District

Saptari (Nepali: सप्तरी जिल्लाListen), is Located in the easternmost part of Madhesh Province, is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal. Its district headquarter is Rajbiraj. Saptari is an Outer Terai district. This district covers an area of 1,363 km$^2$ (526 sq mi) and has a population (2022) of 706,255 which makes it the 14th most populated district of Nepal. Saptari is renowned for its agricultural output, and is bordered on the east by the massive Sapta Koshi river, on the west by the Balan River separating Siraha district, on the north by Udayapur and on the south by Supaul and Madhubani districts of Bharat Vihar.
Saptari district is located in 68m above sea level at an altitude of 457 meters, it extends to 26.22 minutes north latitude and 86.45 minutes east longitude. The east-west length of the district covers 63% of the plains of the Terai and 37% of the chure region and the north-south width is an average of 23 km.
Map
There are nine municipalities in Saptari: Dakneshwori, Rajbiraj, Bodebarsain, Hanumannagar Kankalini, Kanchanrup, Saptakoshi, surunga, Shambhunath and Khadak. Other small towns include Mahuli, Kathauna Fattepur, Pato and Itahari Bishnupur with the area government "Machha Palan Kendra" fish farming centre.
The famous Chhinnamasta temple is one of the Shakti Peeths and Kankalini Temple are also located in Saptari District. Saptari has highest growth in Maithili literature.

## Temples
### Chinnamasta Bhagawati

Chinnamasta Bhagawati (छिन्नमस्ता भगवती) is a temple of Eastern Nepal. It is situated in Chinnamasta VDC, Saptari, 10 km (6.2 mi) from Rajbiraj and also near to Indian Border. It is a main attraction for Indian pilgrims. People are likely to come here in Bada Dashain. Some thousands of goats are sacrificed here during dashain.

### Shambhunath

Shambhunath (शम्भुनाथ) is another one of the famous temples of Eastern Nepal. It is situated in Shambhunath, 12 km (7.5 mi) from Rajbiraj and also near Mahendra Highway. This temple is a main attraction for Indian pilgrims. People are likely to come here in Siruwa Mela during month of Baisakh (the first month of Bikram Sambat).

### Kankalini Temple

Kankalini Temple (कंकालिनी) is another temple situated in this district; it is located in Bhardah-1 of Hanumannagar Kankalini Municipality. This temple is main attraction for Indian pilgrims. Kankalini Temple has great religious importance. Like most of the other Shakti Peethas in Nepal, this temple, too, has a legend attached to it. According to the legend, the people settled in Bhardaha village had started to use the land for farming, however, while digging, some farmers had found a stone statue carved beautifully with the image of Goddess Durga and in that very place, this temple is said to have been built. It is believed that when a devotee worships with great devotion and true heart in the temple, their wish comes true. So, thousands of peoples from many part of the country come to this temple to worship the avatar of Goddess Durga, known famously as goddess Kankalini.

## Geography and climate

| Climate Zone | Elevation Range | % of Area |
| Lower Tropical | below 300 m (980 ft) | 94.7% |
| Upper Tropical | 300 to 1,000 m (980 to 3,280 ft) | 2.3% |

## Education

* Mahendra Bindeshwari Multiple Campus- TU Affiliated Public Campus located in Rajbiraj offering LLB, BBS, BA, MBS, M.Ed.
* National People College- TU Affiliated Private College established in 2013 AD Offers Masters and Bachelors level of Programs in Management and Humanities Faculties. It is the 1st Private College of Saptari District Offering the Subjects of Study like MA-SOCIOLOGY, MBS, BA-RD and SOCIOLOGY. The college is Ultramodern and is Located in Kanchanrup Munacipality.
HSEB affiliated +2 colleges are:
* Happyland HSS and college
* Laligurans EBHSS or Paradise Campus
* Caliber International College
* Mission College
* Kshitiz Edu. Foundation
* Chinnamasta College
* Annapurna Multiple College, Kanchanpur Beriyar, Saptari - just the east of UTL Tower
* Rajbiraj Model Campus

## Demographics

At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, Saptari District had a population of 639,284.
As their first language, 79.2% spoke Maithili, 10.4% Tharu, 4.0% Nepali, 3.8% Urdu, 0.2% Magar, 0.2% Rai, 0.2% Sunuwar, 0.2% Tamang, 0.1% Bhojpuri, 0.1% Bhujel, 0.1% Danuwar, 0.1% Ghale, 0.1% Hindi, 0.1% Limbu, 0.1% Magahi, 0.1% Newar, 0.1% Rajasthani and 0.1% other languages.
Ethnicity/caste: 15.8% were Yadav, 11.5% Tharu, 8.9% Musalman, 7.3% Teli, 6.5% Dhanuk, 6.1% Musahar, 5.9% Khatwe, 4.3% Chamar/Harijan/Ram, 2.3% Kathabaniyan, 2.2% Bantar/Sardar, 2.1% Mallaha, 2.0% other Terai, 1.9% Rajdhov, 1.8% Halwai, 1.7% Dusadh/Paswan/Pasi, 1.5% Hajam/Thakur, 1.5% Tatma/Tatwa, 1.4% Terai Brahmin, 1.4% Chhetri, 1.3% Hill Brahmin, 1.0% Koiri/Kushwaha, 0.9% Dhobi, 0.9% Kumhar, 0.8% Kalwar, 0.8% Kami, 0.6% Baraee, 0.6% Magar, 0.6% Rajput, 0.4% Newar, 0.3% Badhaee, 0.3% Dom, 0.3% Kayastha, 0.3% Kewat, 0.3% Rai, 0.3% Sonar, 0.3% Sudhi, 0.2% Bengali, 0.2% Damai/Dholi, 0.2% Danuwar, 0.2% Dev, 0.2% Gaderi/Bhedihar, 0.2% Kumal, 0.2% Mali, 0.2% Nuniya, 0.2% Rajbhar, 0.2% Sunuwar, 0.2% Tamang, 0.1% Amat, 0.1% Ghale, 0.1% Gharti/Bhujel, 0.1% Kurmi, 0.1% Limbu, 0.1% Lohar, 0.1% Marwadi, 0.1% Punjabi/Sikh, 0.1% Sanyasi/Dasnami, 0.1% Sarki and 0.4% others.
Religion: 85.7% were Hindu, 8.9% Muslim, 4.7% Buddhist, 0.1% Kirati and 0.5% others.
Literacy: 54.4% could read and write, 3.0% could only read and 42.5% could neither read nor write.

## Administration

The district consists of eighteen municipalities, out of which nine are urban municipalities and nine are rural municipalities. These are as follows:
* Bodebarsain Municipality
* Dakneshwori Municipality
* Hanumannagar Kankalini Municipality
* Kanchanrup Municipality
* Khadak Municipality
* Sambhunath Municipality
* Saptakoshi Municipality
* Surunga Municipality
* Rajbiraj Municipality
* Agnisaira Krishnasavaran Rural Municipality
* Balan-Bihul Rural Municipality
* Rajgadh Rural Municipality
* Bishnupur Rural Municipality
* Chhinnamasta Rural Municipality
* Mahadeva Rural Municipality
* Rupani Rural Municipality
* Tilathi Koiladi Rural Municipality
* Tirhut Rural Municipality

### Former Village Development Committees (VDCs) and Municipalities

* Arnaha
* Aurahi, now Dakneshwori Municipality ward No. 6
* Babhangama katti
* Badgama, Vagni maleth
* Bainiya
* Bairawa, now Kanchanrup Municipality ward no. 1
* Bakdhauwa
* Banarjhula
* Banaula, now Dakneshwori Municipality ward No. 10
* Banauli
* Baramjhiya, now Kanchan Rup Mun.
* Barhmapur
* Barsain
* Basbiti
* Bathnaha
* Belhi now Khadk Mun ward No 2
* Belhi Chapena
* Bhagawatpur
* Bhardaha, now Hanumannagar Kankalini Mun.
* Bhutahi, now Dakneshwori Municipality ward No. 4
* Birpur Barahi
* Bishariya-Bhelhi
* Bodebarsain Municipality
* Boriya
* Brahamapur, now Dakneshwori Municipality ward No. 7
* Chhinnamasta
* Dakneshwori Municipality
* Dauda
* Daulatpur, Now surunga Mun Wada No 3
* Deuri
* Deurimaruwa
* Dhanagadi
* Babhangam katti
* Dharampur, now Kanchan Rup Mun.
* Dhodhanpur, now Kanchan Rup Mun.
* Didhawa
* Diman
* Gamhariya Parwaha
* Gobargada, now Hanumannagar Kankalini Mun.
* Goithi
* Hanumannagar, now Municipality
* Hanumannagar Kankalini Municipality
* Hardiya Now surunga Mun Wada No 2
* Hariharpur
* Haripur Now surunga Mun wada No 7
* Inarwa, now Hanumannagar Kankalini Mun.
* Inarwa Phulbariya
* Itahari Bishnupur
* Jagatpur, now Kanchan Rup Mun.
* Jamuni Madhapura
* Jandaul
* Jhutaki
* Joginiya-1, now Hanumannagar Kankalini Mun.
* Joginiya-2, now Hanumannagar Kankalini Mun.
* Kabilasha, now Dakneshwori Municipality ward No. 1
* Kachan
* Kanchan Rup Municipality
* Kalyanpur Khadk Mun 6, 7, 8
* Kamalpur, now Saptaskoshi Mun.
* Kanchanpur
* Kataiya, Now Rupani Gaunpalika
* Kathauna
* Khadgapur, included in Bodebarsain Mun.
* Khojpur Now Khadk Mun 5
* Ko. Madhepura
* Kochabakhari
* Koiladi
* Kushaha
* Lalapati
* Launiya
* Lohajara
* Madhawapur, now Hanumannagar Kankalini Mun.
* Madhupati now surunga mun Wada no 4
* Mahadeva
* Maina Kaderi
* Maina Sahasrabahu
* Malekpur
* Maleth
* Malhanama
* Malhaniya, now Hanumannagar Kankalini Mun.
* Manraja, included in Bodebarsain Mun.
* Mauwaha
* Mohanpur
* Nargho
* Negada
* Odraha
* Pakari
* Pansera
* Jandaul
* Parasbani
* Paterwa
* Pato, now Dakneshwori Municipality ward No. 5
* Patthargada, now Dakneshwori Municipality ward No. 9
* Phakira
* Pharseth
* Phattepur, now Saptakoshi Mun.
* Phulkahi
* (Parwaha)
* Pipra (Purba), now Kanchan Rup Mun.
* Pipra (West) surunga mun wada No 1
* Portaha, now Hanumannagar Kankalini Mun.
* Rajbiraj Municipality
* Rajgadh Rural Municipality
* Ramnagar
* Rampur Jamuwa
* Rampur Malhaniya, now Hanumannagar Kankalini Mun.
* Rautahat
* Rayapur
* Rupnagar, now Kanchan Rup Mun.
* Shambhunath Municipality
* Sankarpura
* Saptakoshi Municipality
* Sarashwar
* Simraha Sigiyaun
* Siswa Beihi now khadak Mun Wada No 1,2
* Sitapur
* Tarahi, now Dakneshwori Municipality ward No. 3
* Terahota
* Theliya, now Kancha
* Tilathi
* Trikola
* Kankatta now Bishnupur Rular Municipality Wada no.4
* Hatti Now Chhinnamasta Rular Municipality Wada no. 7

## Notable persons

* Mehboob Alam, cricketer who was the first bowler to take all ten wickets in an innings in an ICC recognized international tournament match.
* Teju Lal Chaudhary, Nepali Congress politician and member of House of Representatives
* Parmanand Jha, first Vice President of Nepal and ex Supreme Court Judge
* Udit Narayan : Famous Bollywood and Nepali singer from Bhardaha, Saptari
* C. K. Raut, politician, computer scientist and founder of Janamat Party
* Gajendra Narayan Singh, founder of Nepal Sadbhawana Party
* Ram Raja Prasad Singh, politician
* Satish Kumar Singh, politician, the current Chief Minister of Madhesh Pradesh