# Banepa

Banepa (Nepali: बनेपा) is a municipality and historical town in a valley situated at about 1,500 m (4,900 ft) above sea level in central Nepal which is at about 25 kilometres (16 mi) east from Kathmandu. At the time of the 2021 Nepal census, it has a population of 67,690. The main attraction of Banepa is the temple of Chandeshwori, located approximately 1 km (0.62 mi) northeast of the town along the Rudramati River. The Dhaneshwor Temple is 1 kilometre south of the town. Banepa is also known for its eight different temples of Ganesh, Narayanthan (the temple of Narayan), Bhimshenthan (the temple of Bhimshen), and eight different ponds.

## History

Some of the ancient names of Banepa were Banepur, Baniyapur, Banipur. As it had trade relationship with Tibet from ancient period, Banepa is also known as "Bhont", "Bhonta", "Bhon dey (भोंदेय्)". Banepa is the combination of two words i.e. "Bane" means 'Business' and "Pa" means 'Place'. Therefore, "Banepa" means 'Place of Business'.
It is believed that when entire Kathmandu Valley was covered with lake, there was a settlement in Banepa.
By early Lichchavi period (5th-8th century), settlements existed at Sanga (Sangagrama), Banepa, Nala, Panauti, Khopasi, Palanchowk, Dumja and probably Dolakha, Lele (Lembatidrangga), Chitlang valley and even up to Gorkha. (Slusser, 1982).
Thakuri period (879 – 1200 A.D.) : Bhaktapur and Banepa was the core political area.
Malla Period (1200–1769 A.D.) : King Anandedeva Malla united the scattered villages and made modern Banepa surrounded by eight gates with a statue of Ganesh at each of the gates in eight different directions in Kaligat Year 4197 (around 1153 B.S.). He also built a temple of Chandeshwari Temple and arranged a trust fund for the goddess.
After having had the favours and directions of goddess Chandeshwori, King Anandadeva Malla founded seven villages:
* Banepa near Chandeshwori Pitha
* Shreekhandapur near Dhaneshwor
* Panauti near Prayaga Tirtha of Nepal
* Nala near Nala Bhagawati
* Dhulikhel near Narayana
* Chaukot near the resident of Chaukora Rishi
* Sanga, near Nasika Pitha.

## Old town

This old town is located at the central part of the city. It is surrounded by 8 ganesh temples with 8 adjacent ponds and Phalchaa (फल्चा). The name of the Ganesh temples are:
* Tukampwo (तुकम्प्वो) Ganesh at South (Temple of Tukampwo Ganesh was established first of all other Ganesh Temple by King Anandadeva Malla after forming new Kingdom of Banepa. It is also the major temple of Banepa.)
* Kobha (कोभः) Ganesh at Southeast
* Waku (वकु) Ganesh at East
* Thachhu (थाछु) Ganesh at North
* Kanthu (कांथु) Ganesh at Northeast
* Kwonla (क्वोंला) Ganesh at Southwest
* Talapukhu (तलाःपुखु) Ganesh at West
* Jyasanani (ज्यासःननी) Ganesh at Northwest
These Ganesh temples are said to be the boundaries of old Banepa. The main temple of Banepa city was Chandeswori Temple along the Rudramati River.
Along with this, King Ananda Dev Malla also built wells and taps for providing the people of Banepa with the good source of water. But many of those ponds have been used for public uses and some 'Phalchaa' do not have any existence today.

## Festivals

A lot of festivals are celebrated in Banepa as follows:
* Chandeshwori Jatra from Baisakh Purnima to next two days.
* Kanya Puja (worshipping of the young girls) during Gunla, Krishna Janmashtami
* Navadurga Jatra
* Tukampo Ganesh Jatra during Vijaya Dashami
* भीमसेन जात्रा Bhimsen Jatra
* Jaaludyo Jatra (जालुद्याे जात्रा) on the day of Ashwin Krishna Pratipada, the next day of Indra Jatra.
* Naradevi Shvetkali Naach (नरदेवी श्वेतकाली नाच, once in twelve years. It was re-continued after about after 38 years.
* Krishna Janmashtami

### Forgotten Festivals of Banepa

Above mentioned festivals are still in practice. But there were many other besides these which had been discontinued due to various reasons. Some of those festivals are listed as follows:
* Kumari Nritya (कुमारी नृत्य) had been discontinued about 108 years ago.
* Narayan and Bhimsen; Bokakhah Jatra(बाेकखः जात्रा) on Axaya Tritiya (अक्षयतृतीया), Karunamaya Jatra were also had been discontinued about 103 years ago. Many other festivals were also discontinued which were forgotten.

## Present situation

Punyamata River, which was the major source of drinking water, irrigation and many other activities, is being polluted day by day. The bank of Punyamata River has been a place where solid wastage has been disposed. The sewage has been connected directly to the river without any treatment and in an unmanaged way has adversely affected the river water. Waste materials produced from local industry have turned the river water black. The surrounding countryside is also being polluted.
Although Banepa is a small place of an area of 5.56 square kilometres (2.15 sq mi), it has got the population density of 4,454 per square kilometre (11,540/sq mi). Due to the connection of Banepa with other places through roadways, about 300 buses, minibuses, cars, trucks, motorcycles altogether are helping in the transportation in a day. Along with this, the gases emitted from those vehicles have polluted the environment of Banepa.
In the boundary of three municipalities of Kavrepalanchowk District, namely; Banepa, Dhulikhel and Panauti, the country's only IT Park is being constructed. All the three cities have been declared as the 'Cyber City'.

## Demographics

At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, Banepa Municipality had a population of 57,076. Of these, 57.0% spoke Nepali, 30.6% Newar, 9.6% Tamang, 0.6% Bhojpuri, 0.6% Maithili, 0.3% Hindi, 0.3% Magar, 0.2% Gurung, 0.2% Rai, 0.1% Limbu, 0.1% Tharu, and 0.1% other languages as their first language.
In terms of ethnicity/caste, 32.6% were Hill Brahmin, 24.8% Newar, 20.5% Chhetri, 10.0% Tamang, 2.2% Magar, 1.7% Sarki, 1.4% Gharti/Bhujel, 1.4% Kami, 1.1% Damai/Dholi, 0.7% Sanyasi/Dasnami, 0.5% Rai, 0.4% other Dalit, 0.4% Gurung, 0.3% other Terai, 0.2% Musalman, 0.2% Teli, 0.2% Thakuri, 0.2% Tharu, 0.1% Danuwar, 0.1% Kalwar, 0.1% Limbu, 0.1% Majhi, 0.1% Yadav and 0.1% others.
In terms of religion, 82.8% were Hindu, 13.8% Buddhist, 2.9% Christian, 0.2% Muslim, 0.1% Irreligion and 0.1% others.
In terms of literacy, 81.3% could read and write, 1.6% could only read and 17.0% could neither read nor write.

## Healthcare

Banepa has a Seventh-day Adventist hospital called Scheer Memorial Hospital, which was established in 1957. This hospital has been expanded as a medical college associated with Vanderbilt University in the US and Kathmandu University. Many students enroll in the B.Sc. Nursing programs at this hospital. Banepa is also the location of the Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children, Spinal Injury Rehabilitation Centre and Reiyukai Eiko Masunaga Eye Hospital.

## Transportation

Banepa is a major trade route to Tibet, with the Arniko Highway, the only highway that connects Nepal and China (Tibet), running through this town. Furthermore, BP Highway also passes through Banepa. Despite being a small town, Banepa is highly developed and serves as the major economic center east of Kathmandu.

## Media

To promote local culture, Banepa has two FM radio stations: Radio ABC, which is a Community Radio Station and Prime Fm. This area also has a Television Channel named as Araniko Television.

## Education

Banepa is home to several notable educational institutions and a teaching hospitals. The National Defence University is the only defence University in whole Nepal.
The Scheer Memorial Hospital offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. The town also houses the Nepal Banepa Polytechnic Institute (NBPI) and the Kavre Deaf School, which is a dedicated school for deaf students.
Banepa boasts two public multi-campus institutions affiliated with Tribhuvan University. Additionally, there are around 40 schools in the area, with 25 being privately owned and 15 being public schools. Some of the prestigious schools in Banepa include Banepa Valley School (now known as Baylor International Academy), and Vidhya Sagar Secondary School. The Nepal Police School in Sanga is particularly renowned for its educational standards.

## International relations and organizations
### Twin towns – sister cities

Banepa is twinned with:
* Shigatse, China

## Gallery

* Entrance Gate of Chandeshwori Temple
* Bhairab painting of Chandeswori temple, one of the major attraction of Banepa
* Narayanthan of Banepa, believed to be established during the reign of King Ranajit Malla
* Pond of Talapukhu Ganesh Temple
* Pond of Kobha Ganesh Temple
* Wood carved roof decoration on the Chandeshwari Temple.
* Malla king and queen doing Namaste (the ritual greeting) in front of the Chandeshwari Temple.
* Dhaneshwor Temple