Mahottari District

Mahottari District, a part of Madhesh Province, is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal. The district, with Jaleshwar as its district headquarters, covers an area of and had a population of 553,481 in 2001, 627,580 in 2011 and 705,838 in 2021 census. Its headquarters is located in Jaleshwar, a neighbouring town of the historical city of Janakpur. The name Jaleshwar means the 'God in Water'. One can find a famous temple of Lord Shiva in Water there. Jaleshwar lies at a few kilometres distance from the Nepal-India border and has a majority Maithili population.
Geography and climate
Demographics
At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, Mahottari District had a population of 627,580.
As their first language, 81.0% spoke Maithili, 7.3% Urdu, 5.4% Nepali, 1.9% Magar, 1.4% Tamang, 1.1% Tharu, 0.9% Magahi, 0.2% Hindi, 0.2% Newar 0.1% Bhojpuri and 0.1% other languages.
Ethnicity/caste: 15.2% were Yadav, 13.4% Musalman, 6.5% Dhanuk, 5.8% Koiri/Kushwaha, 5.1% Terai Brahmin, 4.1% Teli, 3.7% Musahar, 3.6% Chamar/Harijan/Ram, 2.5% Khatwe, 2.4% Dusadh/Paswan/Pasi, 2.4% Sudhi, 2.3% Magar, 2.2% Nuniya, 1.8% Hill Brahmin, 1.6% Baraee, 1.6% Chhetri, 1.6% Tatma/Tatwa, 1.6% Tharu, 1.5% Bin, 1.5% Kalwar, 1.5% Tamang, 1.4% Mallaha, 1.3% Hajam/Thakur, 1.3% Sonar, 1.1% Kanu, 1.1% Kewat, 1.0% Dhobi, 0.9% Kurmi, 0.9% Lohar, 0.8% Halwai, 0.7% Kami, 0.7% Newar, 0.7% Rajput, 0.6% Dhunia, 0.6% Kumhar, 0.5% Kathabaniyan, 0.4% Bantar/Sardar, 0.4% Danuwar, 0.4% Kayastha, 0.4% other Terai, 0.3% Damai/Dholi, 0.3% Mali, 0.2% Badhaee, 0.2% Dom, 0.2% Gaderi/Bhedihar, 0.2% Gharti/Bhujel, 0.2% Kumal, 0.2% Sanyasi/Dasnami, 0.1% Amat, 0.1% Majhi, 0.1% Punjabi/Sikh, 0.1% Rai, 0.1% Sarki, 0.1% Sunuwar, 0.1% Thakuri and 0.2% others.
Religion: 84.2% were Hindu, 13.3% Muslim, 2.0% Buddhist, 0.1% Christian and 0.2% others.
Literacy: 46.2% could read and write, 2.5% could only read and 50.9% could neither read nor write.
Notable people
List ordered alphabetically
Bhadrakali Mishra- Nepali Congress leader of Minister of Nepal at various times
Giriraj Mani Pokharel-CPN (Maoist Centre) leader and former Minister for Education
Hari Shankar Mishra- Current governor of Madhesh Province, former Nepali Congress leader and Member of House of Representatives
Mahantha Thakur- Chairman of Democratic Socialist Party and former Minister for various ministries as NC leader
Mahendra Kumar Raya- Nepali Congress leader and former Minister of state for Industry, Commerce and Supplies under Bimalendra Nidhi
Maheshwar Prasad Singh- democracy icon and Nepali Congress leader
Ram Narayan Mishra- Nepali Congress leader and minister in first democratically elected government of BP Koirala
Sharat Singh Bhandari- former NC leader and senior leader of DSP, N. Also former Minister for Defence
Shivajee Yadav-Deputy chairman of People's Progressive Party and former member of constituent assembly
Administration
The district consists of ten urban municipalities and five rural municipalities. These are as follows:
Aurahi Municipality
Balawa Municipality
Bardibas Municipality
Bhangaha Municipality
Gaushala Municipality
Jaleshwor Municipality
Loharpatti Municipality
ManaraShiswa Municipality
Matihani Municipality
Ramgopalpur Municipality
Ekdara Rural Municipality
Mahottari Rural Municipality
Pipara Rural Municipality
Samsi Rural Municipality
Sonama Rural Municipality
Former Village Development Committees (VDCs) and Municipalities
The 2011 National Population and Housing Census by the government of Nepal identifies 77 municipalities and village development committees (VDC) within the Mahottari District.
Anakar
Aurahi
Bagada
Banchauri
Badiya
Bairgiya Laksminiya
Balawa
Banauli Donauli
Banauta
Bardibas Municipality
Basabitti
Bathnaha
Belgachhi
Bhangaha
Bharatpur
Bhatauliya
Bijayalpura
Bhramarpura
Damhi Marai
Dhamaura
Dharmapur
Dhirapur
Ekadarabela
Ekarahiya
Etaharwakatti
Gaidha Bhetpur
Gauribas
Gaushala Municipality
Gonarpura
Halkhori
Hariharpur Harinmari
Hathilet
Hatisarwa
Jaleshwar Municipality
Khairbanni
Khaya Mara
Khopi
Khuttapipradhi
Kisan Nagar
Kolhusa Bagaiya
Laksminiya
Loharpatti
Mahadaiyatapanpur
Mahottari
Maisthan
Majhaura Vishnupur
Manara
Matihani
Meghanath Gorhanna
Nainhi
Nigaul
Padaul
Parsa Pateli
Parsadewadh
Pashupatinagar
Phulahatta Parikauli
Phulakaha
Pigauna
Pipra
Pokharibhinda Samgrampur
Raghunathpur
Ramgopalpur
Ramnagar
Ratauli
Ratauli 9 Rahmanpur
Sahasaula
Sahorawa
Samdha
Sarpallo
Shamsi
Sripur
Simardahi
Singyahi
Sisawakataiya
Sonama
sonamai bhoil
Sonaum
Suga Bhawani
Sundarpur
Mangalnath, Magarthana
Districts of Nepal established during Rana regime or before
Districts of Madhesh Province