Nepalgunj
Nepalgunj (), also spelled Nepalganj, is a Sub-Metropolitan City in Banke District, Nepal. It lies on the Terai plains near the southern border with Bahraich district in Uttar Pradesh, India. Nepalgunj is 153 kilometers south-west of Ghorahi and 16 km south of Kohalpur. Former Village Development Committee: Udayapur, Bhawaniyapur, Piprahawa, Jaispur, Paraspur, Indrapur, Khaskarkado, Bashudevpur, Manikapur and Puraina were added to territory in order to make it Sub metropolitan city on 2071 Paush 28 and later Puraini was also added in list on 2072 Paush 21. Further, while restructuring of local levels nationwide, ward no. 23 (former Indrapur  VDC) was taken out to Janaki Rural Municipality and ward no. 7 of Hirminiya VDC was added to Nepalgunj. Demographics. The 2011 census counted 73,779 inhabitants with 20% growth since 2001. Currently it is estimated around 1,60,000 inhabitants in Nepalgunj city. Culture and religion. Nepalgunj has a diverse culture with people from different faiths living within mixed communities. Hinduism and Buddhism are two major religions in the city, with Hindus comprising the larger percentage of the population. The city also has followers of other religions like Islam, Sikhism and Christianity. People of different ethnicity are known to have traditionally lived  together, without any significant conflicts. However, recent conflict occurred in December 2006 between the Pahari people and the Madhesi people, following immediately after the 2006 democracy movement in Nepal. The conflict resulted in the death of at least one person, while dozens of others were injured. Transport. Nepalgunj Airport is located 6 km north of the city centre. The airport was officially named Mahendra Airport after the late King Mahendra, but it is commonly referred to as Ranjha Airport. It operated flights to Kathmandu and to airports in less-developed western districts such as Dolpa, Jumla, Mugu and Rukum. Nepalgunj  airport is undergoing major redevelopment, and by 2025 its capacity will be increased and will have world-class facilities inside the airport for the customers. Nepalgunj to Kohalpur highway has been widened to four lanes and it is considered to be one of the best in the country. This has made journey to Kolhapur and easy access for commuters and visitors. Nepalgunj has bus and mini-bus services. The country's longest highway, Mahendra Highway, runs through the town of Kohalpur, 10 kilometers from Nepalgunj city center. An Indian Railways line reaches Rupaidiha across the border. It involves train changes  at Gonda, Bahraich and Nanpara. For travellers coming in from India it is also possible to take an express train to Lucknow and from there a direct bus to Rupaidiha. Indian and Nepalese nationals may cross the border without restrictions; however, there is a customs checkpoint for goods and third country nationals. Infrastructure. Schools. Nepalgunj has several boarding and government-run schools. Mahendra Multiple Campus is the largest public higher-level institution in the district, and is affiliated to Tribhuvan University. Climate. Nepalgunj has a sub-tropical climate. Temperatures sometimes exceed from April to June. During the rainy season—arriving  in June and lasting into September—it is less hot but sometimes very humid. Winter is usually pleasant while the sun is out. It sometimes is foggy and overcast; then it can be chilly with temperatures below but no frost. The highest temperature ever recorded in Nepalgunj was on 16 June 1995, while the lowest temperature ever recorded was on 9 January 2013. Hotels. With the boost in the tourism industry after the change in political scenario of Nepal in the 1950s, the hotel and restaurant industries in Nepalgunj have experienced significant growth. Some hotels of the city feature in  the atmospheric travel memoir "A Glimpse of Eternal Snows" by Jane Wilson-Howarth. Sports. Cricket and association football are the two most popular sports in Nepalgunj. Most of the city's big sports tournaments are held in the city's football stadium and gymnasium. , an international cricket stadium is under construction in Kohalpur. Media. Two cinema halls, Laxmi hall and QFX Bageshwori, can be found in Nepalgunj. The city also has several community radio stations: Fashion Industry. Although Nepalgunj is mainly known for its trade links with India, nevertheless it is rich in art and cultural heritage. As a place  transitions from being rural to urban in characteristics, there is a change in the cultural tastes. With the advent of new-age technology, traditional theatres of days-goneby have given way to modern multiplexes. Twentieth century has witnessed the advent of beauty pageants. And Nepal is no exception to the changes happening at the global level. Miss Nepal Beauty Pageant, an annual beauty contest for women in Nepal has been organized in Nepal since 1994. Miss Ruby Rana from Birgunj was the first titleholder. Notable participants from Nepalgunj like Miss Nisha Mishra have been runner ups and been very close  to winning the contest. As the economy of the city is growing, the people's aspirations are continuously growing and greater participation of people is expected in upcoming days.