Itahari, Koshi Province, Nepal

🇳🇵 Itahari (ईटहरी) is a sub-metropolitan city in the Sunsari District of Koshi Province of Nepal. Itahari City has grown as an important business hub of eastern Nepal. It is the second most populous city in Eastern Nepal after Biratnagar. Situated at a distance of 25 km north of the provincial capital of Biratnagar, 16 km south of Dharan and 92 km west of Kakarbhitta, Itahari serves as a junction point of the east-west Mahendra Highway and the north–south Koshi Highway. It is one of the fastest-growing cities in Eastern Nepal. It is one of the cities of the Greater Birat Development Area which incorporates the cities of Biratnagar-Itahari-Gothgau-Biratchowk-Dharan primarily located on the Koshi Highway in Eastern Nepal.

According to the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development, Itahari has an area of 93.78 square km (36.21 sq mi). The town is divided into a total of 20 wards. The municipality was established in 1997 and became a sub-metro in 2014 after merging the VDCs of Khanar, Ekamba, Pakali and Hansposa.

Transport Itahari is a fast-growing town in eastern Nepal.It is situated in a fertile plain. Located at the main transportation junction in eastern Nepal, the town is gaining importance as a traffic hub. Being at the junction of the Mahendra Highway and the Koshi Highway, the town is of emerging importance. Itahari is 30 km (19 mi) at distance from Jogbani, India by road which connects Itahari to Kolkata seaport by road and rail both means of transportation.

Biratnagar Airport is the nearest airport which is situated at 23 km distance from Itahari. Itahari is the junction of eastern development region.

Education • Itahari International College • Sushma Godawari College • Itahari Namuna College • Green Peace Lincoln College • Koshi St.James Secondary School and College • Vishwa Adarsha Secondary School and College • Kasturi Academy • Shri Janta Secondary School and College • Garden Academy • Rastriya Janasahayog College • Shree Janasahayog Higher Secondary School.

Demographics Hinduism

  80%; Kirat

  7%; Buddhism

  5%; Islam

  3%; Others   6%.

Languages At the time of the 2011 Census of Nepal, 52% of the population in the City spoke Nepali, 19% Tharu, 8% Maithili, 3% Rai, 2% Urdu, 2% Limbu, and 13% spoke other languages as their first language.

Ethnic groups   Tharu (19%);   Hill Brahman (17%);   Chhetri (17%);   Rai (8%);   Newar (4%);   Muslim (3%);   others (32%).

The largest ethnic group is Tharu, who makes 19% of the population, Hill Brahman and Chhetri comes to second and third with 17% each. Other groups in itahari includes the Rai (8%), Newar (4%), Muslim (3%) and others various ethnic groups makes(31%) of the population.