Location
Jhapa is the easternmost district of Nepal and lies in the fertile Terai plains. It borders Ilam district in the north, Morang district in the west, the Indian state of Bihar in the south and east, and the Indian state of West Bengal in the east.
Administration
The district is divided into 46 Village Development Committees (VDCs) and three municipalities, namely Bhadrapur in the south, Mechinagar in the east and Damak in the west. Though Birtamod was recommended for municipality by GoN, People opposed and is back to VDC again i.e., Anarmani VDC.Its major centers are Chandragadhi, Bhadrapur, Birtamod, Kankarbhitta, Damak, Dhulabari, Budhabare, Surunga, Charali, Baniyani, Kechana, Patharia, Balubadi, Gherabari, Pathamari, Prithvinagar, Halddibari, Maharanijhora, Lakhanpur, Gauradaha, Topgachhi.
Village Development Committees (VDCs)
Demography
Much is not known about its early settlements. Scattered and few small villages used to be in the vast and dense forest area of Jhapa. In the 60's and early 70's landscape of Jhapa began to change forever as people from the hills came there to own and cultivate the land under the 'resettlement program'. Eradication of malaria helped change its old name and perception of 'kalapani' into an attractive and fertile place. Fertile land, beautiful landscape, proximity to Nepali speaking part of India, attracted many people there for settlement.No indigenous ethnicity are known to have settled there. Small number of Rajbansi population and some other even smaller in numbers were found to have lived there before the mass migration from various parts of the country and North-eastern part of India and Burma. Jhapa is home to many indigenous ethnic nationalities such as the Limbu, Rai, and Dhimal . Other ethnic groups such as Dhangad, Koche, Rajbanshi, Satar, Meche, Tamang, Uraon, Magar, Gurung, Gangain and many others came to Jhapa in the late 19th century, so did the Hill/mountain castes Bahun, Chhettri, and Newar.
Jhapa is diverse and rich in culture and traditions due to the influences of its different tribes. All the tribes/ethnic groups have their own languages, customs and traditions, and they celebrate their festivals every year.Climate and geography
Jhapa receives 250 to 300 cm of rainfall a year, and mostly during the monsoon season in the summer, and its hilly northern area receives more rainfall than the south. Its major rivers, like the Mechi River, Kankai Mai, Ratuwa, Biring, Deuniya,(Aduwa), (Bhuteni)(Dhangri), Hadiya, and Ninda,Krishne Khola, Gauriya, Ramchandre etc. provide water for irrigation. Due to its alluvial soil best suited for agriculture, Jhapa has been the largest producer of rice and is therefore known as the Grain Grocery of Nepal[citation needed]. Besides cereal crops like rice and wheat, it is also one of the largest producers of jute, tea, betel nut, rubber and other cash crops.
Jhapa also has vast areas of forests, such as Deonia, Charali, Charkose Jhaadi, Hadiya, Sukhani, Jalthal, and others. Its name itself is derived from the Rajbanshi word "jhapa" meaning "canopy", which suggests that the area was a dense forest in the past. It was once such a dense and dangerous forest that it was called Kaalapaani and prisoners were sent here to die of malaria and other diseases in the jungle.
Attractions and sites
Recently, Jhapa is gaining popularity in the medical field especially in eye treatment. Each day hundreds of patient from adjoining distract of Nepal and India visits Mechi Eye Hospital for eye treatment.
From : www.wikipedia.org
