Bhojpur district, a part of Koshi Zone, is one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal, a landlocked country in South Asia. The district, with Bhojpur as its district headquarters, covers an area of 1,507 km² and has a population (2001) of 203,018. Traditionally, the inhabitants of this area have been the indigenous Rai ethnic group; the Newar ethnic group being the main people in the Bhojpur town. Bhojpur forms part of Majh Kirat/Kirant (Middle Kirat), Sakewa is the major festival of Rai. It is one of the richest districts in Nepal in biodiversity.
In the northern part of this district lies the beautiful minor city of Dingla. Various hills, castes, Brahmin, Kshetriya, and ethnic groups like Rai, Sherpa, Tamang, Gurung, Newar, Magar, etc live within this beautiful area. This is the place where Rudraksha trees are grown naturally in the forest and individually on people’s land. The religious leader, women’s rights activist and poet Yogmaya Neupane, was born in 1860 in Dingla.
Champe is the other small town where people from surrounding villages come and sell their products. This happens every week, which called Hatiya.
Balankha (Walangkha) is one of the growing towns in the southwest area of Bhojpur. Another town Ghoretar, southeast of Bhojpur, has been a centre point of trade, education, and administration for a long time. It is famous as Hatuwa Gadi “a powerful Fort of Kirat king Sunahang” in Kirat history. As Kirant communities started living in this area 2000 years ago, still there is a majority of Kirant community living here. The Majh Kirant is the origin of the Kirant civilization and culture.
Salpa Pokhari is the largest lake in the district, at Dobhane VDC of northern Bhojpur, whereas Panchakanya, Hashapokhari, Chyangre Pokhari are major ponds here. Likewise, the waterfall of Chirkhuwa River is the largest waterfall in the district. The tourist attractions of the district are Siddhakali Temple, Taksar Bazaar, Temke hill, Selme, Suntale hills, Dingla, Maiyung hill, Silichang, Hatuwagadhi (fort) and Salpa Pokhari, Nagchhanga, Hash Pokhari, Bhuwan Pokhari, Maluwa Pokhari, Jor Pokhari, Hadi Pokhari etc. When King Mahendra visited Bhojpur, he established the factory of coin money. The Karuwa (spout) water jar and Khukuri (famous Gurkha knife) made here have not only earned national but also international fame.
The Balaguru Shadananda of Dingla in Bhojpur established a Sanskrit Pathshala (school) in Dingla in 1932 BS, which is the first school in the country established at the people’s level in Nepalese history. Presently, the school has been running with the name “Shadananda Higher Secondary School”. Likewise, Vidyeswor Sanskrit Pathshala was established in Gogane of Bhojpur in 1998 BS, and such schools were established in Taksar, Falikot and other places, whereas the Jyotideep Education Centre of Batase, Siktel, and Katunje had also earned fame.
Balankha borders with the neighbouring Khotang district’s Bopung village. Balankha is slowly emerging as another hub of education, communication, health, and trade. The most distinctive thing about Balankha is its famous Chhongkha Sakenwa celebration. It is the Kirat Rai festival when Rais go to ‘Chandi (Sakewa) Then’ at Dammarkhu village of Khotang (across the river Buwa Khola), pray for a good harvest and rain. Then they flock back to the open space of Chandi Bazar to dance and celebrate with great joy.
In Bhojpur one of the largest VDC is Dovane and then Timma. Recently announced dignitary Mr Durja Kumar Rai, IGP also from Bhojpur, he is an inhabitant of VDC Nagi Kattike 4. It lies under the lap of Temke Dada. Temke is situated on the border of Khotang and Bhojpur district. Its height is nearly 3200m, from this Temke peak, we can see the panoramic view of the Himalayan range and also the sun rising scene. In this Temke seasonal festival has been starting twice a year. Its natural beauty really entices those visitors who visit here.
Born from Bhojpur District:
Activists from Bhojpur: Yogmaya Neupane, Bala Guru Shadananda, Ram Prasad Rai, Ratna Kumar Bantawa, Naradmani Thulung, etc
Reel & Singer: Ganesh Rasik, Dayahang Rai,
Administrator: Ram kaji Bantawa, Durja Kumar Rai,
Poet: Bulu Mukarung, Shrawan Mukarung, Rajan Mukarung,
Note: please! If you know the name of successful persons born in Bhojpur, drop in a comment box with a brief.
Itinerary Outline:
01:- Kathmandu to Dharan then Bhojpur by Bus
02:- Kathmandu to Bhojpur – flight
