Town or village · 85 m
Birgunj
Nepal's main trade gateway with India, a busy border city opposite Raxaul and a base for Parsa National Park.
Madhesh Provinceपर्सा
Parsa District
Nepal's main trade gateway with India, centred on Birgunj, with the forests of Parsa National Park to the north.
- Province
- Madhesh
- Headquarters
- Birgunj
- Area
- about 1,412 km²
- Places on Firfirey
- 3
About Parsa
Parsa occupies the western end of Madhesh Province, with Chitwan and Makwanpur to the north and west, Bara to the east and Bihar in India to the south. The south is flat, densely farmed Terai around Birgunj, while the north rises into the Chure hills. Much of that northern belt is protected as Parsa National Park, which adjoins Chitwan National Park.
Birgunj, the headquarters, faces Raxaul across the border and handles a large share of Nepal's trade with India, through its customs point and the dry port at Sirsiya. Bhojpuri is the main local language, with a mixed population drawn from across Nepal. Most travellers pass through for the border crossing, but the national park offers quieter wildlife country than neighbouring Chitwan.
Places in Parsa
Temple, monastery or heritage site · 85 m
Gahawa Mai Temple
Birgunj's best-known goddess temple, crowded with worshippers during Dashain and other festivals.
National park or conservation area
Parsa National Park
Sal forest and Chure hills east of Chitwan, protecting elephants, tigers and gaur in a much quieter setting.
Getting there
Birgunj is linked to Kathmandu by road via Hetauda, usually a long day's drive, and buses connect it with most Terai cities along the East-West Highway via Pathlaiya. The nearest airport is Simara in neighbouring Bara, a short drive north of Birgunj, with regular flights from Kathmandu. Overland travellers from India cross at Raxaul.
Best time to visit
October to March is the best time, especially for the national park; midwinter brings fog and cold mornings, the months before the monsoon are very hot and the monsoon is wet and humid.
Editorial draft: the district overview is being checked. Headquarters and Nepali names: nepal-places dataset (MIT). Area and map position computed from the district boundaries of the Government of Nepal, Survey Department, via OCHA.