Temple, monastery or heritage site · 70 m
Chhinnamasta Bhagawati Temple
An important goddess temple in southern Saptari, dedicated to Chhinnamasta and known locally as Sakhada Bhagawati.
Madhesh Provinceसप्तरी
Saptari District
An eastern Terai district on the Koshi River, known for Koshi Tappu's wetlands, the Koshi Barrage and the planned town of Rajbiraj.
- Province
- Madhesh
- Headquarters
- Rajbiraj
- Area
- about 1,286 km²
- Places on Firfirey
- 3
About Saptari
Saptari is the easternmost district of Madhesh Province. The Koshi River forms its eastern boundary with Sunsari, Siraha lies to the west, Udayapur to the north and Bihar in India to the south. The land is almost entirely flat Terai, with the low Chure hills along the northern edge. The broad floodplain of the Koshi shapes much of the eastern part of the district.
Maithili is the main language, alongside Tharu and other communities, and Mithila customs are strong. Rice and other crops are grown across the plains, and fishing matters near the river. Travellers come mainly for Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, one of the best birdwatching areas in Nepal, and for temples such as Chhinnamasta. Rajbiraj, the headquarters, is known for its grid-planned streets.
Places in Saptari
Temple, monastery or heritage site · 75 m
Kankalini Temple
A popular goddess temple near Bhardaha in eastern Saptari, crowded with pilgrims during Dashain.
Town or village · 75 m
Rajbiraj
The headquarters of Saptari district, a planned Terai town laid out on a grid around the Rajdevi temple.
Getting there
The East-West Highway crosses the district, and buses from Kathmandu take most of a day, often via the BP Highway. Rajbiraj lies south of the highway by road. The most reliable airport nearby is Biratnagar, across the Koshi in Morang, while Rajbiraj's own airstrip has had only irregular services.
Best time to visit
October to March is best, and winter is the prime season for migratory birds at Koshi Tappu; the months before the monsoon are hot and the monsoon brings high water on the Koshi and widespread flooding.
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.