Kamalamai

Kamalamai (Nepali: कमलामाई) is a municipality in Sindhuli District, in the Bagmati Province of central south Nepal. At the time of the 2021 Nepal census it had a population of 71,016 people in 18,134 households.^[2] Sindhulimadhi is the main town of the municipality and serves as the headquarter of Sindhuli District. The municipality was established on 27 March 1997 (14 Chaitra 2053 B.S) and further expanded on 10 March 2017 (27 Falgun 2073 B.S.)

The municipality is named after Kamalamai Temple located on the bank of Kamala River. The historic Sindhuli Gadhi fort lies within the municipality on the Mahabharat Hills north of Sindhulimadhi.

Kamalamai Municipality was established on 27 March 1997 by merging existing Siddheshwar and Bhiman VDCs with Sindhulimadhi as its administrative center.

The municipality was further expanded on 10 March 2017 to include Dandiguranse, Bhadrakali, Jalkanya, Ranichuri and Ranibas VDCs.^[3]

The municipality primarily encompasses the areas of Inner Terai and Chure (Sivalik Hills) with some parts of the Mahabharat Hills (Lower Himalayan Range).^[3] It includes Sindhuli Valley, parts of Kamala River Plain and a small part of Marin River Plain.

Major rivers flowing through this municipality include Kamala, Gwang (Gaumati), Gadauli and Marin.

Kamalamai Municipality was initially divided into 18 wards in 1997. After the incorporation of 5 more VDCs in 2017, the municipality was reorganized into 14 wards.

At the time of the 2021 Nepal census, Kamalamai Municipality had a population of 71,016. Of these, 65.13% spoke Nepali, 20.23% Tamang, 4.59% Magar Dhut, 2.94% Newar, 2.23% Danwar, 1.95% Maithili, 0.76% Vayu (Hayu), 0.56% Sunwar, 0.52% Majhi, 0.31% Bhojpuri, 0.16% Bhujel, 0.13% Rai and 0.49% other languages.^[5]

In terms of ethnicity/caste, 22.78% were Tamang, 19.78% Chhetri, 11.44% Magar, 9.68% Newar, 8.80% Hill Brahmin, 5.20% Biswakarma, 3.79% Mijar, 3.39% Majhi, 3.30% Pariyar, 2.37% Danuwar, 2.16% Gharti/Bhujel, 1.41% Hayu, 1.14% Sunuwar, 0.64% Thakuri, 0.44% Sanyasi/Dasnami, 0.39% Terai Brahmin, 0.30% Rai, 0.24% Kalwar, 0.20% Sonar, 0.18% Sundi, 0.17% Gurung, 0.16% Yadav, 0.15% Hajam/Thakur, 0.15% Tharu, 0.15% Muslim, 0.14% Teli, 0.14 Thami, 0.12% Kamar, 0.10% Koiri/Kushwaha and 1.09% others.^[5]

In terms of religion, 74.79% were Hindu, 21.39% Buddhist, 2.61% Christian, 0.71% Kirati, 0.28% Prakriti, 0.21% Muslim and 0.01% Bon.^[5]

In terms of literacy, 77.83% were literate with male literacy at 85.20% and female at 71.03%.^[5]

Paddy (rice), maize and potato are the major crops in this area.

• Kamalamai (कमलामाई)
• Siddhababa (सिद्धबाबा)
• Rameshwar Dham (रामेश्वर धाम)
• Ganesh Than (गणेश थान)
• Maisthaan
• Kalimaithaan
• Rakta Mala
• Sibalaya
• Gayadevi
• Krishna Mandir
• Bakeshwor Mahadev
• Bhimsen Mandir
• Ganesh Mandir
• Bhadrakaali Mandir

• Shikhartole
• Madhi Bazaar
• Ratamata
• Krishna Nagar, Panityanki
• Kailash Nagar
• 2 no. Bazar
• Gayari Bazar
• Laxman chowk
• Majhitar
• Gadauli
• Jasedamar

• Dhakal Gaun
• Gayatar
• Milanchock

• Rammadhi
• Dhungrebaas (ढुङ्रेबास)
• Chiyabari
• Sindhuli Gadhi

• Madhutar
• Dhurabazaar (धुराबजार)
• Bhiman bazaar

Kamalamai municipality has a good facility of education up to SLC levels. Janata ,Suryodaya, Bhagwati, Siddhasthali, Swiss are one of the best boarding in Sindhuli district and Janakpur zone. The quality of +2 levels too is fine here. Many private colleges run +2 commerce affiliated to HSEB. However, the number of +2 science colleges are very few. Science college like Kamala Higher Secondary School is providing good practical based education to students of Sindhuli. This college has been serving as the central of excellence for all science students throughout Sindhuli valley. There are also colleges to teach technical educations. The technical subjects affiliated with CTEVT are also taught here.

• Scholars' Academy Boarding School, Bhiman
• Janata Secondary English Boarding School, Ratmata
• Kamala Academic Boarding School, Bhiman
• Shree Janajagriti Mavi Bidyalaya, Bhiman
• Bhagawati English Secondary School, 2 no. Bazaar
• Shining Moon Academy, Madhutar
• Sindhuli Vidhyashram English Boarding School, Dovantaar
• Sindhuli Pathshalaa, Dhungrebas
• Kamala Higher Secondary School, Dhungrebas
• Gaumati Model Secondary School, Majhitaar
• Shree Jana Jyoti Secondary School
• Barun Devi Secondary School
• Daurali Nimna Secondary School
• Shree Siddhabba Secondary School, Panityanki
• New English Secondary Boarding School, Milan Chowk
• Kalimati Nimna Secondary School
• Suryodaya English Secondary School, Ratmata
• Siddhababa English Boarding High School
• New Siddhasthali English Boarding School
• Swiss Sindhuli Secondary English Medium School
• Shree Navajyoti Deaf Lower Secondary School
• Shree Gyan Jyoti Aadarbhut Bidyalaya,Kauchhe
• Aadhunik English Boarding School, Panityanki

There are many colleges which facilitate higher education. There are a large number of colleges running courses with affiliation to universities of Nepal. Colleges like Sindhuli Multiple Campus fall under this category. Kamala Science Campus enables students to acquire Bachelor of Science courses (BSc.). There are also colleges for technical education were subjects affiliated with CTEVT are taught.

• Shree Janajagriti Ma Vi Bidyalaya, Bhiman
• Gaumati Model Secondary School
• Kamala Science Campus
• Siddha Jyoti Shaya Campus
• Sindhuli Multiple College
• Sindhuli Community Technical Institute, Sindhuli
• Shree Prabhat Ma Vi, Ranibas

The new section of B.P. Koirala Highway to Kamalamai from Kathmandu opened in 2011 and continues on to Bardibas, though most areas only allow one lane of traffic with hairpin turns. The rest of the route to Bardibas is even and therefore much less dangerous. An old road that connects Dharan through Inner Tarai is going to reopen for the easier movement through the Inner Tarai Valleys of Sindhuli and Udayapur of Western Region to Dharan of Eastern Nepal. Long-route buses run under the local authority in the headquarters which has bus routes to cities like Kathmandu, Janakpur, Biratnagar and Pokhara.

Local transportation consists of minibuses and minivans while most of the parts of Kamalamai are accessible to vehicles. Nowadays common transportation is auto rickshaws (electrical & Gas).

To promote local culture Kamalamai Municipality has three FM radio stations - Sindhuligadhi FM - 92 MHz, Radio Siddhababa - 98.4 MHz and Radio Sahara - 104.2 MHz.

The KM Club holds various events in colleges of Sindhuli.