Kamalamai (former name: Sindhulimadi; ) is a municipality in Sindhuli District, in the Bagmati Province of central south Nepal. At the time of the 2011 Nepal census it had a population of 39,413 people in 9,304 households. The city is located in the Sindhuli Valley of central south Nepal. The historic symbol of the valley, Sindhuli Gadhi fort, is at the peak of a hill of the Mahabharata range. The city is in the plain valley made by the Kamla River. Kamalamai Municipality is the largest municipality of Nepal according to area.
History
The occupation of the Kuti Pass in about 1756 stopped the valley's trade with Tibet. Finally, King Prithvi Narayan Shah entered the valley after the victory of Kirtipur. King Jaya Prakash Malla of Kathmandu sought help from the British and so the East India Company sent a contingent of soldiers under Captain Kinloch in 1767. The British force was defeated at Sindhuli by Prithvi Narayan Shah's army. It was the first time a British force was defeated in Asia. The British soldiers were completely taken aback by the geography of the place. They were equipped with modern arms and ammunition like guns and cannons but the Gorkha army was brave and they had a better understanding of the terrain. The place where the army of the British Empire was defeated has widely gained popularity. It is called "Sindhuli Gadhi" and is of great historic significance to Nepal.
Demographics
At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, Kamalamai Municipality had a population of 66,391. Of these, 65.4% spoke Nepali, 20.3% Tamang, 4.8% Magar, 2.8% Newar, 2.0% Danwar, 1.7% Maithili, 0.9% Vayu, 0.7% Majhi, 0.7% Sunwar, 0.1% Bhojpuri, 0.1% Gurung, 0.1% Rai, 0.1% Thangmi and 0.1% other languages.
In terms of ethnicity/caste, 21.9% were Tamang, 19.9% Chhetri, 11.5% Magar, 10.3% Newar, 10.1% Hill Brahmin, 4.7% Kami, 3.8% Sarki, 3.5% Majhi, 3.2% Damai/Dholi, 2.2% Gharti/Bhujel, 2.1% Danuwar, 1.4% Hayu, 1.1% Sunuwar, 0.8% Sanyasi/Dasnami, 0.5% Thakuri, 0.3% Bhote, 0.3% Kalwar, 0.3% Rai, 0.2% Gurung, 0.2% Kathabaniyan, 0.2% Sonar, 0.2% Sudhi, 0.1% Hajjam/Thakur, 0.1% Halwai, 0.1% Kanu, 0.1% Kayastha, 0.1% Musalman, 0.1% Pahari, 0.1% Teli, 0.1% Thami, 0.1% Tharu and 0.2% others.
In terms of religion, 73.8% were Hindu, 22.0% Buddhist, 1.9% Christian, 1.6% Prakriti, 0.1% Muslim, 0.1% Kirati and 0.5% others.
In terms of literacy, 68.5% could read and write, 2.0% could only read and 29.5% could neither read nor write.
Crop production
Rice and maize are the major crops in this area.
Temples
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
Towns
East
Shikhartole
Madhi Bazaar
Ratamata
Krishna Nagar, Panityanki
Kailash Nagar
2 no. Bazar
Gayari Bazar
Laxman chowk
Majhitar
Gadauli
Jasedamar
West
Dhakal Gaun
Gayatar
Milanchock
Rammadhi
North
Dhungrebaas (ढुङ्रेबास) Chiyabari Sindhuli Gadhi
South
Madhutar
Dhurabazaar (धुराबजार) Bhiman bazaar
Education
Kamalamai municipality has a good facility of education up to SLC levels. 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.
Higher education
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.) BBA, BBS and Diploma Courses of CTEVT and Pharmacy.