Surunga facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Surunga सुरुंगा Kanakai
MUNICIPALITY
Surunga Location in Nepal
Country	Nepal
Province	Koshi province
District	Jhapa District
Population  (1991)
• Total	16,747
Time zone	UTC+5:45 (Nepal Time)
Area code(s)	23

Surunga is a busy town and a trade center in Jhapa District, Nepal. It's part of Kankai Municipality, located in the Jhapa District, which is in the Koshi Province of southeastern Nepal. Back in 1991, about 16,747 people lived here in nearly 3,000 homes. Today, Surunga is growing fast. It sits right by the Kankai River, which locals sometimes call Kankai Mai.

Where is Surunga?

Surunga shares its northern border mostly with Ilam District. To its west flows the Kankai River, with Shivasatakshi Municipality on the other side. To the east are Ghailadubba and Arjundhara villages. To the south, it's surrounded by Sharnamati and Dangibari villages.

The important East-West Highway runs through Surunga. This makes the town a key spot in the region. The town also has religious importance because it's on the Kankai River, home to the famous Koti Hom Religious Area.

The Story Behind the Name

The name Surunga comes from the word "Surung," which means "tunnel." It's believed that five brothers from the ancient Hindu story of Mahabharat, along with their mother Kunti, escaped from a palace through an underground tunnel and ended up in Surunga.

Who Lives in Surunga?

In 2001, the population was around 17,000 people. Now, it's estimated to be about 35,000. Many people have moved here from other villages in the eastern hills of Nepal and from different parts of India.

Surunga is home to many different groups of people. These include Bhramin, Chhetri, Satar, Kami, Damai, Newar, Bhujel, Tamang, Agrawal, Rajbanshi, Dhimal, Sarki, Magar, Rai, and Limbu. Among these, the Satar and Rajbanshi communities are considered less privileged in Surunga.

Learning in Surunga

Surunga has many schools for different age groups.

Schools for All Ages

The main government school is Kankai Madhyamik Vidyalaya. It teaches about 3,000 students each year, not just from Surunga but also from nearby villages. There are also several private boarding schools, such as Shree Pashupati English Secondary School and Shree Harikul Model Higher Secondary School.

For younger children, there are primary boarding schools like Janaki Primary School. For higher education, Kankai Multiple Campus offers courses for certificate, bachelor's, and master's degrees. Shree Harikul Model Higher Secondary School also provides higher secondary education, known as 10+2.

Kankai Higher Secondary School was the first school in Surunga. It even has special classes up to grade 10 for students who are hearing-impaired, using symbolic language.

Surunga's Economy

Surunga's economy mainly relies on farming. However, money sent from relatives working elsewhere (remittance), local businesses, and tourism also bring a lot of money into the town. Recently, buying and selling land has also become a big part of the economy.

Banks and Businesses

Surunga has many banks that are approved by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), Nepal's central bank. These include Agricultural Development Bank and Sunrise Bank. There are also many "saving and credit" companies that help people save and borrow money.

Koti Hom and Tourism

The Koti Hom area is becoming a popular place for tourists. It's a religious site where a big Hindu ritual was held in 1985. Now, you can visit it, and even film or take photos there for a small fee. Another place for adventure lovers is Jhandi Dada, a hill on the border with Ilam, which is great for trekking.

Business Without Stops

Surunga is known as a great place for business because it rarely has "bandas" (strikes or shutdowns). Unlike many other places in the country, political parties or groups have not been able to force businesses to close in Surunga for many years. This means trade and education can continue smoothly, making Surunga an important center in the region. Locals have even stood up to groups trying to force shutdowns, showing their strong anti-strike stance.

Fun Places to Visit

Surunga has several interesting religious and tourist spots.

Kotihome Religious Site

Kotihome is a very famous religious site located on the western side of Surunga. Every year, thousands of people come here to worship. The biggest event is during Makar Sankranti, when a festival called Maghe Mela is held. People travel from far away, including from different parts of Nepal and even from India and Bhutan, to attend this festival.

Domukha and Dhanushkoti Dham

Domukha is another popular spot. The Kankai River flows from the hills through the Chure range and reaches the plains of Terai here. A dam was built at Domukha to create the Kankai Nahar (channel), forming a large, calm reservoir of water. Many young people visit Domukha for picnics, field trips, or just to cool off. It's also a link for people from the high hills and southern Ilam to reach Surunga. Old stories say that a Kirant King's palace once stood near this area.

Nearby, on the opposite bank of Domukha, is Dhanushkoti Dham. This place is believed to be where Arjun, a hero from the Mahabharat, meditated. It's becoming a significant religious site and a picnic spot.

Kankai Bridge

The bridge over the Kankai River is one of the longest concrete bridges in Nepal, measuring 703 meters. It's an impressive structure that connects different parts of the region.

Nature and Parks

Jamunkadhi Simsar is a protected area in Surunga where you can find many animals like deer, pythons, bears, sambar deer, and porcupines. It's a great place to see wildlife.

Recently, a park called Happy Land opened. It's located about 1 kilometer north of the town, by the Sankha Khola river. This park is becoming very popular with local tourists.

Surunga's Media

To help promote local culture, Surunga has its own FM radio station called Radio Sandesh - 103.9 MHz. It's run by a public library called Kankai Pustakalaya and is known as a Community radio station.

Local Groups and Clubs

Surunga has many active groups and clubs that help the community. Some of these include Surunga Cooperate Youth Club, Sahkarya Sarthi Samuha, Surunga Jaycees, and Youth Forum Surunga. These groups often organize events and activities for young people and the wider community.