[3] Bharatpur is the commercial and service centre of South Central Nepal and a major destination for higher education, health care and transportation in the region.

Chitwan is one of the few remaining undisturbed vestiges of the Terai region, which formerly extended over the foothills of Nepal.

[clarification needed] It was originally a dense forest with wild animals like leopards and Bengal tigers.

[citation needed][4] There are several theories on the origin of the name Chitwan: The people inhabiting the Chitwan District are predominantly peasant farmers cultivating mainly food and cash crops such as rice, maize, wheat, beans, lentils, mustard and Vegetables.

This popularity of the mustard in Chitwan is attributed to the predominant soil type silt, resulting from the flooding of the Narayani River and its tributaries.

[citation needed] Chitwan has adopting the South Korean New Community Movement model of development.

One of the biggest rice mills in Nepal, Agam Food Industry, is situated in Bharatpur and is a big source of local employment.

[citation needed] Chitwan is known for Taas (Nepali: तास), a spicy fried goat meat dish served with bhuja or chiura.

Dal bhat (steamed rice and lentils), is the staple food of the area, though meat and dairy products are also consumed.

Depending on altitudinal variation, finger millet, wheat, buckwheat, barley, vegetable, rice, potato, and soybeans etc.

[citation needed] The Rapti River flows east to the southwest in the south of Bharatpur and forms the northern border of the Chitwan National Park.

[8] Bishazari Tal ("20 Thousand") Lake is near Chitwan National Park, about 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Bharatpur.

Of these, 70.1% spoke Nepali, 10.2% Tharu, 4.9% Tamang, 3.7% Chepang, 2.8% Gurung, 1.7% Bhojpuri, 1.6% Magar, 1.6% Newari, 1.1% Darai, 0.6% Maithili and 0.5% Hindi as their first language.