Bagmati

Bagmati refers to several related geographic and administrative entities in Nepal, most prominently a major river and a province, as well as a former administrative zone.

Bagmati River is a central Nepalese river that originates near Bagdwar in the Shivapuri foothills and flows through the Kathmandu Valley before continuing southeast toward the plains. It is part of the Koshi river system and ultimately contributes to the Ganges watershed. The river holds religious significance for Hindus and Buddhists, with several sacred sites along its banks, including the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. The lower reaches pass through heavily urbanized areas, and the river has been the focus of pollution control and river-cleanup campaigns, alongside ongoing efforts to improve sanitation and water quality.

Bagmati Province is one of the seven provinces established by Nepal’s 2015 constitution. Also known simply as Bagmati, the province is located in central Nepal and includes Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, and other districts within and around the Kathmandu Valley. The provincial capital is Hetauda, and the province takes its name from the Bagmati River.

Bagmati Zone was a former administrative unit in Nepal’s now-replaced zonal system, part of the Central Development Region. It comprised districts around the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding areas. The zone was dissolved with the new federal structure introduced in 2015, and its area largely corresponds to portions of present-day Bagmati Province.

In summary, Bagmati denotes a significant river, a central Nepalese province named after that river, and a historic administrative zone no longer in use.