| Type: | District |
| Mahottari District | |
| Native Name: | महोत्तरी जिल्ला |
| Mapsize: | 300 |
| Mapsize1: | 300 |
| Map Caption1: | Mahottari District with local level body |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Mithila |
| Subdivision Type2: | Province |
| Subdivision Name2: | Madhesh Province |
| Parts Type: | Municipality |
| Parts Style: | coll |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Seat Type: | Admin HQ. |
| Seat: | Jaleshwar |
| Leader Title: | Head |
| Leader Title1: | Deputy-Head |
| Leader Title2: | Parliamentary constituencies |
| Leader Title3: | Provincial constituencies |
| Government Type: | Coordination committee |
| Governing Body: | DCC, Mahottari |
| Area Total Km2: | 1002 |
| Population Total: | 705,838 |
| Population As Of: | 2021 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Blank Name Sec1: | Main Language(s) |
| Blank Info Sec1: | Maithili (88.0%), Nepali (5.6%), other (6.4%) |
| Blank Name Sec2: | Major highways |
| Timezone1: | NPT |
| Utc Offset1: | +05:45 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal Codes |
| Area Code Type: | Telephone Code |
| Area Code: | 044 |
Mahottari District (Nepali: [[:ne:महोत्तरी जिल्ला|महोत्तरी जिल्ला]],), a part of Madhesh Province, is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal. The district, with Jaleshwar as its district headquarter, covers an area of and had a population of 553,481 in 2001, 627,580 in 2011 and 705,838 in 2021 census.[1] Its headquarters is located in Jaleshwar, a neighbouring town of the historical city of Janakpur. The name Jaleshwar means the 'God in Water'. One can find a famous temple of Lord Shiva in Water there. Jaleshwar lies at a few kilometres distance from the Nepal-India border and has a majority Maithili population.
| Climate Zone | Elevation Range | % of Area | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Tropical | below 300 meters (1,000 ft) | 85.0% | |
| Upper Tropical | 300 to 1,000 meters 1,000 to 3,300 ft. | 15.0% |
At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, Mahottari District had a population of 627,580.
As their first language, 81.0% spoke Maithili, 7.3% Urdu, 5.4% Nepali, 1.9% Magar, 1.4% Tamang, 1.1% Tharu, 0.9% Magahi, 0.2% Hindi, 0.2% Newar 0.1% Bhojpuri and 0.1% other languages.[2]
Ethnicity/caste: 15.2% were Yadav, 13.4% Musalman, 6.5% Dhanuk, 5.8% Koiri/Kushwaha, 5.1% Terai Brahmin, 4.1% Teli, 3.7% Musahar, 3.6% Chamar/Harijan/Ram, 2.5% Khatwe, 2.4% Dusadh/Paswan/Pasi, 2.4% Sudhi, 2.3% Magar, 2.2% Nuniya, 1.8% Hill Brahmin, 1.6% Baraee, 1.6% Chhetri, 1.6% Tatma/Tatwa, 1.6% Tharu, 1.5% Bin, 1.5% Kalwar, 1.5% Tamang, 1.4% Mallaha, 1.3% Hajam/Thakur, 1.3% Sonar, 1.1% Kanu, 1.1% Kewat, 1.0% Dhobi, 0.9% Kurmi, 0.9% Lohar, 0.8% Halwai, 0.7% Kami, 0.7% Newar, 0.7% Rajput, 0.6% Dhunia, 0.6% Kumhar, 0.5% Kathabaniyan, 0.4% Bantar/Sardar, 0.4% Danuwar, 0.4% Kayastha, 0.4% other Terai, 0.3% Damai/Dholi, 0.3% Mali, 0.2% Badhaee, 0.2% Dom, 0.2% Gaderi/Bhedihar, 0.2% Gharti/Bhujel, 0.2% Kumal, 0.2% Sanyasi/Dasnami, 0.1% Amat, 0.1% Majhi, 0.1% Punjabi/Sikh, 0.1% Rai, 0.1% Sarki, 0.1% Sunuwar, 0.1% Thakuri and 0.2% others.[3]
Religion: 84.2% were Hindu, 13.3% Muslim, 2.0% Buddhist, 0.1% Christian and 0.2% others.[4]
Literacy: 46.2% could read and write, 2.5% could only read and 50.9% could neither read nor write.[5]
List ordered alphabetically
The district consists of ten urban municipalities and five rural municipalities. These are as follows:[6]
The 2011 National Population and Housing Census by the government of Nepal identifies 77 municipalities and village development committees (VDC) within the Mahottari District.[7]