# Lahan

> municipality in Siraha District, Nepal

**Wikidata**: [Q1748922](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1748922)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahan)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/lahan

## Summary
Lahan is a municipality in Siraha District, Nepal, classified as a city and a local administrative unit under Nepal’s municipal governance system. Located along the Mahendra Highway, Lahan serves as a regional hub in the eastern Terai region of Nepal, with a defined postal code, local dialing code, and official website. It is recognized as an urban settlement with municipal status since 1976 and plays a key role in commerce, transportation, and local governance in the area.

## Key Facts
- **Location**: Lahan is situated in Siraha District, Nepal, with geographic coordinates of 26.716666666667° N latitude and 86.483333333333° E longitude.
- **Administrative Status**: Officially designated as a "municipality of Nepal" since 1976.
- **Country**: Nepal (referenced via Wikidata entry Q328).
- **Postal Code**: 56502.
- **Local Dialing Code**: 033.
- **Timezone**: Nepal Standard Time (NST).
- **Website**: [http://lahanmun.gov.np](http://lahanmun.gov.np) (official municipal website).
- **Aliases**: Lahan Municipality, Lahan Nagarpalika, Lahan, Nepal, Lahan, Siraha.
- **Identifiers**:
  - **SNARC ID**: Neman.
  - **Freebase ID**: `/m/04_0qq1`, `/m/0496c5n` (last updated 2013-10-28).
  - **GeoNames ID**: 1283161.
  - **Who’s on First ID**: 890431435.
  - **GNS Unique Feature ID**: -1022218.
- **Wikimedia Presence**:
  - **Wikipedia Title**: "Lahan" (available in 18 languages: bh, ceb, commons, de, dty, en, fa, hi, ku, mai, ml, ms, ne, new, pl, ta, ur, zh).
  - **Commons Category**: [Lahan Municipality](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Lahan_Municipality).
  - **Sitelink Count**: 18.
- **Image**: [Mahendra Highway in Lahan, Nepal](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Mahendra_Highway_in_Lahan,_Nepal.jpg).
- **Quora Topic**: Lahan-Nepal.
- **Instance of**: City (large human settlement) and municipality of Nepal (with municipal status since 1976).

## FAQs

### What is Lahan’s administrative classification?
Lahan is classified as a municipality in Nepal, a status it has held since 1976. It is also recognized as a city, defined as a large human settlement, and serves as a local governance unit in Siraha District.

### Where is Lahan located?
Lahan is located in Siraha District, Nepal, in the eastern Terai region. Its geographic coordinates are approximately 26.7167° N latitude and 86.4833° E longitude, placing it along the Mahendra Highway.

### What identifiers or codes are associated with Lahan?
Lahan has multiple official identifiers, including:
- **Postal Code**: 56502.
- **Local Dialing Code**: 033.
- **SNARC ID**: Neman.
- **GeoNames ID**: 1283161.
- **Freebase IDs**: `/m/04_0qq1` and `/m/0496c5n`.
- **Who’s on First ID**: 890431435.

### What languages is information about Lahan available in?
Information about Lahan is available on Wikipedia in 18 languages: Bhojpuri (bh), Cebuano (ceb), Commons, German (de), Doteli (dty), English (en), Persian (fa), Hindi (hi), Kurdish (ku), Maithili (mai), Malayalam (ml), Malay (ms), Nepali (ne), Newar (new), Polish (pl), Tamil (ta), Urdu (ur), and Chinese (zh).

### What is the significance of the Mahendra Highway in Lahan?
The Mahendra Highway, depicted in the official image of Lahan, is a major east-west roadway in Nepal that passes through the municipality. It serves as a critical transportation artery, facilitating trade, travel, and connectivity between Lahan and other regions of Nepal.

### Is Lahan referenced in any external databases?
Yes, Lahan appears in multiple external databases, including:
- **GeoNames** (ID: 1283161).
- **Freebase** (IDs: `/m/04_0qq1` and `/m/0496c5n`).
- **Who’s on First** (ID: 890431435).
- **Quora** (as a topic: Lahan-Nepal).

### What is Lahan’s role in local governance?
As a municipality, Lahan functions as a local administrative unit under Nepal’s governance system. It has an elected municipal government, an official website ([http://lahanmun.gov.np](http://lahanmun.gov.np)), and is responsible for providing civic services, infrastructure, and development initiatives to its residents.

## Why It Matters
Lahan is a key urban center in Siraha District, serving as a regional hub for commerce, transportation, and governance in Nepal’s eastern Terai region. Its municipal status since 1976 reflects its role in local administration, while its location along the Mahendra Highway enhances its economic and logistical importance. As a node in Nepal’s urban network, Lahan facilitates connectivity between rural areas and larger cities, supporting trade, education, and public services. Its inclusion in global databases like GeoNames and Freebase underscores its recognition as a notable settlement, while its multilingual Wikipedia presence ensures accessibility of information to diverse linguistic communities. For residents and visitors, Lahan provides essential services, infrastructure, and cultural identity within the broader context of Nepal’s municipal governance system.

## Notable For
- **Municipal Status Since 1976**: One of Nepal’s recognized municipalities, with formal governance structures and civic responsibilities.
- **Regional Connectivity**: Located along the Mahendra Highway, a major national roadway, enhancing its role in trade and transportation.
- **Multilingual Documentation**: Information about Lahan is available in 18 languages on Wikipedia, reflecting its cultural and regional significance.
- **Official Digital Presence**: Maintains an official municipal website ([http://lahanmun.gov.np](http://lahanmun.gov.np)) for governance, services, and public communication.
- **Cross-Database Identification**: Featured in multiple global databases (GeoNames, Freebase, Who’s on First), indicating its recognition as a notable geographic and administrative entity.
- **Urban Classification**: Designated as a "city" (large human settlement), distinguishing it from smaller villages or rural areas in Nepal.

## Body

### Administrative and Geographic Overview
Lahan is a municipality in **Siraha District**, Nepal, classified as both a city and a local governance unit. Its administrative status as a municipality dates back to **1976**, formalizing its role in Nepal’s decentralized governance system. Geographically, Lahan is situated at **26.7167° N latitude and 86.4833° E longitude**, placing it in the **eastern Terai region** of Nepal. This location is strategically significant due to its proximity to the **Mahendra Highway**, a major national roadway that connects eastern and western Nepal.

## Civic Infrastructure and Services
As a municipality, Lahan provides essential civic services to its residents, including:
- **Local Governance**: An elected municipal government responsible for urban planning, infrastructure, and public services.
- **Official Website**: [http://lahanmun.gov.np](http://lahanmun.gov.np), serving as a digital platform for governance, announcements, and public engagement.
- **Postal and Telecommunications**: Designated postal code (**56502**) and local dialing code (**033**), facilitating mail and telecommunication services.
- **Timezone**: Operates under **Nepal Standard Time (NST)**, aligning with the country’s timekeeping system.

### Identifiers and Database References
Lahan is referenced in multiple global and national databases, ensuring its recognition as a distinct geographic and administrative entity:
- **GeoNames**: Assigned ID **1283161**, linking Lahan to global geographic datasets.
- **Freebase**: Two identifiers (**/m/04_0qq1** and **/m/0496c5n**), with the latter updated on **October 28, 2013**.
- **Who’s on First**: ID **890431435**, a gazetteer project for geographic places.
- **SNARC ID**: **Neman**, likely a local or national administrative code.
- **GNS Unique Feature ID**: **-1022218**, used in the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) database.

### Wikimedia and Online Presence
Lahan has a robust digital footprint across Wikimedia projects:
- **Wikipedia**: Available in **18 languages**, including English, Nepali, Hindi, Maithili, and regional languages like Doteli and Newar. The English Wikipedia page ([Lahan, Nepal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahan,_Nepal)) serves as a primary source of information.
- **Commons Category**: [Lahan Municipality](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Lahan_Municipality), hosting images and media related to the municipality.
- **Sitelink Count**: **18**, indicating its presence across multiple language editions of Wikipedia.
- **Quora Topic**: Lahan-Nepal, suggesting community discussion or interest in the municipality.

### Economic and Transportation Role
Lahan’s economic and logistical importance is underscored by its location along the **Mahendra Highway**, which:
- Facilitates **trade and commerce** between eastern and western Nepal.
- Supports **local businesses**, agriculture, and small-scale industries in the region.
- Enhances **connectivity** for residents, enabling access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities in larger cities.
The highway’s presence is visually documented in the official image: [Mahendra Highway in Lahan, Nepal](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Mahendra_Highway_in_Lahan,_Nepal.jpg).

### Cultural and Linguistic Diversity
Lahan’s inclusion in **18 Wikipedia language editions** reflects its cultural and linguistic diversity. Languages represented include:
- **Major South Asian Languages**: Hindi, Nepali, Maithili, Bhojpuri, Urdu.
- **Regional Languages**: Doteli, Newar, Malayalam, Tamil.
- **International Languages**: English, German, Persian, Chinese.
This multilingual representation ensures that information about Lahan is accessible to diverse communities, both within Nepal and globally.

### Comparison with Similar Entities
As a municipality, Lahan shares characteristics with other urban centers in Nepal, such as:
- **Municipal Governance**: Similar to other municipalities like **Dharan** or **Biratnagar**, Lahan has an elected local government and official digital presence.
- **Economic Role**: Like **Janakpur** or **Birgunj**, Lahan serves as a regional hub for trade and services.
- **Cultural Significance**: Its multilingual documentation mirrors that of other Nepali cities with diverse populations, such as **Kathmandu** or **Pokhara**.
However, Lahan’s distinction lies in its **specific administrative codes, geographic coordinates, and local identifiers**, which are unique to its municipal status and regional context.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. GeoNames