Bheri was one of Nepal's administrative zones, located in the western part of the country. Its name in Nepali is भेरी अञ्चल and the zone lay within the Mid-Western Development Region of Nepal. The administrative headquarters was Nepalgunj, a major market town and transport hub near the Indian border.
Geography and environment
The zone encompassed a transition from the Terai plains in the south to the mid-hills farther north. Forested lowlands around the Bheri River and adjoining floodplains supported agriculture and wildlife habitat. Bardiya National Park, part of the zone, protected populations of rhinoceros, tiger and other species and was an important area for conservation and tourism.
Administrative composition
Bheri comprised several districts that combined agricultural plains and hill communities. Major districts included Banke and Bardiya in the Terai and Surkhet and surrounding hill districts toward the north. After Nepal adopted a new constitution in 2015 the zone system was discontinued and its districts were reorganized into provinces.
Economy and transport
Economic activity was dominated by agriculture, cross-border trade and services centered on Nepalgunj. Nepalgunj Airport and road connections made the town a gateway for goods and tourists traveling to Bardiya National Park and to hill districts. Local markets and seasonal crops supported livelihoods across the zone.
Culture, society and tourism
The population was ethnically and culturally diverse, with indigenous Terai groups, hill communities and migrants contributing to a mix of languages and traditions. Tourism focused on wildlife safaris in Bardiya and cultural visits to market towns. Conservation and sustainable tourism remain important concerns for the region.
Notable facts
- The zone took its name from the Bheri River, an important tributary in western Nepal.
- Nepalgunj served as the administrative and economic center while Surkhet was a notable hill service town.
- With the 2015 administrative reforms, zones like Bheri ceased to be primary administrative units, replaced by provinces.