Butwal is a sub-metropolitan city and the urban core of a rapidly growing urban agglomerate in Nepal. It lies in Western Development Region, Lumbini Zone in Rupandehi District. It acts as the administrative headquarter for Lumbini Zone. It is situated at the bank of Tilottama River Tinau River. It is located 265 km west of Kathmandu 161 km south of Pokhara and 22 km north of Siddharthanagar Bhairawaha, at the northern edge of the Terai plain below the Siwalik Hills. Its name is derived from Batauli Bazaar in the town's oldest district.