Parsa District, a part of Madhesh Province in Terai plain, is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal. The district, with Birgunj as its district headquarters, covers an area of 1,353 km2 (522 sq mi) and has a population (2001) of 497,219. According to the locals, Parsa is named after the Parashnath temple situated in Mahuwan.