Achham District

Achham ( ne, अछाम जिल्ला ) is a district located in Sudurpashchim province of Nepal. It is one of the nine districts of the province. The district, with Mangalsen as its district headquarters, covers an area of 1,692 km and has a population (2011) of 257,477.

Etymology

There are many cultural meaning about the naming of the district but one interesting folklore is that:

History

Achham was a part of Doti Kingdom during medieval era. Nepal annexed Doti in 1790 It remained part of Doti District until 1961. On 13 April 1961, Achham district carved out from Doti District and declared a separate district

Geography and Climate

Achham covers an area of and located at Latitude: 280°46’ North to 290°23' North and Longitude: 810°32 East to 810°35' East. 90% area of Achham is mid-hill and 10% is high-hill. The maximum elevation of the district is and minimum elevation is from the sea level. The district is surrounded by Bajura District in the North, Doti District in the West, Dailekh District in the East and Surkhet District in the South.

Rivers

The district has 31 rivers in total, the main being the Karnali, Seti, Budhiganga, Ekadi, Kailash Khola, Lungreligad, Pravaligad, Kashagad, Saranigad, Ardoligad, Talagad and Barlegad.

Demographics

At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, Accham District had a population of 257,477, in which female comprises 137,469 (54%) and male comprises 120,008 (46%). Density of the area is 154 people per km². 66.4% of total population speak Nepali and 32.4% Achhami as their first language.,2011 Nepal Census, Social Characteristics Tables
/ref> Khas/ Chhetri dominant 63% of total population, Thakuris make 17% of total dist population. Brahmin and sanyasi/giri make 14% and khas dalit make 6% of population.

Administration

The district is administered by District Coordination Committee (Legislative), District Administration Office (Executive) and District Court (Judicial) as follows:

Administrative Divisions

Accham is divided into total of ten local level bodies, of which four are urban and six are rural.

Transportation

Achham is one of the remotest districts of Nepal. It is accessible by automobile from Kathmandu and Nepalgunj via a paved road that runs along the western border of Nepal from Dhangadhi. The unpaved road of Mid-Hill Highway through Dailakh district also traverses to Mangalsen by crossing Karnali at Rakam.

Mangalsen, the district headquarters, is an eight-hour walk and a 2.5 hour drive from Sanphebagar – a town in Achham sporting a non-functional domestic airport. A bridge crosses the Budhiganga River in Sanphebagar allowing access during high water, a second bridge over the Kailash River. During 2009/2010, the government of Nepal has constructed a paved road connecting Sanphebagar to Mangalsen. The district is served by two hospitals, the government district hospital in Mangalsen and one recently opened in Bayalpata named Bayalpata Hospital that is a collaboration between the government and the non-profit organization Nyaya Health.

Education

71% of men aged five and above are literate in Achham compared to 75% at the national level, only 43% of such women in the district can read and write (against 57% across Nepal).

FM radio and newspapers

Achham Besd six FM radio and three newspapers are running now. In this district ''Ramaroshan Daiy. The ''Ramaroshan Daily'' editor is Shiba Raj Dhungana. He is Gorkhapatra Nation Daily (government applied), District reporter. Dhungana has also the Secretary of the Federation of Nepali Journalists Achham Branch. More than 25 journalists are working here. Dhungana lead the achham besd journalst.

Newspapers

* '' Ramaroshan Daily''
* '' Khaptad News daily''
* '' Miracle weekly''

FM Radio

* Ramaroshan
* Janapriya
* Society
* Achham
* Panchadewol
* Paribartan
* Redio Bannigadhi 93.4

See also

* Panchadewal Binayak

References

External links

UN map of VDC boundaries, water features and roads in Achham
*

{{Authority control

Districts of Nepal established in 1962