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Rukum District ( ne, रुकुम जिल्ला) was a "hill" and "mountain" district some west of
Kathmandu , pushpin_map = Nepal Bagmati Province#Nepal#Asia , coordinates = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = , subdivision_type1 = Provinces of Nepal, Province , subdivision_name1 ...
partially belonging to
Lumbini Province Lumbini Province ( ne, लुम्बिनी प्रदेश, Lumbinī pradēśa) is a province in western Nepal. It borders Gandaki Province and Karnali Province to the north, Sudurpashchim Province to the west, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar ...
and partially to
Karnali Province Karnali Province ( ne, कर्णाली प्रदेश) is one of the seven federal provinces of Nepal formed by the new constitution which was adopted on 20 September 2015. The total area of the province is covering 18.97% of the cou ...
before split into two districts Western Rukum and Eastern Rukum after the state's reconstruction of administrative divisions in 2017. Rukum covers an area of with population of 207,290 in
2011 Nepal census Nepal conducted a widespread national census in 2011 by the Nepal Central Bureau of Statistics. Working with the 58 municipalities and the 3915 Village Development Committees at a district level, they recorded data from all the municipalities an ...
. Musikot (also called Jhumlikhalanga) was the district's administrative center. Rukum district has potential tourist attractions that remain largely unexplored including ''yarsagumba'' (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) collection caravan destinations, historical sites from the ten-year insurrection including the seat of a breakaway government in Banphikot, eastern Rukum, and the so-called Guerrilla Trek passes through this area that was a hotbed for recruiting and training as well as a battleground during Nepal's civil war (1996-2006). (. There is Mt. Sisne ( ne, सिस्ने हिमाल), the westernmost high peak in the
Dhaulagiri Dhaulagiri is the seventh highest mountain in the world at above sea level, and the highest mountain within the borders of a single country (Nepal). It was first climbed on 13 May 1960 by a Swiss-Austrian-Nepali expedition. Annapurna I () is ...
massif. Locals refer to Sisne as Hiunchuli (hiu: snow; chuli: top) and it is considered sacred as the abode of deities Masta and Saikumari. Climbing history on the mountain is not well documented and an eight-man expedition led by Man Bahadur Khatri reached the summit ridge in May 2013. Rukumkot, a prominent village in Rukum is referred to as "the place of 52 lakes and 53 hills". Rukumkot ( ne , all of them Shyarpu Tal (Lake) is largest lake in Rukum रुकुमकोट) has a beautiful pond called ''Rukmini Tal'' or locally ''Kamal Dhaha'' for its lotus flowers (kamal: lotus). Nearby are notable temples called ''Barah'' and ''Sibalaya'', and caves such as ''Deurali Cave''.


Geography and Climate

Rukum district was the northernmost part of
Rapti Zone Rapti Zone ( ne, राप्ती अञ्चल ) was one of the fourteen zones, located in the Mid-Western Development Region of Nepal. It was named after the West Rapti River which drains Rolpa, Pyuthan and part of Dang districts. The ...
. It is in the basin of Bheri River, a major tributary of the Karnali. Most of Rukum is drained by west-flowing tributaries such as ''Uttar Ganga'' draining Dhorpatan Valley and to the north of that the ''Sani Bheri'' draining southern slopes of the western
Dhaulagiri Dhaulagiri is the seventh highest mountain in the world at above sea level, and the highest mountain within the borders of a single country (Nepal). It was first climbed on 13 May 1960 by a Swiss-Austrian-Nepali expedition. Annapurna I () is ...
Himalaya The Himalayas, or Himalaya (; ; ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the planet's highest peaks, including the very highest, Mount Everest. Over 10 ...
. Elevation ranges from below 800 meters along the Bheri and its lowest tributaries to about 6,000 meters in the
Dhaulagiri Dhaulagiri is the seventh highest mountain in the world at above sea level, and the highest mountain within the borders of a single country (Nepal). It was first climbed on 13 May 1960 by a Swiss-Austrian-Nepali expedition. Annapurna I () is ...
s with a range of climates from sub-tropical to perpetual snow and ice. Agricultural use ranges from irrigated rice cultivation through upland cultivation of maize, barley, wheat, potatoes and fruit, to sub-alpine and alpine pasturage reaching about 4,500 meters.


Demographics

At the time of the
2011 Nepal census Nepal conducted a widespread national census in 2011 by the Nepal Central Bureau of Statistics. Working with the 58 municipalities and the 3915 Village Development Committees at a district level, they recorded data from all the municipalities an ...
, Rukum District had a population of 208,567. Of these, 91.6% spoke
Nepali Nepali or Nepalese may refer to : Concerning Nepal * Anything of, from, or related to Nepal * Nepali people, citizens of Nepal * Nepali language, an Indo-Aryan language found in Nepal, the current official national language and a language spoken ...
, 5.2% Magar and 2.8%
Kham Kham (; ) is one of the three traditional Tibetan regions, the others being Amdo in the northeast, and Ü-Tsang in central Tibet. The original residents of Kham are called Khampas (), and were governed locally by chieftains and monasteries. Kha ...
as their first language.


Population by Census 1971-2011

Colors= id:lightgrey value:gray(0.9) id:darkgrey value:gray(0.8) id:sfondo value:rgb(1,1,1) id:barra value:rgb(0.6,0.7,0.8) ImageSize = width:350 height:303 PlotArea = left:50 bottom:50 top:30 right:30 DateFormat = x.y Period = from:0 till:250000 TimeAxis = orientation:vertical AlignBars = justify ScaleMajor = gridcolor:darkgrey increment:50000 start:0 ScaleMinor = gridcolor:lightgrey increment:1000 start:0 BackgroundColors = canvas:sfondo BarData= bar:1971 text:1971 bar:1981 text:1981 bar:1991 text:1991 bar:2001 text:2001 bar:2011 text:2011 PlotData= color:barra width:20 align:left bar:1971 from: 0 till:96243 bar:1981 from: 0 till:132432 bar:1991 from: 0 till:153554 bar:2001 from: 0 till:188438 bar:2011 from: 0 till:207290 PlotData= bar:1971 at:96243 fontsize:XS text:96,243 shift:(-14,5) bar:1981 at:132432 fontsize:XS text:132,432 shift:(-14,5) bar:1991 at:153554 fontsize:XS text:153,554 shift:(-14,5) bar:2001 at:188438 fontsize:XS text:188,438 shift:(-14,5) bar:2011 at:207290 fontsize:XS text:207,290 shift:(-14,5)


Transport

Rukum District is considered remote and air service is irregular. With recent road building, bus and jeep service are available with links to the southern plains and major cities including Kathmandu. Two airports offer safe but rudimentary facilities for passenger flights, mainly from Nepalganj and
Kathmandu , pushpin_map = Nepal Bagmati Province#Nepal#Asia , coordinates = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = , subdivision_type1 = Provinces of Nepal, Province , subdivision_name1 ...
. The Rapti Highway was under construction (as of 2010) to connect Musikot to Salyan Khalanga, Tulsipur, and
Mahendra Highway Mahendra Highway (), also called East-West Highway () runs across the Terai geographical region of Nepal, from Mechinagar in the east to Bhim Datta in the west, cutting across the entire width of the country. It is the longest highway in Nepal ...
to the south. On the other hand, Nepal's dream project "Mid-Hill Highway" is under construction.


Rapti Highway

It is about a four-hour bus ride from Dang Tulsipur to Rukum Musikot.


Mid-Hill Highway

Mid-Hill Highway is under construction. It is a national pride project that passes through 12 zones, 24 districts, and 215 VDCs. With a total length of 1,767 km, the highway connects Chiyo Bhanjyang of Pachthar district in the east with Jhulaghat of
Baitadi district Baitadi District ( ne, बैतडी जिल्ला ), historical name “Bairath” (बैराथ), a part of Sudurpashchim Province, is one of the 77 districts of Nepal. It is a Hill district. Baitadi, with Dasharathchand as its hea ...
in the west. The bus ride from Kathmandu takes up to 24 hours to Musikot.


Airports

The two airports in Rukum are in Chaurjahari ( ne, चौरजहारी) and Salle ( ne, सल्ले). Chaurjahari Airport lies near the Bheri River, 762 m above sea level and accessible by footpaths and horse trails only, with a grass runway 850 m long and 30 m wide. It was the primary mode of travel to Rukum for government, NGO personnel, aid workers and backpackers before the civil war. During the conflict the security situation deteriorated and the local police station was shut down. The airport has 10 aircraft parking spaces. The flight from Nepalganj to Rukum Salle airport takes 15–20 minutes.
Rukum Salle Airport Salle Airport , also known as Musikot Airport, is a domestic airport located in Musikot serving Western Rukum District, a district in Karnali Province in Nepal. It is the main tourist gateway to Mount Sisne. History The airport was originall ...
lies near Musikot, the district headquarters. It is accessible by foot way and road transport since Rapti Highway has touched Salle airport. Its runway is 650 meters long with capability of parking of four aircraft. The flight from Kathmandu to Rukum Salle airport takes about 90 minutes, while the flight from Nepalganj takes about 20 minutes.


Civil War

Rukum was a flashpoint of the
Maoist insurgency Maoism, officially called Mao Zedong Thought by the Chinese Communist Party, is a variety of Marxism–Leninism that Mao Zedong developed to realise a socialist revolution in the agricultural, pre-industrial society of the Republic of Chi ...
, along with neighboring Rolpa district. Rukum became a stronghold and was controlled by insurgents throughout the conflict. Many
Maoist Maoism, officially called Mao Zedong Thought by the Chinese Communist Party, is a variety of Marxism–Leninism that Mao Zedong developed to realise a socialist revolution in the agricultural, pre-industrial society of the Republic of Ch ...
leaders came from this district, as well as many martyred insurgents. But now Rukum is known as a new tourism destination in Nepal. The Government of Nepal with the Nepal Tourism Board, Rukum District officials, Maoists party leaders, and a foreign author of a guidebook and map to the area launched the Guerrilla Trek (Peace Trail) with a ceremony in Kathmandu in Oct 2012.


Former Villages Development Committees (VDCs)

* Aathbis Danda, Aathbis Kot, Arma *
Banphikot Banphikot ( ne, बाँफिकोट गाउँपालिका) is a rural municipality located in Western Rukum District of Karnali Province of Nepal. According to 2011 Census conducted by Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), Banphikot ...
,
Bhalakachha Bhalakachha is a village development committee in Western Rukum District in Karnali Province of western Nepal. At the time of the 2011 Nepal census Nepal conducted a widespread national census in 2011 by the Nepal Central Bureau of Statisti ...
* Chaurjahari Municipality,
Chhiwang Chhiwang is a village development committee in Western Rukum District in Karnali Province of western Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census The 1991 Nepal census was a widespread national census conducted by the Nepal Central Bureau of ...
, Chokhawang,
Chunwang Chunwang may refer to: * "Chunwang" (poem), an 8th-century poem by Du Fu * Chunwang (place), a village in Nepal {{disambiguation, geo ...
* Duli * Garayala,
Gautamkot Gotamkot is a village development committee in Rukum District in the Rapti Zone of western Nepal. At the time of the 2011 Nepal census Nepal conducted a widespread national census in 2011 by the Nepal Central Bureau of Statistics. Working wi ...
,
Ghetma Ghetma is a village in Rukum district, western Nepal. Demographics The 2011 National Population and Housing Census recorded 4,789: 2,348 men and 2,441 women. Education Students attend Shree Adarsh Higher Secondary School Ghetma, Rukum. Ea ...
*
Hukam Hukam ( pa, ਹੁਕਮਿ) is a Punjabi word derived from the Arabic Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in c ...
* Jang,
Jhula Jhula is a village development committee in Western Rukum District in Karnali Province of western Nepal. At the time of the 2011 Nepal census it had a population of 3334 people living in 686 individual households. Jhula or, Jhula-pul, also t ...
* Kanda, Kankri, Khara, Kholagaun, Kol,
Kotjahari Kotjahari is a village development committee in Western Rukum District in Karnali Province of western Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census The 1991 Nepal census was a widespread national census conducted by the Nepal Central Bureau of S ...
*
Magma Magma () is the molten or semi-molten natural material from which all igneous rocks are formed. Magma is found beneath the surface of the Earth, and evidence of magmatism has also been discovered on other terrestrial planets and some natura ...
, Mahat, Morawang, Muru, Musikot Khalanga * Nuwakot * Pipal,
Pokhara Pokhara ( ne, पोखरा, ) is a metropolitan city in Nepal, which serves as the capital of Gandaki Province. It is the second most populous city of Nepal after Kathmandu, with 518,452 inhabitants living in 101,669 households in 2021. ...
,
Purtim Kanda Purtim Kanda is a village development committee in Western Rukum District in Karnali Province of western Nepal. At the time of the 2011 Nepal census Nepal conducted a widespread national census in 2011 by the Nepal Central Bureau of Statisti ...
,
Pwang Pwang is a village development committee in Eastern Rukum District in Lumbini Province of western Nepal Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान् ...
, Pyaugha * Rangsi,
Ranmamekot Ranma Maikot is a village development committee in Eastern Rukum District in Lumbini Province of western Nepal. At the time of the 2011 Nepal census Nepal conducted a widespread national census in 2011 by the Nepal Central Bureau of Statist ...
* Rukumkot,
Rugha Rugha is a village development committee in Western Rukum District in Karnali Province of western Nepal. At the time of the 2011 Nepal census Nepal conducted a widespread national census in 2011 by the Nepal Central Bureau of Statistics. Wo ...
* Sankha,
Simli Simli is a village development committee in Western Rukum District in Karnali Province of western Nepal. At the time of the 2011 Nepal census Nepal conducted a widespread national census in 2011 by the Nepal Central Bureau of Statistics. Work ...
,
Sisne Sisne ( ne, सिस्‍ने गाउँपालिका ''Sis‍nē Gāum̥pālikā'') is a rural municipality in Eastern Rukum District of Lumbini Province Province of Nepal. Demographics At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, Sisne Ru ...
,
Syalagadi Syalakhadi is a village development committee in Western Rukum District in Karnali Province of western Nepal. At the time of the 2011 Nepal census Nepal conducted a widespread national census in 2011 by the Nepal Central Bureau of Statistic ...
,
Syalapakha Syalapakha is a village development committee in Eastern Rukum District in Lumbini Province of western Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census The 1991 Nepal census was a widespread national census conducted by the Nepal Central Bureau ...
* Taksera


Maps

* Besides the United Nations/Nepal map of districts and VDCs shown above, their ''Map Centre'' has a downloadable PDF version adding municipalities, roads and water detail. * From 1992 to 2002 a definitive series of
large scale Large scale or G scale (, G gauge) is a track gauge for model railways which is often used for outdoor garden railways because of its size and durability. G scale trains use a fixed track gauge of to accommodate a range of rail transport m ...
topographic maps In modern mapping, a topographic map or topographic sheet is a type of map characterized by large- scale detail and quantitative representation of relief features, usually using contour lines (connecting points of equal elevation), but historic ...
were surveyed and published through a joint project by
Government of Nepal The Government of Nepal ( ne, नेपाल सरकार) is the federal executive authority of Nepal. Prior to the abolition of the Nepali monarchy in 2006 (became republic in 2008), it was officially known as His Majesty's Government. T ...
Survey Department and
Finland's Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of B ...
Ministry for Foreign Affairs In many countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the government department responsible for the state's diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral relations affairs as well as for providing support for a country's citizens who are abroad. The entit ...
contracting through the ''FinnMap'' consulting firm. Japan International Cooperation Agency substituted for FinnMap in
Lumbini Zone Lumbini ( ne, लुम्बिनी अञ्चल) was one of the fourteen zones of Nepal until the restructure of zones to provinces. It is home to the Lumbini site, the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, who later became the historical B ...
. :Topographic sheets at 1:25,000 scale covering 7.5 minutes latitude and longitude map the Terai and Middle Mountains. Less populated high mountain regions are on 15 minute sheets at 1:50,000. JPG scans can be downloade
here:
ref> These sheets cover Rukum District: #2882 02 ''"Radi Jyula''" (2001) #2882 03 ''"Sisne''" (2001) #2882 04 ''"Dunai''" (2001) #2882 05B ''"Jajarkot Khalanga''" (1999) #2882 05D ''"Swikot''" (1999) #2882 06A #2882 06B ''"Musikot Khalanga''" (1999) #2882 06C ''"Pharulachaur''" (1999) #2882 06D ''"Simruth''" (1999) #2882 07A ''"Jibu''" (1999) #2882 07B ''"Naigad''" (1999) #2882 07C ''"Sakh''" (1999) #2882 07D ''"Mahatgau''" (1999) #2882 08 ''"Takagao''" .(2001) #2882 11B ''"Jelban''" (1999) #2882 12A ''"Uwa''" (1999) #2882 12B ''"Bhalkot''" (1998) #2883 01 ''"Chhedhul Gumba''" (2001) #2883 05 ''"Gurjakhani''" (2001)


References


External links

* {{Coord, 28.6333, N, 82.4667, E, type:adm3rd_source:itwiki, display=title Districts of Nepal established in 1962 Former districts of Nepal