Okhaldhunga District

Okhaldhunga District
ओखलढुङ्गा जिल्ला
Kosh Bhanjyang, Okhaldhunga
Kosh Bhanjyang, Okhaldhunga
Location of Okhaldhunga in dark yellow
Location of Okhaldhunga in dark yellow
Country Nepal
ProvinceKoshi Province
Admin HQ.Siddhicharan Municipality
Government
 • TypeCoordination committee
 • BodyDCC, Okhaldhunga
 • Chief District OfficerDil Kumar Tamang [1]
Area
 • Total1,074 km2 (415 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total147,984
 • Density140/km2 (360/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+05:45 (NPT)
Main Language(s)Nepali language (official)
Rai, Sunuwar language
Websiteddcokhaldhunga.gov.np/en/

Okhaldhunga District (Nepali: ओखलढुङ्गा जिल्लाListen) is one of 14 districts of Koshi Province in eastern Nepal. The district, with the municipality of Okhaldhunga as its district headquarters, covers an area of 1,074.5 km2 (414.9 sq mi) and had a population of 156,702 in 2001 and 147,984 in 2011.[2]

Okhaldhunga is the birthplace of Siddhicharan Shrestha. Shrestha, known as the Yug Kawi of Nepal (poet of the era), is a famous Nepali poet and is primarily known for his poem and song Mero Pyāro Okhalḍhungā (My dear Okhaldhunga).

Okhaldunga name originated from this big old Mortar/Okhal in Nepali

Geography and climate

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Okhaldhunga Bazaar entrance hill
Climate Zone[3] Elevation Range % of Area
Upper Tropical 300 to 1,000 meters

1,000 to 3,300 ft.

22.2%
Subtropical 1,000 to 2,000 meters
3,300 to 6,600 ft.
51.1%
Temperate 2,000 to 3,000 meters
6,400 to 9,800 ft.
24.2%
Subalpine 3,000 to 4,000 meters
9,800 to 13,100 ft.
 2.1%

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1981 137,640—    
1991 139,457+0.13%
2001 156,702+1.17%
2011 147,984−0.57%
2021 140,914−0.49%
Sources:[4]

At the time of the 2021 Nepal census, Okhaldhunga District had a population of 140,914. It has a literacy rate of 73.9% and a sex ratio of 1050 females per 1000 males. 27,351 (19.41%) lived in municipalities.[5]

Ethnicity/caste of Okhaldhunga (2021)[6]

  Chhetri (21.04%)
  Magar (11.55%)
  Tamang (10.21%)
  Rai (9.94%)
  Bahun (9.19%)
  Sherpa (8.47%)
  Newar (6.26%)
  Kami (4.26%)
  Sunuwar (3.68%)
  Damai (3.39%)
  Sarki (3.17%)
  Other Hill Janjati (7.68%)
  Others (1.16%)

Ethnicity/caste: 21.04% were Chhetri, 11.50% Magar, 10.48% Tamang, 9.94% Rai, 9.19% Hill Brahmin, 8.47% Sherpa, 6.26% Newar, 4.26% Kami, 3.68% Sunuwar, 3.39% Damai and 3.17% Sarki.[6]

Religion in Okhaldunga District (2021)[7]
Religion Percent
Hinduism
64.95%
Buddhism
20.01%
Kirat Mundhum
13.46%
Christianity
1.52%
Other or not stated
0.06%

Religion: 64.95% were Hindu, 20.01% Buddhist, 13.46% Kirat, 1.52% Christian and 0.06% others.[8]

Languages of Okhaldhunga district (2021)[9]

  Nepali (52.62%)
  Tamang (10.23%)
  Magar Dhut (9.70%)
  Sherpa (8.36%)
  Wambule (4.91%)
  Bahing (4.74%)
  Sunuwar (2.92%)
  Newar (2.09%)
  Jerung (1.74%)
  Others (2.69%)

Mother tongue: Nepali was the majority language, spoken by 52.62% as their first language. Other languages were Tamang (10.23%), Magar Dhut (9.70%), Sherpa (8.36%), Wambule (4.91%), Bahing (4.74%), Sunuwar (2.92%), Newar (2.09%) and Jerung (1.74%).[9] In 2011, 58.1% of the population spoke Nepali as their first language.[10]

Village Development Committees

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Map of the VDCs in Okhaldhunga District

The district contains the following VDCs from 2017:

Andheri Narayansthan, Baksa, Balakhu, Barnalu, Baruneshwor, Betinee, Bhadaure, Bhussinga, Bigutar, Bilandu, Chyanam, Diyale, Fediguth, Fulbari, Gamnangtar, Harkapur, Jantarkhani, Jyamire, Kalikadevi, Khijikati, Katunje, Ketuke, Khiji Chandeshwori, Khijifalate, Kuibhir, Kuntadevi, Madhavpur, Mamkha, Manebhanjyang, Moli, Mulkharka, Narmedeshwor, Okhaldhunga, Palapu, Patle, Pokali, Pokhare, Prapcha, Ragadip, Ragani, Raniban, Ratmate, Rawadolu, Rumjatar, Salleri, Serna, Shreechaur, Singhadevi, Sisneri, Taluwa, Tarkerabari, Thakle, Thoksela, Thulachhap, Ubu, Yasam

Municipality

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Tourist area

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Khiji Tholedama

Tourists are attracted to the beauty of Khiji Okhaldhunga and Betinee Thuldhunga Okhaldhunga.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "CDO Profile". www.daookhaldhunga.moha.gov.np.
  2. ^ Household and population by districts, Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) Nepal Archived July 31, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ The Map of Potential Vegetation of Nepal - a forestry/agroecological/biodiversity classification system (PDF), Forest & Landscape Development and Environment Series 2-2005 and CFC-TIS Document Series No.110., 2005, ISBN 87-7903-210-9, retrieved Nov 22, 2013
  4. ^ "Nepal: Provinces and Districts". www.citypopulation.de.
  5. ^ "Provincial/District/Local reports: Koshi Province". Census Nepal 2021. Central Bureau of Statistics.
  6. ^ a b "Table 1: Caste/Ethnicity and sex". Census Nepal 2021. Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
  7. ^ "NepalMap profile: Okhaldhunga". NepalMap. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  8. ^ "Table 5: Religion and sex". Census Nepal 2021. Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
  9. ^ a b "Table 5: Mother tongue and sex". Census Nepal 2021. Central Bureau of Statistics.
  10. ^ "Social characteristics tables" (PDF). Central Bureau of Statistics.

27°19′N 86°30′E / 27.317°N 86.500°E / 27.317; 86.500