Okhaldhunga District

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 District ओखलढुङ्गा जिल्ला
District
Kosh Bhanjyang, Okhaldhunga
Location of Okhaldhunga in dark yellow
Country	Nepal
Province	Koshi Province
Admin HQ.	Siddhicharan Municipality
Government
• Type	Coordination committee
• Body	DCC, Okhaldhunga
• Chief District Officer	Dil Kumar Tamang [1]
Area
• Total	1,074 km2 (415 sq mi)
Population  (2011)
• Total	147,984
• Density	140/km2 (360/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+05:45 (NPT)
Main Language(s)	Nepali language (official) Rai, Sunuwar language
Website	ddcokhaldhunga.gov.np/en/

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

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

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% 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]

1. Chhetri (21.04%)
2. Magar (11.55%)
3. Tamang (10.21%)
4. Rai (9.94%)
5. Bahun (9.19%)
6. Sherpa (8.47%)
7. Newar (6.26%)
8. Kami (4.26%)
9. Sunuwar (3.68%)
10. Damai (3.39%)
11. Sarki (3.17%)
12. Other Hill Janjati (7.68%)
13. 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]

1. Nepali (52.62%)
2. Tamang (10.23%)
3. Magar Dhut (9.7%)
4. Sherpa (8.36%)
5. Wambule (4.91%)
6. Bahing (4.74%)
7. Sunuwar (2.92%)
8. Newar (2.09%)
9. Jerung (1.74%)
10. 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

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

• Siddhicharan Municipality
• Champadevi Rural Municipality
• Sunkoshi Rural Municipality
• Likhu Rural Municipality
• Chisankhugadhi Rural Municipality
• Molung Rural Municipality
• Khijidemba Rural Municipality
• Manebhanjyang Rural Municipality

Tourist area

Khiji Tholedama

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

See also

• Zones of Nepal