Wikipedia

Dhankuta District

Dhankuta District (Nepali: धनकुटा जिल्ला) (Listenⓘ) is one of 14 districts of Koshi Province of eastern Nepal. The district covers an area of 891 km2 (344 sq mi) and has a population (2011) of 163,412.[1] The hill town of Dhankuta serves as the district headquarters of Dhankuta District.

Dhankuta District
धनकुटा जिल्ला
District
A scene of sunset from a tea garden at Hile, Dhankuta
A scene of sunset from a tea garden at Hile, Dhankuta
Location of Dhankuta
Location of Dhankuta
Divisions of Dhankuta District
Divisions of Dhankuta District
Country Nepal
ProvinceKoshi Province
Establishedduring Rana regime
Reestablished (rearranged)1962
Admin HQ.Dhankuta
Municipality
List
Government
 • TypeCoordination committee
 • BodyDCC, Dhankuta
Area
 • Total
892 km2 (344 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total
163,412
 • Density180/km2 (470/sq mi)
 • Households
37,616
Demographics
 • Ethnic groups20%Rai
20%Chhetri
13%Limbu
10%Magar
37%Others
 • Female ♀53%
Human Development Index
 • Income per capita (US dollars)$1257
 • Poverty rate15.9%
 • Literacy74%
 • Life Expectancy69
Time zoneUTC+05:45 (NPT)
Main Language(s)Nepali, Limbu, Bantawa, Magar
Websiteddcdhankuta.gov.np

History

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See also: Unification of Nepal
 
This cropped map of Eastern Nepal (1942) showing large Dhankuta district

Dhankuta was a part of Limbuwan (pallo kirat) before unification of those parts into Kingdom of Nepal.

After 1816 there were 10 districts in Nepal and Dhankuta-chainpur district was one of them. All land from east of Dudhkosi river to the Mechi river was one district Dhankuta-chainpur.[2]

From 1885 to 1962 Nepal remained divided into 32 districts and there were six districts in eastern-hill region: East No. 1, East No. 2, East No. 3, East No. 4, Ilam and Dhankuta. Dhankuta was center of these districts. That time also dhankuta was a large (by area) district. Current Sankhuwasabha, Tehrathum, Taplejung, Panchthar and Dhankuta districts were Incorporated under one district. The total area of the former Dhankuta district was 3,448 square miles (8,930 km2).[2][3]

In 1962, Nepal divided into 75 districts and 16 districts of eastern Nepal grouped to form Eastern Development Region and Dhankuta became the headquarter of it.[4][5]

Geography and Climate

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Dhankuta is a mid-hill district of eastern hill region of Nepal. It is situated between 26°53' to 27°19' north latitude and 87°8' to 88°33' east longitude. Total area of the district is 888.7 square kilometres (343.1 sq mi) and it is located at 243 metres (9,600 in) to 629 metres (24,800 in) of elevation above sea level.[6]

Vegetation

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The vegetation zones in the district range from sub-tropical Sal forest along the Tamor and Arun rivers, and cooler temperate forests on some of the high ridges that mark the watershed between the two catchments. The altitude ranges from around 300m to 2500m. The majority of the population are involved in agriculture and crops include maize, rice and millet. Important cash crops include citrus fruits, cauliflower, cabbage, ginger, and in recent years, tea. A well-preserved forest (Rani Ban – Queen's Forest) spreads along a ridge line on the northwest side of the village, with well-developed mature stands of rhododendron and sallo (pine) trees.

Climate Zone[7] Elevation Range % of Area
Lower Tropical below 300 meters (1,000 ft)  3.7%
Upper Tropical 300 to 1,000 meters
1,000 to 3,300 ft. 		44.7%
Subtropical 1,000 to 2,000 meters
3,300 to 6,600 ft. 		46.6%
Temperate 2,000 to 3,000 meters
6,400 to 9,800 ft. 		 3.2%

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1981 129,781—    
1991 146,386+1.21%
2001 166,479+1.29%
2011 163,412−0.19%
2021 150,599−0.81%
Sources:[8]

At the time of the 2021 Nepal census, Dhankuta District had a population of 150,599. It has a literacy rate of 73.9% and a sex ratio of 1040 females per 1000 males. 27,351 (19.41%) lived in municipalities.[9]

Ethnicity/caste of Dhankuta district (2021)[10]

  Chhetri (19.93%)
  Rai (19.70%)
  Limbu (13.85%)
  Magar (10.35%)
  Tamang (6.56%)
  Newar (4.48%)
  Bahun (4.09%)
  Kami (caste) (3.65%)
  Athpahariya (3.56%)
  Yakkha (2.88%)
  Other Hill Janjati (5.47%)
  Other Khas Dalit (3.56%)
  Others (1.92%)

Ethnicity/caste: 19.93% of the population were Chhetri, 19.70% Rai, 13.85% Limbu, 10.35% Magar, 6.56% Tamang, 4.48% Newar, 4.09% Bahun, 3.65% Kami, 3.56% Athpahariya, 2.88% Yakkha, 2.14% Damai, 1.42% Sarki, 1.39% Gurung and 1.08% Bhujel.[10]

Religion in Dhankuta District (2021)[11]
Religion Percent
Hinduism
 
 49.56%
Kirat Mundhum
 
 34.74%
Buddhism
 
 13.11%
Christianity
 
 2.47%
Other or not stated
 
 0.12%

Religion: 49.56% were Hindu, 34.74% Kirati, 13.11% Buddhist and 2.47% Christian.[11]

Languages of Dhankuta district (2021)[12]

  Nepali (45.44%)
  Limbu (12.98%)
  Bantawa (9.85%)
  Magar Dhut (9.28%)
  Tamang (5.28%)
  Athpahariya (3.40%)
  Rai (3.09%)
  Yakkha (2.54%)
  Chhintang (1.61%)
  Newari (1.39%)
  Others (5.14%)

As their first language, 45.44% of the population spoke Nepali, 12.98% Limbu, 9.85% Bantawa, 9.28% Magar Dhut, 5.28% Tamang, 3.40% Athpahariya, 3.09% Rai, 2.54% Yakkha, 1.61% Chhintang and 1.39% Newari.[12] In 2011, 43.47% of the population spoke Nepali as their first language.[13]

Divisions

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Dhankuta is divided into 3 urban municipalities and 4 rural municipalities.

No. Type Name Nepali Population (2011) Area Website
1 Urban Dhankuta धनकुटा 36,619 111 www.dhankutamun.gov.np
2 Urban Pakhribas पाख्रीबास 22078 144.29 www.pakhribasmun.gov.np
3 Urban Mahalaxmi महालक्ष्मी 24,800 129 www.mahalaxmimundhankuta.gov.np
4 Rural Sangurigadhi सागुरीगढी 21,536 147.6 www.sangurigadhimun.gov.np
5 Rural Chaubise चौविसे 19,283 147.6 www.choubisemun.gov.np
6 Rural Shahidbhumi सहीदभूमि 18,760 99.55 www.choubisemun.gov.np
7 Rural Chhathar Jorpati छथर जोरपाटी 18,322 102.83 www.choubisemun.gov.np
District Dhankuta धनकुटा 163,412 892 www.ddcdhankuta.gov.np

Former divisions

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Formerly Dhankuta was divided into 2 municipalities and many Village development committees.

 
Map of the VDC/s in Dhankuta District

Constituencies

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Dhankuta District has a single Parliamentary constituency and 2 Provincial constituencies:

Name of cons. Incorporated areas Type of cons. MP/MLA Party
Dhankuta 1 whole district parliamentary Rajendra Kumar Rai NCP
Dhankuta 1(A) Chaubise, Sangurigadhi, Dhankuta (excluding ward no. 2), Khalsa Chhintang Sahidbhumi (excluding ward no. 4 & 5) provincial Niran Rai NCP
Dhankuta 1(B) Chhathar Jorpati, Pakhribas, Mahalaxmi and ward No. 2 of Dhankuta and ward no. 4 & 5 of Khalsa Chhintang Sahidbhumi provincial Indra Mani Parajuli NCP

Transportation

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15km
10miles
 
Kosi Highway

Dhankuta, the headquarter (center) of Dhankuta District is connected with NH-08 (Koshi Highway), which connects Dhankuta with NH-01 (East-west Highway) at Itahari. Itahari is 69 km (43 mi) at distance from Dhankuta. The NH-08 also connects Dhankuta to northern hill and mountainous area.

Tourist areas

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "National Population and Housing Census 2011(National Report)" (PDF). Central Bureau of Statistics. Government of Nepal. November 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 April 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Official website of District coordination committee of Dhankuta". ddcdhankuta.gov.np. n.d. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  3. ^ "प्रशासकीय पुनर्गठन समिति (बुच कमिशन) को प्रतिवेदन, २००९" (PDF).
  4. ^ "Eastern Development Region". myholidaynepal.com. n.d. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  5. ^ "1. Eastern Development Region:". khullakitab.com. n.d. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  6. ^ "Official website of District Administration department of Dhankuta district". n.d. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  7. ^ 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, archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2013, retrieved 22 November 2013
  8. ^ "Nepal: Provinces and Districts". www.citypopulation.de.
  9. ^ "Provincial/District/Local reports: Koshi Province". Census Nepal 2021. Central Bureau of Statistics.
  10. ^ a b "Table 1: Caste/Ethnicity and sex". Census Nepal 2021. Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Table 5: Religion and sex". Census Nepal 2021. Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Table 5: Mother tongue and sex". Census Nepal 2021. Central Bureau of Statistics.
  13. ^ "Social characteristics tables" (PDF). Central Bureau of Statistics.
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