Okhaldhunga District () is one of 14 districts of

Koshi Province Koshi Province () is an autonomous Provinces of Nepal, province of Nepal adopted by the Constitution of Nepal on 20 September 2015. It covers an area of , about 17.5% of the country's total area. With the industrial city of Biratnagar as its cap ...

in eastern Nepal. The district, with the municipality of Okhaldhunga as its district headquarters, covers an area of and had a population of 156,702 in 2001 and 147,984 in 2011.Household and population by districts, Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) Nepal
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 Photographed by Sumita Roy

Okhaldunga name originated from this big old Mortar Photographed by Sumita Roy

Geography and climate

Demographics

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. Ethnicity/caste: 21.04% were

Chhetri Chhetri (Kshetri, Kshettri, Kshetry or Chhettri), ( ; IAST: ''Kṣetrī'') historically called Kshettriya or Kshetriya or Khas are Nepali language, Nepali speaking people historically associated with the warrior class and administration, some of ...

, 11.50% Magar, 10.48% Tamang, 9.94% Rai, 9.19% Hill Brahmin, 8.47% Sherpa, 6.26%

Newar Newar (; , endonym: Newa; , Pracalit script: ), or Nepami, are primarily inhabitants in Kathmandu Valley of Nepal and its surrounding areas, and the creators of its historic heritage and civilisation. Page 15. Newars are a distinct linguisti ...

, 4.26%

Kami are the Deity, deities, Divinity, divinities, Spirit (supernatural entity), spirits, mythological, spiritual, or natural phenomena that are venerated in the traditional Shinto religion of Japan. ''Kami'' can be elements of the landscape, forc ...

, 3.68% Sunuwar, 3.39% Damai and 3.17% Sarki. Religion: 64.95% were

Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...

, 20.01%

Buddhist Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...

, 13.46% Kirat, 1.52%

Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...

and 0.06% others. 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%),

(2.09%) and Jerung (1.74%). In 2011, 58.1% of the population spoke Nepali as their first language.

Village Development Committees

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

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

References