Rukum District

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Rukum Jillā
रुकुम जिल्ला
District
Rukum (red)
Rukum (red)
Country Nepal
Region Mid-Western (grey)
Zone Rapti (darker grey)
Headquarters Musikot
Area
 • Total 2,877 km2 (1,111 sq mi)
Population (2011[1])
 • Total 207,290
 • Density 72/km2 (190/sq mi)
Time zone NPT (UTC+5:45)

Rukum District(Nepali: रुकुम जिल्ला<phonos file="Rukum.ogg">Listen</phonos>, is a "hill" and "mountain" district some 280 km west of Kathmandu in Rapti Zone of Nepal's Mid-Western Region. Rukum covers an area of 2,877 km² with population of 188,438 in 2001 and 207,290 in 2011. Musikot (also called Jhumlikhalanga) is the district's administrative center. Rukum district has many potential tourist attractions that remain unexplored. There is 5,911 metres (19,393 ft) Mt. Sisne (Nepali: सिस्ने हिमाल), the westernmost high peak in the Dhaulagiri massif. Sisne is also called virgin mountain, Hiunchuli Patan and Murkatta Himal. It was unclimbed until a Nepalese expedition led by Man Bahadur Khatri reached the summit in May 2013. Rukum is also called "the place of 52 lakes and 53 hills". Rukumkot (Nepali: all of them Shyarpu tal is greatest Lake of rukum रुकुमकोट） has a beautiful pond called Rukmini Tal or locally Kamal Dhaha. Nearby are notable temples called Barah and Sibalaya, and caves such as Deurali Cave.

Geography and Climate

Rukum district is the northernmost part of Rapti Zone. 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 Himalaya.

Rapti Zone Map

Elevation ranges from below 800 meters along the Bheri and its lowest tributaries to about 6,000 meters in the Dhaulagiris with a range of climates from 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.

Climate Zone[2] Elevation Range  % of Area
Upper Tropical 300 to 1,000 meters
1,000 to 3,300 ft.		  2.9%
Subtropical 1,000 to 2,000 meters
3,300 to 6,600 ft.		 26.0%
Temperate 2,000 to 3,000 meters
6,400 to 9,800 ft.		 32.6%
Subalpine 3,000 to 4,000 meters
9,800 to 13,100 ft.		 23.0%
Alpine 4,000 to 5,000 meters
13,100 to 16,400 ft.		 14.9%
Nival above 5,000 meters  0.7%

Population by Census 1971-2011[3][4]

Transport

Rukum District is considered remote because air travel is the only modern transportation mode available. Two airports offer safe but rudimentary facilities for passenger flights, mainly from Nepalganj, and Kathmandu. Rapti Highway is under construction (as of 2010) to connect Musikot to Salyan Khalanga, Tulsipur and Mahendra Highway to the south. On the other hand, country`s dream project "Mid-Hill Highway is under construction .

Rapti Highway

Dang-Salyan-Rukum : About 4 hrs bus ride from Dang Tulsipur to Rukum Musikot

Mid-Hill Highway

Mid-Hill Highway is under construction, and 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 in the west.

Bus ride from Kathmandu takes up to 24 hours to Musikot.

The two airports in Rukum are in Chaurjahari (Nepali: चौरजहारी) and Salle (Nepali: सल्ले).

Chaurjahari Airport

Near the Bheri River. 762m 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 at once.

- About 15–20 minutes flight from Nepalganj to Rukum Salle airport.

Rukum Salle Airport

Located near Musikot, the district headquarters. It is accessible is foot way and road transport also since Rapti Highway has touched Salle airport also. Its runway is 650 meters long with capability of parking of 4 aircraft at once.

-One and half hour flight from Kathmandu to Rukum Salle airport.

-About 20 minutes flight from Nepalganj to Rukum Salle airport.

Civil War

Rukum was a flashpoint of the Maoist insurgency, along with Rolpa district. Rukum became a stronghold and was controlled by insurgents throughout the conflict. Many Maoist 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 Nepal Tourism Board has launched the Guerrilla Trek (Peace Trail) in Oct 2012.

VDCs in Rukum

Villages Development Committees (VDCs)

Maps

  • Besides the United Nations/Nepal map of districts and VDCs shown above, their Map Centre[5] has a downloadable PDF version adding municipalities, roads and water detail.[6]
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 downloaded here:[10] These sheets cover Rukum District:

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  1. 2882 02 "Radi Jyula" (2001)
  2. 2882 03 "Sisne" (2001)
  3. 2882 04 "Dunai" (2001)
  4. 2882 05B "Jajarkot Khalanga" (1999)
  5. 2882 05D "Swikot" (1999)
  6. 2882 06A
  7. 2882 06B "Musikot Khalanga" (1999)
  8. 2882 06C "Pharulachaur" (1999)
  9. 2882 06D "Simruth" (1999)
  10. 2882 07A "Jibu" (1999)
  11. 2882 07B "Naigad" (1999)
  12. 2882 07C "Sakh" (1999)
  13. 2882 07D "Mahatgau" (1999)
  14. 2882 08 "Takagao" (2001)
  15. 2882 11B "Jelban" (1999)
  16. 2882 12A "Uwa" (1999)
  17. 2882 12B "Bhalkot" (1998)
  18. 2883 01 "Chhedhul Gumba" (2001)
  19. 2883 05 "Gurjakhani" (2001)

References

  1. ↑ Central Bureau of Statistics, Kathmandu, Nepal, Jan. 2014
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