Arghākhā̃chī District
अर्घाखाँची जिल्ला
District
Valley in Arghakhanchi district
Valley in Arghakhanchi district
Location of Arghakhanchi (dark yellow) in Lumbini Province
Location of Arghakhanchi (dark yellow) in Lumbini Province
Country   Nepal
ProvinceLumbini Province
Admin HQ.Sandhikharka
Government
 • TypeCoordination committee
 • BodyDCC, Arghākhānchī
Area
 • Total1,199 km2 (463 sq mi)
 • Rank077
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total197,632
 • Density160/km2 (430/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+05:45 (NPT)
Main Language(s)Nepali
Websitedaoarghakhanchi.moha.gov.np

Arghakhanchi (Nepali: अर्घाखाँची जिल्ला [ʌɾɡakʰãt͡si] ⓘ) is one of the districts of Lumbini Province in Nepal. The district headquarter is Sandhikharka. The district covers an area of 1,193 km2 (461 sq mi) and has a population (2011) of 197,632.[1] Its neighboring districts are Palpa in the east, Gulmi in the north, Kapilvastu District in the south and Pyuthan in the west. The district also covers 4.18km of daily busy road connecting Kapilvastu and Bhalubang, Lalmatiya, Dang with Rapti River as Mahendra Highway or Easy-West Highway.

History

The district consists of two pre-unification principalities Argha and Khanchi. Argha (Nepali:अर्घा) was the name given to ritual offerings made at the former principality's main Bhagwati Temple. Khanchi may come from the word Khajanchi (Nepali:खजाञ्चि) or tax collector since the center of the latter principality was known for its tax office. Both were two of the Chaubisi rajya (24 principalities) centred in the Gandaki Basin. In 1786 A.D. (1843 BS) during the unification of Nepal the two were annexed by Gorkha. Later the merger was renamed “Arghakhanchi” and added to Gulmi District. Arghakhanchi became a separate district in 1961 A.D. (2018 BS).[2]

Demographics

Historical population
Census yearPop.±% p.a.
1981 157,304—    
1991 180,884+1.41%
2001 208,391+1.43%
2011 197,632−0.53%
2021 177,200−1.09%
Source: Citypopulation[3]

In 2001, the population was 208,391.[4] In 1991, the population was 180,884.[4]

At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, Arghakhanchi District had a population of 197,632; 86,266 male and 111,366 female. The total number of households was 46,835 and the average household size 4.22 on the basis of usual place of residence. The sex ratio (number of males per 100 females) was 77.5 and population density was 166.[1]

As their first language, 97.5% spoke Nepali, 1.3% Magar, 0.5% Kumhali, 0.2% Newar, 0.2% Urdu and 0.1% Kham.[5]

Ethnicity/caste: 32.8% were Hill Brahmin, 18.2% Chhetri, 18.0% Magar, 11.3% Kami, 6.1% Sarki, 3.4% Kumal, 3.2% Damai/Dholi, 2.8% Newar, 0.9% Gharti/Bhujel, 0.9% Musalman, 0.6% Thakuri, 0.5% Sanyasi/Dasnami, 0.4% Gurung, 0.2% Terai Brahmin, 0.1% Badi, 0.1% Gaine, 0.1% Tharu and 0.1% others.[6]

Religion: 97.0% were Hindu, 1.9% Buddhist, 0.9% Muslim and 0.1% Christian.[7]

Literacy: 72.5% could read and write, 2.2% could only read and 25.3% could neither read nor write.[8]


The latest update of population of Arghakhanchi district according to 2021 Nepal census is noted as 177,086 with population density of 148.4/km².

Geography and climate

Arghakhanchi lies between 27'45"N and 28'6"N latitude, and 80'45"E to 83'23"E longitude. It covers 1,193 km2. The altitude of the district varies from 305 to 2515 meter above the sea level. 68% of the district is in the mountainous Mahabharat Range and the rest is in the Siwalik Hills. Elevations range from 305 to 2575 m above sea level and about 40% of the total area is forested.[2]

The major rivers of the district are Bangi Khola, Bangsari Khola, Mathurabesi Khola, Banganga Khola, Durga Khola, Sita Khola, Khakabesi Khola, Rangsing Khola, Ratne Khola, Jhimruk Khola, Khankbesi Khola and Thada Khola. Thada lake and Sengleng lake are the major lakes of the district.

Climate zone[9] Elevation range  % of area
Lower Tropical below 300 meters (1,000 ft)  0.2%
Upper Tropical 300 to 1,000 meters
1,000 to 3,300 ft.		 50.5%
Subtropical 1,000 to 2,000 meters
3,300 to 6,600 ft.		 49.1%
Temperate 2,000 to 3,000 meters
6,400 to 9,800 ft.		  0.2%

Administration

The district consists of six municipalities, out of which three are urban municipalities[10]

Towns and villages

The major town in the district is Sandhikharka which is the headquarter of Arghakhanchi district. It is almost 300 km (190 mi) southwest of Nepal's capital of Kathmandu.

There are many small villages in the district, including Mareng, Bhagawati, Asurkot, Chhatradev Arghakhanchi, Chhatragunj Arghakhanchi Lamchi, Balkot, Bangi, Dharapani, Sandhikharka Dhikura, Dibharna, Khanchikot, Kimadada, Kura, Phudbang, Bangla, Adguri, Khana, Khanadaha, Pali, and Dhatiwang,Thada, Amarai, Pattharkot, Jukena etc.

Hatari Neta is a government school in Arghakhanchi. They are said to have good roads, electric power, education, etc. Villages in the west and south part of the district have relatively little development as compared to the villages of the north and east side. Sano Gaun is the most popular place for visit. Lamchi is another popular village in Arghakhanchi.

Deurali temple is in the area and so are Supa Deurali, Thada Maikasthan, Kothiya Mai, Argha Mandir and other temples. Supa deurali is one of the most famous religious and tourism place located in Arghakhanchi. People from Gulmi, Palpa, Pyuthan, Kapilvastu and even from Bihar of India, comes to worship in Supa Deurali.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "National Population and Housing Census 2011(National Report)" (PDF). Central Bureau of Statistics. Government of Nepal. November 3, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 25, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Districts". 28 June 2012. Archived from the original on June 18, 2010. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  3. ↑ "NEPAL: Administrative Division". www.citypopulation.de.
  4. 1 2 "Nepal Districts". statoids.com. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  5. ↑ NepalMap Language
  6. ↑ NepalMap Caste
  7. ↑ NepalMap Religion
  8. ↑ NepalMap Literacy
  9. ↑ 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
  10. ↑ "Local level body". Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  11. ↑ rovethetrails (2023-06-17). "Supa Deurali Temple: Glory of Arghakhanchi". Rove The Trails. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
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