Gorkha District

Gorkha District (Nepali: गोरखा जिल्ला Listenⓘ), a part of Gandaki Province, is one of the 77 districts of Nepal, which is the fourth largest district (by area) of Nepal and connected historically with the creation of the modern Nepal and the name of the legendary Gorkha soldiers. The district, with Gorkha Municipality (previously known as Prithvi Narayan Municipality) as its district headquarters, covers an area of 3,610 km2 (1,390 sq mi) and has a population of 252,201 according to the 2021 Nepal census. Gorkha district is the site of the Manakamana Temple.[1] The temples of Gorakh Nath and Gorakh Kali are found in the district. Several major rivers—the Chepe, Daraudi, Marsyangdi, Budi Gandaki, and Trishuli—run through the district.

For other uses, see Gurkha (disambiguation).
For special article on Ancient Nepalese kingdom, see Gorkha Kingdom.
Gorkha District
गोरखा
District
Gorkha museum in Gorkha
Gorkha museum in Gorkha
Location of Gorkha (dark yellow) in Gandaki Province
Location of Gorkha (dark yellow) in Gandaki Province
Coordinates: 28°17′N 84°41′E
CountryNepal
ProvinceGandaki Province
Established12th century
Government
 • TypeCoordination committee
 • BodyDCC, Gorkha
Area
 • Total3,610 km2 (1,390 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total252,201
 • Density70/km2 (180/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+05:45 (NPT)
Telephone Code064
Main Language(s)Nepali, Ghale, Gurung, Magar, Newari, Muslim

Origin of the name

Myth holds that a saint named Gorakhnath appeared for the first time in Nepal in Gorkha. There remains a cave with his paduka ('footprint') and a likeness which supports the myth. As the city was established in the place where Sage Gorakhnath appeared, it was named Gorkha.

Geography and climate
Climate Zone[2] Elevation Range  % of Area
Lower Tropical below 300 meters (1,000 ft) 0.1%
Upper Tropical 300 to 1,000 meters
1,000 to 3,300 ft.		 19.8%
Subtropical 1,000 to 2,000 meters
3,300 to 6,600 ft.		 14.6%
Temperate 2,000 to 3,000 meters
6,400 to 9,800 ft.		 13.3%
Subalpine 3,000 to 4,000 meters
9,800 to 13,100 ft.		 14.9%
Alpine 4,000 to 5,000 meters
13,100 to 16,400 ft.		 10.6%
Nival above 5,000 meters 11.5%
Trans-Himalayan[3]

[4]

 3,000 to 6,400 meters
9,800 to 21,000 ft.		 14.8%

Mountains

Transport

Gorkha town has daily bus services to and from Kathmandu (six hours) and Pokhara (three hours).[5]

Demographics

At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, Gorkha District had a population of 271,061.

As their first language, 73.0% spoke Nepali, 13.4% Gurung, 4.7% Magar, 3.8% Tamang, 1.1% Ghale, 0.9% Urdu, 0.7% Newari, 0.6% Kumhali, 0.6% Chepang, 0.5% Bajjika, 0.2% Bhojpuri, 0.2% Yolmo and 0.2% other languages.[6]

Ethnicity/caste: 19.8% were Khas/Chhetri, 15.2% Hill Brahmin, 11.6% Magar, 11.5% Gurung , 7.8% Newar, 7.6% Sarki, 5.6% Kami, 4.8% Tamang, 3.0% Damai/Dholi, 3.0% Kumal, 2.5% Brahmu/Baramo, 1.9% Ghale, 1.3% Chepang/Praja, 1.1% Musalman, 1.0% Sanyasi/Dasnami, 0.8% Gharti/Bhujel, 0.3% Darai, 0.3% Thakuri, 0.2% Majhi, 0.1% Badi, 0.1% Gaine, 0.1% Rai, 0.1% Tharu and 0.2% others.[7]

Religion: 75.1% were Hindu, 19.1% Buddhist, 3.3% Christian, 1.1% Muslim, 0.6% Bon, 0.6% Prakriti and 0.1% others.[8]

Literacy: 66.1% could both read and write, 2.4% could read but not write and 31.4% could neither read nor write.[9]

Historical population
Census yearPop.±% p.a.
1981 231,294—    
1991 252,524+0.88%
2001 288,134+1.33%
2011 271,061−0.61%
2021 252,201−0.72%
Source: Citypopulation[10]

Health care
Surgeons in Amppipal

Following is the data obtained from the PHASE Nepal website:

  • Central/regional/zonal hospitals: 0
  • District hospitals: 2
  • Primary healthcare centres: 3
  • Health posts: 10
  • Sub-health post: 55
  • Number of doctors: 8

A district hospital is in Gorkha, the municipal hospital in Amppipal is supported by a German NGO.

The small health centers in many village development committees (VDCs) are without Auxiliary Health Workers (AHWs), Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) and Community Health Workers (CHWs). So, people seeking emergency health assistance have to travel a long distance to the district headquarters or Kathmandu or end up dying because of lack of treatment. Many people still believe in Dhami and Jhakri and are against taking medicine or going to the hospital for the treatment. An NGO, PHASE Nepal provides many health care facilities and training programs to three VDCs: Sirdibas, Bihi/Prok and Chumchet. Many people residing in these VDCs have benefited from the program.[11]

Educational status
Gorkha students after earthquake

As per the National Population and Housing Census of Nepal 2011, the literacy rate of Gorkha is 66.34%. The female literacy rate is 59.44% and the male literacy rate is 75.09%.

  • Drabya Saha Multiple Campus, Gorkha Muniplicity-8, Laxmi Bazar
  • Gorkha Campus, Gorkha Muniplicity, Gorkha
  • Bhawani Multiple Campus, Palungtar, Gorkha
  • Dullav Campus, Masel, Ghyampesal, Gorkha
  • Paropakar Adarsha Multiple Campus, Jaubari, Gorkha
  • Bheemodaya Multiple Campus, Aarughat, Gorkha

Administration

The district consists of 11 Municipalities, out of which two are urban municipalities and nine are rural municipalities. These are as follows:[12]

Former Village Development Committees

Prior to the restructuring of the district, Gorkha District consisted of the following municipalities and Village development committees:

Gorkha district with VDCs

See also

References
  1. "Dakshinkali and Manakamana Temple tours". Mission Eco Trek. Archived from the original on 2015-05-26. Retrieved 2014-08-13.
  2. 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
  3. Shrestha, Mani R.; Rokaya, Maan B.; Ghimire, Suresh K. (2005). "Vegetation pattern of Trans-Himalayan zone in the North-West Nepal". Nepal Journal of Plant Sciences. 1: 129–135. Retrieved Feb 7, 2014.
  4. Banerji, Gargi; Basu, Sejuti. "Climate Change and Himalayan Cold Deserts: Mapping vulnerability and threat to ecology and indigenous livelihoods" (PDF). Pragya. Gurgaon, Haryana, India. Retrieved February 7, 2014.
  5. "Gorkha, Gorkha, Nepal, Kathmandu & Surrounds | TourismKathmandu.com". www.tourismkathmandu.com. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  6. NepalMap Language
  7. NepalMap Caste
  8. NepalMap Religion
  9. NepalMap Literacy
  10. "NEPAL: Administrative Division". www.citypopulation.de.
  11. "Project Area: Gorkha". PHASE Nepal.
  12. "स्थानिय तह" (in Nepali). Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration. Archived from the original on 31 August 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
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