Eastern Rukum District

For the former district, see Rukum District.

Eastern Rukum District
पूर्वी रुकुम
District
Dhaulagiri Himalayas in Eastern Rukum
Dhaulagiri Himalayas in Eastern Rukum
Location of the district (dark yellow) in Lumbini Province
Location of the district (dark yellow) in Lumbini Province
Coordinates: 28°22′N 82°22′E / 28.37°N 82.37°E / 28.37; 82.37
Country Nepal
ProvinceLumbini Province
Established2015
Admin HQ.Rukumkot
Government
 • TypeCoordination committee
 • BodyDCC, Eastern Rukum
Area
 • Total1,161.13 km2 (448.31 sq mi)
Population
 • Total53,018
 • Density46/km2 (120/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+05:45 (NPT)
Websitedccrukumeast.gov.np

Eastern Rukum (Nepali: पूर्वी रुकुम) is a mountain district of Lumbini Province of Nepal situated along the Dhaulagiri mountain range.[1][2] It is also the only mountain district of the province with its tallest mountain Putha Hiunchuli (Dhaulagiri VII) situated in the west end of Dhaulagiri II mountain chain, at an elevation of 7,246 meters.[3] The drainage source of ancient Airavati river, one of the five sacred rivers of Buddhism, lies in the lesser Himalayas of the district.[4] With a Dhaulagiri mountain range, lakes, Magar culture and its political history, Eastern Rukum has been among the top travel destinations of Nepal as designated by the Government of Nepal.[5][6]

The district is known for having 52 ponds and 53 hills.[7] From 1996 to 2006, Eastern Rukum - a region with Magar majority - was one of the historical base area of the People's War of Nepal providing many foot soldiers, commanders, prominent leaders and martyrs during the war which in turn pivoted the country into a democratic Federal republic in 2008.[8] Guerilla trekking route has also been developed in the district as an adventure tourism following the past trails of the rebels in the base of Himalayas providing experiences of scenic landscapes, Dhaulagiri mountain ranges and rich Kham Magar culture.[9][10] In 2018, the district was labelled among the "fully literate" districts of the country, with a literacy rate of over 95%, showing a significant post-conflict development.[11][12] After Palpa district (53% Magar population), Eastern Rukum has the second largest Magar population in Nepal as a percentage of the total population (51% Magar population).[13]

Though successful in maintaining various levels of autonomy, independence and preservation of Kham Magar culture even during ancient and medieval Nepal, the region's structure were altered during the rule of Rana dynasty as well as during Panchayat era. Before 1975, substantial portion of Eastern Rukum was territorially merged with Palpa district during the Rana regime and with Baglung District during Panchayat.[14][15] On 20 September 2015, Eastern Rukum was created as a new district after the state's reconstruction of administrative divisions splitting Rukum District into Western Rukum and Eastern Rukum.

The district is named after the Hindu Goddess Rukmini, the consort of Lord Krishna
  1. ^ "DNPWC". Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  2. ^ "कान्छो जिल्लाको तोतेबोलीः किन टुक्रियो पूर्वी रुकुम ?". Online Khabar. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  3. ^ "रुकुम (पूर्वी भाग) जि.स.स". dccrukumeast.gov.np. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference :7 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Visit Nepal 2020 | Destinations for visit Nepal 2020". Nepal Guide Treks & Expedition - Hiking & Peak Climbing Agency. 5 January 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Rukum : "Virgin land - a new tourism destination in Nepal"". Himalayan Mentor. 30 June 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Chhipridaha lake in Rukum (East) on the verge of extinction". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  8. ^ de Sales, Anne (2009). "From ancestral conflicts to local empowerment: two narratives from a Nepalese community". Dialectical Anthropology. 33 (3/4): 365–381. doi:10.1007/s10624-009-9136-3. ISSN 0304-4092. JSTOR 29790894. S2CID 145500590.
  9. ^ "RAOnline Nepal: Trekkings in Nepal - New Trekking routes in Nepal - Guerrilla tourist trail launched". www.raon.ch. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  10. ^ "The Guerilla Trek". ECS NEPAL. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  11. ^ "Kathmandu becomes 55th fully literate district". Khabarhub. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  12. ^ "Total Literate Districts of Nepal". Gyan Park › A Genuine Resource. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference NepalMap profile: Rukum East was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ RUKUM, TAKASERA EASTERN (31 January 2018). "विकटता र निकटता ……". Medium. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  15. ^ "रुकुमपूर्व जिल्लाको सदरमुकाम गोल्खाडा नै हुनुपर्ने माग". Sansar News- Online for Global Nepali. 10 February 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.