Taplejung District
District in Koshi Province, Nepal
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Taplejung District (Nepali: ताप्लेजुङ जिल्ला ({{Sherpa|xsr||རྟ་བླ་རྫོང ⓘ) is one[2] of seventy-seven districts of Nepal and one of the 14 districts of Koshi Province. It is located deep in the Himalayas in Eastern Nepal with བོད to the north across the Himalayas. Taplejung is the third largest district (by area) of Nepal.
Taplejung
རྟ་བླ་རྫོང | |
|---|---|
   Dudh Kunda at Yamtari Glacier, Lelep village, view from Pathibhara temple, Gunsa village (clockwise from top) | |
| Nickname: ताप्लेजोङ | |
 Location of Taplejing (dark yellow) in Koshi Province | |
| Coordinates: 27°21′0″N 87°40′0″E | |
| Country | Nepal |
| Province | Koshi Province |
| Established | 1962 |
| Admin HQ. | Phungling Municipality |
| Government | |
| • Type | Coordination committee |
| • Body | DCC, Taplejung |
| • Head | Mr. Ghanendra Maden |
| • Deputy-Head | Mrs. Debimaya Nepali |
| Area | |
• Total | 3,645.05 km2 (1,407.36 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 3rd |
| Highest elevation | 8,586 m (28,169 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 670 m (2,200 ft) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
• Total | 120,590 |
| • Density | 33.083/km2 (85.685/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+05:45 (NPT) |
| Postal Codes | 57500 |
| Website | ddctaplejung |
The district covers an area of 3,646 square kilometres (1,408 sq mi) and has a total population (2011 Nepal census) of 127,461. The district is surrounded by Tibet in the north, Sankhuwasabha District in the west, Tehrathum District and Panchthar District in the south and Sikkim (India) in the east. Geographically, the district is located at a latitude of 27º 06' to 27º 55'N and a longitude of 87º57' to 88°12' E.[3]
Etymology
In Sherpa language, Taple Dzong means "a fort of King Taple".Here "Taple" "རྟ་བླ" is said to be the name of the Bhote/Sherpa/Bhutia king and "Dzong" "རྫོང" Fort word derived from the Taplejung medieval times, a fort built by King Taple stood in the area.[4]
History
18th Century befor Taplejung is part of Sikkim. When Treaty of "Lho Men Tsong Sum" Treaty it means "Bhote (Early 20th century called Bhutia in sikkim and Nepal Sherpa/Bhote". Lepcha Yakthung/Limbu Three" Treaty.
Limbus were given more rights and given kipat (किपट) and Limbuwan is found in 9 districts.
Before the unification of Nepal, the area of Taplejung and its surrounds were called after 19th century pallo Kirat Limbuwan which means "far region" and was ruled by the Limbu kings of Limbuwan.[5]
After the unification of Nepal, the area of Taplejung became a part of the large Dhankuta District.
In 1962 when the traditional old 32 districts divided into 75, the three thums (counties) of the large Dhankuta district separately established a new district named "Taplejung".
Geography and climate
Geographically Taplejung is a mountainous district where the world's third highest peak Kanchenjunga (8586 m) is located.[6] It is situated at elevation ranging from 670 metres (2,200 ft) to 8,586 metres (28,169 ft) from sea level.[7]
The Tamor River is a main river in the district, which flows through the middle in the district dividing district in east and west Taplejung. Gunsa river, Simbuwa river and the many tributaries of Tamur are important sources of freshwater. There are more than 60 rivers and streams in the district. Some glacial lakes are: Sinjenma Pokhari, Samdo Pokhari, Tin Pokhari, Kali Pokhari etc.[8][9]
The district includes many highest peaks e.g. Gimmigela (7350 m), talung (7349 m), Kabru (7276 m), Nepal peak (7177 m), Kumbhkarna (7025 m) etc.[10] Kanchenjunga Conservation Area is a protected area in the district which covers an area of 2,035 square kilometres (786 sq mi).
| Climate Zone[11] | Elevation Range | % of Area |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Tropical | 300 to 1,000 meters 1,000 to 3,300 ft. |
2.4% |
| Subtropical | 1,000 to 2,000 meters 3,300 to 6,600 ft. |
14.8% |
| Temperate | 2,000 to 3,000 meters 6,400 to 9,800 ft. |
19.5% |
| Subalpine | 3,000 to 4,000 meters 9,800 to 13,100 ft. |
16.8% |
| Alpine | 4,000 to 5,000 meters 13,100 to 16,400 ft. |
38.8% |
| Nival | above 5,000 meters | 7.7% |
Demographics
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 120,780 | — |
| 1991 | 120,053 | −0.06% |
| 2001 | 134,698 | +1.16% |
| 2011 | 127,461 | −0.55% |
| 2021 | 120,590 | −0.55% |
| Sources:[12] | ||
At the time of the 2021 Nepal census, Taplejung district had a population of 120,590. Taplejung has a sex ratio of 984 females per 1000 males. 28,449 (23.59%) lived in urban areas.[13]
As their first language, 35.40% of the
population spoke Limbu, 24.59% Nepali, 24.30% Sherpa, 4.25% Tamang, 2.78% Gurung, 2.19% Rai and 0.92% Magar as their first language.[14]
Ethnicity/caste wise, in 2021 42.60% were Limbu, 12.00% Sherpa, 11.7% Chhetri, 2.70% Hill Brahmin, 4.06% Rai, 4.73% Gurung, 4.66% Tamang, 4.55% Kami, 1.45% Damai, 1.39% Newar, 1.10% Magar, 1.05% Sunuwar and 0.95% Mijar.[15]
Religion: 40.55% were Kirati, 17.45% Hindu, 38.44% Buddhist, 2.60% Christian, 0.66% Bon and 0.34% others.[17]
Literacy: 71.0% could read and write, 2.8% could only read and 26.1% could neither read nor write.[18]
Administration
Taplejung District is administered by Taplejung District Coordination Committee (Taplejung DCC). The Taplejung DCC is elected by Taplejung District Assembly. The head of Taplejung DCC is Mr. Ghanendra Maden and Mrs. Devimaya Nepali is deputy head of Taplejung DCC.
Taplejung District Administration Office under Ministry of Home Affairs co-operate with Taplejung DCC to maintain peace, order and security in the district. The officer of District Administration office called CDO and current CDO of Taplejung DAO is Dorendra Niraula.
Taplejung District Court is a judicial court to see the cases of people on district level.
| Administration | Name | Head |
|---|---|---|
| Legislative | District Coordination Committee | Ghanendra Maden |
| Executive | District Administration Office | Dorendra Niraula |
| Judicial | District Court | Prakash Raut |
Division
Taplejung is divided in total 9 local level bodies, in which only Phungling is an urban municipality otherwise all other local level bodies are rural municipality.
| SN | Local level unit | Type | Population | Area | No. of wards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phungling | urban | 26406 | 125.57 | 11 |
| 2 | Aathrai Tribeni | rural | 13784 | 88.83 | 5 |
| 3 | Sidingwa | rural | 12099 | 206 | 7 |
| 4 | Phaktanglung | rural | 12017 | 1858.51 | 7 |
| 5 | Mikkwakhola | rural | 9160 | 442.96 | 5 |
| 6 | Meringden | rural | 12548 | 210.33 | 6 |
| 7 | Maiwakhola | rural | 11037 | 138 | 6 |
| 8 | Pathibhara Yangwarak | rural | 13591 | 93.76 | 6 |
| 9 | Sirijangha | rural | 15806 | 481.09 | 8 |
Former administrative divisions
Formerly, Taplejung had one municipality and many VDCs. VDCs were the local level administrative units for villages.
Fulfilling the requirement of the new constitution of Nepal 2015, on 10 March 2017 all VDCs were nullified and formed new units after grouping VDCs.
Constituencies
Taplejung District consists 1 Parliamentary constituency and 2 Provincial constituencies[19]
| Constituencies | Type | Area | MP/MLA | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taplejung 1 | Parliamentary | whole Taplejung district | Yogesh Bhattarai | UML |
| Taplejung 1(A) | Provincial | Phungling, Yangwarak, Sidingba, Sirijangha and the ward no. 3 of Phaktanglung | Til Kumar Menyangbo Limbu | UML |
| Taplejung 1(B) | Provincial | Aathrai Tribeni, Maiwakhola, Meringden, Mikwakhola and Phaktanglung (excluding ward no. 3) | Khagen Singh Hangam | NC |
Transportation
Taplejung (headquarters) is connected to the rest of Nepal by the Mechi Highway which meets the east–west or Mahendra Highway at Charali (Mechinagar). The distance from Mechinagar to Taplejung is 227 kilometres (141 mi).[20] A person can travel from Kathmandu to Taplejung by public bus, jeep or by flight. Taplejung Airport is a nearest airport.
Tourism
Taplejung is a best destination for trekkers. Kanchenjunga Conservation Area comprises cultivated lands, forests, pastures, rivers, high altitude lakes and glaciers. snow leopard, Asian black bear, red panda, golden-breasted fulvetta, snow cock, blood pheasant and red-billed chough can be seen in the area.[21] Pathibhara Devi Temple or Mukkumlung Manghim at Taplejung hill is considered as the home to Yuma Sammang, the deity of Limbu people and thus worshipped. A 16th century Diki Chhyoling monastery lies in Olangchung-gola.
