Achham District

Achham (Nepali: अछाम जिल्ला pronounced [ʌt͡sʰam] ⓘ) is a district located in Sudurpashchim province and one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal. It is one of the nine districts of the province. The district, with Mangalsen as its district headquarters, covers an area of 1,692 km2 and has a population (2011) of 257,477.

Etymology

There are many cultural meaning about the naming of the district but one interesting folklore is that:

.... during Mughal era in India, most people by fear of Mughal moved to this place. That time this place was good in the production of Mangoes, so when people from North India came here, they said: "Accha Aam" (अच्छा आम) (meaning good mangoes in Hindi) and that "Accha Aam" became "Achham" later.

History

Madan Singh Thapa was the first king of Achham in the 5th century. Achham was a part of Doti Kingdom during medieval era. Nepal annexed Doti in 1790. It remained part of Doti District until 1961. On 13 April 1961, Achham district carved out from Doti District and declared a separate district

Geography and Climate

Achham covers an area of 1,692 square kilometres (653 sq mi) and located at Latitude: 280°46’ North to 290°23' North and Longitude: 810°32 East to 810°35' East. 90% area of Achham is mid-hill and 10% is high-hill. The maximum elevation of the district is 3,820 metres (12,530 ft) and minimum elevation is 540 metres (1,770 ft) from the sea level. The district is surrounded by Bajura District in the North, Doti District in the West, Dailekh District in the East and Surkhet District in the South.

Rivers

The district has 31 rivers in total, the main being the Karnali, Seti, Budhiganga, Ekdi khola, Kailash Khola, Lungreligad, Pravaligad, Kashagad, Saranigad, Ardoligad, Talrawa and Barlegad.

Demographics

At the time of the 2021 Nepal census, Achham District had a population of 228,852. 10.96% of the population is under 5 years of age. It has a literacy rate of 72.64% and a sex ratio of 1173 females per 1000 males. 99,568 (43.51%) lived in municipalities.

1. Chhetri (54.6%)
2. Kami (17.3%)
3. Bahun (9.60%)
4. Damai (8.41%)
5. Thakuri (5.29%)
6. Sarki (2.94%)
7. Hill Janjati (1.13%)
8. Others (0.70%)

Khas people make up a majority of the population with 99% of the population. Chhetris make up 55% of the population, while Khas Dalits make up 29% of the population. Hill Janjatis, mainly Magars, are 1% of the population.

1. Nepali (57.4%)
2. Achhami (40.4%)
3. Others (2.13%)

At the time of the 2021 census, 57.43% of the population spoke Nepali and 40.44% Achhami as their first language. In 2011, 66.4% of the population spoke Nepali as their first language.

Administration

The district is administered by District Coordination Committee (Legislative), District Administration Office (Executive) and District Court (Judicial) as follows:

Administrative Divisions

Accham is divided into total of ten local level bodies, of which four are urban and six are rural.

Transportation

Achham is one of the remotest districts of Nepal. It is accessible by automobile from Kathmandu and Nepalgunj via a paved road that runs along the western border of Nepal from Dhangadhi. The unpaved road of Mid-Hill Highway through Dailakh district also traverses to Mangalsen by crossing Karnali at Rakam.

Mangalsen, the district headquarters, is an eight-hour walk and a 2.5 hour drive from Sanphebagar – a town in Achham sporting a non-functional domestic airport. A bridge crosses the Budhiganga River in Sanphebagar allowing access during high water, a second bridge over the Kailash River. During 2009/2010, the government of Nepal has constructed a paved road connecting Sanphebagar to Mangalsen. The district is served by two hospitals, the government district hospital in Mangalsen and one recently opened in Bayalpata named Bayalpata Hospital that is a collaboration between the government and the non-profit organization Nyaya Health.

Education

71% of men aged five and above are literate in Achham compared to 75% at the national level, only 43% of such women in the district can read and write (against 57% across Nepal).

FM radio and newspapers

Achham Besd six FM radio and three newspapers are running now.

See also

• Panchadewal Binayak

External links

• . Statoids.

The places to visit in this district are Khaptad, Achham Naini , Ramaroshan, Baidhanath, Binayak Panchadewol, Sanfebagar, Mangalsen Durbar