Rukum District
Template:Infobox Nepal district
Rukum District (Template:Lang-ne) is a "hill" and "mountain" district some 280 km west of Kathmandu in Rapti Zone of Nepal's Mid-Western Region. Rukum covers an area of 2,877 km² with population (2001) of 188,438. Musikot (also called Jhumlikhalanga) is the district's administrative center.
Rukum district has many potential tourist attractions that remain unexplored. There is 5,849 meter (19,195 ft.) Mt. Sisne (Template:Lang-ne), also called virgin mountain. Nobody claims to have conquered this mountain yet. Rukum is sometimes called "the place of 52 lakes and 53 hills". Rukumkot has a beautiful pond called Rukmini Tal or locally Kamal Dhaha. Nearby are notable temples called Barah and Sibalaya, and caves such as Deurali Cave.
Civil War
Rukum was a flashpoint of the Maoist insurgency, along with Rolpa district. Rukum became a stronghold and was controlled by insurgents throughout the conflict. Many Maoist leaders came from this district, as well as many insurgents who died.
Transport
Rukum District is considered remote because air travel is the only modern transportation mode available. Two airports offer safe but rudimentary facilities for passenger flights, mainly from Nepalgunj, Bhairahawa and Kathmandu. Rapti Highway is under construction (as of 2010) to connect Musikot to Salyan Khalanga, Tulstipur and Mahendra Highway to the south. Otherwise travel into Rukum requires several days of hiking. During the monsoon months it can be hazardous even for seasoned locals.
The two airports in Rukum are in Chaurjahari (Template:Lang-ne) and Salle (Template:Lang-ne).
Chaurjahari Airport
Near the Bheri River. 762m above sea level and accessible by footpaths and horse trails only, with a grass runway 488m long and 30m wide. It was the primary mode of travel to Rukum for government, NGO personnel, aid workers and backpackers before the civil war. During the conflict the security situation deteriorated and the local police station was shut down. The airport was frequently inoperable.
Rukum Salle Airport
Located near Musikot, the district headquarters. Like Chaurjahari, accessible only by footpaths and horse trails. It has a gravel runway.
Villages Development Committees (VDCs)
- Aathbis Danda, Aathbis Kot, Arma
- Banfikot, Bhalakachha
- Chaurjahari, Chhiwang, Chokhawang, Chunwang
- Duli
- Garayala, Gautamkot, Ghetma
- Hukam
- Jang, Jhula
- Kanda, Kankri, Khara, Kholagaun, Kol, Kotjahari
- Magma, Mahat, Morawang, Muru, Musikot Khalanga
- Nuwakot
- Pipal, Pokhara, Purtim Kanda, Pwang, Pyaugha
- Rangsi, Ranmamekot
- Rugha
- Sankha, Simli, Sisne, Shova, Syalagadi, Syalapakha
- Taksera
References
- "Districts of Nepal". Statoids.
