Dang District, Nepal: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|District in Lumbini Province, FDR Nepal}} |
{{Short description|District in Lumbini Province, FDR Nepal}} |
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{{Infobox settlement |
{{Infobox settlement |
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| type |
| type = [[Districts of Nepal|District]] |
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| name |
| name = Dang District |
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| native_name |
| native_name = दाङ जिल्ला |
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| nickname |
| nickname = |
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| native_name_lang |
| native_name_lang = <!-- ISO 639-2 code e.g. "fr" for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} instead --> |
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| motto |
| motto = |
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| image_skyline |
| image_skyline = World's largest trident(Trishul).jpg |
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| image_alt |
| image_alt = |
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| image_caption |
| image_caption = World's largest [[Trishula]] (trident of [[Shiva]]) at Pandaveshwar Temple in Dang District |
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| image_map |
| image_map = Dang Province5 locator.png |
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| map_alt |
| map_alt = |
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| map_caption |
| map_caption = Location of Dang (dark yellow) in Lumbini Province |
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| image_map1 |
| image_map1 = |
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| mapsize1 |
| mapsize1 = |
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| map_alt1 |
| map_alt1 = |
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| map_caption1 |
| map_caption1 = |
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| coordinates |
| coordinates = |
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| coordinates_footnotes |
| coordinates_footnotes = |
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| subdivision_type |
| subdivision_type = Country |
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| subdivision_name |
| subdivision_name = Nepal |
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| subdivision_type1 |
| subdivision_type1 = [[Provinces of Nepal|Province]] |
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| subdivision_name1 |
| subdivision_name1 = [[Lumbini Province]] |
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| parts_type |
| parts_type = [[Local self-government in Nepal|Municipality]] |
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| parts_style |
| parts_style = coll |
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| p1 |
| p1 = |
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| p2 |
| p2 = |
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| established_title |
| established_title = Established |
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| established_date |
| established_date = 17 May 1951 |
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| seat_type |
| seat_type = Admin HQ. |
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| seat |
| seat = [[Ghorahi]] |
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| leader_title |
| leader_title = Head |
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| leader_name |
| leader_name = |
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| leader_party |
| leader_party = |
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| leader_title1 |
| leader_title1 = Deputy-Head |
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| leader_name1 |
| leader_name1 = |
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| leader_title2 |
| leader_title2 = [[House of Representatives (Nepal)|Parliamentary constituencies]] |
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| leader_name2 |
| leader_name2 = |
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| leader_title3 |
| leader_title3 = [[Provincial Assembly (Nepal)|Provincial constituencies]] |
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| leader_name3 |
| leader_name3 = |
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| government_footnotes |
| government_footnotes = |
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| government_type |
| government_type = [[District Coordination Committee|Coordination committee]] |
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| governing_body |
| governing_body = [[District Coordination Committee|DCC]], Dāng Deukhuri |
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| area_footnotes = |
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| |
| area_total_km2 = 2955 |
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| area_note = |
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| area_rank = |
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| elevation_footnotes = |
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| area_rank = |
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| elevation_m = |
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| elevation_min_m = |
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| elevation_max_m = |
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| population_total = 674993 |
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| elevation_max_m = |
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| population_as_of = 2021 |
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| population_footnotes = <ref name="National Population and Housing Census 2011(National Report)">{{cite news|title=National Population and Housing Census 2011(National Report) |url=http://cbs.gov.np/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/National%20Report.pdf |access-date= |agency=Government of Nepal |publisher=[[Central Bureau of Statistics (Nepal)|Central Bureau of Statistics]] |date=November 2012 |ref=Central Bureau of Statistics |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130418041642/http://cbs.gov.np/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/National%20Report.pdf |archive-date=April 18, 2013}}</ref> |
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| population_density_km2 = auto |
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| population_total = 548141 |
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| population_rank = |
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| blank_name_sec1 = Literacy rate |
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| population_density_km2 = auto |
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| |
| blank_info_sec1 = 81.4% |
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| |
| blank1_name_sec1 = |
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| blank_name_sec2 = Main languages |
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| blank_name_sec1 = [[Languages of Nepal|Main Language(s)]] |
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| blank_info_sec2 = [[Nepali language|Nepali]], [[Tharu language|Tharu]] |
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| timezone1 = [[Nepal Time|NPT]] |
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| utc_offset1 = +05:45 |
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| postal_code_type = Postal Codes |
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| timezone1 = [[Nepal Time|NPT]] |
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| postal_code = |
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| area_code_type = Telephone Code |
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| area_code = |
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| website = |
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| footnotes = |
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| official_name = |
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| footnotes = |
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| official_name = |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Coord|28|0|N|82|16|E|type:landmark_scale:500000|name=Deukhuri and Dang Valleys|display=title}} |
{{Coord|28|0|N|82|16|E|type:landmark_scale:500000|name=Deukhuri and Dang Valleys|display=title}} |
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'''Dang District''' ({{lang-ne|[[:ne:दाङ|दाङ जिल्ला]]}}, {{IPA-ne|daŋ|}}) is a district of [[Lumbini Province]] located in the [[Inner Terai Valleys of Nepal|Inner Terai]] of midwestern [[Nepal]]. [[Deukhuri|Deukhuri |
'''Dang District''' ({{lang-ne|[[:ne:दाङ|दाङ जिल्ला]]}}, {{IPA-ne|daŋ|}}) is a district of [[Lumbini Province]] located in the [[Inner Terai Valleys of Nepal|Inner Terai]] of midwestern [[Nepal]]. [[Deukhuri|Deukhuri Valley]] of the district is the capital of the province and is the second largest valley of Asia surrounded by [[Sivalik Hills]] and [[Lower Himalayan Range|the Mahabharata Range]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=घोराही उप-महानगरपालिकाको संक्षिप्त परिचय {{!}} घोराही उप-महानगरपालिका, नगर कार्यपालिकाको कार्यालय|url=https://ghorahimun.gov.np/ne/content/%E0%A4%98%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%80-%E0%A4%89%E0%A4%AA-%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8B-%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4-%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%AF|access-date=2020-12-07|website=ghorahimun.gov.np|language=ne}}</ref> The district headquarter [[Ghorahi]] is the seventh largest city and the largest sub-metropolitan city of Nepal. [[Tulsipur, Dang|Tulsipur]] sub-metropolitan city, the second largest city of Dang, is a major transportation hub with extensive road and air networks. The district covers an area of 2,955 km<sup>2</sup> and has a population of 674,993 (2021 census).<ref name=":11" /> |
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Dang district has been archaeologically studied extensively since the 20th century due to the discoveries of ancient fossils of apes and early humans.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book|last=Pandey|first=R.N.|title=Paleo environment & pre-history of Nepal|publisher=Cnas:Tribhuvan University, Vol 14 N/2|year=1987|pages=116}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{cite journal|last=Corvinus|first=G.|year=1989|title=A handaxe assemblage from western Nepal|url=http://www.quartaer.eu/pdfs/1991/1991_08_corvinus.pdf|journal=Quartär (International Yearbook for Ice Age and Stone Age Research)|volume=39/40|pages=155–173|access-date=December 8, 2013|archive-date=December 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212030208/http://www.quartaer.eu/pdfs/1991/1991_08_corvinus.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The district is considered the center of [[Sanskrit]] language in Nepal and is home to Nepal's second oldest university, [[Nepal Sanskrit University]], which is the only [[Sanskrit]] university of the country, as well as Rapti Academy of Health Sciences (RAHS),<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Rapti Academy of Health Sciences|url=http://rahs.edu.np/|access-date=2020-12-07|website=RAHS|language=en-US}}</ref> the state-owned medical college of [[Lumbini Province]] with the Prime Minister of Nepal as the Chancellor.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About Rapti Academy of Health Sciences|url=http://rahs.edu.np/about-us/|access-date=2020-12-07|website=RAHS|language=en-US}}</ref> There are numerous temples and gumbas in Dang Deukhuri district with puranic legendary connections to [[Mahābhārata]], [[Shaivism]], [[Shaktism]] and [[Gorakhnath]], making it one of the richest cultural sites of the country.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|author=Bhandari, B.|url=https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/7337|title=Inventory of heritage sites in Nepal|publisher=IUCN Nepal|year=1997|place=Kathmandu}}</ref> |
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Dang district has been archeologically studied extensively since the 20th century due to the discoveries of ancient fossils of apes and early humans.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book|last=Pandey|first=R.N.|title=Paleo environment & pre-history of Nepal|publisher=Cnas:Tribhuvan University, Vol 14 N/2|year=1987|pages=116}}</ref><ref name=":5"> |
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{{cite journal|last=Corvinus|first=G.|year=1989|title=A handaxe assemblage from western Nepal|url=http://www.quartaer.eu/pdfs/1991/1991_08_corvinus.pdf|journal=Quartär (International Yearbook for Ice Age and Stone Age Research)|volume=39/40|pages=155–173|access-date=December 8, 2013}} |
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</ref> The district is considered the center of [[Sanskrit]] language in Nepal and is home to Nepal's second oldest university, [[Nepal Sanskrit University]] which is the only [[Sanskrit]] university of the country as well as Rapti Academy of Health Sciences (RAHS),<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Rapti Academy of Health Sciences|url=http://rahs.edu.np/|access-date=2020-12-07|website=RAHS|language=en-US}}</ref> the state-owned medical college of [[Lumbini Province]] with the Prime Minister of Nepal as the Chancellor.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About Rapti Academy of Health Sciences|url=http://rahs.edu.np/about-us/|access-date=2020-12-07|website=RAHS|language=en-US}}</ref> There are numerous temples and gumbas in Dang Deukhuri district with puranic legendary connections to ''[[Mahābhārata]],'' [[Shaivism]], [[Shaktism]] & [[Gorakhnath]] making it one of the richest cultural sites of the country.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|author=Bhandari, B.|url=https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/7337|title=Inventory of heritage sites in Nepal|publisher=IUCN Nepal|year=1997|place=Kathmandu}}</ref> |
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== History and prehistory == |
== History and prehistory == |
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=== Prehistory === |
=== Prehistory === |
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Archeologists consider the Churiya range very ancient with the existence of [[Sivapithecus]] (syn:''Ramapithecus),'' a link between man ''a''nd ape. The pre-historic study of Dang valley has been carried out by Tribhuvan University since 1966, including the geological study of the Valley by Robert M. West from the [[American Museum of Natural History]] and the Department of Mines of then His Majesty's Government of Nepal from 1976, as well as the paleolithic study of Dang by [[University of Erlangen-Nuremberg]] ('' |
Archeologists consider the Churiya range very ancient with the existence of [[Sivapithecus]] (syn:''Ramapithecus),'' a link between man ''a''nd ape. The pre-historic study of Dang valley has been carried out by Tribhuvan University since 1966, including the geological study of the Valley by Robert M. West from the [[American Museum of Natural History]] and the Department of Mines of then His Majesty's Government of Nepal from 1976, as well as the paleolithic study of Dang by [[University of Erlangen-Nuremberg]] (''Fredrich-Alexander-Universität'') of Germany in 1984, among others.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Sharma|first=Dilli Raj|title=Archeological Remains of the Dang Valley|publisher=University of Cambridge : Digital Himalaya|pages=9–10}}</ref> According to these concurrent researches, Dang valley was a lake approximately 2.5 to 1 million years ago.<ref name=":4" /> |
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During 1984–86, German researcher Gudrun Corvinus studied the miocene-pliocene stratigraphy and geology of Dang valley researching on the |
During 1984–86, German researcher Gudrun Corvinus studied the miocene-pliocene stratigraphy and geology of Dang valley researching on the pleistocene holocene period of ancient human settlements. She studied the exposed section of the road being constructed between Koilabas and the Dang Valley running through Deukhuri. [[Hand axe]]s and other artifacts dated to early [[Paleolithic]] (1.8 million to 100,000 years ago) have been found in alluvial deposits along the [[Babai River]] in Dang Valley. [[Archeology|Archeologists]] classify these as [[Acheulean]], i.e. 'second-generation' toolmaking that succeeds the very oldest [[Olduwan]]. |
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[[File:Babai River 02.jpg|thumb| |
[[File:Babai River 02.jpg|thumb|276x276px|Paleolithic artifacts (1.8 million to 100,000 years ago) site of Babai River in Dang Valley]] |
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There are more numerous less ancient archeological sites dating to the [[Upper Paleolithic]]/[[Late Pleistocene]] (about 50,000 to 10,000 years ago). These are also along the Babai, as well as in Deukhuri Valley (Rapti River) adjacent and south of Dang Valley.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":9">{{cite journal|last=Chauthan|first=P. R.|date=2003|title=An Overview of the Siwalik Acheulian & Reconsidering Its Chronological Relationship with the Soanian - A Theoretical Perspective|url=http://www.assemblage.group.shef.ac.uk/issue7/chauhan.html|url-status=dead|journal=Assemblage|issue=7|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104171240/http://www.assemblage.group.shef.ac.uk/issue7/chauhan.html|archive-date=January 4, 2012|access-date=December 8, 2013}}</ref> [[Archeology|Archeologists]] classify these as [[Acheulean]], i.e. 'second-generation' toolmaking that succeeds the very oldest [[Olduwan]]. |
There are more numerous less ancient archeological sites dating to the [[Upper Paleolithic]]/[[Late Pleistocene]] (about 50,000 to 10,000 years ago). These are also along the Babai, as well as in Deukhuri Valley (Rapti River) adjacent and south of Dang Valley.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":9">{{cite journal|last=Chauthan|first=P. R.|date=2003|title=An Overview of the Siwalik Acheulian & Reconsidering Its Chronological Relationship with the Soanian - A Theoretical Perspective|url=http://www.assemblage.group.shef.ac.uk/issue7/chauhan.html|url-status=dead|journal=Assemblage|issue=7|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104171240/http://www.assemblage.group.shef.ac.uk/issue7/chauhan.html|archive-date=January 4, 2012|access-date=December 8, 2013}}</ref> [[Archeology|Archeologists]] classify these as [[Acheulean]], i.e. 'second-generation' toolmaking that succeeds the very oldest [[Olduwan]]. |
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=== Tharus === |
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Since ancient times, Dang valley is considered to have been inhabited by the [[Adivasi|indigenous]] |
Since ancient times, Dang valley is considered to have been inhabited by the [[Adivasi|indigenous]] [[Tharu people]], albeit the exact timing of origin is still a matter of archeological research <ref name=":0" /> Researchers consider that the valley was a growing center of Tharu civilisation.<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal|last=K.C.|first=Ganga ( PhD)|date=2019|title=Maghi- the festival among the tharus|journal=Patan Pragya (Volume: 5 Number: 1 Sept. 2019)|volume= 5| issue = 1|pages=84–94}}</ref> In the current times, [[Tharu people]] comprise one of the prominent indigenous ethnic communities of Nepal, and the Tharus inhabiting Dang valley are called Dangaura Tharus who have been able to retain their rich and unique traditions. |
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=== Medieval and Modern History === |
=== Medieval and Modern History === |
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With a long history of over 1300 years, the valley is recognised to have been a focal pilgrimage and shelter place for the disciples of [[Nath]] sect, the followers of [[Hindu]] [[yogi]] and [[mahasiddha]] [[Gorakhnath]] and his guru [[Matsyendranath]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=संक्षिप्त परिचय – Shri Goraksha Patradewota Shree Siddharatnanath Math |url=https://goraksharatnanath.org/?page_id=10575 |access-date=2024-06-21 |language=en-US}}</ref> The Goraksha or Ratnanath temple in the district is believed to have been built by king-turned-disciple Ratnanath, whose original name was King Ratnaparikshak and was given initiation by [[Gorakhnath]] himself in the nearby forest. |
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[[File:Prithvi Narayan Shah 1960.jpg|thumb|Dang was annexed on 1760 AD by King Prithvi Narayan Shah]] |
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[[File:Goraksh or Ratnanath or Choughara Temple Chaughara Ghorahi Dang Nepal Rajesh Dhungana (12).jpg|thumb|272x272px|The valley remained a pilgrim place for disciples of [[mahasiddha]] [[Gorakhnath]] for over 1300 years in the Indian sub-continent]] |
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Evidence show that when the [[Khasa Kingdom]] was in existence in western Nepal, Dang was virtually under their political domination. One of the document of Punya Malla mentions that the valley was awarded to Jayakar Pundit as a virta in 1336 AD.<ref name=":0" /> From 1350 AD onwards, Meghraj Singh Chauhan of [[Chauhan]] dynasty is recorded to have been the king of the region as per the records in the Yogi Ratna Nath's Chaughera monastery of Dang valley, the third-in-line of Yogi [[Gorakhnath]].The temple held a strong spiritual importance over the rulers of the valley, even after the change of power to new dynasties as such the internal activities of the temple were almost entirely unaffected for hundreds of years. Nevills Gazetteer of Bahreich (1922:124) mentions that in 1485 AD, Dangdun was in the possession of Udat Singh. Evidence shows that the last independent king Nawal Singh Chauhan ruled from Chaughera of Dang until 1760 AD as the [[House of Tulsipur]] which ruled one of the largest [[Taluq]]s of [[Oudh]], [[India]], which then included the [[Inner Terai Valleys of Nepal#Dang-Deukuri|Dang and Deukhuri Valleys]].The town shares its name with another [[Tulsipur, Rapti|Tulsipur]] in Dang Deukhuri District, Nepal (c.65k North); the two towns are linked historically by having the same ruler.<ref>{{Cite web|title=House of Tulsipur|url=https://sites.google.com/site/houseoftulsipur/|access-date=2020-12-08|website=sites.google.com}}</ref> |
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[[File:Prithvi Narayan Shah 1960.jpg|thumb|Dang was annexed in 1760 AD by King [[Prithvi Narayan Shah]]|left|195x195px]] |
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Evidence show that when the [[Khasa Kingdom]] was in existence in western Nepal, Dang was virtually under their political domination. One of the document of Punya Malla mentions that the valley was awarded to Jayakar Pundit as a virta in 1336 AD.<ref name=":0" /> From 1350 AD onwards, Meghraj Singh Chauhan of [[Chauhan dynasty|Chauhan]] dynasty is recorded to have been the king of the region as per the records in the Yogi Ratna Nath's Chaughera monastery of Dang valley, the third-in-line of Yogi [[Gorakhnath]].The temple held a strong spiritual importance over the rulers of the valley, even after the change of power to new dynasties as such the internal activities of the temple were almost entirely unaffected for hundreds of years. Nevills Gazetteer of Bahreich (1922:124) mentions that in 1485 AD, Dangdun was in the possession of Udat Singh. Evidence shows that the last independent king Nawal Singh Chauhan ruled from Chaughera of Dang until 1760 AD as the [[House of Tulsipur]] which ruled one of the largest [[Taluq]]s of [[Oudh]], India, which then included the [[Inner Terai Valleys of Nepal#Dang-Deukuri|Dang and Deukhuri Valleys]].The town shares its name with another [[Tulsipur, Rapti|Tulsipur]] in Dang Deukhuri District, Nepal (c.65k North); the two towns are linked historically by having the same ruler.<ref>{{Cite web|title=House of Tulsipur|url=https://sites.google.com/site/houseoftulsipur/|access-date=2020-12-08|website=sites.google.com}}</ref> |
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In 1760 AD, Gorkhali King [[Prithvi Narayan Shah]] annexed the valley into the expanding Gorkha Kingdom. Three years later, Dang (except Tulsipur lands south of the Siwalik Hills) was given as a dowry to the King of Salyan in 1763 AD for the marriage of King Prithvi Narayan Shah's daughter.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Bouillier|first=Veronique|title=The Nepalese State and Gorakhnathi Yogis: the Case of the Former Kingdoms of the Dang Valley: 18th 19th centuries.|publisher=Cnas Journal volume 20, Number 1|date=January 1993}}</ref> Around 1808 AD, Dang valley was finally annexed into the Kingdom of Nepal when Salyan state merged with the Unified Nepal of Shah kings. |
In 1760 AD, Gorkhali King [[Prithvi Narayan Shah]] annexed the valley into the expanding Gorkha Kingdom. Three years later, Dang (except Tulsipur lands south of the Siwalik Hills) was given as a dowry to the King of Salyan in 1763 AD for the marriage of King Prithvi Narayan Shah's daughter.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Bouillier|first=Veronique|title=The Nepalese State and Gorakhnathi Yogis: the Case of the Former Kingdoms of the Dang Valley: 18th 19th centuries.|publisher=Cnas Journal volume 20, Number 1|date=January 1993}}</ref> Around 1808 AD, Dang valley was finally annexed into the Kingdom of Nepal when Salyan state merged with the Unified Nepal of Shah kings. |
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*[[Lamahi Municipality]] |
*[[Lamahi Municipality]] |
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*[[Gadhawa Rural Municipality]] |
*[[Gadhawa Rural Municipality]] |
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*[[ |
*[[Rajpur Rural Municipality]] |
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* |
*[[Shantinagar Rural Municipality]] |
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*[[ |
*[[Rapti Rural Municipality]] |
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*[[ |
*[[Banglachuli Rural Municipality]] |
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*[[ |
*[[Dangisharan Rural Municipality]] |
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*[[ |
*[[Babai Rural Municipality]] |
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==Geography and Climate== |
==Geography and Climate== |
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This district consists of the larger easterly and upstream portions of the parallel '''[[Inner Terai Valleys of Nepal|Inner Terai]]''' valleys of '''Dang''' and '''Deukhuri''', plus enclosing ranges of hills and mountains. Downstream, both valleys cross into [[Banke District]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Government hospitals in Dang without ambulance |url=https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/amp/government-hospitals-in-dang-without-ambulance/ |website=My Republica |access-date=26 July 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{cite web |title=Tharu's Maghi festival to be held in Dang |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/tharus-maghi-festival-to-be-held-in-dang/ |website=The Himalayan Times |access-date=26 July 2019 |date=29 December 2018}}</ref> |
This district consists of the larger easterly and upstream portions of the parallel '''[[Inner Terai Valleys of Nepal|Inner Terai]]''' valleys of '''Dang''' and '''Deukhuri''', plus enclosing ranges of hills and mountains. Downstream, both valleys cross into [[Banke District]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Government hospitals in Dang without ambulance |url=https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/amp/government-hospitals-in-dang-without-ambulance/ |website=My Republica |access-date=26 July 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{cite web |title=Tharu's Maghi festival to be held in Dang |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/tharus-maghi-festival-to-be-held-in-dang/ |website=The Himalayan Times |access-date=26 July 2019 |date=29 December 2018}}</ref> |
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[[File:Landscape in Dang district, view from Ghorahi, Nepal 2015-10-30 B.jpg|thumb|Surrounding hills of Ghorahi, Dang Valley| |
[[File:Landscape in Dang district, view from Ghorahi, Nepal 2015-10-30 B.jpg|thumb|Surrounding hills of Ghorahi, Dang Valley|272x272px]] |
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To the south, the district borders [[Uttar Pradesh]], a state in |
To the south, the district borders [[Uttar Pradesh]], a state in India, Nepal's neighboring country—specifically the [[Balarampur district|Balarampur]] and [[Shravasti district]]s of [[Awadh]]. Because the international border follows the southern edge of the outermost [[Siwalik]] foothills called the [[Dudhwa Range]], there is no [[Geography of Nepal#The Terai Region|Outer Terai]] extending onto the main [[Ganges Plain]] inside this district. The permeable geology of the Siwaliks does not support moisture retention or soil development, so they are covered with unproductive scrub forest. |
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[[File: |
[[File:Rice fields in Ghorahi, Nepal 2015-10-30.jpg|thumb|270x270px|Rice fields in Dang district]] |
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The Dudhwas rise steeply to a crest at about 700 meters, then slope more gradually into the Deukhuri Valley, down to 250 meters elevation at the [[West Rapti River|Rapti River]]. The Dudhwas extend more than 100 km, causing the Rapti to detour west around them before turning southeast down the main trend of the plains into India. Deukhuri's climate is nearly tropical and it is well watered by the river, as well as possessing abundant groundwater. North of Deukhuri Valley, the Dang Range rises as high as 1,000 meters with passes at about 700 meters. The Dang Valley lies north of these hills, drained by the [[Babai River]] tributary to the [[Ghaghara River|Ghaghara]] (Karnali). Valley elevations range from 600 meters along the Babai with alluvial slopes gradually rising northward to 700 meters along the base of the [[Mahabharat Range]]. The district then extends upslope to the crest of the Mahabharats at 1,500 to 1,700 meters elevation. The bordering districts to the north are [[Pyuthan district|Pyuthan]], [[Rolpa district|Rolpa]], and [[Salyan District (Nepal)|Salyan]]. The Rapti River of Western Nepal traverses through most of the lower Dang valley. It flows beneath the Churia range first on the northern side of the hills and then leaves the hills on the southern side.<ref>{{Cite web|title=BirdLife Data Zone|url=http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/dang-deukhuri-foothill-forests-and-west-rapti-wetlands-iba-nepal|access-date=2021-04-05|website=datazone.birdlife.org}}</ref> Nepal's second-longest bridge over Rapti river in Dang district connects Sisahaniya of Rapti Rural Municipality with Mahadeva of Gadawa Rural Municipality in the district.<ref name=":10" /> |
The Dudhwas rise steeply to a crest at about 700 meters, then slope more gradually into the Deukhuri Valley, down to 250 meters elevation at the [[West Rapti River|Rapti River]]. The Dudhwas extend more than 100 km, causing the Rapti to detour west around them before turning southeast down the main trend of the plains into India. Deukhuri's climate is nearly tropical and it is well watered by the river, as well as possessing abundant groundwater. North of Deukhuri Valley, the Dang Range rises as high as 1,000 meters with passes at about 700 meters. The Dang Valley lies north of these hills, drained by the [[Babai River]] tributary to the [[Ghaghara River|Ghaghara]] (Karnali). Valley elevations range from 600 meters along the Babai with alluvial slopes gradually rising northward to 700 meters along the base of the [[Mahabharat Range]]. The district then extends upslope to the crest of the Mahabharats at 1,500 to 1,700 meters elevation. The bordering districts to the north are [[Pyuthan district|Pyuthan]], [[Rolpa district|Rolpa]], and [[Salyan District (Nepal)|Salyan]]. The Rapti River of Western Nepal traverses through most of the lower Dang valley. It flows beneath the Churia range first on the northern side of the hills and then leaves the hills on the southern side.<ref>{{Cite web|title=BirdLife Data Zone|url=http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/dang-deukhuri-foothill-forests-and-west-rapti-wetlands-iba-nepal|access-date=2021-04-05|website=datazone.birdlife.org}}</ref> Nepal's second-longest bridge over Rapti river in Dang district connects Sisahaniya of Rapti Rural Municipality with Mahadeva of Gadawa Rural Municipality in the district.<ref name=":10" /> |
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| 12.0% |
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{{Weather box|width=auto |
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|location = Dang, (elevation {{convert|663|m|ft|abbr=on}}, 1991−2020 normals) |
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|metric first = Y |
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|single line = Y |
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|Jan high C = 20.7 |
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|Feb high C = 23.6 |
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|Mar high C = 28.7 |
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|Apr high C = 33.2 |
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|May high C = 33.9 |
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|Jun high C = 32.7 |
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|Jul high C = 30.4 |
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|Aug high C = 30.5 |
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|Sep high C = 30.2 |
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|Oct high C = 29.1 |
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|Nov high C = 25.8 |
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|Dec high C = 22.3 |
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|year high C = 28.4 |
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|Jan mean C = 13.3 |
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|Feb mean C = 16.2 |
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|Mar mean C = 21.0 |
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|Apr mean C = 25.6 |
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|May mean C = 27.5 |
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|Jun mean C = 27.8 |
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|Jul mean C = 26.8 |
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|Aug mean C = 26.7 |
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|Sep mean C = 25.8 |
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|Oct mean C = 22.7 |
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|Nov mean C = 18.4 |
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|Dec mean C = 14.6 |
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|year mean C = 22.2 |
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|Jan low C = 5.8 |
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|Feb low C = 8.8 |
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|Mar low C = 13.2 |
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|Apr low C = 17.9 |
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|May low C = 21.1 |
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|Jun low C = 22.8 |
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|Jul low C = 23.1 |
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|Aug low C = 22.8 |
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|Sep low C = 21.4 |
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|Oct low C = 16.3 |
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|Nov low C = 11.0 |
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|Dec low C = 6.9 |
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|year low C = 15.9 |
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|precipitation colour = green |
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|Jan precipitation mm = 21.6 |
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|Feb precipitation mm = 24.0 |
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|Mar precipitation mm = 20.3 |
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|Apr precipitation mm = 30.0 |
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|May precipitation mm = 90.6 |
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|Jun precipitation mm = 249.9 |
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|Jul precipitation mm = 420.9 |
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|Aug precipitation mm = 427.6 |
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|Sep precipitation mm = 233.9 |
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|Oct precipitation mm = 48.4 |
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|Nov precipitation mm = 6.6 |
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|Dec precipitation mm = 6.7 |
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|year precipitation mm = 1580.5 |
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|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm |
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|Jan precipitation days = 2.2 |
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|Feb precipitation days = 2.4 |
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|Mar precipitation days = 2.2 |
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|Apr precipitation days = 2.8 |
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|May precipitation days = 7.2 |
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|Jun precipitation days = 13.8 |
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|Jul precipitation days = 21.6 |
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|Aug precipitation days = 20.7 |
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|Sep precipitation days = 14.8 |
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|Oct precipitation days = 3.6 |
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|Nov precipitation days = 0.3 |
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|Dec precipitation days = 0.5 |
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|year precipitation days = 92.2 |
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|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name=NOAA>{{cite web |
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|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240229072854/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-2-WMO-Normals-9120/Nepal/CSV/Dang_44429.csv |
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|archive-date = 29 February 2024 |
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|url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-2-WMO-Normals-9120/Nepal/CSV/Dang_44429.csv |
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|title = Dang Climate Normals 1991–2020 |
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|publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |
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|access-date = 29 February 2024}}</ref>}} |
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== |
==Demographics== |
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[[File:Tharu Mahila.jpg|thumb|Tharu woman in traditional attire]] |
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The dry and agriculturally unproductive Dudhwa range creates a buffer zone between the divergent cultures of the plains of Uttar Pradesh and the Inner Terai. Deukhuri was severely malarial before the late 1950s when [[DDT#Use against malaria|DDT]] came into use to suppress mosquitos so that [[Tharu people]] who had evolved resistance managed to live in isolation from other cultures of the plains to the south and the hills to the north. Although road development further reduced Deukhuri's isolation by the 1980s, the valley retains some of its [[Garden of Eden]] charm with its lazy river, thick jungle alternating with rice paddies, surrounding hills in the middle distance and unique peoples. |
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The dry and agriculturally unproductive Dudhwa range creates a buffer zone between the divergent cultures of the plains of Uttar Pradesh and the Inner Terai. Deukhuri was severely malarial before the late 1950s when [[DDT#Use against malaria|DDT]] came into use to suppress mosquitos so that [[Tharu people]] who had evolved resistance managed to live in isolation from other cultures of the plains to the south and the hills to the north. Although road development further reduced Deukhuri's isolation by the 1980s, the valley retains some of its [[Garden of Eden]] charm with its lazy river, thick jungle alternating with rice paddies, surrounding hills in the middle distance and unique peoples.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Luzzatto, L. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XK19CAAAQBAJ&pg=PA110 |title=Genes and Resistance to Disease |publisher=Springer |year=2012 |isbn=9783642569470 |editor-last=Boulyjenkov, V. |location=Heidelberg |pages=105–111 |chapter=Genetic Factors in Malaria Resistance |editor-last2=Berg, K. |editor-last3=Christen, Y.}}</ref> |
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[[File:Tharu Mahila.jpg|thumb|A Tharu woman in native cultural attire|295x295px]] |
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Dang Valley is higher, less tropical, drier and less malarial than Deukhuri. Despite poorer soil and more seasonal streamflow, its healthier climate made it more attractive to settlers from outside even before the introduction of DDT. Since the early 1990s activist groups have been attempting to eradicate the practice of child [[indentured servitude]] among the Tharu, many of whom sold young daughters to wealthy families in urban areas.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6405373.stm Desperate plight of Nepal 'slave girls'] BBC News, 2 March 2007</ref> This region has |
Dang Valley is higher, less tropical, drier and less malarial than Deukhuri. Despite poorer soil and more seasonal streamflow, its healthier climate made it more attractive to settlers from outside even before the introduction of DDT. Since the early 1990s activist groups have been attempting to eradicate the practice of child [[indentured servitude]] among the Tharu, many of whom sold young daughters to wealthy families in urban areas.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6405373.stm Desperate plight of Nepal 'slave girls'] BBC News, 2 March 2007</ref> This region has a plurality of people of the Tharu ethnicity. The steep, virtually uninhabited southern slopes of the Mahabharat Range are another cultural buffer zone between traditional Tharu lands and the culturally distinct ''Middle Hills'' where [[Nepali language|Nepali]] is the dominant language, the homeland of dangi [[Chhetri]]s. The Kumal (potter) ethnic group is also semi-indigenous.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Guneratne |first=A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T7FWQ6dzYZQC |title=Many tongues, one people: The making of Tharu identity in Nepal |publisher=Cornell University Press |year=2002 |isbn=0801487285 |location=Ithaca, New York}}</ref>[[File:Population of Dang.jpg|thumb|332x332px|Population of Dang every ten years: 1971-2021]]At the time of 2021 census, Dang District had a population of 674,993 and literacy rate of 81.4%. <ref name=":11">{{Cite web |title=Nepal 2021 census |url=www.cencusnepal.cbs.gov.np |website=National Census of Nepal 2021}}</ref> |
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As their first language, 67.2% spoke [[Nepali language|Nepali]], 25.9% [[Tharu language|Tharu]], 2.1% [[Awadhi language|Awadhi]], 1.1% [[Magar Kham language|Kham]], 2.1% [[Magar language|Magar]], 0.5% [[Hindi]], 0.2% [[Newar language|Newar]] and 0.9% other languages as their first language. |
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Ethnicity/caste: 26.6% were [[Chhetri]], 26.4% [[Tharu people|Tharu]], 14.5% [[Magars|Magar]], 9.5% [[Bahun|Hill Brahmin]], 6.8% Bishwokarma, 2.8% Pariyar, 1.9% Sanyasi, 1.8% Mijar, 1.5% Kumal,1.5% Yadav and 6.7% others. |
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===Population by Census 1971-2011=== |
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Religion: 95.3% were [[Hinduism in Nepal|Hindu]], 1.8% [[Christianity in Nepal|Christian]], 0.9% [[Buddhism in Nepal|Buddhist]], 1.06% [[Islam in Nepal|Muslim]], 0.9% [[Animism|Prakriti]], 0.01% Kirat and 0.03% others. |
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<timeline> |
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id:barra value:rgb(0.6,0.7,0.8) |
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ImageSize = width:350 height:303 |
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PlotArea = left:50 bottom:50 top:30 right:30 |
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DateFormat = x.y |
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bar:1971 text:1971 |
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bar:1971 from: 0 till:167820 |
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bar:1981 from: 0 till:266393 |
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bar:1991 from: 0 till:354413 |
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bar:2001 from: 0 till:462380 |
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bar:1971 at:167820 fontsize:XS text:167,820 shift:(-14,5) |
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bar:1981 at:266393 fontsize:XS text:266,393 shift:(-14,5) |
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bar:1991 at:354413 fontsize:XS text:354,413 shift:(-14,5) |
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bar:2001 at:462380 fontsize:XS text:462,380 shift:(-14,5) |
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bar:2011 at:548141 fontsize:XS text:548,141 shift:(-14,5) |
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</timeline><ref># {{cite web|title=Districts of Nepal|url=http://www.statoids.com/ynp.html|access-date=January 23, 2014|website=Statoids|publisher=Gwillim Law}}</ref><ref># {{cite book|url=http://cbs.gov.np/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/National%20Report.pdf|title=National Population and Housing Census 2011, Volume 3|date=January 2014|publisher=Government of Nepal, Central Bureau of Statistics|location=Kathmandu, Nepal|access-date=January 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130418041642/http://cbs.gov.np/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/National%20Report.pdf|archive-date=April 18, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
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== Education == |
== Education == |
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[[File:BhagavadGita-19th-century-Illustrated-Sanskrit-Chapter 1.20.21.jpg|thumb| |
[[File:BhagavadGita-19th-century-Illustrated-Sanskrit-Chapter 1.20.21.jpg|thumb|237x237px|Dang district is considered the center of [[Sanskrit]] language education in Nepal]] |
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The district has become an emerging educational hub of Nepal in recent years |
The district, with literacy rate of 81.4%, has become an emerging educational hub of Nepal in recent years and has growing number of schools, child development centers, resource centers and campuses. New initiatives taken by the rural municipalities and sub-metropolitan cities of the district have aimed at improving the quality of the education - most notably - making of the English language medium compulsory. Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City has also initiated to make the pre-primary level fully English medium.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Education situation improving in Dang|url=http://edusanjal.com/news/education-situation-improving-dang/|access-date=2021-02-26|website=Edusanjal|language=en}}</ref> |
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{| class="wikitable" |
{| class="wikitable" |
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|+Educational Institutes in Dang District<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Statistics|first=Central Bureau|title=Details of municipalities and VDCs of Dang: Profile 2074 BS|journal=Central Bureau of Statistics|pages=154}}</ref> |
|+Educational Institutes in Dang District<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Statistics|first=Central Bureau|title=Details of municipalities and VDCs of Dang: Profile 2074 BS|journal=Central Bureau of Statistics|pages=154}}</ref> |
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'''Nepal Sanskrit University (formerly Mahendra Sanskrit University)''' |
'''Nepal Sanskrit University (formerly Mahendra Sanskrit University)''' |
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[[File:The word संस्कृतम् (Sanskrit) in Sanskrit.svg|thumb| |
[[File:The word संस्कृतम् (Sanskrit) in Sanskrit.svg|thumb|233x233px|Nepal Sanskrit University in Dang is Nepal's second-oldest University]] |
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Nepal Sanskrit University act was enacted by [[Birendra of Nepal|King Birendra]] in the advice and consent of Rastriya Panchayat in 1986 "to manage [[Sanskrit]] education in Nepal up to the highest mark and to study, research, protect and promote the special achievements received from Sanskrit education in various sectors as per the demand of time and to develop Nepal as a centre of knowledge and inspiration in Sanskrit education upon abiding by the traditional dharma, moral values, propriety and good behavior". As per this, Mahendra Sanskrit University (later renamed Nepal Sanskrit University) was established in Dang which at the time of its commencement was the second university of the country after Tribhuvan University.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Nepal Sanskrit University Act, 2043 English|publisher=Law Commission Nepal|year=1986}}</ref> |
Nepal Sanskrit University act was enacted by [[Birendra of Nepal|King Birendra]] in the advice and consent of Rastriya Panchayat in 1986 "to manage [[Sanskrit]] education in Nepal up to the highest mark and to study, research, protect and promote the special achievements received from Sanskrit education in various sectors as per the demand of time and to develop Nepal as a centre of knowledge and inspiration in Sanskrit education upon abiding by the traditional dharma, moral values, propriety and good behavior". As per this, Mahendra Sanskrit University (later renamed Nepal Sanskrit University) was established in Dang which at the time of its commencement was the second university of the country after Tribhuvan University.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Nepal Sanskrit University Act, 2043 English|publisher=Law Commission Nepal|year=1986}}</ref> |
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'''Rapti Academy of Health Sciences (RAHS)''' |
'''Rapti Academy of Health Sciences (RAHS)''' |
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Legislature-Parliament unanimously endorsed the ‘Rapti Health Science Academy Bill, 2074’ on |
Legislature-Parliament unanimously endorsed the ‘Rapti Health Science Academy Bill, 2074’ on 10 October 2017 as per the government's decision to open one state-owned medical college in each province of Nepal. Currently, Rapti Academy of Health Sciences (RAHS) serves as the only state-owned medical college of [[Lumbini Province]] with the Prime Minister of Nepal as the Chancellor. In addition to normal medical procedures, the state hold entity is providing Intensive Care Units (ICU), Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) as well as Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICU).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rapti Academy of Health Sciences|url=http://rahs.edu.np/|access-date=2021-02-26|website=RAHS|language=en-US}}</ref> |
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== |
== Tourism == |
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Due to the influence of Hinduism, the valley has numerous temples with legendary connections to [[Mahābhārata]], [[Shaivism]], [[Shaktism]] & [[Gorakhnath]] making it one of the prominent cultural sites of the country.<ref name=":3" /> The district's pilgrimage sites receive increasing number of visitors, both domestic and international, particularly from India.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Republica |title=Dang pilgrimage sites teeming with visitors |url=http://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/57327/ |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=My Republica |language=en}}</ref> The district's [[Tharu people|Tharu]] Cultural Museum is a tourist attraction, and is a national showcase of Tharu art, culture and traditions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tharu Cultural Museum packed with tourists |url=https://ekantipur.com/en/pradesh-5/2024/05/13/tharu-cultural-museum-packed-with-tourists-03-48.html |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=ekantipur.com |language=ne}}</ref>[[File:Ambikeshwari Temple अम्बिकेश्वरी मन्दिर, Ghorahi.jpg|thumb|Ambikeshwari Temple is a Shaktipeeth in Dang district|254x254px]]Major heritage sites in Dang Deukhuri District include:<ref name=":3" /> |
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=== Cultural Sites === |
=== Cultural Sites === |
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'''Ambikeshwari Temple''' is one of the spiritually important Hindu temple located in Dang district. The temple also known as ‘Maiko Than’ (Mother's Place) and is situated to the north of Ghorahi 3.5 kilometers away on bank of Katuwa Khola. The temple is also a [[Shakti Peethas|Shaktipeetha]], supposed to have emerged due to the falling of right ear of [[Sati (goddess)|Satidevi]] according to the [[Swasthani]] Purana of Hinduism. This temple is the most popular Shaktipeeth of Dang valley. |
'''Ambikeshwari Temple''' is one of the spiritually important Hindu temple located in Dang district. The temple also known as ‘Maiko Than’ (Mother's Place) and is situated to the north of Ghorahi 3.5 kilometers away on bank of Katuwa Khola. The temple is also a [[Shakti Peethas|Shaktipeetha]], supposed to have emerged due to the falling of right ear of [[Sati (goddess)|Satidevi]] according to the [[Swasthani]] Purana of Hinduism. This temple is the most popular Shaktipeeth of Dang valley. |
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'''Ratnanath (Gorakhnath) Mandir, Chaughera''' is in Chaughera of Ghorahi sub-metropolitan city. It is one of the major tourist and spiritual place of the Dang District. The temple is the namesake of Yogi Ratna Nath, third-in-line of Yogi [[Gorakhnath]]. |
'''Ratnanath (Gorakhnath) Mandir, Chaughera''' is in Chaughera of Ghorahi sub-metropolitan city. It is one of the major tourist and spiritual place of the Dang District. The temple is the namesake of Yogi Ratna Nath, third-in-line of Yogi [[Gorakhnath]]. The temple held a strong spiritual importance over the rulers of the valley since older times,<ref name=":2" /> even after the change of power to new dynasties as such the internal activities of the temple were almost entirely unaffected for hundreds of years. |
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[[File:Goraksh or Ratnanath or Choughara Temple Chaughara Ghorahi Dang Nepal Rajesh Dhungana (32).jpg|thumb|257x257px|Ratnanath (Gorakhnath Temple) in Chaughera]] |
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[[File:World's largest trident(Trishul).jpg|thumb|258x258px|World's largest trident (Trishul) believed to be where five [[Pandava]]s brother prayed to [[Shiva]] in Dang]] |
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The temple held a strong spiritual importance over the rulers of the valley since older times,<ref name=":2" /> even after the change of power to new dynasties as such the internal activities of the temple were almost entirely unaffected for hundreds of years. |
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[[File:World's largest trident(Trishul).jpg|thumb|314x314px|World's largest trident (Trishul) believed to be where five [[Pandava]]s brother prayed to [[Shiva]] in Dang]] |
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[[File:Baraha Temple Area in Dang.jpg|thumb|309x309px|Baraha Temple Area in Dang]] |
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The legend of the origin of the monastery is tied to the rulers of the valley, as the narration tells us of a king who went hunting in the jungle where he saw a beautiful deer and shot an arrow. The wounded deer went deep into the forest, and the king followed it. Then suddenly, in the middle of the forest, he met a radiant ascetic, seated in a deep state of meditation with arrow in front of him. The king understood his mistake and apologized. The Siddha forgave him and granted him a boon through yogic power to reign over the Dang Valley. The yogi was Ratannath, the disciple of Yogi [[Gorakhnath]] and he took the arrow and gave it to the king, saying "as long as you keep the arrow, you will keep your kingdom firm." The king then started to worship Ratannath, and since then the king's lineage continued the worship and kept the arrow for six months. The other six months the Yogis worshipped the arrow and the king had to give them half of the revenue that he got from his kingdom" (summarized from Narharinath 2022: 516)<ref name=":2" /> |
The legend of the origin of the monastery is tied to the rulers of the valley, as the narration tells us of a king who went hunting in the jungle where he saw a beautiful deer and shot an arrow. The wounded deer went deep into the forest, and the king followed it. Then suddenly, in the middle of the forest, he met a radiant ascetic, seated in a deep state of meditation with arrow in front of him. The king understood his mistake and apologized. The Siddha forgave him and granted him a boon through yogic power to reign over the Dang Valley. The yogi was Ratannath, the disciple of Yogi [[Gorakhnath]] and he took the arrow and gave it to the king, saying "as long as you keep the arrow, you will keep your kingdom firm." The king then started to worship Ratannath, and since then the king's lineage continued the worship and kept the arrow for six months. The other six months the Yogis worshipped the arrow and the king had to give them half of the revenue that he got from his kingdom" (summarized from Narharinath 2022: 516)<ref name=":2" /> |
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The temple has the world's largest ''[[Trishula]]'' and is one of the major tourist destination of the valley. In recent years, the temple has become an important visiting site for Hindu devotees as well as for prominent personalities such as the President of Nepal, police chiefs, chief justices and ministers.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Basnet|first=Devendra|title=Trishul turns Dang temple into tourist spot|url=http://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/21056/|access-date=2020-12-12|website=My City|language=en}}</ref> |
The temple has the world's largest ''[[Trishula]]'' and is one of the major tourist destination of the valley. In recent years, the temple has become an important visiting site for Hindu devotees as well as for prominent personalities such as the President of Nepal, police chiefs, chief justices and ministers.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Basnet|first=Devendra|title=Trishul turns Dang temple into tourist spot|url=http://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/21056/|access-date=2020-12-12|website=My City|language=en}}</ref> |
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[[File: |
[[File:Barhakune photo by Sangharsh Acharya.jpg|thumb|259x259px|Barhakune Daha in Dang district]] |
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'''Barhakune Daha (Baraha Chhetra)''', also known as Baraha Chhetra, is situated 3 km North from [[Ghorahi]] sub-metropolitan city. The region is dedicated to the Hindu God [[Vishnu]] and is widely worshipped during Makar Sankranti festival. The name comes from a pond around the temple which has twelve "bara" (in Nepali) corners. |
'''Barhakune Daha (Baraha Chhetra)''', also known as Baraha Chhetra, is situated 3 km North from [[Ghorahi]] sub-metropolitan city. The region is dedicated to the Hindu God [[Vishnu]] and is widely worshipped during Makar Sankranti festival. The name comes from a pond around the temple which has twelve "bara" (in Nepali) corners. |
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=== Other Prominent Sites === |
=== Other Prominent Sites === |
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[[File:Dang field by Sangharsh Acharya.jpg|thumb|Sunset view of the plains|262x262px]]'''Jakhera Lake''' meaning "rain-water collection" is a lake located at Lamai Municipality-5 of Dang, about 35 kilometers far from [[Ghorahi]] and two temples dedicated to Ganesh and Siddeswor Mahadev around the lake. The lake is a major tourist attraction in the district and also provides spot for picnic and sight-seeing. |
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'''Jakhera Lake''' meaning "rain-water collection" is a lake located at Lamai Municipality-5 of Dang, about 35 kilometers far from [[Ghorahi]] and two temples dedicated to Ganesh and Siddeswor Mahadev around the lake. The lake is a major tourist attraction in the district and also provides spot for picnic and sight-seeing. |
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The lake lies in the base of Chure hills and is 6 feet deep with a span of 12 hectares. |
The lake lies in the base of Chure hills and is 6 feet deep with a span of 12 hectares. |
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'''Further prominent sites of the valley include''':<ref name=":3" /> |
'''Further prominent sites of the valley include''':<ref name=":3" /> |
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[[File:Hills of Dang Deukhuri by Sangharsh Acharya.jpg|thumb|261x261px|Hills of Dang and Deukhuri valleys]] |
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* Sawarikot |
* Sawarikot |
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* Ghordaura |
* Ghordaura |
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== Transportation == |
== Transportation == |
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[[File:Rapti Bridge, Nepal second longest bridge.jpg|thumb| |
[[File:Rapti Bridge, Nepal second longest bridge.jpg|thumb|264x264px|Nepal's second longest bridge, Rapti bridge, in Dang district]] |
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[[Mahendra Highway|East West Highway]] —the main east–west highway across Nepal— follows Deukhuri Valley, passing Kalakate and [[Bhalubang]] bazar at the upper end and Lamahi downstream. From Bhalubang, branch roads lead up the Rapti River into [[Pyuthan District|Pyuthan]] and [[Rolpa District]]s. From Lamahi there are roads north across the Dang Range to [[Ghorahi]], and south over the Dudhwas to [[Koilabas]], which used to be an international trade centre earlier. The East West highway which passes through the Lamahi joints the Banke district leading Kohalpur. Roads from [[Ghorahi]] lead to [[Rolpa district]] and the [[Swargadwari]] pilgrimage site. From Tulsipur a motorable road goes north into [[Salyan District (Nepal)|Salyan District]]. Nepal's second-longest bridge over Rapti river in Dang district connects Sisahaniya of Rapti Rural Municipality with Mahadeva of Gadawa Rural Municipality in the district.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|last=Sen|first=Sandeep|date=2019-10-30|title=Nepal's second longest bridge construction completes|url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/nepals-second-longest-bridge-construction-completes|access-date=2021-04-05|website=The Himalayan Times|language=en}}</ref> |
[[Mahendra Highway|East West Highway]] —the main east–west highway across Nepal— follows Deukhuri Valley, passing Kalakate and [[Bhalubang]] bazar at the upper end and Lamahi downstream. From Bhalubang, branch roads lead up the Rapti River into [[Pyuthan District|Pyuthan]] and [[Rolpa District]]s. From Lamahi there are roads north across the Dang Range to [[Ghorahi]], and south over the Dudhwas to [[Koilabas]], which used to be an international trade centre earlier. The East West highway which passes through the Lamahi joints the Banke district leading Kohalpur. Roads from [[Ghorahi]] lead to [[Rolpa district]] and the [[Swargadwari]] pilgrimage site. From Tulsipur a motorable road goes north into [[Salyan District (Nepal)|Salyan District]]. Nepal's second-longest bridge over Rapti river in Dang district connects Sisahaniya of Rapti Rural Municipality with Mahadeva of Gadawa Rural Municipality in the district.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|last=Sen|first=Sandeep|date=2019-10-30|title=Nepal's second longest bridge construction completes|url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/nepals-second-longest-bridge-construction-completes|access-date=2021-04-05|website=The Himalayan Times|language=en}}</ref> |
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|<ref name=":8" /> |
|<ref name=":8" /> |
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[[File:Nepal Airlines logo.png|thumb| |
[[File:Nepal Airlines logo.png|thumb|199x199px|Nepal Airlines serves Dang district with daily operation|none]] |
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== Former Village Development Committees == |
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Prior to the restructuring of the district, Dang District consisted of the following municipalities and [[Village development committee (Nepal)|Village development committees]]:{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} |
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[[File:NepalDangDistrictmap.png|thumb|VDCs and Municipalities (blue) in Dang-Deukhuri]] |
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* [[Amritpur, Nepal|Amritpur]] |
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* [[Baghmare]] |
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* [[Bela, Dang|Bela]] |
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* [[Bijauri]] |
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* [[Chailahi]] |
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* [[Dhanauri]] |
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* [[Dharna, Nepal|Dharna]] |
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* [[Dhikpur]] |
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* [[Diruwa]] |
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* [[Gangapraspur]] |
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* [[Gobardiya]] |
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* [[Halwar]] |
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* [[Hansipur]] |
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* [[Hapur, Nepal|Hapur]] |
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* [[Hekuli]] |
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* [[Kabhre, Rapti|Kabhre]] |
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* [[Koilabas]] |
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* [[Lalmitiya]] |
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* [[Laxmipur, Dang|Laxmipur]] |
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* [[Loharpani]] |
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* [[Manpur, Rapti|Manpur]] |
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* [[Narayanpur, Rapti|Narayanpur]] |
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* [[Panchakule]] |
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* [[Pawan Nagar]] |
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* [[Phulbari, Rapti|Phulbari]] |
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* [[Purandhara]] |
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* [[Rampur, Dang|Rampur]] |
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* [[Saidha]] |
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* [[Satbariya]] |
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* [[Saudiyar]] |
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* [[Shreegaun]] |
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* [[Sisahaniya, Rapti|Sisahaniya]] |
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* [[Sonpur, Nepal|Sonpur]] |
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* [[Syuja]] |
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* [[Tarigaun]] |
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* [[Urahari]] |
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==Maps== |
==Maps== |
Latest revision as of 21:15, 14 August 2024
Dang District
दाङ जिल्ला | |
---|---|
![]() | |
![]() Location of Dang (dark yellow) in Lumbini Province | |
Country | Nepal |
Province | Lumbini Province |
Established | 17 May 1951 |
Admin HQ. | Ghorahi |
Government | |
• Type | Coordination committee |
• Body | DCC, Dāng Deukhuri |
Area | |
• Total | 2,955 km2 (1,141 sq mi) |
Population (2021) | |
• Total | 674,993 |
• Density | 230/km2 (590/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+05:45 (NPT) |
Literacy rate | 81.4% |
Main languages | Nepali, Tharu |
28°0′N 82°16′E / 28.000°N 82.267°E
Dang District (Nepali: दाङ जिल्ला, [daŋ]) is a district of Lumbini Province located in the Inner Terai of midwestern Nepal. Deukhuri Valley of the district is the capital of the province and is the second largest valley of Asia surrounded by Sivalik Hills and the Mahabharata Range.[1] The district headquarter Ghorahi is the seventh largest city and the largest sub-metropolitan city of Nepal. Tulsipur sub-metropolitan city, the second largest city of Dang, is a major transportation hub with extensive road and air networks. The district covers an area of 2,955 km2 and has a population of 674,993 (2021 census).[2]
Dang district has been archaeologically studied extensively since the 20th century due to the discoveries of ancient fossils of apes and early humans.[3][4] The district is considered the center of Sanskrit language in Nepal and is home to Nepal's second oldest university, Nepal Sanskrit University, which is the only Sanskrit university of the country, as well as Rapti Academy of Health Sciences (RAHS),[5] the state-owned medical college of Lumbini Province with the Prime Minister of Nepal as the Chancellor.[6] There are numerous temples and gumbas in Dang Deukhuri district with puranic legendary connections to Mahābhārata, Shaivism, Shaktism and Gorakhnath, making it one of the richest cultural sites of the country.[7]
History and prehistory
[edit]Prehistory
[edit]Archeologists consider the Churiya range very ancient with the existence of Sivapithecus (syn:Ramapithecus), a link between man and ape. The pre-historic study of Dang valley has been carried out by Tribhuvan University since 1966, including the geological study of the Valley by Robert M. West from the American Museum of Natural History and the Department of Mines of then His Majesty's Government of Nepal from 1976, as well as the paleolithic study of Dang by University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (Fredrich-Alexander-Universität) of Germany in 1984, among others.[8] According to these concurrent researches, Dang valley was a lake approximately 2.5 to 1 million years ago.[3]
During 1984–86, German researcher Gudrun Corvinus studied the miocene-pliocene stratigraphy and geology of Dang valley researching on the pleistocene holocene period of ancient human settlements. She studied the exposed section of the road being constructed between Koilabas and the Dang Valley running through Deukhuri. Hand axes and other artifacts dated to early Paleolithic (1.8 million to 100,000 years ago) have been found in alluvial deposits along the Babai River in Dang Valley. Archeologists classify these as Acheulean, i.e. 'second-generation' toolmaking that succeeds the very oldest Olduwan.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Babai_River_02.jpg/276px-Babai_River_02.jpg)
There are more numerous less ancient archeological sites dating to the Upper Paleolithic/Late Pleistocene (about 50,000 to 10,000 years ago). These are also along the Babai, as well as in Deukhuri Valley (Rapti River) adjacent and south of Dang Valley.[4][9] Archeologists classify these as Acheulean, i.e. 'second-generation' toolmaking that succeeds the very oldest Olduwan.
Tharus
[edit]Since ancient times, Dang valley is considered to have been inhabited by the indigenous Tharu people, albeit the exact timing of origin is still a matter of archeological research [8] Researchers consider that the valley was a growing center of Tharu civilisation.[10] In the current times, Tharu people comprise one of the prominent indigenous ethnic communities of Nepal, and the Tharus inhabiting Dang valley are called Dangaura Tharus who have been able to retain their rich and unique traditions.
Medieval and Modern History
[edit]With a long history of over 1300 years, the valley is recognised to have been a focal pilgrimage and shelter place for the disciples of Nath sect, the followers of Hindu yogi and mahasiddha Gorakhnath and his guru Matsyendranath.[11] The Goraksha or Ratnanath temple in the district is believed to have been built by king-turned-disciple Ratnanath, whose original name was King Ratnaparikshak and was given initiation by Gorakhnath himself in the nearby forest.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Goraksh_or_Ratnanath_or_Choughara_Temple_Chaughara_Ghorahi_Dang_Nepal_Rajesh_Dhungana_%2812%29.jpg/272px-Goraksh_or_Ratnanath_or_Choughara_Temple_Chaughara_Ghorahi_Dang_Nepal_Rajesh_Dhungana_%2812%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Prithvi_Narayan_Shah_1960.jpg/142px-Prithvi_Narayan_Shah_1960.jpg)
Evidence show that when the Khasa Kingdom was in existence in western Nepal, Dang was virtually under their political domination. One of the document of Punya Malla mentions that the valley was awarded to Jayakar Pundit as a virta in 1336 AD.[8] From 1350 AD onwards, Meghraj Singh Chauhan of Chauhan dynasty is recorded to have been the king of the region as per the records in the Yogi Ratna Nath's Chaughera monastery of Dang valley, the third-in-line of Yogi Gorakhnath.The temple held a strong spiritual importance over the rulers of the valley, even after the change of power to new dynasties as such the internal activities of the temple were almost entirely unaffected for hundreds of years. Nevills Gazetteer of Bahreich (1922:124) mentions that in 1485 AD, Dangdun was in the possession of Udat Singh. Evidence shows that the last independent king Nawal Singh Chauhan ruled from Chaughera of Dang until 1760 AD as the House of Tulsipur which ruled one of the largest Taluqs of Oudh, India, which then included the Dang and Deukhuri Valleys.The town shares its name with another Tulsipur in Dang Deukhuri District, Nepal (c.65k North); the two towns are linked historically by having the same ruler.[12]
In 1760 AD, Gorkhali King Prithvi Narayan Shah annexed the valley into the expanding Gorkha Kingdom. Three years later, Dang (except Tulsipur lands south of the Siwalik Hills) was given as a dowry to the King of Salyan in 1763 AD for the marriage of King Prithvi Narayan Shah's daughter.[13] Around 1808 AD, Dang valley was finally annexed into the Kingdom of Nepal when Salyan state merged with the Unified Nepal of Shah kings.
Since Dang was somewhat higher, hotter, better-drained and therefore less malarial than most Inner Terai valleys in Nepal, it was settled to some extent by Shah and Rana courtiers and other Nepalese. Deukhuri was more of a Tharu enclave until DDT was introduced to control the disease-bearing Anopheles mosquito in the 1950s. Before the construction of Rapti Bridge, Koilabas of Dang Valley was a major trading post with India which was slowly abandoned later.[14] Koilabas has remnants of Persian Mughal Empire- style architecture visible in its ruins even now. Long time ago, Dang used to be the capital of Rapti Zone.
Administration
[edit]The district consists of two sub-metropolitan cities and eight municipalities, out of which one is an urban municipality and seven are rural municipalities.The administrative regions are as follows:[15]
- Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City
- Tulsipur Sub-Metropolitan City
- Lamahi Municipality
- Gadhawa Rural Municipality
- Rajpur Rural Municipality
- Shantinagar Rural Municipality
- Rapti Rural Municipality
- Banglachuli Rural Municipality
- Dangisharan Rural Municipality
- Babai Rural Municipality
Geography and Climate
[edit]This district consists of the larger easterly and upstream portions of the parallel Inner Terai valleys of Dang and Deukhuri, plus enclosing ranges of hills and mountains. Downstream, both valleys cross into Banke District.[16][17]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fb/Landscape_in_Dang_district%2C_view_from_Ghorahi%2C_Nepal_2015-10-30_B.jpg/272px-Landscape_in_Dang_district%2C_view_from_Ghorahi%2C_Nepal_2015-10-30_B.jpg)
To the south, the district borders Uttar Pradesh, a state in India, Nepal's neighboring country—specifically the Balarampur and Shravasti districts of Awadh. Because the international border follows the southern edge of the outermost Siwalik foothills called the Dudhwa Range, there is no Outer Terai extending onto the main Ganges Plain inside this district. The permeable geology of the Siwaliks does not support moisture retention or soil development, so they are covered with unproductive scrub forest.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Rice_fields_in_Ghorahi%2C_Nepal_2015-10-30.jpg/270px-Rice_fields_in_Ghorahi%2C_Nepal_2015-10-30.jpg)
The Dudhwas rise steeply to a crest at about 700 meters, then slope more gradually into the Deukhuri Valley, down to 250 meters elevation at the Rapti River. The Dudhwas extend more than 100 km, causing the Rapti to detour west around them before turning southeast down the main trend of the plains into India. Deukhuri's climate is nearly tropical and it is well watered by the river, as well as possessing abundant groundwater. North of Deukhuri Valley, the Dang Range rises as high as 1,000 meters with passes at about 700 meters. The Dang Valley lies north of these hills, drained by the Babai River tributary to the Ghaghara (Karnali). Valley elevations range from 600 meters along the Babai with alluvial slopes gradually rising northward to 700 meters along the base of the Mahabharat Range. The district then extends upslope to the crest of the Mahabharats at 1,500 to 1,700 meters elevation. The bordering districts to the north are Pyuthan, Rolpa, and Salyan. The Rapti River of Western Nepal traverses through most of the lower Dang valley. It flows beneath the Churia range first on the northern side of the hills and then leaves the hills on the southern side.[18] Nepal's second-longest bridge over Rapti river in Dang district connects Sisahaniya of Rapti Rural Municipality with Mahadeva of Gadawa Rural Municipality in the district.[19]
Climate zone[20] | Elevation Range | % of Area |
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Lower Tropical | below 300 meters (1,000 ft) | 18.1% |
Upper Tropical | 300 to 1,000 meters 1,000 to 3,300 ft. |
69.9% |
Subtropical | 1,000 to 2,000 meters 3,300 to 6,600 ft. |
12.0% |
Climate data for Dang, (elevation 663 m (2,175 ft), 1991−2020 normals) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 20.7 (69.3) |
23.6 (74.5) |
28.7 (83.7) |
33.2 (91.8) |
33.9 (93.0) |
32.7 (90.9) |
30.4 (86.7) |
30.5 (86.9) |
30.2 (86.4) |
29.1 (84.4) |
25.8 (78.4) |
22.3 (72.1) |
28.4 (83.1) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 13.3 (55.9) |
16.2 (61.2) |
21.0 (69.8) |
25.6 (78.1) |
27.5 (81.5) |
27.8 (82.0) |
26.8 (80.2) |
26.7 (80.1) |
25.8 (78.4) |
22.7 (72.9) |
18.4 (65.1) |
14.6 (58.3) |
22.2 (72.0) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 5.8 (42.4) |
8.8 (47.8) |
13.2 (55.8) |
17.9 (64.2) |
21.1 (70.0) |
22.8 (73.0) |
23.1 (73.6) |
22.8 (73.0) |
21.4 (70.5) |
16.3 (61.3) |
11.0 (51.8) |
6.9 (44.4) |
15.9 (60.6) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 21.6 (0.85) |
24.0 (0.94) |
20.3 (0.80) |
30.0 (1.18) |
90.6 (3.57) |
249.9 (9.84) |
420.9 (16.57) |
427.6 (16.83) |
233.9 (9.21) |
48.4 (1.91) |
6.6 (0.26) |
6.7 (0.26) |
1,580.5 (62.22) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 2.2 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 7.2 | 13.8 | 21.6 | 20.7 | 14.8 | 3.6 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 92.2 |
Source: NOAA[21] |
Demographics
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Tharu_Mahila.jpg/220px-Tharu_Mahila.jpg)
The dry and agriculturally unproductive Dudhwa range creates a buffer zone between the divergent cultures of the plains of Uttar Pradesh and the Inner Terai. Deukhuri was severely malarial before the late 1950s when DDT came into use to suppress mosquitos so that Tharu people who had evolved resistance managed to live in isolation from other cultures of the plains to the south and the hills to the north. Although road development further reduced Deukhuri's isolation by the 1980s, the valley retains some of its Garden of Eden charm with its lazy river, thick jungle alternating with rice paddies, surrounding hills in the middle distance and unique peoples.[22]
Dang Valley is higher, less tropical, drier and less malarial than Deukhuri. Despite poorer soil and more seasonal streamflow, its healthier climate made it more attractive to settlers from outside even before the introduction of DDT. Since the early 1990s activist groups have been attempting to eradicate the practice of child indentured servitude among the Tharu, many of whom sold young daughters to wealthy families in urban areas.[23] This region has a plurality of people of the Tharu ethnicity. The steep, virtually uninhabited southern slopes of the Mahabharat Range are another cultural buffer zone between traditional Tharu lands and the culturally distinct Middle Hills where Nepali is the dominant language, the homeland of dangi Chhetris. The Kumal (potter) ethnic group is also semi-indigenous.[24]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fb/Population_of_Dang.jpg/332px-Population_of_Dang.jpg)
At the time of 2021 census, Dang District had a population of 674,993 and literacy rate of 81.4%. [2]
As their first language, 67.2% spoke Nepali, 25.9% Tharu, 2.1% Awadhi, 1.1% Kham, 2.1% Magar, 0.5% Hindi, 0.2% Newar and 0.9% other languages as their first language.
Ethnicity/caste: 26.6% were Chhetri, 26.4% Tharu, 14.5% Magar, 9.5% Hill Brahmin, 6.8% Bishwokarma, 2.8% Pariyar, 1.9% Sanyasi, 1.8% Mijar, 1.5% Kumal,1.5% Yadav and 6.7% others.
Religion: 95.3% were Hindu, 1.8% Christian, 0.9% Buddhist, 1.06% Muslim, 0.9% Prakriti, 0.01% Kirat and 0.03% others.
Education
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/BhagavadGita-19th-century-Illustrated-Sanskrit-Chapter_1.20.21.jpg/237px-BhagavadGita-19th-century-Illustrated-Sanskrit-Chapter_1.20.21.jpg)
The district, with literacy rate of 81.4%, has become an emerging educational hub of Nepal in recent years and has growing number of schools, child development centers, resource centers and campuses. New initiatives taken by the rural municipalities and sub-metropolitan cities of the district have aimed at improving the quality of the education - most notably - making of the English language medium compulsory. Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City has also initiated to make the pre-primary level fully English medium.[25]
Medium of Education | Unit (Numbers) |
---|---|
Schools | 602 (public:424 and private:178) |
Child Development Centers | 703 (public:117 and private:586) |
Campus | 31 |
University | 1 |
Gurkul schools | 3 |
Resource centers | 15 |
Nepal Sanskrit University (formerly Mahendra Sanskrit University)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/The_word_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_%28Sanskrit%29_in_Sanskrit.svg/233px-The_word_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_%28Sanskrit%29_in_Sanskrit.svg.png)
Nepal Sanskrit University act was enacted by King Birendra in the advice and consent of Rastriya Panchayat in 1986 "to manage Sanskrit education in Nepal up to the highest mark and to study, research, protect and promote the special achievements received from Sanskrit education in various sectors as per the demand of time and to develop Nepal as a centre of knowledge and inspiration in Sanskrit education upon abiding by the traditional dharma, moral values, propriety and good behavior". As per this, Mahendra Sanskrit University (later renamed Nepal Sanskrit University) was established in Dang which at the time of its commencement was the second university of the country after Tribhuvan University.[27]
Currently, the university offers Intermediate (Uttar Madhyama), Bachelor (Shastri), Bachelor of Education, Masters (Acharya) and Doctoral courses in classical and modern subjects. It offers intermediate in Ayurveda, Bachelors Of Ayurvedic Medicine And Surgery [BAMS] and condensed courses for Ayurvedacharya, as well as yoga training.
Rapti Academy of Health Sciences (RAHS)
Legislature-Parliament unanimously endorsed the ‘Rapti Health Science Academy Bill, 2074’ on 10 October 2017 as per the government's decision to open one state-owned medical college in each province of Nepal. Currently, Rapti Academy of Health Sciences (RAHS) serves as the only state-owned medical college of Lumbini Province with the Prime Minister of Nepal as the Chancellor. In addition to normal medical procedures, the state hold entity is providing Intensive Care Units (ICU), Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) as well as Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICU).[28]
Tourism
[edit]Due to the influence of Hinduism, the valley has numerous temples with legendary connections to Mahābhārata, Shaivism, Shaktism & Gorakhnath making it one of the prominent cultural sites of the country.[7] The district's pilgrimage sites receive increasing number of visitors, both domestic and international, particularly from India.[29] The district's Tharu Cultural Museum is a tourist attraction, and is a national showcase of Tharu art, culture and traditions.[30]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/76/Ambikeshwari_Temple_%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80_%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%2C_Ghorahi.jpg/254px-Ambikeshwari_Temple_%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80_%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%2C_Ghorahi.jpg)
Major heritage sites in Dang Deukhuri District include:[7]
Cultural Sites
[edit]Ambikeshwari Temple is one of the spiritually important Hindu temple located in Dang district. The temple also known as ‘Maiko Than’ (Mother's Place) and is situated to the north of Ghorahi 3.5 kilometers away on bank of Katuwa Khola. The temple is also a Shaktipeetha, supposed to have emerged due to the falling of right ear of Satidevi according to the Swasthani Purana of Hinduism. This temple is the most popular Shaktipeeth of Dang valley.
Ratnanath (Gorakhnath) Mandir, Chaughera is in Chaughera of Ghorahi sub-metropolitan city. It is one of the major tourist and spiritual place of the Dang District. The temple is the namesake of Yogi Ratna Nath, third-in-line of Yogi Gorakhnath. The temple held a strong spiritual importance over the rulers of the valley since older times,[13] even after the change of power to new dynasties as such the internal activities of the temple were almost entirely unaffected for hundreds of years.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Goraksh_or_Ratnanath_or_Choughara_Temple_Chaughara_Ghorahi_Dang_Nepal_Rajesh_Dhungana_%2832%29.jpg/257px-Goraksh_or_Ratnanath_or_Choughara_Temple_Chaughara_Ghorahi_Dang_Nepal_Rajesh_Dhungana_%2832%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/World%27s_largest_trident%28Trishul%29.jpg/258px-World%27s_largest_trident%28Trishul%29.jpg)
The legend of the origin of the monastery is tied to the rulers of the valley, as the narration tells us of a king who went hunting in the jungle where he saw a beautiful deer and shot an arrow. The wounded deer went deep into the forest, and the king followed it. Then suddenly, in the middle of the forest, he met a radiant ascetic, seated in a deep state of meditation with arrow in front of him. The king understood his mistake and apologized. The Siddha forgave him and granted him a boon through yogic power to reign over the Dang Valley. The yogi was Ratannath, the disciple of Yogi Gorakhnath and he took the arrow and gave it to the king, saying "as long as you keep the arrow, you will keep your kingdom firm." The king then started to worship Ratannath, and since then the king's lineage continued the worship and kept the arrow for six months. The other six months the Yogis worshipped the arrow and the king had to give them half of the revenue that he got from his kingdom" (summarized from Narharinath 2022: 516)[13]
Dharapani Temple is situated in the Dharna municipality-01 of the district at the base of chure range, south of Babai river about 9 kilometer drive from the center of Ghorahi. The temple is believed to have been in the ancient site where the five Pandavas brother sat and chanted prayers to Shiva during their journey to Uttarapantha (Himalayas).
The temple has the world's largest Trishula and is one of the major tourist destination of the valley. In recent years, the temple has become an important visiting site for Hindu devotees as well as for prominent personalities such as the President of Nepal, police chiefs, chief justices and ministers.[31]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Barhakune_photo_by_Sangharsh_Acharya.jpg/259px-Barhakune_photo_by_Sangharsh_Acharya.jpg)
Barhakune Daha (Baraha Chhetra), also known as Baraha Chhetra, is situated 3 km North from Ghorahi sub-metropolitan city. The region is dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu and is widely worshipped during Makar Sankranti festival. The name comes from a pond around the temple which has twelve "bara" (in Nepali) corners.
Chameri cave is situated at the slopes of the Mahabharat range and is also known locally as "Siddha" cave thought to have been used by saints for penance in the valley. There has also been archeological interest in the cave due to the possibility of it being used by pre-historic humans. The cave is 4 storey tall with a spacious ground hall which can accommodate almost a thousand people in its space. Chameri cave holds archeological importance and various preliminary observations are being carried out or further research.
Other Prominent Sites
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Dang_field_by_Sangharsh_Acharya.jpg/262px-Dang_field_by_Sangharsh_Acharya.jpg)
Jakhera Lake meaning "rain-water collection" is a lake located at Lamai Municipality-5 of Dang, about 35 kilometers far from Ghorahi and two temples dedicated to Ganesh and Siddeswor Mahadev around the lake. The lake is a major tourist attraction in the district and also provides spot for picnic and sight-seeing.
The lake lies in the base of Chure hills and is 6 feet deep with a span of 12 hectares.
Further prominent sites of the valley include:[7]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/30/Hills_of_Dang_Deukhuri_by_Sangharsh_Acharya.jpg/261px-Hills_of_Dang_Deukhuri_by_Sangharsh_Acharya.jpg)
- Sawarikot
- Ghordaura
- Chhilli kot, Chhilli Kot Gupha, Chameri Gupha
- Devikot
- Hanuman Temple
- Kalimai Temple, Kalika Temple
- Kulpani Mandir
- Malika Temple, Mulkot Cave
- Ram Janaki Temple
- Sirasthan, Srigaun Temple, Sukaura Mound
- Bagar Baba mandir, Rihar
- Taptakunda Shivalaya, Mamisauri mandir, Rihar
- Shiva Mandir, Dhankhola
- Shiva Cave, Dhankhola
- Mata Malmala Devi, Malmala, Gadawa-1
- Tuhi valley
- Suikot Temple
- Devisthan Mandir [Pawannagar, Bhamake]
- Kalika mandir
- Jakhera Tal Temple
Transportation
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Rapti_Bridge%2C_Nepal_second_longest_bridge.jpg/264px-Rapti_Bridge%2C_Nepal_second_longest_bridge.jpg)
East West Highway —the main east–west highway across Nepal— follows Deukhuri Valley, passing Kalakate and Bhalubang bazar at the upper end and Lamahi downstream. From Bhalubang, branch roads lead up the Rapti River into Pyuthan and Rolpa Districts. From Lamahi there are roads north across the Dang Range to Ghorahi, and south over the Dudhwas to Koilabas, which used to be an international trade centre earlier. The East West highway which passes through the Lamahi joints the Banke district leading Kohalpur. Roads from Ghorahi lead to Rolpa district and the Swargadwari pilgrimage site. From Tulsipur a motorable road goes north into Salyan District. Nepal's second-longest bridge over Rapti river in Dang district connects Sisahaniya of Rapti Rural Municipality with Mahadeva of Gadawa Rural Municipality in the district.[19]
At Tarigaun, Dang Airport (IATA: DNP, ICAO: VNDG) has daily scheduled connection to Kathmandu in Nepal.[32]
Airlines | Destinations | Refs. |
---|---|---|
Nepal Airlines | Kathmandu | [32] |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Nepal_Airlines_logo.png/199px-Nepal_Airlines_logo.png)
Maps
[edit]- Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development[33] has downloadable district maps based on a detailed and comprehensive GIS database:
- Besides the United Nations/Nepal map of districts and VDCs shown above, their Map Centre[34] has a downloadable PDF version adding municipalities, roads and water detail.[35]
- From 1992 to 2002 a definitive series of large scale topographic maps were surveyed and published through a joint project by Government of Nepal Survey Department[36] and Finland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs contracting through the FinnMap consulting firm.[37] Japan International Cooperation Agency[38] substituted for FinnMap mainly in Lumbini Zone with one sheet showing the easternmost part of Dang-Deukhuri.
- Topographic sheets at 1:25,000 scale covering 7.5 minutes latitude and longitude map the Terai and Middle Mountains including all of this district. JPG scans can be downloaded here:[39]
- These sheets cover Dang Deukhuri District:
- 2782 1B Amiliya (2005)
- 2782 1D Sunpathari Naka (1997)
- 2782 2A Rihar (1998)
- 2782 2B Satbariya (1998)
- 2782 2C, 6A Jangrahawa Mahatiniya (1998)
- 2782 2D Bela (1998)
- 2782 3A Atthaise (1998)
- 2782 3B Hasipur (1998)
- 2782 3C Lamahi (2005)
- 2782 3D Lalmatiya (2005)
- 2782 4A Bangesal (1997)
- 2782 4C Bhaluban (1997)
- 2782 6B Siriya Naka (1998)
- 2782 7A Koilabas (2005)
- 2782 7B Jawabairath (1999)
- 2882 9D Shitalpati (1998)
- 2882 13A Hamsapur (1998)
- 2882 13B Panchakule (1998)
- 2882 13C Bairiya Kusum (2005)
- 2882 13D Hekuli (1998)
- 2882 14A Tulsipur (1999)
- 2882 14B Dubrin (1999)
- 2882 14C Bijauri (1999)
- 2882 14D Ghorahi (1998)
- 2882 15A Holeri (1999)
- 2882 15C Bach Pokhara (1998)
- 2882 15D Swargadwari (1999)
- (JICA) 097-11 Shiwagadhi (1993)
References
[edit]- ^ "घोराही उप-महानगरपालिकाको संक्षिप्त परिचय | घोराही उप-महानगरपालिका, नगर कार्यपालिकाको कार्यालय". ghorahimun.gov.np (in Nepali). Retrieved 2020-12-07.
- ^ a b [www.cencusnepal.cbs.gov.np "Nepal 2021 census"]. National Census of Nepal 2021.
{{cite web}}
: Check|url=
value (help) - ^ a b Pandey, R.N. (1987). Paleo environment & pre-history of Nepal. Cnas:Tribhuvan University, Vol 14 N/2. p. 116.
- ^ a b Corvinus, G. (1989). "A handaxe assemblage from western Nepal" (PDF). Quartär (International Yearbook for Ice Age and Stone Age Research). 39/40: 155–173. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 12, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
- ^ "Rapti Academy of Health Sciences". RAHS. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
- ^ "About Rapti Academy of Health Sciences". RAHS. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
- ^ a b c d Bhandari, B. (1997). Inventory of heritage sites in Nepal. Kathmandu: IUCN Nepal.
- ^ a b c Sharma, Dilli Raj. Archeological Remains of the Dang Valley. University of Cambridge : Digital Himalaya. pp. 9–10.
- ^ Chauthan, P. R. (2003). "An Overview of the Siwalik Acheulian & Reconsidering Its Chronological Relationship with the Soanian - A Theoretical Perspective". Assemblage (7). Archived from the original on January 4, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
- ^ K.C., Ganga ( PhD) (2019). "Maghi- the festival among the tharus". Patan Pragya (Volume: 5 Number: 1 Sept. 2019). 5 (1): 84–94.
- ^ "संक्षिप्त परिचय – Shri Goraksha Patradewota Shree Siddharatnanath Math". Retrieved 2024-06-21.
- ^ "House of Tulsipur". sites.google.com. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
- ^ a b c Bouillier, Veronique (January 1993). The Nepalese State and Gorakhnathi Yogis: the Case of the Former Kingdoms of the Dang Valley: 18th 19th centuries. Cnas Journal volume 20, Number 1.
- ^ Gill, Peter (2016-11-19). "Koilabas: a town left behind". The Record. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
- ^ "स्थानिय तह" (in Nepali). Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
- ^ "Government hospitals in Dang without ambulance". My Republica. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
- ^ "Tharu's Maghi festival to be held in Dang". The Himalayan Times. 29 December 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
- ^ "BirdLife Data Zone". datazone.birdlife.org. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
- ^ a b Sen, Sandeep (2019-10-30). "Nepal's second longest bridge construction completes". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
- ^ 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 November 22, 2013
- ^ "Dang Climate Normals 1991–2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ Luzzatto, L. (2012). "Genetic Factors in Malaria Resistance". In Boulyjenkov, V.; Berg, K.; Christen, Y. (eds.). Genes and Resistance to Disease. Heidelberg: Springer. pp. 105–111. ISBN 9783642569470.
- ^ Desperate plight of Nepal 'slave girls' BBC News, 2 March 2007
- ^ Guneratne, A. (2002). Many tongues, one people: The making of Tharu identity in Nepal. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press. ISBN 0801487285.
- ^ "Education situation improving in Dang". Edusanjal. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
- ^ Statistics, Central Bureau. "Details of municipalities and VDCs of Dang: Profile 2074 BS". Central Bureau of Statistics: 154.
- ^ Nepal Sanskrit University Act, 2043 English. Law Commission Nepal. 1986.
- ^ "Rapti Academy of Health Sciences". RAHS. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
- ^ Republica. "Dang pilgrimage sites teeming with visitors". My Republica. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
- ^ "Tharu Cultural Museum packed with tourists". ekantipur.com (in Nepali). Retrieved 2024-07-06.
- ^ Basnet, Devendra. "Trishul turns Dang temple into tourist spot". My City. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
- ^ a b "FLIGHT SYNOPSIS". Nepal airlines. 3 April 2021. Archived from the original on 2015-11-21.
- ^ "Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development". Government of Nepal. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
- ^ "Map Centre". United Nations, Nepal Information Platform. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
- ^ "Dang District" (PDF) (Map). Retrieved Jan 31, 2014.
{{cite map}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help) [dead link] - ^ "Government of Nepal, Survey Department". Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
- ^ "Land Administration & Management, Mapping, Surveying and Aerial Photography, Major Reference Projects" (PDF). FinnMap. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
- ^ "Japan International Cooperation Agency". Retrieved February 4, 2014.
- ^ "Nepal-Topo Maps". PAHAR Mountains of Central Asia Digital Dataset. Retrieved Jan 31, 2014.
External links
[edit]- "Districts of Nepal". Statoids.
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