Syangja District
| Syangja स्याङ्जा |
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|---|---|
| District | |
The District Headquarters Putalibazar.
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 Location of Syangja |
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| Country | Nepal |
| Region | Western (Pashchimanchal) |
| Zone | Gandaki |
| Headquarters | Putalibazar |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,164 km2 (449 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 289,148[1] |
| Time zone | NPT (UTC+5:45) |
| Website | Official Website |
Syangja District (Nepali: स्याङ्जा जिल्ला<phonos file="Syangja district.ogg">Listen</phonos>), a part of Gandaki Zone, is one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal. The district, with Syangja bazzar (a small town) as its district headquarters, covers an area of 1,164 km² and had a population of 289,148[1] It lies in the hilly region at an altitude ranging from about 300 meters along the banks of Kaligandaki river up to a couple of thousands meters above the sea level. It lies at about latitude 28°4'60 North and longitude 83°52'0 East.
Syangja in 1994 under the auspices of the South Asia Poverty Alleviation Program (SAPAP) of the UNDP, received million of dollars of international investment and has become a model for national development. Syangja's model has proved so successful that the Government of Nepal joined forces with the SAPAP to extend the project to other districts and make it a model for national development. It has been initiated or implemented in at least 200 Village Development Councils (VDC/s) of 45 districts of Nepal.
Contents
People and Places
Many different ethnicity of people live in this district. The major groups consisting of Brahmin, kshetri, Gurung, Magar and others. The people are famous for their unique identity. Brahmin and Chhetri (Kshetriya) are renowned by their representation in the governmental jobs and Indian army respectively. Gurungs and Magars are famous because of their involvement in British Army Gurkhas and Military of India. There is a popular saying that "when you go to Syangja and hit randomly a house with a stone that house surely belongs to Section-Officer."
The headquarters of Syanga district lies at Syangja bazaar. Some places of historical interest in this district are Satahun Chandi, Manakamana, Bhirkot durbar, Alamdevi, Nuwakot durbar, Chhangchhangdi, Ridi Ruru Kshetra on the banks of Kaligandaki river among others. Chhangchhangdi (Chaya-kshetra) is mentioned in the Swasthani vrata-katha, considered to be a part of the Skanda Purana, as the place where the last organ of dead Satidevi fell when she was being carried by Lord Shiva. Among the two municipalities, Putalibazar municipality lies in the eastern side whereas Waling municipality in the western Syangja. The later is a longitudinal valley along the banks of the beautiful Aandhikhola river. According to one popular folk legend, Aandhikhola river is believed to be originated from the tears of Shrawan Kumar of the Ramayana . The largest valley in Syangja is Ramkosh.
Road Connection
Syangja was connected to Pokhara and Bhairahawa, two of the most prominent cities of Western Nepal, after the construction of the Siddhartha Highway. The highway enters this district in the North from Kubhinde and leaves in the South to Ramdi of Palpa district.
Hydroelectricity
The Kaligandaki A Hydroelectric Power Station built on the Kali Gandaki River is the largest hydroelectric project in Nepal, with an installed capacity of 144 MW. Besides the Kaligandaki A,aadhikhola hydroelectric and some other, smaller, hydroelectric projects have been started in this district.
Of all the districts in Nepal, Syangja suffers the least from the problem of loadshedding, or scheduled electric outages. While the nation suffers sixteen hours of loadshedding each day, the Syangja District is without electricity only two hours a week.[2]
Geography and Climate
| Climate Zone[3] | Elevation Range | % of Area |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Tropical | 300 to 1,000 meters 1,000 to 3,300 ft. |
53.6% |
| Subtropical | 1,000 to 2,000 meters 3,300 to 6,600 ft. |
45.3% |
Demographics
Village Development Committees (VDC/s)
Municipalities
- Waling Municipality (formed from former Dhanubase, Pekhu and Walling VDC/s)
- Putalibazar Municipality (formed from former Putalibazar, Satupasal, Chandikalika, Ganeshpur and Karendanda VDC/s)
- Chapakot Municipality (formed from former Chapakot, Kuwakot and Ratnapur VDC/s)
- Bhirkot Municipality (formed from former Bayarghari, Dahathum VDC/s)
2015 Nepal earthquake
The district was affected by an earthquake on 25 April 2015. At least one house was destroyed.[4]
References
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Syangja District. |
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