# Dhankuta District

Dhankuta District (Nepali: धनकुटा जिल्ला) (Listen) is one of 14 districts of Koshi Province of eastern Nepal. The district covers an area of 891 km$^2$ (344 sq mi) and has a population (2011) of 163,412. The hill town of Dhankuta serves as the district headquarters of Dhankuta District.

## History

Dhankuta was a part of Limbuwan (pallo kirat) before unification of those parts into Kingdom of Nepal.
After 1816 there were 10 districts in Nepal and Dhankuta-chainpur district was one of them. All land from east of Dudhkosi river to the Mechi river was one district Dhankuta-chainpur.
From 1885 to 1962 Nepal remained divided into 32 districts and there were six districts in eastern-hill region: East No. 1, East No. 2, East No. 3, East No. 4, Ilam and Dhankuta. Dhankuta was center of these districts. That time also dhankuta was a large (by area) district. Current Sankhuwasabha, Tehrathum, Taplejung, Panchthar and Dhankuta districts were Incorporated under one district. The total area of the former Dhankuta district was 3,448 square miles (8,930 km$^2$).
In 1962, Nepal divided into 75 districts and 16 districts of eastern Nepal grouped to form Eastern Development Region and Dhankuta became the headquarter of it.

## Geography and Climate

Dhankuta is a mid-hill district of eastern hill region of Nepal. It is situated between 26°53' to 27°19' north latitude and 87°8' to 88°33' east longitude. Total area of the district is 888.7 square kilometres (343.1 sq mi) and it is located at 243 metres (9,600 in) to 629 metres (24,800 in) of elevation above sea level.

### Vegetation

The vegetation zones in the district range from sub-tropical Sal forest along the Tamor and Arun rivers, and cooler temperate forests on some of the high ridges that mark the watershed between the two catchments. The altitude ranges from around 300m to 2500m. The majority of the population are involved in agriculture and crops include maize, rice and millet. Important cash crops include citrus fruits, cauliflower, cabbage, ginger, and in recent years, tea. A well-preserved forest (Rani Ban – Queen's Forest) spreads along a ridge line on the northwest side of the village, with well-developed mature stands of rhododendron and sallo (pine) trees.
| Climate Zone | Elevation Range | % of Area |
| Lower Tropical | below 300 meters (1,000 ft) | 3.7% |
| Upper Tropical | 300 to 1,000 meters 1,000 to 3,300 ft. | 44.7% |
| Subtropical | 1,000 to 2,000 meters 3,300 to 6,600 ft. | 46.6% |
| Temperate | 2,000 to 3,000 meters 6,400 to 9,800 ft. | 3.2% |

## Demographics

At the time of the 2021 Nepal census, Dhankuta District had a population of 150,599. It has a literacy rate of 73.9% and a sex ratio of 1040 females per 1000 males. 27,351 (19.41%) lived in municipalities.
Ethnicity/caste of Dhankuta district (2021)
Ethnicity/caste: 19.93% of the population were Chhetri, 19.70% Rai, 13.85% Limbu, 10.35% Magar, 6.56% Tamang, 4.48% Newar, 4.09% Bahun, 3.65% Kami, 3.56% Athpahariya, 2.88% Yakkha, 2.14% Damai, 1.42% Sarki, 1.39% Gurung and 1.08% Bhujel.
Religion in Dhankuta District (2021) :
| Religion | Religion | Percent | Percent |
| Hinduism | Hinduism | 49.56% | 49.56% |
| Kirat Mundhum | Kirat Mundhum | 34.74% | 34.74% |
| Buddhism | Buddhism | 13.11% | 13.11% |
| Christianity | Christianity | 2.47% | 2.47% |
| Other or not stated | Other or not stated | 0.12% | 0.12% |
Religion: 49.56% were Hindu, 34.74% Kirati, 13.11% Buddhist and 2.47% Christian.
Languages of Dhankuta district (2021)
As their first language, 45.44% of the population spoke Nepali, 12.98% Limbu, 9.85% Bantawa, 9.28% Magar Dhut, 5.28% Tamang, 3.40% Athpahariya, 3.09% Rai, 2.54% Yakkha, 1.61% Chhintang and 1.39% Newari. In 2011, 43.47% of the population spoke Nepali as their first language.

## Divisions

Dhankuta is divided into 3 urban municipalities and 4 rural municipalities.
| No. | Type | Name | Nepali | Population (2011) | Area | Website |
| 1 | Urban | Dhankuta | धनकुटा | 36,619 | 111 | www.dhankutamun.gov.np |
| 2 | Urban | Pakhribas | पाख्रीबास | 22078 | 144.29 | www.pakhribasmun.gov.np |
| 3 | Urban | Mahalaxmi | महालक्ष्मी | 24,800 | 129 | www.mahalaxmimundhankuta.gov.np |
| 4 | Rural | Sangurigadhi | सागुरीगढी | 21,536 | 147.6 | www.sangurigadhimun.gov.np |
| 5 | Rural | Chaubise | चौविसे | 19,283 | 147.6 | www.choubisemun.gov.np |
| 6 | Rural | Shahidbhumi | सहीदभूमि | 18,760 | 99.55 | www.choubisemun.gov.np |
| 7 | Rural | Chhathar Jorpati | छथर जोरपाटी | 18,322 | 102.83 | www.choubisemun.gov.np |
| | District | Dhankuta | धनकुटा | 163,412 | 892 | www.ddcdhankuta.gov.np |

### Former divisions

Formerly Dhankuta was divided into 2 municipalities and many Village development committees.
* Dhankuta Municipality
* Ahale
* Ankhisalla
* Arkhaule Jitpur
* Basantatar
* Belahara
* Bhirgaun
* Bodhe
* Budhabare
* Budi Morang
* Chanuwa
* Chhintang
* Chungmang
* Danda Bazar
* Dandagaun
* Ghorlikharka (now Pakhribas Municipality)
* Hattikharka
* Jitpur Arkhaule
* Khoku
* Khuwaphok
* Kuruletenupa
* Leguwa
* Mahabharat
* Marek Katahare
* Maunabudhuk
* Mudebas
* Muga (now Pakhribas Municipality)
* Murtidhunga
* Pakhribas (now Pakhribas Municipality)
* Pakhribas Municipality
* Parewadin
* Phaksib
* Phalate (now Pakhribas Municipality)
* Raja Rani
* Sanne (now Pakhribas Municipality)
* Tankhuwa
* Telia
* Vedatar

## Constituencies

Dhankuta District has a single Parliamentary constituency and 2 Provincial constituencies:
| Name of cons. | Incorporated areas | Type of cons. | MP/MLA | Party |
| Dhankuta 1 | whole district | parliamentary | Rajendra Kumar Rai | NCP |
| Dhankuta 1(A) | Chaubise, Sangurigadhi, Dhankuta (excluding ward no. 2), Khalsa Chhintang Sahidbhumi (excluding ward no. 4 & 5) | provincial | Niran Rai | NCP |
| Dhankuta 1(B) | Chhathar Jorpati, Pakhribas, Mahalaxmi and ward No. 2 of Dhankuta and ward no. 4 & 5 of Khalsa Chhintang Sahidbhumi | provincial | Indra Mani Parajuli | NCP |

## Transportation

Dhankuta, the headquarter (center) of Dhankuta District is connected with NH-08 (Koshi Highway), which connects Dhankuta with NH-01 (East-west Highway) at Itahari. Itahari is 69 km (43 mi) at distance from Dhankuta. The NH-08 also connects Dhankuta to northern hill and mountainous area.

## Tourist areas

* Hile
* Pakhribas
* Bhedetar
* Namaste Waterfall
* Chintang Devi temple