# Panchthar District

Panthar District (Nepali: पान्थर जिल्लाListen) is one of 14 districts of Koshi Province in the eastern hilly region of Nepal. It is a Hill district of eastern Nepal. The district covers 1,241 km$^2$ (479 sq mi) of area. The 2011 census counted 191,817 population. Phidim is the district headquarters.

## History

Panthar was a part of Old Dhankuta District during Rana era and until 1962. Dhankuta district had two subdivisions Chhathum and Tehrathum. Panchthar was a thum (county) under the Terhathum subvision. It became a separate district in 1962 when the old 32 traditional districts divided into 75 district.

## Geography and climate

| Climate Zone | Elevation Range | % of Area |
| Upper Tropical | 300 to 1,000 meters 1,000 to 3,300 ft. | 18.3% |
| Subtropical | 1,000 to 2,000 meters 3,300 to 6,600 ft. | 52.6% |
| Temperate | 2,000 to 3,000 meters 6,400 to 9,800 ft. | 23.9% |
| Subalpine | 3,000 to 4,000 meters 9,800 to 13,100 ft. | 4.7% |
| Alpine | 4,000 to 5,000 meters 13,100 to 16,400 ft. | 0.4% |

## Demographics

At the 2021 Nepal census, Panchthar District had 42,495 households and a population of 172,400. 8.11% of the population was under 5 years of age. Panchthar had a literacy rate of 82.48% and a sex ratio of 1012 females per 1,000 males. 12,336 (7.16%) lived in urban areas.
Ethnicity/caste of Panchthar district (2021)
Ethnicity/caste: Janjatis make up the majority in the district at 73%. Limbu people make up over 43% of the population. Rai peoples such as the Bantawa, Chamling and Sunuwar are 15% of the population. Chhetri are 9%, Bahun 8% and Khas Dalit groups are 6% of the population.
Religion in Panchthar District (2021) :
| Religion | Religion | Percent | Percent |
| Kirat Mundhum | Kirat Mundhum | 55.71% | 55.71% |
| Hinduism | Hinduism | 29.21% | 29.21% |
| Buddhism | Buddhism | 12.26% | 12.26% |
| Christianity | Christianity | 2.72% | 2.72% |
| Other or not stated | Other or not stated | 0.10% | 0.10% |
Religion: 55.71% were Kirati, 29.21% were Hindu, 12.26% Buddhist, 2.72% Christian and 0.10% others.
Languages of Panchthar district (2021)
As their first language, 42.27% of the population spoke Limbu, 29.28% Nepali, 6.96% Bantawa, 6.82% Tamang, 3.41% Magar Dhut, 2.86% Rai, 1.87% Chamling, 1.16% Gurung and 1.00% Sunuwar as their first language. In 2011, 33.9% of the population spoke Nepali as their first language.

## Municipality and Rural Municipalities of Panchthar

* Phidim Municipality Nepali: फिदिम नगरपालिका (Phidim Municipality, Ranitar, Lumphabung, Yangnam(1-5), Nangin, Lungrupa)
* Hilihang Rural Municipality Nepali: हिलिहाङ गाउँपालिका (Ambarpur, Panchami, Subhang, Bharapa)
* Kummayak Rural Municipality Nepali: कुम्मायाक गाउँपालिका (Yasok, Rani Gaun, Mangjabung, Syabarumba)
* Miklajung Rural Municipality Nepali: मिक्लाजुंग गाउँपालिका (Aarubote, Sarangdanda, Rabi, Kurumba, Limba, Durdimba)
* Phalelung Rural Municipality (Nepali: फालेलुंग गाउँपालिका (Ektin, Memeng, Prangbung, Yangnam(6,9) Sidin)
* Phalgunanda Rural Municipality (Nepali: फाल्गुनन्द गाउँपालिका (Nawamidanda, Imbung, Pauwa Sartap, Chilingdin, Aangsarang, Phaktep)
* Tumbewa Rural Municipality Nepali: तुम्वेवा गाउँपालिका (Aangna, Olane, Hangum, Mauwa)
* Yangawarak Rural Municipality Nepali: याङवरक गाउँपालिका (Chyangthapu, Phalaicha, Oyam, Tharpu, Nagi)
VDC's in small brackets means they are combined to form main Rural Municipality

## Previous Village Development Committees (VDCs) and Municipalities

* Aangna
* Aangsarang
* Ambarpur
* Bharapa
* Chilingdin
* Chyangthapu
* Durdimba
* Ektin
* Embung
* Phalaicha
* Hangum
* Kurumba
* Limba
* Lungrupa
* Mangjabung
* Mauwa
* Memeng
* Nagi
* Nangin
* Nawamidanda
* Olane
* Oyam
* Panchami
* Prangbung
* Pauwa Sartap
* Phaktep
* Phidim Municipality
* Prangbung
* Rabi
* Rani Gaun
* Ranitar
* Sarangdanda
* Sidin
* Subhang
* Syabarumba
* Tharpu
* Yangnam
* Yasok
* lumphabung
* sarangdada
* phaktep

## People from Panchthar District

* Basanta kumar nembang
* Bairagi Kainla
* Bhishmaraj Angdembe
* Damber Singh Sambahamphe
* Ganesh Prasad Rijal
* Rambahadur Limbu
* Upendra Subba
* Ratna Bahadur Limbu