Arghakhanchi District

Arghakhanchi (Nepali: अर्घाखाँची जिल्ला Listen (help·info))is one of the districts of Lumbini Zone in Nepal. The district headquarters is at Sandhikharka. The district covers an area of 1193 km² and has a population (2011) of 197,632.Its neighboring districts are, Palpa in the east, Gulmi in the North, Kapilbastu in the south and Pyuthan in the west. The famous places are Supa Deurali (Supa Deurali Temple), Argha (MahaKali Temple) and Chhatraganj temple, Narsing Thana at Hanshapur Bamruk etc.The district consists of two pre-unification principalities Argha and Khanchi. Argha (Nepali:अर्घ) was the name given to ritual offerings made at the former principality's main Bhagwati temple. Khanchi may come from the word Khajanchi (Nepali:खजाञ्चि) or tax collector since the center of the latter principality was known for its tax office. Both were two of the Chaubisi rajya (24 principalities) centered in the Gandaki Basin. In 1786 A.D. (1843 BS) during the unification of Nepal the two were annexed by Gorkha. Later the merger was renamed “Arghakhanchi” and added to Gulmi District. Arghakhanchi became a separate district in 1961 A.D. (2018 BS). In 2001, the population was 208,391. In 1991, the population was 180,884. According to the 2011 census the total population was 197,632. Of these 86,266 were male and 111,366 are female. Total no of household 46,835 and average household size 4.22 on the basis of usual place of residence. Sex ratio ( No of male per 100 female population) is 77.5 and population density 166.The major religion of this district are Hindu and also followed by Muslims too. Arghakhanchi lies between 27'45"N and 28'6"N latitude, and 80'45"E to 83'23"E longitude. It covers 1,193 km². The altitude of the district varies from 305 to 2515 meter above the sea level. 68% of the district is in the mountainous Mahabharat Range and the rest is in the Siwalik Hills. Elevations range from 305–2575 m above sea level and about 40% of the total area is forested. The major rivers of the district are Bangi khola, Bangsari Khola, Mathurabesi Khola, Banganga Khola, Durga khola, Sita khola, Khakabesi Khola, Rangsing Khola, Ratne Khola, Jhimruk Khola, Khankbesi Khola etc.. The major lakes of the district are Thada lake and Sengleng lake.