Sindhupalchowk District

Geography and Climate

The climatic zones found in the district comprise:

Towns and villages

The major towns are Chautara, Bahrabise, Melamchi, Jalbire and Tatopani.

Infrastructure

Although this district is close to Nepal's capital Kathmandu, it is one of the least developed districts in Nepal. The Arniko Highway, also called Kathmandu-Kodari Highway, (114 km) extending from Kathmandu to Kodari links this district with Tibet. The district is mountainous and rich in natural resources.

The district is easily accessible from Kathmandu. People depend entirely on agriculture for their survival. Since the district is hilly, the land is not very fertile, and the yield is very low. Almost every VDC has access to electricity, and roads connecting to the highway. Many NGOs and INGOs are working in the district in order to improve the living standards.

The Bhote Koshi, Indrawati, Sun Kosi and Bramhayani rivers flow through this district. Sunkoshi Hydropower station and Upper Bhotekoshi Hydropower station are hydropower stations connected to the national grid.Many Mini and large hydroelectricity plants are being constructed in different places.

Two FM radio stations also operate from Melchaur and Bahrabise.

Education

There are more than half dozen colleges offering bachelor's degree in Sindhupalchowk. More than 25 schools are running +2 level programs. Chautara campus has just started science course in +2 level. There are almost one or more than one high school in each VDC of Sindhupalchowk. Chautara Campus, Thokarpa Community Campus, Sunkoshi Campus, Jalbire Valley Campus are some leading educational institutions. Higher level education is only available in Kavre and Kathmandu.

There are more than 25 private schools in the district. Some of them to name are Ekta Boarding High School established in 2050 BS, Jugal Boarding High School established in 2047 BS, Ketu English School, Nirvana Academy, Chandeswori English School and Private Paradise Secondary School.

Newspaper and Magazines

There are more than 12 newspapers that publish news from the district including the daily newspapers Lokpriya Dainik and Sindhupalchok, and several monthly magazines. The newspapers have played a vital role in providing immediate news and information to the people in printed format as well as online. Sindhusandesh (सिन्धुसन्देश) is one of the oldest local newspapers and has recently gone online. Okhareni(ओखरेनी साप्ताहिक)www. online sindhu.com Also Sindhusangram (सिन्धुसंग्राम) publishes online news.

Health care

Following is the data obtained from the PHASE Nepal website:

Although there is a district hospital as well as primary healthcare centers, these are not enough for providing health services. The small health centers in many VDCs are without Auxiliary Health Workers (AHWs), Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) and Community Health Workers (CHWs). So, people seeking emergency health assistance have to travel long distance to headquarter or Kathmandu or end up dying because of lack of treatment. Many people still believe in Dhami and Jhakri and are against taking medicine or going to hospital for the treatment. An NGO, PHASE Nepal provides many healthcare facilities and training programs to two VDCs: Phulpingkot and Hagam. Many people residing in these VDCs have benefited from the program.

Tourism

Cultural heritage sites in the district include Gaurati Bhimeshwor temple, Tauthali Mai Temple, Sunkoshi Kafeshwor Mahadev Temple, Kshemadevi Temple, Larke Ghyang, which are popular for pilgrims. Tatopani (Hot Water Spring) near the China-Nepal border is popular as a pilgrimage place. Bhairav Kunda and Panch-Pokhari are popular trekking destinations with religious and cultural significance.

Sun Koshi and Bhote Koshi rivers are famous for rafting. Bungy jumping over the Bhote Koshi river is another attraction.

Although one of the least developed, this district can be one of the finest tourist destination attracting both national and international tourists. The tourist places of this district include Langtang National Park, Langtang Himal, Jugal Himal, Panch Pokhari, Tato pani, and Gaurati Bhimeswor.

Politics

Politices party of Sindhupalchowk

Arts and culture

Famous pop and folk singers come from the district : Raju Lama, Jaynanda Lama,abhinash ghishing, Resham Thapa, Ghamesh Dulal, Navaraj Ghorasaini, Sunita Dulal, and others. Actors like Late Shree Krishna Shrestha, Late Shrisha Karki, Jeetu Nepal, Gopal Nepal (Fiste), Deviram Parajuli (Bhok Lagyo) are also from here. Apart from them, it is also the home of poets like Chandra Prashad Neupane, as well as politicians like Amrit Kumar Bohora and Bishnu Bikram Thapa,agni prasad sapkota

Earthquake in 2015

On 25 April, an earthquake occurred between Kathmandu and Pokhara with a magnitude of 7.9M and 15 km (9.3 mi) below the surface. Several aftershocks were reported in the region.

Steep mountains and narrow roads in the Sindhupalchowk District have drastically slowed rescue efforts. It took vehicles three hours to arrive from Kathmandu. Electricity and communication were cut off across in the district, thus residents were isolated. Of the 66,688 houses in the district 64,565 or 96.8% were destroyed. As of 23 August, more than 3,550 people died in the district, and thousands of people were injured, of which 614 were sent to Kathmandu for treatment. Over 40 people were rescued from debris, and more than 3,000 people were still missing.

A UH-1Y Huey helicopter delivering relief supplies, missing since May 12, 2015, crashed in Sindhupalchowk District about eight miles north of Charikot, with six US Marines and two Nepalese soldiers aboard.