When you think of Nepal, the first thing that comes to mind is likely Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world. However, this small country actually has a total of 77 districts spread across three different regions, each offering a different range of landscapes and cultures.
If you’re planning on visiting or moving to Nepal in the near future, it’s important to know how the country has been divided into these different parts, along with other pertinent information about each district.
Even if you already have heard of the 77 Districts of Nepal, but you may not know much about them. Read on this blog post to learn more about each district and where they’re located in Nepal.
Basically, in this blog post, we are going to tell you:
- The names of all 77 district of Nepal
- Names of district in each provision of Nepal
- Name of the largest district of Nepal, and
- Name of the smallest district of Nepal
- History Of Districts Of Nepal
- Districts And Provinces Of Nepal
- Number Of Districts In Each Province Of Nepal
- List Of Districts In Province No: 1
- List Of Districts In Province No: 2 (Madhesh Pradesh)
- List Of Districts In Province No: 3 (Bagmati Pradesh)
- List Of Districts In Province No: 4 (Gandaki Pradesh)
- List Of Districts In Province No: 5 (Lumbini Pradesh)
- List Of Districts In Province No: 6 (Karnali Pradesh)
- List Of Districts In Province No: 7 (Sudur-Paschim Pradesh)
- Conclusion: Districts Of Nepal
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
History Of Districts Of Nepal
Districts in Nepal are formed and modified several times in Nepal. For the first time, Nepal was divided into 10 districts during the time of King Rajendra Bir Bikram Shah and Prime Minister Bhimsen Thapa-one of 18 the national heroes of Nepal.
Later during the Rana regime in Nepal in the premiership of Bir Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana, Nepal was divided into 32 districts. Out of these 32 districts, 20 districts were in Hilly & Himalayan region and 12 were in Terai region.
Even after the end of Rana rule in Nepal in 1951 and till the proclaimation of new constituion of Kingdom of Nepal in 1962, Nepal remained divided into 32 districts with each having headquarters and District Administrator as its head.
But after 1962, the traditional 32 districts were reorganized into 14 zones and 75 districts. Till 2015, Nepal remained divided into 75 districts.
In 2015, districts were again divided in Nepal under the new administration. Nepal was divided into 7 provinces and 77 districts. So now, Nepal has 77 districts.
Districts And Provinces Of Nepal
On 20 September 2015, seven provinces in Nepal were formed. The seven provinces were formed by grouping the existing 75 districts and spliting the districts Nawalparasi and Rukum into two from each, making total number of districts in Nepal-77.
Below are the lists of all 77 districts of Nepal in each province (pradesh) of Nepal.
Number Of Districts In Each Province Of Nepal
| Names Of Province | No. Of Districts |
|---|---|
| Province No: 1 | 14 |
| Province No: 2 (Madesh) | 8 |
| Province No: 3 (Bagmati) | 13 |
| Province No: 4 (Gandaki) | 11 |
| Province No: 5 (Lumbini) | 12 |
| Province No: 6 (Karnali) | 10 |
| Province No: 7 (Sudur-Paschim) | 9 |
- Province No: 1 has the highest number of districts in Nepal.
- Wherease, Province No: 2 (Madhesh Pradesh) has the least number of districts in Nepal.
List Of Districts In Province No: 1
There are a total of 77 districts in Nepal, which are grouped now into seven provinces. 14 of these districts are in Province No. 1, and they are:
| SN. | Names Of Districts | Headquarters | Area (sq.km) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bhojpur | Bhojpur | 1,507 |
| 2 | Dhankutta | Dhankutta | 892 |
| 3 | Illam | Illam | 1,703 |
| 4 | Jhapa | Bhadrapur | 1,606 |
| 5 | Khotang | Diktel | 1,591 |
| 6 | Morang | Biratnagar | 1,855 |
| 7 | Okhaldhunga | Siddhicharan | 1,074 |
| 8 | Panchthar | Phidim | 1,241 |
| 9 | Sankhuwasabha | Khandbari | 3,480 |
| 10 | Solukhumbu | Salleri | 3,312 |
| 11 | Sunsari | Inaruwa | 1,257 |
| 12 | Taplejung | Taplejung | 3,646 |
| 13 | Tehrathum | Myanglung | 679 |
| 14 | Udayapur | Gaighat | 2,063 |
- There are 14 districts in Province No: 1.
- Taplejung is the largest district of Province No: 1.
- Tehrathum is the smallest district of Province No: 1.
List Of Districts In Province No: 2 (Madhesh Pradesh)
Province No: 2, also known as Madhesh Pradesh has total number of 8 districts, all of them in terai region. Below are the names of the districts in Province No: in Nepal:
| SN. | Names Of Districts | Headquarters | Area (sq.km) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Parsa | Birgunj | 1,353 |
| 16 | Bara | Kalaiya | 1,190 |
| 17 | Rauthat | Gaur | 1,126 |
| 18 | Sarlahi | Malangwa | 1,259 |
| 19 | Dhanusha | Janakpur | 1,180 |
| 20 | Siraha | Siraha | 1,188 |
| 21 | Mahottari | Jaleshwar | 1,002 |
| 22 | Saptari | Rajbiraj | 1,363 |
- There are 8 districts in the Madhesh Pradesh of Nepal.
- Saptari is the largest district of Madhesh Pradesh. It has an area of 1,363 sq.km.
- Mahottari is the smallest district of Madhesh Pradesh with an area of only 1,002 sq.km.
List Of Districts In Province No: 3 (Bagmati Pradesh)
Bagmati Pradesh (Province No: 3) has 13 districts. The following is the names of districts in Province No: 3:
| SN. | Names Of Districts | Headquarters | Area (sq.km) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | Sindhuli | Kamalamai | 2,491 |
| 24 | Ramechhap | Manthali | 1,546 |
| 25 | Dolakha | Bhimeshwar | 2,191 |
| 26 | Bhaktapur | Bhaktapur | 119 |
| 27 | Dhading | Nilkhanta | 1,926 |
| 28 | Kathmandu | Kathmandu | 395 |
| 29 | Kavrepalanchok | Dhulikhel | 1,396 |
| 30 | Lalitpur | Lalitpur | 385 |
| 31 | Nuwakot | Bidur | 1,121 |
| 32 | Rasuwa | Dhunche | 1,544 |
| 33 | Sindhupalanchok | Chautara | 2,542 |
| 34 | Chitwan | Bharatpur | 2,218 |
| 35 | Makwanpur | Hetauda | 2,426 |
- Sindhupalanchok is the largest district of Bagmati Province.
- Bhaktapur is the smallest district of Bagmati Province. With an area of only 119 sq.km, it is also the smallest district of Nepal.
List Of Districts In Province No: 4 (Gandaki Pradesh)
Gandaki Pradesh has total number of 11 districts. Below is the list of names of all districts in Gandaki Pradesh with their headquarters and area:
| SN. | Names Of Districts | Headquarters | Area (sq.km) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | Baglung | Baglung City | 1,784 |
| 37 | Gorkha | Gorkha | 3,610 |
| 38 | Kaski | Pokhara | 2,017 |
| 39 | Lamjung | Besisahar | 1,692 |
| 40 | Manang | Chame | 2,246 |
| 41 | Mustang | Jomsom | 3,573 |
| 42 | Myagdi | Beni | 2,297 |
| 43 | Nawalpur | Kawasoti | 1,043.1 |
| 44 | Parbat | Kusma | 494 |
| 45 | Syangja | Putalibazar | 1,164 |
| 46 | Tanahun | Damauli | 1,546 |
- Gorkha is the largest district of Gandaki Province. It has an area of 3,610 sq.km.
- Parbat is the smallest district of Gandaki Province. It has an area of only 494 sq.km.
List Of Districts In Province No: 5 (Lumbini Pradesh)
There is a total number of 12 districts in province no: 5. Below are the names of all district in the province with their headquarters and total area.
| SN. | Namaes Of Districts | Headquarters | Area (sq.km) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 47 | Kapilvastu | Taulihawa | 1,738 |
| 48 | Parasi | Ramgram | 634.88 |
| 49 | Rupandehi | Siddharthnagar | 1,360 |
| 50 | Arghakhanchi | Sandhikharka | 1,193 |
| 51 | Gulmi | Tamghas | 1,149 |
| 52 | Palpa | Tansen | 1,373 |
| 53 | Dang | Ghorahi | 2,955 |
| 54 | Pyuthan | Pythan | 1,309 |
| 55 | Rolpa | Liwang | 1,879 |
| 56 | Eastern Rukum | Rukumkot | 1,161.13 |
| 57 | Banke | Nepaganj | 2,337 |
| 58 | Bardiya | Gulariya | 2,025 |
- The largest district of Lumbini Province is Dang. It has an area of 2,955 sq.km.
- The smallest district of Lumbini Province is Parasi. It has an area of 634.88 sq.km.
List Of Districts In Province No: 6 (Karnali Pradesh)
Province No: 6, Karnali Pradesh has 10 number of districts. Here are their names with their headquarters and total area:
| SN. | Names Of Districts | Headquarters | Area (sq.km) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 59 | Western Rukum | Musikot | 1213.49 |
| 60 | Salyan | Salyan | 1462 |
| 61 | Dolpa | Dunai | 7,889 |
| 62 | Humla | Simikot | 5,665 |
| 63 | Jumla | Chandannath | 2,531 |
| 64 | Kalikot | Manma | 1,741 |
| 65 | Mugu | Gamgadhi | 3,535 |
| 66 | Surkhet | Birendranagar | 2,451 |
| 67 | Dailekh | Narayan | 1,502 |
| 68 | Jajarkot | Khalanga | 2,230 |
- Dolpa is the largest district of Karnali Province as well as the largest district of Nepal. It has a total area of 7,889 sq.km.
- Western Rukum is the smallest district of Karnali Province. It has an area of 1213.49 sq.km.
List Of Districts In Province No: 7 (Sudur-Paschim Pradesh)
Sudur-Paschim Pradesh or Province No: 7 is the far-western province in Nepal with total number of 9 districts. Below are their names, their headquarters, and total area:
| SN. | Names Of Districts | Headquarters | Area (sq.km) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 69 | Kailali | Dhangadhi | 3,235 |
| 70 | Achcham | Mangalsen | 1,680 |
| 71 | Doti | Dipayal Silgadhi | 2,025 |
| 72 | Bajhang | Jayaprithvi | 3,422 |
| 73 | Bajura | Martadi | 2,188 |
| 74 | Kanchanpur | Bheemdatta | 1,610 |
| 75 | Dadeldhura | Amargadhi | 1,538 |
| 76 | Baitadi | Dasharathchand | 1,519 |
| 77 | Darchula | Darchula | 2,322 |
- Kailali is the largest district of Sudur-Paschim Province with an area of 3,235 sq.km.
- Baitadi is the smallest district of Sudur-Paschim Province with an area of 1,519 sq.km.
Conclusion: Districts Of Nepal
So, these are the names of all 77 districts of Nepal. Districts still have more importance in Nepal than other administrative divisons like municipalities or capital of a province. After Nepal was divided into 7 provinces, the power of district level offices were transferred to local and provisional governments. We hope you like reading this blog post. Share this post if you find it useful and informative.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Which is the largest district of Nepal?
Dolpa is the largest district in Nepal. It is in Karnali province and has total area of 7,889 sq.km.
2. Which is the smallest district of Nepal?
Bhaktapur is the smallest district of Nepal. It has a total area of 119 sq.km that makes it the smallest district of Nepal.
3. Are there 75 districts in Nepal?
No, there aren’t 75 district in Nepal. There used to be 75 district in Nepal before 2015. On 20 September 2015, two districts Rukum and Nawalparasi were divided into two parts from each. So, now there are total 77 districts in Nepal.
4. How many districts are in Nepal?
Currently, there are 77 districts in Nepal. Before 2015, there were 75 districts in Nepal.
5. Which is the youngest district of Nepal?
Since Nawalparasi and Rukum districts of Nepal were divided into 2 parts to make 77 districts in Nepal. The newly divided portions of these districts that are Parasi and Western Rukum can be considered as the youngest district of Nepal.
