Physical Environment of Western Development Region of Nepal

Western Development Region (पश्चिमाञ्चल, Paschimanchal in Nepali) is the best developed region in the eye of natural environment than the other region of Nepal. Pokhara is the headquarters of western development region. The Western Development Region consists about 29,398 square kilometer area. There are 3 zones, 16 districts, 864 Village Development Committees (VDCs), one sub-metropolitan and 12 municipalities in the western development region of Nepal.

The Western Development Region is made of 3 zones and 16 districts. Manang is the most thinly populated district in the country. Manang has a population (in 2011) of

6,538, i.e. only 0.24% of the total population of our country. The Western Development Region has an area of 29,398 sq.km. and the population of this region is (in 2011) 4,926,765 i.e. 18.6% of the total population of Nepal. There are 12 municipalities in this region. Pokhara is its regional headquarters.

Like other development regions, this Western Development region also has the same three-fold geographical division- Himalayan in the north, Hilly in the middle and Terai in the southern part of Nepal. Most of the parts of the Himalayan region are covered with mountains and peaks. The highest mountain peaks of this region are Yangra (7,422 meters), Manaslu (8,156 meters), Annapurna (8091 meters), Dhaulagiri (8167 metres) and so on. The deepest gorge in the world is ‘Dana’ of the Kalignadaki River. At one point, the river bed is 5,500 meters below the neighboring summits of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. Similarly, the ‘Tilichho Tal’ of Manang is at the height of 4,919 meter. Pokhara valley has a large number of lakes such as Phewa, Rupa, Begnas, Diapng, Maide Khaste, etc. because of which it is called ‘Lake District of Nepal’.

Like other regions, this region also has mountains, hills, and plain lands. The highest mountain peaks of this region are:

Annapurna I (8091 m) Gurja (7193 m)

Annapurna II (7937 m) Machhapuchhre (6993 m)

Annapurna III (7755 m) Makut Himal (6639 m)

Annapurna IV (7525 m) Manaslu (8163 m)

Annapurna South (7219 m) Ganesh Himal I (7429 m)

Churen Himal (7321 m) Ganesh Himal II (7163 m)

Dhaulagiri (8167 m) Ganesh Himal III (7110m)

Himalchuli (7893 m) Yangra (7429 m)

The Himalayan region of this development region has the highest number of mountain ranges. Mustang, Damodar, Peri, Gorkha, Thaple, Ganesh are near and at the boundary to China. These are called outer mountain ranges. Wide dry valleys are located to the south of these ranges. They are called Bhots which lie between inner and outer mountain ranges. Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, the magnificent mountain ranges are the inner Himalayas located to the south of Bhot. Mustang, Manang, and Larke are the famous Bhots of this region. The wind blows very strongly in Jomsom which is utilized in producing electricity at a small scale at Kagbeni. Mustang and Manang get the lowest rainfall in our country and so they are called the cool deserts. Some glaciers are also originated from these mountain ranges.

Pokhara valley also receives highest rainfall in the country for which it is called the ‘Cherapunji of Nepal”. Deep caves, beautiful lakes, and rivers have made this valley a famous tourist resort. The major river of this region is Sapta-Gandaki. The Sapta-Gandaki river system irrigates most of the parts of this region. The Sapta-Gandaki i.e. seven Gandaki river are – Seti Gandaki, Kali Gandaki, Daraudi, Madi, Marshyandi, Tirshuli and Budhi Gandaki. When these rivers mix all together, they become the ‘Narayani River’. There are other rivers as well. The other important rivers of western development region are Tinau and Marshyangdi. The wind blows very strongly in Jomsom which is utilized in producing electricity at a small scale at Kagbeni. The Terai region has fertile alluvial soil and fertile. There are river basins and gentle slopes as well. Churai, Mahabharat, many basins, tars, and valleys form the Terai region. Between the Churia and Mahabharat, a low land of inner Terai exists.

The most important thing for the region is that it consist Lumbini, the birth place of the Lord Buddha. Other important and major cities of this Western Development region are Butwal, Lumbini, Pokhara, Tansen, Kapilvastu, and Waling. There are Annapurna Conservation Area, Manaslu Conservation Area, and Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve in Western Development Region.

Finally, all we knew that Nepal is divided into 5 development region, 14 zones, and 75 districts. There are 3 zones (Gandaki, Dhawalagiri, and Lumbini), 16 districts (Gorkha, Lamjung, Tanahun, Syangja, Kaski, Manang, Mustang, Parwat, Myagdi, Baglung, Gulmi, Palpa, Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Arghakhanchi and Kapilvastu)), 864 Village Development Committees (VDCs), one sub-metropolitans (Pokhara) and 12 municipalities (Lekhanath, Byas, Prithivinarayan, Putalibazar, Waling, Tansen, Siddharthnagar, Butwal, Kapilvastu and Ramgram) in the central development region of Nepal.

The deepest gorge in the world is ‘Dana’ of the Kali Gandaki river. At one point, the river bed is 5,500 metres below the neighbouring summits of Annapurna ar.d Dhaulagiri. Similarly, the ‘Tilicho Tal’ of Mustang, the highest altitude lake in the world. is at the height of 4,919 m. Basins, tars, short hills and Pokhara valley are located to the north of Mahabharat.

Pokhara valley has a large number of lakes-Phewa, Rupa, Begnas, Dipang, Maidi, Khaste, etc. because of which it is called the ‘Lake District of Nepal’. TheJPokhara valley also receives the highest rainfall in the country for which it is called the ‘Cherapunji of Nepal’. Beautiful mountain peaks surrounding it, deep caves, beautiful lakes, and rivers have made this valley a famous tourist resort.

The Sapta Gandaki river system irrigates this region. The Sapta Gandaki, i.e. seven Gandaki rivers are- Seti Gandaki, Kali Gandaki, Daraundi, Madi, Marshyangdi, Trishuli and Budru Gandaki. When these rivers mix together, they become the ‘Narayani’. Some other rivers of this region are Tinau and Mayanadi. Between Mahabharat and Churai there lies inner Terai also called Doon. Terai belt of this region is comparatively smaller. There are Annapurna Conservation Area, Mahasalu Conservation Area, Narayani Wildlife, Sanctuary and Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve to preserve the wildlife in Nepal.