Rukum District

Rukum District
District
Country	Nepal
Admin HQ.	Musikot
Government
• Type	Coordination committee
• Body	DCC
Area
• Total	2,877 km2 (1,111 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Total	207,290
• Density	72/km2 (190/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+05:45 (NPT)
Website	www.ddcrukum.gov.np

Rukum District (Listen^ⓘ) was a "hill" and "mountain" district some 280 km (170 mi) west of Kathmandu partially belonging to Lumbini Province and partially to Karnali Province before split into two districts Western Rukum and Eastern Rukum after the state's reconstruction of administrative divisions in 2017.^[2] Rukum covers an area of 2,877 km² (1,111 sq mi) with population of 207,290 in 2011 Nepal census. Musikot (also called Jhumlikhalanga)^{[citation needed]} was the district's administrative center.

Rukum district has potential tourist attractions that remain largely unexplored including yarsagumba (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) collection caravan destinations, historical sites from the ten-year insurrection including the seat of a breakaway government in Banphikot, eastern Rukum, and the so-called Guerrilla Trek passes through this area that was a hotbed for recruiting and training as well as a battleground during Nepal's civil war (1996–2006). (. There is 5,911 metres (19,393 ft) Mt. Sisne (Nepali: सिस्ने हिमाल), the westernmost high peak in the Dhaulagiri massif. Locals refer to Sisne as Hiunchuli (hiu: snow; chuli: top) and it is considered sacred as the abode of deities Masta and Saikumari. Climbing history on the mountain is not well documented and an eight-man expedition led by Man Bahadur Khatri reached the summit ridge in May 2013. Rukumkot, a prominent village in Rukum is referred to as "the place of 52 lakes and 53 hills". Rukumkot (Nepali: all of them Shyarpu Tal (Lake) is largest lake in Rukum रुकुमकोट) has a beautiful pond called Rukmini Tal or locally Kamal Dhaha for its lotus flowers (kamal: lotus). Nearby are notable temples called Barah and Sibalaya, and caves such as Deurali Cave.