Solukhumbu District (Nepali: सोलुखुम्बु जिल्ला[solukʰumbu]ⓘ, Sherpa: ཤར་ཁུམ་བུ་རྫོང་།, Wylie: shar khum bu dzong) is one of 14 districts of Koshi Province of eastern Nepal. As the name suggests, it consists of the sub-regions Solu and Khumbu. The closest post office to Solukhumbu with a postal code assigned to it is the Sindhuli D.P.O., which has the postal code 56000.
The district, with Salleri as its headquarters, covers an area of 3,312 km2 (1,279 sq mi) and had a population 107,686 in 2001 and 105,886 in 2011.[3]
Historically, Solukhumbu was part of Kirata Kingdoms in early and medieval era. It was a part of Majh Kirat Khambuwan (central province or region of Kirat Kingdoms).[4]
Before the unification of Nepal by king of Gorkha, what is now Solukhumbu district was part of Chaudandi of Majh Kirat (Khambuwan). In 1773 AD the King of Gorkha attacked and absorbed it into Nepal.[5]
The Solukhumbu district was established in 1962,[6] out of the old East No. 3 district. Before 1962, present-day Solukhumbu, Okhaldhunga and some parts of Khotang previously constitute district "East No. 3".[7] Solu and Rawa thums (counties) were carved out of East No. 3 to create Solukhumbu District.
East No. 3, a district of Nepal before 1962.
VDCs of Solukhumbu before 2015.
Geography
Solukhumbu is one of three Himalayan districts within Province No. 1, positioned on the west-by-northwestern corner of the province. It spans a total area of 3,312 square kilometres (1,279 sq mi). It is geographically situated between latitudes 27°20'39" and 28°6'24" North, and longitudes 86°0'21" and 87°0'1" East. Its north border includes the world's highest peak 8,848 metres (29,029 ft) (Mount Everest); and the district's lowest point is at 600 metres (2,000 ft) (Tuintar) above sea level. The district is bordered by Sankhuwasabha in the east, Bhojpur in the south-east, Khotang and Okhaldhunga in the south, Bagmati Province in the west and Tibet (China) in the north.[4]
The diverse geography of Solukhumbu district is marked by three distinct levels:
Khumbu Himal (Highland mountains)
This region is home to the Mahalangur Himal and other Himalayan mountain ranges. Situated on the northern border with Tibet, it hosts some of the world's highest peaks, including Mount Everest (8,848m), Lhotse (8,516m), Makalu (8,485m), Cho Oyu (8,201m), Gyachung Kang (7,952m), among others.
Lower Solukhumbu (lower parts of Solukhumbu District) is part of the Mid-hills region. It is less famous for trekking, however new trails such as the Mundhum trail are being developed. Rais are the main inhabitants in this region.
Solukhumbu is divided into 8 local level units, 1 unit is urban and 7 are rural. They are further divided into wards. Solukhumbu is single-seat constituency for parliamentary constituency and double seat for provincial constituency. Solukhumbu district coordination committee coordinates between local and provincial governments. Solukhumbu district administration office co-operates with Solukhumbu DCC to maintain peace, order and security in the district. The officer of District Administration office called CDO.
Formerly, Solukhumbu district was divided into many Village development committees. In 2014 Dudhkunda municipality was established merging some Village development committees. In 2016 all other Village development committee nullified and introduced rural municipality thus all former Village development committees grouped into 7 units and announced 7 rural municipality.
Map of the VDCs in Solukhumbu District
There were 35 Village Development Committees in Solukhumbu District:[13]
^Chemjong, Imanshing (15 April 2014). Kirat history and culture. Retrieved 30 March 2020. The fort of Hatuwa Chaudandi of Majh kirat was occupied by the Gorkha force on the fourth day of Srawan in the year 1830 Bikram Sambat which corresponds to 1773 AD.
^"A Guide to Government in Nepal"(PDF). Retrieved 30 March 2020. In 1961, the country was demarcated into 14 administrative zones with each zone headed by a zone commissioner, a royal appointee whose function, among others, was to assist the palace secretariat in suppressing political opposition. In the districts, now increased in number to 75 from 35, district panchayats were established by amalgamating the former village development blocks, and village and nagar (town) panchayats were also established.
^"Brief introduction of Okhaldhunga". DCC Okhaldhunga. Retrieved 30 March 2020. Okhaldhunga along with Khotang and Solukhumbu were combined to form East No.3 area among the 32 districts of administrative division of Prime Minister Bhimsen Thapa recently after the unification campaign of His Majesty the King Prithvi Narayan Shah. At that time the headquarter of East No.3 area was Okhaldhunga as of today.
^Bonington, Chris; Everest, The Hard Way; (1977); pp 72-75; Arrow Books editions; ISBN0-09-915940-6.
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