Far-Western Development Region
The Far-Western Development Region is one of Nepal's five development regions. It is located at the western end
of the country and has its headquarters in Dipayal.
The Far-Western Region covers 19,539 square kilometers. It has
nine districts with the regional headquarters at Dipayal, Doti District. The
Far-Western Region is remote and developmentally challenged. Some 44% of people
in the Far West Hills and
49% in the Himalayan districts
live below the poverty line. The region has limited basic services. The
difficult topography complicates
development. The region has complex socio-economic structures along with
widespread gender- and caste-based discrimination. Traditional systems
associated with religion, culture and customs have limited overall development.
The Far-Western Region comprises two zones:
- Mahakali
- Seti.
1.Mahakali Zone
Mahakali is one of the fourteen zones located in the Far-Weatern Development Region of Nepal covering an area of 6,205 km2 in the most western part of the country. It stretches along Nepal's far western border with India, marked by the Kali River or Mahakali River, which originates from Limpiyadhura, a disputed location for whether or not the Tricountry border point of Nepal and India with China.
Mahakali's headquarters is Bhimdatta (formerly
called Mahendranagar)
in Kanchanpur
District. The zone covers the Himalayan range
including Api Peak in
the North, Hill valleys, Inner Terai valleys such as Patan
Municipality in Baitadi District in
the center and the outer Terai in the South. The
name of this zone is derived from the Kali River.
Geography
The boundary of this region was
Kali river on the west and Seti Zone on
the east. After the Sugauli Treaty (also
spelled Segowlee) was signed on December 2, 1815 and ratified on March 4, 1816,
between the British East
India Company and The Kingdom of Nepal;
Kali river which originates from Limpiyadhura, became the international
boundary with the United Provinces of British India (now Uttarakhand, India). The coldest area in the zone is Byash and the hottest is
Kanchanpur. The Api Himalayas lie in this zone from where Chameliya river originates.
Mahakali is divided into four districts:
- Baitadi
- Dadhedura
- Darchulla
- Kanchanpur
Mahakali Zone of Nepal has a distinct language, culture and
history. Various dialects of Kumauni language
are spoken in this region. Even in the Kanchanpur District 80% of the people
speak Kumauni language. Dotiyali dialect of Kumauni language is spoken in Dadeldhura
District and Baitada dialect
of Kumauni language is spoken in Baitadi and Darchula districts.
Gora is a famous festival observed in Mahakali Zone. In ancient
times, this region was a part of the Katyuri kingdom.
After its collapse, this zone became a part of Doti kingdom, a branch of the Katyuri Kings.
Brahmadev Mandir in Kanchanpur District was built during the reign of the
Katyuri king Brahmadev.
Important cities
The largest city in the Mahakali Zone is Bhimdatta (or Bhim
Datta, formerly called Mahendranagar),
which is also the headquarters of Kanchanpur District. Other main towns of
Mahakali Zone are Dashrathchand, Patan (Baitadi) and Darchula Bajar.
The Amargadhi, the district headquarters, is named after General
Amarshing Thapa (a famous Gorkha General) who formed a fort to expand Gorkha
Empire capturing Kumaoun state after had defeated in previous war with Kumaoun
during 1790 A.D.
Rajghat is also famous
city of Kanchanpur District. It is located at Raikawar Bichawa VDC.
There are 3 municipality in Kanchanpur District.
Protected areas
Mahakali Zone hosts the Sukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve in Kanchanpur
District in the Terai, which covers an area of 305 km2 and surrounded by a buffer zone of
243.5 km2.
Seti zone
Seti is
one of the fourteen zones located in the Far-Western Development Region of Nepal.
Seti is divided into five districts:
- Achham
- Bajhang
- Bajura
- Doti
- Kailali
Dhangadhi in
the Terai is the major city
of Seti Zone, headquarters are in Dipayal-Silgadhi.
History
Doti was an ancient kingdom
of the Far-Western region of Nepal which was formed
after disintegration of the Katyuri kingdom of
Uttarakhand and the Far-Western region during the 13th century. Doti was one of
eight princely states formed
after the kingdom broke up. The others were Baijnath-Katyuri, Dwarahat, Doti, Baramandal, Askot, Sira, Sora and Sui (Kali kumaon). The
kingdom broke up because of the invasion of Khas kings Ashoka
challa and Krachalla from Karnali Zone(Dullu)
of Nepal in 1191 and 1223 respectively. Later on, the land between Ramganga on
the west (Uttarakhand) and the Karnali on
the east (which divides the Far-Western region from the rest of Nepal) came
under Raikas after the origin of Raikas of Katyuris in
Doti. "Brahma Dev Mandi" at Kanchanpur
District of Mahakali Zone was
established by Katyuri king Brahma Dev.
Raikas
Niranjan Malla Dev founded Doti
Kingdom around the 13th century after the fall of Katyuris Kingdom.
He was the son of Last Katyuris of united Katyuris kingdom.
Kings of Doti were known as Raikas (also known as Rainka Maharaj). The Raikas,
after the overthrow Khas Malla of Karnali
Zone, formed a Raikas Kingdom in the Far-Western Region and Kumaun that
was called Doti. So far, the historical evidence for the following Raikas has
been discovered:
Niranjan Malla Dev (Founder of
Doti Kingdom), Nagi Malla (1238), Ripu Malla (1279), Nirai Pal (1353 may
be of Askot and historical evidence of him from 1354 AD has been found in
Almoda), Nag Malla (1384), Dhir Malla (1400), Ripu Malla (1410), Anand
Malla (1430), Balinarayan Malla (not known), Sansar Malla (1442), Kalyan
Malla (1443), Suratan Malla (1478), Kriti Malla (1482), Prithivi Malla (1488),
Medini Jay Malla (1512), Ashok Malla (1517), Raj Malla (1539), Arjun Malla/Sahi
(not known but he was ruling Sira as Malla and Doti as Shahi), Bhupati
Malla/Shahi (1558), Sagaram Shahi (1567), Hari Malla/Shahi (1581 Last
Raikas King of Sira and adjoining part of Nepal), Rudra Shahi (1630),
Vikram Shahi (1642), Mandhata Shahi (1671), Raghunath Shahi (1690), Hari Shahi
(1720), Krishna Shahi (1760), Deep Shahi (1785), Prithivi pati Shahi (1790, 'he
had fought against the Nepali Ruler (Gorkhali Ruler) with British in 1814 A.D').
The historic place of war
between the Doti Kingdom and Nepal (Gorkha kingdom) during the period of Gorkha
Expansion in 1790, according to the history of Nepal, is Nari-Dang, on the bank
of the Seti River. The Dumrakot was the base of Doti Kingdom for fighting
against Gorkhali.
Mongol/Mughal invasion
During the period of Akbar, 16th century, Mongols (Mughals) attacked the Raikas. They invaded Ajemeru, capital of the Raikas Kingdom. Ajemeru is now in Dadeldhura District in the Far-Western region. According to Indo-Persian historian Abd-ul-Qadir Bada'uni (c. 1540 – 1615), Army Chief of Akbar, Khan, lured by the wealth and treasury of the Raikas state, attempted to plunder the state, but did not succeed.
Major cities
The Dhangadhi municipality
is in Kailali District of Seti Zone.Mahendranagar is the
headquarters of the Kanchanpur
District in Mahakali Zone. It
is located on the Mahakali River,
6 km north of the India border, and is
inhabited by the indigenous Tharu people and
other groups.
Dipayal-Silgadhi municipality
is the headquarters of Doti District and
the Far-Western Region. It is within trekking distance of Khaptad National Park.
Dipayal is also the name of the valley encompassing the Seti River.
Amargadhi is
the headquarters of the Dadeldhura
District.
Akhand Sudurpaschim
Akhand Sudurpaschim (अखण्ड सुदूरपश्चिम) is a movement orchestrated by the natives of Far Western Region aiming to create a separate state and self-determination rights for the native population. Natives have claimed two districts of Madhesh plain region: Kailali and Kanchanpur, while Madheshi based parties want a separate Madhesh province along with the two districts that geographically lie in the Terai-Madhesh Plains. The Far Western Region, inhabited by a majority of Doteli speaking people as of the 2011 census, shares a border with the Indian district of Uttarakhand and shares a similar ethnicity, language and culture. A movement against the central Sate “half-blood behavior" began on 26 April 2012, effectively halting state services, and ended upon the dissolution of the constitutional assembly on 28 May 2012.
No comments:
Post a Comment