Far-Western Development Region, Nepal
| सुदुर पश्चिमाञ्चल विकास क्षेत्र Sudur Pashchimānchal Bikās Kshetra | |
|---|---|
| Regions | |
| Country |
 Nepal |
| Region | Far Western Development Region |
| Headquarters | Dipayal Silgadhi, Doti District, Seti Zone |
| Area | |
| • Total | 19,539 km2 (7,544 sq mi) |
| Population (2011 Census) | |
| • Total | 2,552,517 |
| pop. note | |
| Time zone | NPT (UTC+5:45) |
The Far-Western Development Region (Nepali: सुदुर पश्चिमाञ्चल विकास क्षेत्र, Sudur Pashchimānchal Bikās Kshetra) is one of Nepal's five development regions. It is located at the western end of the country with headquarters at Dipayal.
The Far Western Region covers 19,539 km2. 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 beneath the poverty line. The region has limited access to basic services and increasing services is challenging due to the difficult topography. The region has complex socio-economic structures and there is both widespread gender and caste based discrimination. Traditional systems associated with religion, culture and customs also have a great impact on overall development.[1]
It comprises two zones:
The Far Western Region of Nepal is sometimes called the Doti region, which some believe originated from 'Dovati' meaning land between two rivers. Others believe it originated from the Hindu god Dev, and aatavi, meaning the place of re-creation. The area's history goes back to the 13th century when Niranjan Malldeo founded the Doti Kingdom following the fall of the Katyuri Kings. Dotiyali and Kumauni is spoken in the Far Western Region. Deuda,Jhoda, Chhpeli, Chhaliya, Bhada etc. are traditional dance of the region and Gaura or Gamara is the biggest festival of the region.
History
doti was an ancient kingdom of uttrakhand of India and far western region of Nepal which was formed after disintegration of Katyuri kingdom of Uttarakhand and far western region of Nepal during 13th century. Doti was one of eight different princely states formed after the kingdom broken and others were 1.Baijnath-Katyuri, 2.Dwarahat, 3. Doti, 4. Baramandal, 5.Askot, 6. Sira, 7. Sora, 8. Sui (Kali kumaon). Kingdom had broken down 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 whole land between Ramganga on the west (Uttarakhand) and the Karnali on the east (which divides far western region to other part 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.[2]
Raikas of Doti
Niranjan Malla Dev was the founder of Doti Kingdom around 13th century after a 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). Later on Raikas, after overthrow Khas Malla of Karnali Zone, were able to form a strong Raikas Kingdom in Far Western Region and Kumaun which was called Doti. So far, the historical evidence of following Raikas have been discovered;
Niranjan Malla Dev (Founder of Doti Kingdom), Nagi Malla (1238), Ripu Malla (1279), Nirai Pal (1353 may be of Askot and his historical evidence of 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 Nepali Ruler (Gorkhali Ruler) with British in 1814 A.D').[3]
The Historic place of War between Doti Kingdom and Nepal (Gorkha kingdom) during period of Gorkha Expansion at 1790, according to the history of Nepal, is NARI-DANG which is at the bank of Seti River and the Dumrakot was the base of Doti Kingdom for fighting against Gorkhali.
Mogul invasion over Raikas Kingdom
During a period of Akbar 16th century Moguls had attacked over Raikas of Doti. They invaded Ajemru, capital of Raikas Kingdom. Ajemeru is now at Dadeldhura District of far western region of Nepal. Hussain Khan named army chief of Akbar residing at Lakhnow had led the attack. According to Abd-ul-Qadir Bada'uni (c. 1540 – 1615), Indo-Persian historian during Mughal Empire, Mugal Army chief of lukhnow Hussian Khan, lured by wealth and treasury of the state of the raikas, wanted to plunder sate was the motive behind the assault ; But they did not succeed.[4]
Major cities
Dhangadhi municipality is in Kailali District of Seti Zone.
Mahendranagar is the headquarters of Kanchanpur District in Mahakali Zone. It is located on the Mahakali River, 6 km north of the India border. Kanchanpur is inhabited by people of various races, including the indigenous Tharu people.
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 scenic valley of Seti River.
Amargadhi is headquarters of Dadeldhura District.
Places of interest
'Rauleswar Kedar of baitadi is situated in Baitadi.It contains lot of historical things.It provides knowledge about our past. Parsa Chanairaj temple is situated in baitadi district Shreekot V.D.C. ward no. 7 parsa. The link between Rauleswar kedar and Parsa Chanairaj is very close according to the historical aspects.
Khaptad National Park was established in 1984, in the Middle Hills. The park features a mid-mountain ecosystem at about 300m elevation. Noted for rolling forests and plateaus, the park has a great variety of vegetation as well as leopard, yellow-throated marten, tahr, Impeyan pheasant, chkor partridge, monal, griffin, red and yellow-billed blue magpie, and kalij pheasant. The park also has a number of butterflies and moths. The Ashram of Khaptad Swami is at the center of this park. Because the park has religious significance, drinking, smoking and violence are prohibited.
Sukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve is in the Terai, mainly in Kanchanpur District. There are an estimated 2,000 to 2,500 swamp deer. The reserve is also home to the rare Bengal florican. Reptiles include Marsh muggers, Indian python, monitor lizards, cobras, rat snakes and kraits but these are seldom seen.
Royal Bardia National Park is the largest and most undisturbed wild area of the Terai. Similar to Chitwan but drier and more remote, it encompasses 1,000 square km of riverine grassland and sal forests. Bardia has the country's second largest tiger population, plus blackbuck antelopes, a few wild elephants, Gharial crocodiles, birds and mammals, and some rare Gangetic dolphins in the Karnali River on its western border.
Remains of Ancient culture – The Raute tribe in this region still lives by hunting and gathering, moving from place to place. They say they are owners of the forest, and government should not interfere their wild kingdom. Unique Tharu culture in the Terai, Hindu culture in mid-mountains and Tibetan culture in the northern part of the Far-Western Region can be seen and experienced.
- Physical Condition
Physical, the far western development region is also divided into 3 physical regions: Terai in the south, the hill in the middle and the mountains in the north. Mountain regions have many high mountain peaks. They are: Mt.Api, Saipal, Nampa, Yokapahad and Lasa .
Akhand Sudurpaschim
Akhand Sudurpaschim (अखण्ड सुदूरपश्चिम ) is a movement orchestrated by the native of far western development region of Nepal aim at which to create a separate state and self determination right for the native of the region. Native of Hill area has claimed over the parts of two districts of Madhesh plain region: Kailali and Kanchanpur - of being the part of their nationality on contrary of Madheshi based parties who want a separate Madhesh province along with those two district which geographically and culturally lies in Terai-Madhesh Plains. This future state of the Far western Region, dominated by Doteli speaking people as of census of Nepal (2011), share boarder with Uttrakhand India sharing region similar ethnicity, language and culture. Historical movement on 26th of April, against the central Sate “half-blood behavior" with the region, had launched which remained whole region shut down was ended till the constitution assembly dissolved on 28th May 2012.
References
External links
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 Tibet Autonomous Region, China |
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style="width:33% rowspan=3 | Uttarakhand,  India |
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Mid-Western Region | ||
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| Uttar Pradesh, India |
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