Amongst the 7 provinces in Nepal, province 4 (recently named as Gandaki Province) is one of the most promising provinces and more importantly, a renowned place for tourist destination for the people of Nepal as well as abroad. Pokhara, the province 4 headquarter, is world famous tourist place due to existence of Fewa Lake, Begnas Lake and opportunity to see the Annarnapurna, Fishtail & Dhaulagiri Himalayan Range. Also, this province is important from religious point of view too, where the world famous Muktinath Chhetra lies. Similarly, the province is observed to be economically viable since it can contribute in rural livelihood through promotion of tourism (Annapurna, Upper Mustang, Uppar Manang, Ghalegaun etc), Hydropower Projects and production of agricultural products.
Table 1: Some Facts & Figures of Gandaki Province
|
Area |
21,733 sq km/21, 91, 781 hectors (14.66% of total country’s area) Mountain-5,819 sq km (26.8%) Hill-14,604 sq km (67.2%) Terai -1,310 sq km (6%) |
|
Total population |
24,03,014 (9.06% of total country's population) Women population: 47.6 % (Population census) 2068 Population in Mountain/Himal: 19,990 (0.8%) Population in Hill: 20, 72,162 (86.2%) Population in Terai: 3, 10,864 (12.9%) |
|
Population growth rate |
0.33 % (Nepal-1.35%) |
|
Population density |
110/sq km: Mountain/Himal: 3; Hill: 142; Terai: 232 |
|
Population according to caste/ethnicity |
Brahman: 21.5%, Magar (18.9%), Kshetri (13.4%), Gurung (11.4%), Kami (8.7), Newar (4.3%), Sarki (4.1%), Damai (3.9%), Tamang (2.1%), Tharu (1.7%), Other (10%) |
|
Population under poverty line |
14.19% |
|
Literacy rate |
70.9 % |
|
HDI |
0.51 |
|
Main occupation |
Agriculture (72.4% population) |
|
Average Life expectancy |
70 years |
|
Drinking water access |
91.58% HHs |
|
Electricity access |
85% Population (73 Local Governments, out of 85) |
|
Forest coverage |
7, 13,839 hector (32.6%) |
|
Major rivers & streams |
Kaligandaki, Budhigandaki, Marsyangdi, Modi, Madi, Daraudi, Seti, Aandhikhola, Badigad, Uttarganga |
|
Major Lakes |
Fewa lake, Begnas Lake, Rupa Lake, Tilicho Lake, Damodarkunda etc |
|
Mountains/Himalayas |
Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchre, Nilgiri, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal |
|
Minerals |
Rare Earth Metal, Uranium (Gorkha); Iron and Khari Powder (Tanahun); Uranium & Salt (Mustang/Manang); Iron (Parvat/Nawalparasi); Khari powder (Myagdi) |
|
Total Number of Districts |
11 -Manang, Gorkha, Lamjung, Tanahun, Nawalparasi (Bardaghat –Susta East), Kaski, Syangja, Parvat, Baglung, Myagdi & Mustang |
|
Total Local Governments |
85 (1 Metropolitan City, 26 Municipalities and 58 Rural Municipalilties) |
|
Total Ward Number |
759 |
|
Electoral Constituencies |
|
|
Major Cities |
Pokhara, Waling, Damauli, Kawasoti, Baglungbazaar, Kusma, Besisahar and Jomsom |
|
Major Tourist and Religious Places |
Annapurna and Manaslu Conservation Areas, Mustang, Kagbeni/Muktinath Chhetra, Dewaghat Chhetra, Dhorpatan, Manakamana/Bindabasini Temples, Gorkha Darwar, Ghalegaun, Fewa and Benas lakes, |
Source: Wikipedia/Gandaki Province profile
