Introduction
Rukum is one of district of Rapti zone. It is a hilly and mountainous district but there is plain area also. It is nearly 280km west of capital, Kathmandu. It is located at mid-western development region. It covers 2,877 sq. km (293182 hector) area. Musikot (Jumlikhalanga) is headquarter (administrative centre) of it.
Rukum district has many potential tourist destinations or attractions that are not explored. Mt. Sisne himal is the head of Rukum district; it is 5,849 meter (19,195 ft.). Sisne himal is known as Virgin Mountain because nobody climbed yet. There is a Rukmini Lake (locally "Kamal Daha") in Rukumkot VDC of Rukum district. It is named by the flower Lotus.
Sani Bheri and Thuli Bheri are major 2 rivers of Rukum district except them there are many streams in this district. We can divide stream into two categories one is permanent which flows always and another is temporary which flows only the season of rainy. There are many possibilities from this stream and river. We can conduct boating or rafting in Sani Bheri and Thuli Bheri. We can irrigate our land by using this water and can grow our quantity of grain. The main possibility is we can produce hydro-electricity but it is flowing uselessly. The Occupation of Rukumeli people is related with the agricultural system so we can use water in our agricultural sector. Rukum is rich in water resources. There are two hot water origins in this district one is in Pokhara VDC near shore of Sani Bheri and another is in Maikot VDC, Pelma. The most popular rivers and streams are Sani Bheri, Thuli Bheri, Muru Stream, Lukumgad Stream, Pelma Stream, Ranma Stream, Ruji Stream, Chunbang Stream, Setigad Stream, Korja Stream, Puma Stream, Jahari Stream, and Sakchakhola Stream etc. The Rivers and stream have carried many tourism potential if there will be right utilization of water resources.
Rukum is not popular only for the natural places it is famous for the origin place of the "Maoist". In 10 years civil war Rukum had became famous in worldwide. There are many Maoist leaders in this district. Rukumeli residents were pressing by both groups. Many people become martyrs in this time. In this time many physical infrastructures had damaged, many land had became useless, many people had became homeless. Everybody was frightening by this civil war. We can say proudly, Rukum was not origin of Maoist but it was also final of Maoist civil war. When Maoist loosed in Khara war they had gone peace process only. We can realize the impact of civil war yet if we are in Rukumeli villages.
The transportation facility in this district is growing day by day. There are 2 airports Salle Khalanga airport and Chuarjahari airport. The plane takes flight only from Kathmandu and Nepalgunj other airway are remaining to open. They are providing passengers transportation, Patients transportation, Food transportation, Staff transportation etc. Road facility has reached early 2 and 3 years. Now Rukum is joined by Rapti Rajmarg as well as Mahendra highway. Bus, Truck and Tractor are main transportation device in this gravelling road but the condition of road is very bad. In only serves the people only in dry season. It is stopped at rainy reason because of the landslide. Other part of Rukum the transportation facility is horse, Mule, donkey, yak and goat specially snowing area which is far from the road.
Rukum is famous for the Magar Basti "Takasera Basti". There is different life style and different language among them magar community and they are called "Khame". We can see amazing housing system in this village. The snowing area is also famous for the herbs (Jadibuti) or medicine plant as Yarchagumba, Pancaaule, Shilajit, Kurilo, Katuko, Dhaturo, Katus, Padamchalna etc.
It is the northernmost part of Rapti zone. It starts from 28º 29' to 29º 0' northern axis and from 82º 29' to 82º 53' eastern deshantar. Its height starts from 754 meter to 6,000 meter. Musikot Khalanga is located at 1448 meter height. It is surrounded by Dolpa from north, Baglung and Myagdi from east, Jajarkot from west and Salyan and Rolpa from south.
Its climates range starts from subtropical at southern part of Rukum and to perpetual snow and ice at northern part of Rukum. Chaurjahari and other sides of rivers and streams are plain surface otherwise all lands are hilly. 0.4ºc is the average minimum temperature and 34ºc is the average maximum temperature and average rainfall is 1600mm to 2400 mm.
It is underdevelopment condition. The main occupation is related with the agricultural product and the condition of trade and commerce is going to develop day by day. There are many trade centres in Rukum district as, Musikot, Banphikot, Rukumkot, Nauagadh, Chaurjahari, Simrut, Jhulakhet, Chunbang, Shimli, Bairagithanti, Gotamkot, Jhulneta, Pokhara, Kholagaung, Nuwakot, Mahat and Domai etc.
Shaikumari Bhagabati and Kalika Temple in Khalanga VDC, Barah Temple and Shivaji Temple in Rukumkot VDc, gadhidhar temple in Banphikot VDC, Shivaji Temple in Vijayashwori VDC, Mastthan in Maikot VDC, Kalika Temple in Gotamkot, Laxminarayan Temple in Aathbiskot VDC and many more. In Kartik Shuklapurnima, Shaikumari bhagabati temple is fullfiled by the people.They believes the bhagabati offers the expected demand in this day and fair is also popular in this day.
Shyarpu Lake is the greatest lake among Rapti zone. Its located nearly 2.6 sq. km, it has one strange feature. It has various colours in various season and it is alos known as “Little Rara”. We can reach about 4hr from the headquarter to shyarpu lake. To increase the tourism development “1st Shyarpu Tourist Rally” held from Aashwin 11-15,2068 in beside of Shyarpu Lake. Kamal Lake is also important for tourism development. We can reach there about 5hr by trekking and about 3hr by taxi. The best season for Kamal lake is Bhadra-Aaswin because in this time lotus are blooming.
To do tourist management “home stay” is also contributing in occasion of tourism year 2011 and hotel and lodges are increasing for tourism facility. There is District Tourist development Committee in the chief of Local Development minister and in occasion of tourism year 2011 Nepal Tourist Year-2011 District Co-ordination Committee Rukum is established in chief of CDO. To spread the beauty of Rukum district there are many tasks, to complete this task we all should be together.It is also famous for "52 pokhari and 53 Takuri". The identity of Rukum district is ideal than other district. We can say Rukum is in hero among the district of Rapti zone.
In my words, we welcome every body in our lovely and lovely district "Rukum".
