Dhading District, a part of Bagmati Province, is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal. The district, with Dhading Besi as its district headquarters, covers an area of 1926 km2, had a population of 338,658 in 2001 and 336,067 in 2011.

Geography and climate

Dhading District spreads from 27'40" E to 28'17" E and 80'17"N to 84'35"N. The mountain range Ganesh Himal is the predominant mountain range located within Dhading. Some of the peaks are over 7000 m. The 8000 m and the mountain Manaslu is clearly visible from much of Dhading, although it is located within the bounds of Gorkha. The transnational Prithivi Highway connecting Kathmandu and Pokhara runs through the southern portion of the district, making for easy access to the Kathmandu valley. The road parallels the Trishuli River. The western border with Gorkha is bisected by the Budigandaki River. The district is bounded by Dhading is the only district of Nepal which ranges from the mountain Ganesh Himal to the Churevawar pradesh of Terai (Chitwan). The district, with Dhading Besi as its district headquarters, covers an area of 1926 km2 and has a population (2001) of 338,658. Dhading is the district with the most rural municipalities in Nepal i.e. 11. The mountain range Ganesh is the predominant mountain range located within Dhading. All of the peaks are over 7000 m with some approaching 8000 m. The over 8000 m mountain Manaslu is clearly visible from much of Dhading, although it is located within the bounds of Gorkha. The transnational King Prithivi Highway connecting Kathmandu and Pokhara runs through the southern portion of the district, making for easy access too the Kathmandu valley. The road parallels the Trishuli River. Dhading is 80% farmland and 20% forest. The western border with Gorkha is bisected by the Budhigandaki River. The people of the district are primarily Bhramin and Chetri in the south and Tamang and Gurung in the north, with much of the center Newari. Gurkha route, the birthplace of founder of Nepal King Prithivi Naryan Shah crosses through Dhading.

Rivers

The main river of the Dhading district is Budi Gandaki which comes from Ganesh Himal and passes through Arughat Bazaar and Salyantar and meets Ankhu khola at Narsingha Dhamm. Budhi Gandaki separates the district from Gorkha district. The Trisuli River, which comes from Nuwakot, also passes through Dhading. There are 25 small rivers, the main being Charoudi, Malekhu, Galtukhola, Belkhukhola, Chiraudikhola, Maheshkhola, Aansi, Thopal, Manukhola, Kastekhola, and Mastekhola. Besides these, there are over 1743 smaller rivers, springs and seasonal streams.

Demographics

At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, Dhading district had a population of 336,067. As their first language, 70.7% spoke Nepali, 20.1% Tamang, 2.5% Chepang, 2.1% Gurung, 1.9% Magar, 0.9% Newari, 0.7% Ghale, 0.5% Kumhali, 0.2% Bhojpuri, 0.1% Maithili, 0.1% Urdu and 0.2% other languages. Ethnicity/caste: 22.2% were Tamang, 15.0% Hill Brahmin, 14.6% Chhetri, 9.4% Newar, 8.5% Magar, 5.6% Gurung, 4.8% Sarki, 4.3% Chepang/Praja, 4.2% Kami, 2.5% Damai/Dholi, 2.0% Ghale, 1.4% Kumal, 1.0% Gharti/Bhujel, 1.0% Sanyasi/Dasnami, 0.9% Thakuri, 0.7% Rai, 0.3% Danuwar, 0.3% Musalman, 0.2% Darai, 0.2% Majhi, 0.1% Brahmu/Baramo, 0.1% Kamar, 0.1% Tharu and 0.2% others. The people of the district are primarily Brahmin and Chhetri in the south and Ghale, Gurung and Tamang in the north, with much of the center Newari. Religion: 72.4% were Hindu, 20.6% Buddhist, 6.3% Christian, 0.3% Muslim, 0.2% Prakriti and 0.1% others. Literacy: 62.7% could both read and write, 2.5% could read but not write and 34.7% could neither read nor write.

Religious temples

Dhading District has many religious temples. Among them is Tripurasundari Mai which lies in the northern part of the district. Siddha Than in Siddhalekh Rural Municipality is a Hindu religious site. Others include the Bhairabi Temple in Sunaula Bazar. Sri Nrsimha Dham Kshetra in Salyantar is a historical religious site for the Vedic Sanatan Hindu people, where Jagannath Foundation – Sri Rupanuga Para Vidyapeeth, Bimala Devi Temple, Shesa Temple, Sada Shiva and ancient Nrsimha Deva temple, and Ganga Jamuna temple are attractions. Kot Devi is a religious site in Jwalamukhi Rural Municipality, Maidi. Kalidevi Temple is also one of the popular religious temples (Devi Mandir) located in Dhunibeshi Municipality ward no. 6. Amleshwor Mahadev Temple in Mahesdovan, Jwalamukhi, is also one of the main religious temples of Dhading. Pasupatipati and Krishna mandir covers the district headquarter, Dhading Bensi. Madevthan of Palpa Bensi is also one of the religious sites of Dhading. Dhola Mandali temple of Dhola is a popular Hindu temple. Every Tuesday people used to cut she-goats in Mandali Thaan. Girls and women are not allowed to go there.The origin of the Muktinath temple of Mustang is Dhading. In Dhading, Muktinath Temple is located at Siddhalek Rular Municipality, nearly Kalupanda Marg.

Administration

Dhanding district consists of two municipalities and 11 rural municipals.

Municipalities

Rural municipals

Towns and villages