Geography, Climate, Transportation, Economy of Baglung

Baglung, is a town in western Nepal , 275 km west of Kathmandu. It is the administrative headquarters of Baglung District and Dhawalagiri Zone. Baglung is a major business, financial, educational and healthcare center for the people of Kali Gandaki valley.
Geography and climate
Baglung Bazar is situated on a plateau overlooking the Kali Gandaki gorge directly south of the Dhaulagiri Himalayan range. Steep cliffs rising from the valley flank the platue on three sides. City limits are roughly determined by the Kathe Khola to the south, Kali Gandaki river to the east and Dhodeni Khola to the north. Baglung enjoys warm summers and mild winters. Annual average temperatures range from a maximum of 26.6°C and a minimum of 19.1°C. Highs above 35C (95 F) and lows below 0C (32F) are rare. The average annual rainfall recorded is 1060.9 ml (1982)[1]. Rainfall is heavily affected by the Monsoon and most of it occurs during the months of Jun-Sept. Rest of the year is mostly dry and sunny. Snowfall is extremely rare though surrounding mountains see occasional snow during the winter months.
Transportation
Baglung is connected to Beni Bazar of Myagdi to the north and Kusma Bazar of Parbatwhich are located 13 km to the north and 12 km to the south, respectively. A paved highwayconnects the town with Pokhara, 72 km to the east. Tracks for the highways to connectTibet to the north via Mustang, Rukum to the west via Burtibang and Sera Bazar to the south via Balewa airport have been completed recently. There is ongoing work to open track along the Kali Gandaki valley to connect Baglung directly with the southern border towns. Upon completion of these road projects Baglung will be at the crossroads of the north-south highway linking India with Mustang and the ‘middle hill’ east-west highway linking eastern and western halves of the country. In addition to major highways, narrow seasonal dirt roads connect the town with adjoining rural areas. Baglung airport (code: BGL), in Balewa, is located 12 km to the south of the town across the valley from Kusma. With the completion of the Pokhara-Baglung highway this airport has fallen into disuse. Water transportation is virtually absent. However, the adjoining Kali Gandaki river offers some of the best white-water rafting in Nepal and attracts a decent number of thrill seekers every year.

Demographics
There are around 27,289 inhabitants (estimate for 2010) in Baglung. Annual population growth rate is 3.03%. It is the 42nd largest municipality in Nepal, up from 47th in 2001 [2]. Baglung district has a population of 268,937 (as per statistics of Nepal Government, 2001).Nepali (with accent unique to the region) is the most widely spoken language of the region. Other languages spoken include Newari, Gurung, Thakali, Tibetan and Magar.
Baglung is a multicultural and multiracial community. Majority of the population belongs to ethnic communities of Brahmin, Magar, Chhettri, Chhantyal,and Dalits. Smaller groups ofNewar, Gurung and Thakali also live in the area. Majority of people from Baglung practiceHinduism. Other religions practiced in the area include Buddhism and Islam. There is also a small Tibetan refugee camp located at Dhorpatan.
Economy
Baglung, being the zonal and district headquarters, has a large presence of government and non-governmental institutions. Administrative as well as service centers are located within the city limits. A number of governmental, non-governmental as well as political conferences and rallies are held throughout the year. There is a significant presence of Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force of Nepal in the area. Baglung is also a Banking and financial hub of the region. In the recent years many national banks have opened branches and regional offices. A large number of people are employed overseas and in neighboring India. People from Baglung and nearby have a tradition of enlisting in the British and the Indian Army. Baglung and the region receive one of the highest amounts of remittance earned from foreign employment in Nepal. As of 2010, pension fund alone distributed to ex-servicemen of the Indian Army by the Pension Paying Office at Baglung stands at around USD 20 million [3]. There are many shops and restaurants catering to the locals and occasional visitors. The town is bustling with many grocery stores, newsstands, repair shops, tailors, beauty parlors, clothing and electronics outlets. There are few small scale industries. Most of the manufacturing work is revolved around production of construction materials and home furnishings. Schools and institutions of higher education also employ a significant number of people.
Places of interest
Very good views of Himalayas can be had from Baglung. Bhakunde a place near Baglung city is a good to place to see the panaroma of the various range of Himalayas. Terraced fields, waterfalls, forests, deep gorges and caves are abundant throughout the area. The temples in and around Kalika make an excellent pilgrimage. The Kalika temple (built by King Pratapi Narayan, and renovated in late 90s) is visited by thousands of pilgrims each year especially during the festivals of Dashain and Chaitre Dashain. Trekking, biking, and rafting make it an ideal location for thrill seekers. Kalika is also the vantage point for trekkers to Mustang,Dolpa and Mt. Dhaulagiri. Kalika has the only hunting reserve in Nepal. Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve is a prime habitat for blue sheep and snow leopard.
Culture
Baglung and adjacent areas are well known for the folk Nepali music. The area has given rise to some of the more prominent names in folk music. Annual folk song competition held during the Chaitre Dashain festival attracts artists from all over the nation. In recent years music by artists such as The Sky Band, S K Shrestha and Godhuli Band have gained main stream success.

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Tourist Place of Galkot “Ghumte Hill”

Ghumte hill is the highest hill in the Baglung district. It’s also taken as honor of Galkot. From of the top of it we can see many place of the Nepal. It is a beautiful hill full of Nepalese National flower Rhododendron during the spring season. Every person who visits the Galkot they want to climb up the Ghumte and see the romantic sense. Every year on Baishak purnima as a festival of Buddha Purnima most people go there. On Ghumte lakh we can find many historical and religious instruments. On top of the Ghumte lakh,there is a famous temple named Siddha Baba. Near it there is famous cave name Bhairav cave. Every year people go inside this cave and try to search about the cave.  

In matter of Bharav Darbar or Bharav palace 24th state kings name also attached. In 1665 to 1670 Gorkha's king Ram shah also come Galkot. When he lived Galkot he was gone top of Ghumte. After worshiping the siddha Baba and Bharav he seeks and observes the beauty and romantic sense of Ghumte. At that time he found extraordinary cave. He like it much and wanted to live there. Than people called it palace because king Ram shah live there. It is also Called Ramcha Cave.

 Here another important and historical thing is that there is an extraordinary stick. In local language is called Bhimsen stick. It is remaining now as a statue. It carries a long history. Lack of reliable proof we are unable to explain about it. It is believed that Ghumte hill has traces of gold mine. Most part of the Ghumte is covered with forest. Inside the forest we can find different kinds of wild animals such as tiger, dear fox, and so on as well as we can find diffetent kinds of beautiful birds. Ghumte is very much for herbal medicine such as satuwa, panchoula, silagit etc.

Really Ghumte is a beautiful and romantic hill. The people who lives in Galkot and even who go away from the Galkot love the Ghumte very much.So people write the song include the Ghume and people who write poem they also put the Ghumte in their poem, One year ago Ghumte festival is orginazed by the Galkot inhabitants’ to share the news about the Galkot which help us to attracts the tourist. In future people made a plane that in Ghumte a cabul ropeway is going to build. After it will be very easy to go peck of the Ghumte and also it become a main tourist sector in this area.

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Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve

Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve lies in Rukum, Myagdi and Baglung Districts in the Dhaulagiri Himal range in West Nepal. Putha, Churen and Gurja Himal extend over the northern boundary of the reserve. Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve was established in 1983 and was gazetted in 1987. Management objectives of the reserve allow sports hunting and preserve a representative high altitude ecosystem in West Nepal
Details About the Reserve:

• The reserve extends over an area of 1325 sq. km and is the only hunting reserve in the country to meet the sports hunting needs of Nepalese and foreign hunters of blue sheep and other game animals. The higher elevations remain snow-capped throughout the year. Altitudes vary from 3000 m. to more than 7000 m. The flat meadows above tree line (4000 m), locally known as Patan, is divided into six blocks for hunting management purposes.

• The reserve is surrounded by villages on all sides except the north. Local people depend on the reserve to meet their requirements for wood, fuelwood, fodder, and pasture. The refugee camp near the reserve headquarters has put more human pressure in the forest. Every year livestock grazing activities begin from February and last until October. More than 80,000 livestock enter the reserve.

• The majority of people belong to the Mongoloid race, including Magar. Thakali, and Gurung, Amalgamation of different ethnic groups has resulted in a mixed pattern of cultures.

• Dhorbaraha, a Hindu religious place on the banks or Uttarganga River near Dhorpatan, is in Fagune bloc. Every year on the day of "Janai Purnima" in August, a religious fair is held here which is attended by many local devotees. The magnificent view of Dhaulagiri Himal from Barse. Dogari and Gustung blocs are exceptional. Snag and Sundaha bloc are rich in wild animals.
Vegetation and Wildlife:

• The reserve is characterized by alpine, sub-alpine and high temperate vegetation. Common plant species include fir, pine, birch, rhododendron, hemlock, oak, juniper and spruce. Pasturelands occupy more than 50% of the total area of the reserve at higher elevations.

• The reserve is one of the prime habitats for blue sheep, a highly coveted trophy. Other animals found are : leopard, goral, serow, Himalayan tahr, Himalayan black bears, barking deer, wild boar, rhesus macaque, langur and mouse hare.

• Pheasants and partridge are common and their viable population in the reserve permits controlled hunting.

• Endangered Animals in the reserve include Musk deer, Wolf, Red panda, Cheer pheasant and Danphe.

• A hunting license is issued by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife conservation.
Seasons:
• The monsoon lasts until the beginning of October. Day time temperatures are very low during winter due to strong winds. Higher elevations remain covered by cloud in the morning, later cleared by the wind. Snow may occur even at low elevation until early April, however, it soon melts. The best time to visit the reserve is March-April.
How to Get There:

• Public bus service is available from Kathmandu to Tansen and Tamgash Gulmi from where the reserve HQ. is a three day walk via Burtibang.
• Flight service reaches Baglung from Kathmandu and Pokhara. The reserve HQ. can be reached in 4 days walk from Balewa, Baglung.
• A public bus can be taken to Baglung from Pokhara followed by a 4 day walk via Baglung Beni-Darbang-Lumsum and Jaljala to reach Dhorpatan.
• A helicopter charter may be available on request from Kathmandu.
Some Important Points:
• Local people are allowed to collect limited quantities of fuelwood for their use. Visitors are requested to be self-sufficient with fuel before entering the reserve. Since no medical facilities are available in the reserves, it is suggested that visitors carry a comprehensive first-aid kit including medicines for intestinal disorders. Two hotels/lodges catering simple Nepali foods are located at Chhyantung near Dhorpatan.

Entry Fees into Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve:
• Reserve fee per person per entry:
• For Nepali Nationals Rs 20
• For SAARC Nationals Rs 200
• For Foreign Nationals Rs 500
• Children under 10 years free

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Some Fact About Baglung

Baglung district, a part of Dhawalagiri zone, is one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal, a landlocked country of Asia. It lies on midhills of Nepal, 275 km west of Katmandu. The districts with baglung as its districts headquaters.covers an area of 1,784 km² and has a population of 268,938.



Baglung is the headquarter of Dhawalagiri zone. It is surrounded by parvat, myagdi, rukum, rolpa, pyuthan, gulmi districts. It looks like Nepal in shape. It had 59 village development committees and one municipality. it has many rivers and streams and so many bridges. It is a hilly district, most of the population settled in the sides of the rivers. Headquarter of Baglung (Baglung Bazaar) is also situated in the bank of the holy river- Kaligandaki. Like Nepal, Baglung is also diverse in religion, culture; temperature etc.Hinduism and Buddhism are the major religion. Magar, Chhetri, Brahmin, Newar, Gurung, and Thakali are the main ethnic groups residing in Baglung.




Baglung is rich in herbal medicine plants, Rice, corn, maize and potato are the major crops of baglung there are many mines in use in baglung in the past, iron and copper mines being the most prewalent..But they are not use for longtime because of the heedlessness of the government. There are numerous slate mines in use in Baglung. These slates are excellent for roofing. Baglung Bazaar, Hatiya- Galkot, Kushmi Sera and Burtibang are the main trading centers of Baglung. Galkot, Kushmi Sera and Burtibang are connected with the district headquarter Baglung Bazaar by raw roads. Small part of Baglung is electrified by Nepal Electricity Authority and some other parts are electrified by small local hydro plants. Recently, telephone has been accessible in almost all villages of Baglung.



Baglung is considered to be one of the politically most conscious districts and it plays a significant role in the Nepali politics.
Baglung bazar has been a trading town since ancient times frequented by traders from north and south. More recently, it is visited by tourists seeking to trek to Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, dhorpatan and dolpo. A well-paved but winding highway connects the town with Pokhara 72 km to the east. Highways to connect Jomsom, Mustang, Tibet to the north, Rukum via Burtibang and Dhorpatan to the west and Sera Bazar via airport (probably will see an extension to Palpa) to the south are under construction.

Baglung airport, now defunct, is located 12 km to the south of the town. This was the only connection to the outside world before completion of the highway. Above the airport is the famous shrine of Lord Bhairav. The latter is a long walk up the mountain through Paiyunpata (where the High school is located) taking 4–5 hours. Once at the top one has a breathtaking view of the surrounding Himalayas and Kusma Bazaar. Baglung has experienced a rapid expansion after the completion of Pokhara-Baglung Highway in the mid-90s. There is now a summer road that connects Baglung to Balewa—where the airport is located.

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History of Baglung

History of Baglung can be traced back to early 16th century. King Pratapi Nayayan of Galkot married the princess of Palpa. The king brought goddess kali along with him as dowry. Legend follows; nobody was able to carry the sword of Kali. A youth from Kunwar chhetri family was finally able to carry the sword. He was given the honorary title of Khadka (‘khadga’ meaning the sword). One night when the wedding procession reached where Baglung is today, the king had a dream. In his dream goddess Kali said she liked the place and wished to stay there. The king then built a temple in honor of goddess Kali and designated the Khadka as caretaker. This was in 1590 B.S. (1533 A.D.). Significant population of Khadka Chhetris can be found in Baglung till date. The strategic location of Baglung soon helped it to grow into a trading town. King Pratapi Narayan also started the tradition of holding an annual fair during ‘Chaitre Dashain’. The fair is still held annually and draws thousands of visitors every year during the two day event. Baglung remained to stay a major trading point in Parvat kingdom, where merchants from south came to trade for salt brought by Traders from Tibet. Major trade was carried along the Kali Gandaki valley between India and Tibet by Thakali people. Newar merchants migrated to Baglung from Bhaktapur in 18th century. Baglung became part of Greater Nepal (Bishal Nepal) under unification war led by King Prithvi Narayan Shah. Under unified Nepal, several government offices were established and the town was designated as administrative headquarters of the region. Since then it has remained the most important political and economic town in the Dhaulagiri Zone

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Baglung

Baglung is the most popular place of nepal.It has 59 Village Development Committees and one Municipality. It has many rivers and streams and so, many suspension bridges. Baglung is also known as the district of suspension bridges because of the large number of bridges. It is a hilly district, most of the population settled in the sides of the rivers. Fertile planes situated in the either sides of the rivers are used for farming. Headquarter of Baglung (Baglung Bazaar) is also situated in the bank of the holy river- Kaligandaki. Like Nepal, Baglung is also diverse in religion, culture, ethnicity, altitude, temperature etc. Hinduism and Buddhism are the major religions. Magar, Chhetri, Bramhan, Newar, Gurung, Chhantyal and Thakali are the main ethnic groups living in Baglung. Highest temperature in the lowest altutude of baglung rises up to about 37.5 degrees Celsius in summer and the lowest temperature at Dhorpatan falls up to about −15 degrees Celsius in winter. Altitude of Baglung varies from about 650 meters at Kharbang to about 4,300 meters in Dhorpatan.
Baglung is rich in herbal Baglung is surrounded by Parvat, Myagdi, Rukum, Ropla, Pyuthan and Gulmi districts. It looks like Nepal medicine plants. Rice, corn, millet, wheat and potato are the major crops of baglung.There were many mines in use in Baglung in the past; Iron and Copper mines being the most prevalent. But they are not in use for long time because of the heedlessness of the government. There are numerous slate mines in use in Baglung. These slates are excellent for roofing.
Baglung Bazaar, Hatiya- Galkot, Kushmi Sera and Burtibang are the main trading centers of Baglung. Galkot, Kushmi Sera and Burtibang are connected with the district headquarter Baglung Bazaar by raw roads. Small part of Baglung is electrified by Nepal Electricity Authority and some other parts are electrified by small local hydroplants. Recently, telephone has been accessible in almost all villages of Baglung.
Baglung is considered to be one of the politically most conscious districts and it plays a significant role in the Nepali politics.

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