Major Attractions of Seven Provinces of Nepal

The beautiful lands of Nepal are divided into 7 different provinces. Under the constitution of Nepal, each province has its own system. Before Nepal officially formed seven provincial regions, Nepal was divided into five developmental regions with 14 zones and 75 districts. But now, after the province was formed, 2 new districts were added, making 77 districts. The old structure of five development regions has been removed. The 77 districts were grouped unevenly into seven provinces of Nepal. With having a particular working structure, the seven provinces are rich in having wonderful natural and cultural heritage for exploration. Therefore, if you want to explore Nepal deeply then here is the information on major attractions of the seven provinces of Nepal.

All region has its own unique withdraw for travelers. At the same time, all regions offer a glut of recreation activities ranging from indoor and outdoor activities. Each province provides exciting delights while mingling with locals of diverse ethnicity to relishing natural beauty through outdoor adventures. The geographical structure of Nepal offer appealing activities like trekking, mountaineering, sight-seeing, climbing and many more. Along with these charm, all province flaunt with majestic multicultural backgrounds and histories. Overall, with myriads of isolated characters and topography on display, each region bewilders with strings of appealing features.

With no further delay, get to know the seven provinces of Nepal in brief and their major attractions:

Province 1

Province 1 covered the area of 25,905 km square, making it the second largest province of Nepal. The official name of this province has not been declared till now. Given its formation, Limbuwan/Sagarmatha/Koshi/Kirat are some of the proposed names for Province 1. This province lies in the easternmost part of Nepal, and it consists of 14 beautiful districts of Nepal. Currently, Biratnagar is the capital city of this province and Somnath Adhikari is the governer.

Similarly, Sher Dhan Rai is the current chief minister of Province 1. This province is borders with Sikkim and West Bengal in its east, Bihar to its south, Tibet in its north, and Bagmati province in its west. This provinces is spread across the Himalayas, hills, and plains of Terai geographically and experiences all four seasons throughout the year. This province is the house of world’s tallest mountains i.e. Everest, Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Lhotse, Cho Oyu and many more. With incredible mountainous roof, Province 1 diverse geographical topography attracts adventure lovers globally for mountaineering, trekking, hiking, jungle safaris and many more. Province 1 is a home to several ethnic communities too; thus, exciting cultures await exploration.

Some of the major attractions of province 1 of Nepal are listed below:

1. Tea fields and manufacturing factories of Ilam.
2. Incredible and pristine Makalu Barun valley featuring awe-inspiring landscape.
3. The famous and sacred Halesi Mahadev temple, Pathivara temple, and few more pilgrimage sites.
4. The popular Everest region lies in province 1 where you can visit exciting Lukla airport, enchanting Sagarmatha National Park, charming and bustling Namche Bazaar, tranquil and majestic Gokyo lakes, incredible Tengboche monastery and many more.
5. Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, and many more create scenic and exciting trekking trails i.e. Everest Three Passes Trek

Province 2

Province 2 consists an area of 9,661 sq. km and it is the smallest province of Nepal. The official name of province 2 has not been given yet. The few of the proposed names for province 2 are Janakpur and Madhesi or Mithila but authorities are yet to make the final decision. Although it is small in size, province 2 has the second largest population. It consists of 8 districts of Nepal and it is also a part of east Nepal. “Janakpur” is the capital city of province 2. The current governor and chief minister of this province are Rajesh Jha and Mohammad Lalbabu Raut respectively. It borders India to the south, Province No. 1 to the east, and Bagmati Province to the north. This province is well connected with other provinces through well-built roads and actively operating airports.

Also, it is the only province with railway services in all of Nepal. This province primarily covers districts of the Terai region, because of which geographical topography is not particularly diverse. Moreover, its flat lands inhabit various ethnic groups, making the area beautiful and vibrant. The major ethnic groups of province 2 are Yadav, Shah, Tharu, Chaudhary, and many more.

Some of the major attractions of province 2 of Nepal are listed below:

1. Home to ancient Rajdevi temple for Hindus which dates back to 17 century.
2. The culture here is unique, diverse, and interesting.
3. People here are mainly involved in agriculture and farming and use traditional knowledge and skills in their work.
4. It is a hub for sacred pilgrimage sites i.e. Ghadimai temple, Janakpurdham, Kankalini temple, Bhagwati temple, and many more.
5. Home to Mithila art and Maithali culture.
6. Enignatic and grand Janaki temple of Janakpur.

Bagmati Province

Home to the capital of Nepal – Kathmandu, Bagmati province covers 20,300 sq. km. of land which consists 13 districts. Bagmati province is the most populated province of Nepal. It is one of the most advanced provinces of the country and it lies in the central part of the country. From education, transportation, health, every sector is better than any other provinces of Nepal. Although the province houses the capital city of the country, Hetauda is the provincial capital. The current Governor and chief minister of this province are Bishnu Prasad Prasain, and Dormani Poudel.

Bagmati province borders the Indian state of Bihar, and Province No. 2 to the south, Tibet Autonomous region of China to the north. Gandaki Province to the west, and Province No. 1 to the east. It consists of plains land, hills and mountains, and many international cities rich in cultural heritage sites. Along with cultural delights, Bagmati province is rich in natural magnificence as well. Thus, this province attracts the largest number of travelers.

Some of the major attractions of the Bagmati province of Nepal are listed below:

1. People of multicultural background lives here showcasing diverse cultures and traditions.
2. Wonderful Langtang Valley is the closest hiking destination for a short escape to the mountains.
3. Many historical landmarks i.e. ruins and forts are located here.
4. For nature lovers and wild animal enthusiasts, Chitwan National Park is a lively place to be.
5. Major Cultural World Heritage Sites under UNESCO are located in Bagmati province.

Gandaki Province

Gandaki province is one of Nepal’s essential provinces. The major mountainous region such as Annapurna range, Manaslu, Machhapuchre range, and Dhaulagiri range, along with many more massifs, are under Gandaki Province. Pokhara is the regional headquarter of Gandaki province. The governor of Gandaki province is Prithvi Man Singh Gurung and the chief minister is Krishna Chandra Nepali. Gandaki province covers 21,504 sq. km. area of the country and it consists of 11 districts.

It borders Lumbini Province and Bihar of India to the south, Tibet to the north, Karnali province to the west and Bagmati province to the east. The province houses Manang, Mustang, and Manaslu region, some of Nepal’s celebrated trekking destinations, along with Pokhara. In terms of topography, the province is spread over Nepal’s Himalayan, Hilly, and areas of Terai. Furthermore, Gandaki is a multiethnic provinces with various ethnic groups residing on the foothills and plains of Gandaki province.

The major attractions of Gandaki province of Nepal are listed below:

1. An adventure hub for thrill-seekers as the province offers an extensive list of daring and exhilarating activities such as bungee jumping, Canyoning, abseiling, white water rafting, paragliding, sky diving, and many more.
2. Stunning and tranquil lakes such as Tilicho Lake, Fewa Lake, Begnas Lake, and many more.
3. The region houses several exciting caves and temples.
4. Major tourist destinations i.e. Annapurna Circuit Trek, Upper Mustang Trek, Annapurna Base Camp Trek, Manaslu Circuit Trek, etc., all are part of Gandaki province.
5. Gandaki province safeguards the historic city – Gorkha, which remains the testament of unified Nepal.

Lumbini Province

Covering an area of 22,288 sq. km and 12 districts, Lumbini Province is one of the beautiful provinces of Nepal. The capital of Lumbini province is Deukhuri and it is the largest and populous provinces of Nepal. The existing governor of the Lumbini province is Amik Sherchan, and Kul Parsad KC is the chief minister. Lumbini province has borders with Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar of India to the south, Gandaki province and Karnali province to the north, and Sudurpashchim province to the west.

Most of the districts of Lumbini province are major tourist spots of Nepal. It offers unparalleled natural and cultural beauty. The region mainly covers plain lands, but few districts have hilly and rugged geographical topography. The Lumbini province also shelters the site of the birthplace of Gautam Buddha. Along with Lumbini, the other cities lies in this province are Banke, Palpa, Tulsipur, and many more. This region is inhabitant by Tharu, Chaudhary, and Madheshi ethnic communities.

Some of the major attractions of the Lumbini province of Nepal are listed below:

1. The spectacular landscape of Rukum and Agrakanchi of Lumbini Province is simply breathtaking.
2. The province also houses Banke National Park open for jungle recreational activities and for carrying out research work.
3. Lumbini Province houses the only hunting reserve of the country- Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve.
4. The people, in general, are the best for their fascinating cultures and traditional knowledge.
5. The dense jungle of Bardiya National Park, home to a wide assortment of animals and flora
6. The birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha and its several monasteries, temples, and ruins from the 600-400 BC

Karnali Province

Karnali Province is the largest province of Nepal covering an area of 27,984 sq.km. Although this province covered the largest area, it has the least population among other provinces of Nepal. It is one of the remote and least developed provinces of Nepal consisting 10 districts. “Birendranagar” is the capital of this province. This province is currently governed by Govinda Parsad Kalani and the present chief minister of Karnali province is Mahendra Bahadur Shahi. It borders Lumbini province to the south, Tibet to the north, Sudurpaschim province to the west, and Gandaki province to the east.

The province has occupied higher mountains land of north and mid-hills of Nepal; thus, the road access is quite underwhelming. However, airways access actively operate in different districts of Karnali province. This province is rich in stunning landscapes, therefore, there is no shortage for anyone with seer interest in capturing these landscapes. The region consists deep gorges, vast valleys, exceptional trans-Himalayas, and giant snow-capped pinnacles with high mountains. Rara National Park, Shey Phoksundo Lake, Rara Lake, Dolpo region are few delights of Karnali province.

The major attractions of the Karnali province of Nepal are listed below:

1. Sinja valley, the capital of Khas community who once used to rule the Jumla district
2. Archeological sites of Surkhet and Dailekh
3. Ruins of Kakre Bihar in Surkhet
4. Complex and unconventional cultures, traditions, and customs of the Dolpo region
5. Turquoise and blue-green Rara and Shey Phoksundo lakes in the general vicinity of the Rara National Park and Shey Phoksundo National Park.

Sudurpaschim Province

Lying in the far-west of Nepal, Sudurpaschim province is wealthy in natural vegetation. The present governor of this province is Ganga Prasad Yadav, and the chief minister is Trilochan Bhatta. It borders Uttar Pradesh to the south, China’s Tibet Autonomous region to the north, India’s Kumaon to the west, and Karnali province and Lumbini province to the east. The province possesses historical significance along with rich natural resources. The people of this region successfully fought with Mughals and have many more records of war stories hidden in the ruins of this province.

The road access is not very good in this province however it occupies hills and plains. The province is still preserving medieval culture and traditions. If you want to learn about Nepal’s old cultures and traditions, the hilly districts of Sudurpaschim are one of the best places. Likewise, the plains of Sudurpaschim showcase different ethnic splendor as well as linguistic. Tharu primarily inhabits the plains of Sudurpaschim province whereas Chhettri’s majorly dwells in the hilly region.

The major attractions of Sudurpaschim province of Nepal are listed below:

1. Forts of Ruins of Doti, Bhajhang, Dumrakot, and many more
2. Home to several sacred temples such as Badiamalika temple, Khaptad Baba Mandir, Ram mandir, Kada, Devisthan Mandir, and many more.
3. Pristine natural beauty of Saipal Himal
4. Raikas of Doti has a vast history of fighting wars with the Mughals of India and several others.

Conclusion

These seven provinces in accumulation make one whole Nepal. Each province is rich in natural beauty to show off as well as histories infused with it. The cultures vary accordingly, with changing landscape. Therefore, with seven provinces of Nepal, there are never-ending flairs of interests one can discover while exploring Nepal.