The Former administrative units of Nepal were the administrative divisions during the Kingdom of Nepal. In 2008, Nepal was proclaimed a federal republic and old administrative units redistricted after the adoption of the new constitution on 20 September 2015.
Formerly, Nepal was divided into 5 development regions, 14 zones, 75 districts, 58 municipalities () and 3157 village development committees.
History The Kingdom of Nepal was formed in 1768, by the unification of Nepal.
Before the treaty of Sugauli in 1814–16, the territories under Nepalese control included Darjeeling to the southeast, the whole of Sikkim to the east, Nainital to the south-west and the Kumaon Kingdom and Garhwal Kingdom to the west.
After the Sugauli treaty, Nepal was established in its modern form. During the time of king Rajendra Bir Bikram Shah (1816-1847) and prime minister Bhimsen Thapa (1806-1837), Nepal was divided into 10 districts.
During the time of prime minister Bir Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana (1885-1901), Nepal was divided into 32 districts and Doti, Palpa and Dhankuta were the 3 administrative headquarters (). The Hilly region had 20 districts and Terai had 12 districts.
Even after Bir Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana and the end of Rana rule in Nepal in 1951, up untol the proclamation of new constitution of Kingdom of Nepal in 1962, Nepal remained divided into 32 districts. Each had a headquarters and a Bada Hakim () as its head. From 1951 to 1962, many acts and constitutions passed which name the 32 districts.
In 1962, the districts were reorganized into 14 zones and 75 Development Districts.
In 1972 (2029 B.S.), King Birendra, in assistance with Dr. Hark Gurung, brought forth the concept of regional development for the harmonious developments of all parts of the country. Subsequently, in 1972, he divided Nepal into 4 Development Regions: Eastern, Central, Western and Far Western. Since the Far Western Development Region became too large in size, it was further divided by creating the Mid-Western Development Region in 1981. The Mid-Western Development Region was created out of the Karnali, Rapti and Bheri zones. This was done with the objective of achieving balanced, effective and rapid development programs in the country.
Development Regions
Prior to September 2015, Nepal was divided into 5 Development Regions. They were first-level of administrative divisions.
+ Development Regions of Nepal sr. Development Regions Nepali Name Headquarters Area (km2.) Population (2011) 1Eastern Development Region पुर्वाञ्चल विकास क्षेत्रDhankuta 28,4565,811,5552Central Development Region मध्यमाञ्चल विकास क्षेत्र Hetauda27,4109,656,9853Western Development Region पश्चिमाञ्चल विकास क्षेत्र Pokhara29,3984,926,7654Mid-Western Development Regionमध्य पश्चिमाञ्चल विकास क्षेत्र Birendranagar42,3783,546,6825Far-Western Development Region सुदुर पश्चिमाञ्चल विकास क्षेत्र Dipayal19,5392,552,517NepalनेपालKathmandu147,18126,494,504
Zones
Within the five Development Regions, there were 14 zones. Each development region had 3 zones, except for the Far-Western Development Region which had 2 zones.
+ Zones of Nepal sr. Regions Zones Headquarters Area (km2.) Population (2011) 1 Eastern Mechi Zone Ilam 8,196 1,422,1822 Kosi Zone Biratnagar 9,669 2,335,0473 Sagarmatha Zone Rajbiraj 10,591 2,054,3264 Central Janakpur Zone Jaleshwar 9,669 2,837,4815 Bagmati Zone Kathmandu 9,428 3,843,5966 Narayani Zone Birgunj 8,313 2,975,9087 Western Gandaki Zone Pokhara 12,275 1,549,8578 Lumbini Zone Butwal 8,975 2,834,6129 Dhawalagiri Zone Baglung 8,148 542,29610 Mid-West Rapti Zone Tulsipur 10,482 1,456,20211 Karnali Zone Chandannath 21,351 388,71312 Bheri Zone Nepalganj 10,545 1,701,76713 Far-West Seti Zone Dhangadhi 12,550 1,575,00314 Mahakali Zone Bhimdatta 6,989 977,514 Nepal 14 Zones Kathmandu 147,181 26,494,504
Districts
Within the zones, there were 75 districts in Nepal before 2015. Two new districts were formed in 2015. District Development Committees (DDCs) were established to carry out all the administrative as well as clerical functions of a district.
List of Districts (Zonewise):
Eastern Development Region
Mechi Zone
Outer Terai Jhapa District (Chandragadhi) Hill Ilam District (Ilam) Panchthar District (Phidim) Mountain Taplejung District (Phungling)
Koshi Zone
Outer Terai Morang District (Biratnagar) Sunsari District (Inaruwa) Hill Bhojpur District (Bhojpur) Dhankuta District (Dhankuta) Terhathum District (Myanglung) Mountain Sankhuwasabha District (Khandbari)
Sagarmatha Zone
Outer Terai Saptari District (Rajbiraj) Siraha District (Siraha) Inner Terai Udayapur District (Gaighat) Hill Khotang District (Diktel) Okhaldhunga District (Okhaldhunga) Mountain Solukhumbu District (Salleri)
Central Development Region
Janakpur Zone
Outer Terai Dhanusa District (Janakpur) Mahottari District (Jaleswar) Sarlahi District (Malangwa) Inner Terai Sindhuli District (Sindhulimadhi) Hill Ramechhap District (Manthali) Mountain Dolakha District (Charikot)
Bagmati Zone
Hill Bhaktapur District (Bhaktapur) Dhading District (Dhading Besi) Kathmandu District (Kathmandu) Kavrepalanchok District (Dhulikhel) Lalitpur District (Lalitpur) Nuwakot District (Bidur) Mountain Rasuwa District (Dhunche) Sindhupalchok District (Chautara)
Narayani Zone
Outer Terai Bara District (Kalaiya) Parsa District (Birgunj) Rautahat District (Gaur) Inner Terai Chitwan District (Bharatpur) Makwanpur District (Hetauda)
Western Development Region
Gandaki Zone
Hill Gorkha District (Gorkha) Kaski District (Pokhara) Lamjung District (Besisahar) Syangja District (Syangja) Tanahun District (Byas) Mountain Manang District (Chame)
Lumbini Zone
Outer Terai Kapilvastu District (Kapilvastu) Nawalparasi District (Parasi) Rupandehi District (Siddharthanagar) Hill Arghakhanchi District (Sandhikharka) Gulmi District (Tamghas) Palpa District (Tansen)
Daulagiri Zone
Hill Baglung District (Baglung) Myagdi District (Beni) Parbat District (Kusma) Mountain Mustang District (Jomsom)
Mid-Western Development Region
Rapti Zone
Inner Terai Dang District (Ghorahi) Hill Pyuthan District (Pyuthan Khalanga) Rolpa District (Liwang) Rukum District (Musikot) Salyan District (Salyan Khalanga)
Karnali Zone
Mountain Dolpa District (Dunai) Humla District (Simikot) Jumla District (Jumla Khalanga) Kalikot District (Manma) Mugu District (Gamgadhi)
Bheri Zone
Outer Terai Banke District (Nepalganj) Bardiya District (Gulariya) Inner Terai Surkhet District (Birendranagar) Hill Dailekh District (Narayan) Jajarkot District (Khalanga)
Far-Western Development Region
Seti Zone
Outer Terai Kailali District (Dhangadhi) Hill Achham District (Mangalsen) Doti District (Dipayal) Mountain Bajhang District (Chainpur) Bajura District (Martadi)
Mahakali Zone
Outer Terai Kanchanpur District (Bhim Datta) Inner Terai and Hill Dadeldhura District (Dadeldhura) Hill Baitadi District (Baitadi) Mountain Darchula District (Darchula)
Municipalities
Municipalities were administrative units formed to manage urban area. Before 2014, there were 58 municipalities in Nepal:
Village Development Committees
Formally, villages were administered by Village Development Committees. The National Association of Village Development Committees in Nepal (NAVIN) was established in 1996 as an umbrella organization to represent and provide support to Nepal's 3915 VDCs. NAVIN was able to establish itself, both nationally and internationally, as a reputable representative organization of VDCs, and founded itself as a pioneer partner organization for decentralization and democratization process in Nepal.
The VDCs were dissolved in 2017, and reformed into gaunpalikas.
See also Development Regions of Nepal List of zones of Nepal List of village development committees of Nepal
References
External links Digitalhimalaya.com: Collection of Nepalese District maps — from the Digital Himalaya database project