Okhaldhunga lies in the region traditionally called Wallo Kirat, home to the indigenous Rai and Sunuwar peoples. The district takes its name from a large old mortar-like stone (okhal), kept at the district headquarters. It was one of the hill districts of the former Sagarmatha Zone before federal restructuring. Okhaldhunga is the birthplace of Siddhicharan Shrestha (1912–1992), Nepal's 'Yug Kawi' (poet of the era), whose poem 'Mero Pyaro Okhaldhunga' celebrates his childhood there; the district headquarters municipality was renamed Siddhicharan in his honour, and a highway to Okhaldhunga also bears his name. Following Nepal's 2015 constitution, the district was reorganised into one urban municipality (Siddhicharan) and seven rural municipalities, within Koshi Province.
Researched by the ChillNepal team from published sources. Spot something out of date? Tell us from the place's page.
