Sundarijal
Encyclopedia
Sundarijal is a village development committee in Kathmandu District
in the Bagmati Zone
of central Nepal
.
In 1960, the Sundarijal Military Detention Camp was the location of Nepali Congress leaders B.P. Koirala (the Prime Minister), Ganesh Man Singh
, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai
, Diwan Singh Rai, Ram Narayan Mishra, Yogendra Man Sherchan, and Jaman Singh Gurung. They were held without trial for eight years due to their participation in a 1960 coup.
and Baluwa
, and north of Aalapot
. The VDC touches Nuwakot
and Sindhulpalchok District
s to the north.
Sundarijal covers an area of 5.18 square kilometres (2 sq mi). The Bagmati River flows through the VDC, where it is joined by the Shyalmati and Nagmati Rivers. Largely hilly in its terrain with few flat areas, the VDC is covered by forests. Shivapuri National Park
covers large amounts of the Sundarijal.
Sundarijal had a population of 1984 living in 374 individual households. For the 2001 census Sundarijal had a population of 2586 in 444 individual households. Sixty percent of the townsfolk are Buddhists, while a 40% minority of Hindus are present.
Below is the population and households of Sundarijal's four wards:
and maize
, although cultivation also includes barley
and some vegetables. In the southern area, wheat
, barley, maize, potato
, vegetables and millet are grown.
There is a US$464 million drinking water project that would bring water from Melamchi
, treat it, and distribute it in Sundarijal. A pipeline 58 kilometres (36 mi) in length would be laid in Sundarijal to other places in the Kathmandu Valley. It will start pumping 170 million liters of water daily in 2011 or 2012.
There are four schools in Sundarijal, whose attendance is shown below:
, oak
, rhododendron
, and other forest types. Wildlife recorded in the area include the Himalayan Black bear, leopard
, jungle cat
, and rhesus monkey. The area around Sundarijal is the habitat of 177 species of birds, which includes at least nine threatened species, 102 species of butterflies with several endangered species, and 129 species of mushrooms.
Kathmandu District
Kathmandu District is a district located in Kathmandu Valley, Bagmati Zone of Nepal, a landlocked country in South Asia. It is one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal, covers an area of 395 km2 and is the most densely populated district of Nepal with a population of 1,081,845 in 2001...
in the Bagmati Zone
Bagmati Zone
Bagmati Zone Bagmati is divided into eight districts:- See also :*Zones of Nepal*Regions of Nepal*Districts of Nepal...
of central Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
.
History
The VDC was named after the Hindu goddess, Sundarimai. A temple is dedicated to the deity in Sundarijal.In 1960, the Sundarijal Military Detention Camp was the location of Nepali Congress leaders B.P. Koirala (the Prime Minister), Ganesh Man Singh
Ganesh Man Singh
Ganesh Man Singh was the commander of Nepalese democratic movement of 1990 AD. He was the first Asian to receive United Nations Human Rights Award. He is one of the most revered politicians of Nepal...
, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai
Krishna Prasad Bhattarai
Krishna Prasad Bhattarai was a Nepalese political leader. As a leader of the Nepali Congress Party, he made his position by transitioning Nepal from an absolute monarchy to a democratic multi-party system.Bhattarai was twice the Prime Minister of Nepal, once heading the Interim Government from 19...
, Diwan Singh Rai, Ram Narayan Mishra, Yogendra Man Sherchan, and Jaman Singh Gurung. They were held without trial for eight years due to their participation in a 1960 coup.
Geographical situation
Sundarijal is located 15 kilometres (9 mi) northeast of Nepal's capital, Kathmandu. It is west of Gagalphedi, east of NayapatiNayapati
Nayapati is a village in Kathmandu District in the Bagmati Zone of central Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 4056 and had 761 households in it.-References:...
and Baluwa
Baluwa
Baluwa may refer to:*Baluwa, Kathmandu*Baluwa, Kavrepalanchok...
, and north of Aalapot
Aalapot
Aalapot is a village development committee in Kathmandu District in the Bagmati Zone of central Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 2489 and had 429 houses in it....
. The VDC touches Nuwakot
Nuwakot District
Nuwakot District of 288,478.The district contains places of historical significance such as Nuwakot Palace located in the village of Nuwakot and Devighat located at the confluence of the Tadi and Trishuli Rivers.-Towns and villages:...
and Sindhulpalchok District
Sindhulpalchok District
Sindhupalchok District is a part of Bagmati Zone and one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal, with an area of . The district's headquarters is in Chautara...
s to the north.
Sundarijal covers an area of 5.18 square kilometres (2 sq mi). The Bagmati River flows through the VDC, where it is joined by the Shyalmati and Nagmati Rivers. Largely hilly in its terrain with few flat areas, the VDC is covered by forests. Shivapuri National Park
Shivapuri National Park
Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park is the ninth national park in Nepal and was established in 2002. It is located in the country's mid-hills on the northern fringe of the Kathmandu Valley and named after Shivapuri Peak of altitude...
covers large amounts of the Sundarijal.
Climate
The climate of Sundarijal is temperate. The average for the summer is 25.5˚C while that for the winter is 0˚C.Demographics
At the time of the 1991 Nepal census1991 Nepal census
The 1991 Nepal census was a widespread national census conducted by the Nepal Central Bureau of Statistics.Working with Nepal's Village Development Committees at a district level,...
Sundarijal had a population of 1984 living in 374 individual households. For the 2001 census Sundarijal had a population of 2586 in 444 individual households. Sixty percent of the townsfolk are Buddhists, while a 40% minority of Hindus are present.
Below is the population and households of Sundarijal's four wards:
| # | Households | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 | 86 | 88 | 174 |
| 2 | 104 | 278 | 295 | 573 |
| 3 | 51 | 117 | 118 | 235 |
| 4 | 54 | 113 | 136 | 249 |
| 5 | 37 | 149 | 105 | 254 |
| 6 | 32 | 89 | 86 | 175 |
| 7 | 35 | 95 | 105 | 200 |
| 8 | 35 | 175 | 132 | 307 |
| 9 | 66 | 209 | 210 | 419 |
| 444 | 1311 | 1275 | 2586 |
Agriculture
Agriculture in the VDC is only present in the eight ward. No modern technology for this is in existence, as farmers only use traditional techniques. In the northern part of the ward, the predominate crops are milletMillet
The millets are a group of small-seeded species of cereal crops or grains, widely grown around the world for food and fodder. They do not form a taxonomic group, but rather a functional or agronomic one. Their essential similarities are that they are small-seeded grasses grown in difficult...
and maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, although cultivation also includes barley
Barley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
and some vegetables. In the southern area, wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
, barley, maize, potato
Potato
The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family . The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well as the edible tuber. In the region of the Andes, there are some other closely related cultivated potato species...
, vegetables and millet are grown.
Tourism
Tourism is a large industry in Sundarijal. Pollution has risen in the Sundarijal reservoir due to large amounts of tourists who crowd the VDC every weekend. They are attracted to the area's natural beauty, including the waterfalls and rivers. People from Kathmandu valley come due to being about an hour drive away. In addition, the VDC is a starting point for hikers along the Langtang Range. There are several picnic tables to meet the needs of tourists.Culture
The main cultural sites in Sundarijal are the temples of Sundarimai Mandir, Ganesh Mandir, and Krishna Mandir. In July, the Dashahara festival is celebrated near bodies of water close to the temples.Infrastructure
A 640 kW hydropower plant near the bus park area provides electricity to Sundarijal. A mail post and police station are also located here.There is a US$464 million drinking water project that would bring water from Melamchi
Melamchi
Melamchi is a village in Sindhupalchok District in the Bagmati Zone of central Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 3936 and had 710 houses in the village....
, treat it, and distribute it in Sundarijal. A pipeline 58 kilometres (36 mi) in length would be laid in Sundarijal to other places in the Kathmandu Valley. It will start pumping 170 million liters of water daily in 2011 or 2012.
Education
About 50% of townsfolk can read or write, though less than that number are fully literate. Members of the younger generation under 25 years of are more likely to be literate than those over 40 years old. Classes to teach this to older adults have existed in the past, though they are no longer due to low attendance.There are four schools in Sundarijal, whose attendance is shown below:
| # | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 214 | 200 | 414 |
| 2 | 57 | 44 | 101 |
| 3 | 90 | 67 | 157 |
| 4 | 70 | 57 | 127 |
| 431 | 368 | 799 |
Biodiversity
Sundarijal's vegetation consists of mostly pinePine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
, oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
, rhododendron
Rhododendron
Rhododendron is a genus of over 1 000 species of woody plants in the heath family, most with showy flowers...
, and other forest types. Wildlife recorded in the area include the Himalayan Black bear, leopard
Leopard
The leopard , Panthera pardus, is a member of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera, the other three being the tiger, lion, and jaguar. The leopard was once distributed across eastern and southern Asia and Africa, from Siberia to South Africa, but its...
, jungle cat
Jungle Cat
The jungle cat is a medium-sized cat and considered the largest remaining species of the wild cat genus Felis. The species is also called the swamp lynx but is not closely related to the lynxes....
, and rhesus monkey. The area around Sundarijal is the habitat of 177 species of birds, which includes at least nine threatened species, 102 species of butterflies with several endangered species, and 129 species of mushrooms.