# Eastern Rukum District

_District in Lumbini Pradesh, Nepal_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/places/eastern-rukum-district
Last updated: 2026-10-31

> Eastern Rukum (Nepali: पूर्वी रुकुम) is a mountain district of Lumbini Province of Nepal situated along the Dhaulagiri mountain range. It is also the only mountain district of the province with its tallest mountain Putha Hiunchuli (Dhaulagiri VII) situated in the west end of Dhaulagiri II mountain chain, at an elevation of 7,246 meters. The drainage source of ancient Airavati river, one of the five sacred rivers of Buddhism, lies in the lesser Himalayas of the district. With a Dhaulagiri mountain range, lakes, Magar culture and its political history, Eastern Rukum has been among the top travel destinations of Nepal as designated by the Government of Nepal.

## Quick facts

- **Type:** district of Nepal ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q51844688#P31))
- **Located in:** Lumbini Province (province of Nepal) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q51844688#P131))
- **Population:** 56,786 (2011) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q51844688#P1082))
- **Established:** 2015 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q51844688#P571))
- **Coordinates:** 28.3700, 82.3700

## About

The district is known for having 52 ponds and 53 hills. From 1996 to 2006, Eastern Rukum - a region with Magar majority - was one of the historical base area of the People's War of Nepal providing many foot soldiers, commanders, prominent leaders and martyrs during the war which in turn pivoted the country into a democratic Federal republic in 2008. Guerilla trekking route has also been developed in the district as an adventure tourism following the past trails of the rebels in the base of Himalayas providing experiences of scenic landscapes, Dhaulagiri mountain ranges and rich Kham Magar culture. In 2018, the district was labelled among the "fully literate" districts of the country, with a literacy rate of over 95%, showing a significant post-conflict development. After Palpa district (53% Magar population), Eastern Rukum has the second largest Magar population in Nepal as a percentage of the total population (51% Magar population).

Though successful in maintaining various levels of autonomy, independence and preservation of Kham Magar culture even during ancient and medieval Nepal, the region's structure were altered during the rule of Rana dynasty as well as during Panchayat era. Before 1975, substantial…

## Questions

**Where is Eastern Rukum District located?**  
Eastern Rukum District is located in Lumbini Province, Nepal.

**What is the population of Eastern Rukum District?**  
The population of Eastern Rukum District is 56,786 (as of 2011).

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Eastern Rukum District](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Rukum_District) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikipedia (Nepali): पूर्वी रुकुम जिल्ला](https://ne.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%80_%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AE_%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q51844688](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q51844688) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: East Rukum Province5 locator.png by Raju_Babu (CC BY-SA 4.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:East_Rukum_Province5_locator.png)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Eastern Rukum District, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: East Rukum Province5 locator.png — Raju_Babu, CC BY-SA 4.0.

## Cite this page

"Eastern Rukum District". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/places/eastern-rukum-district. Retrieved 4 November 2026.