Sudurpashchim Province is one of Nepal's seven provinces located in the far west of the country. It borders China and the Indian states of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. The province covers an area of 19,515 km2 and has a population of over 2.5 million people. Godawari is the capital city. Sudurpashchim faces many development challenges including high poverty, lack of education, gender discrimination, difficult terrain, and socially conservative traditions. Major economic activities include remittance, agriculture, tourism, and potential for expanded trade and industry if infrastructure improves.

1. SUDURPASHCHIM PROVINCE
PREPARED BY: JEBISH POUDEL AND TIYEN SHERMA COMPILED AND EDITED BY: BISHNU KARKI

2. INTRODUCTION
• Sudurpashchim Province (Far-West Province) is one of the seven provinces established by the new
constitution of Nepal which was adopted on 20 September 2015.
• It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north, Karnali Province and Lumbini Province to the east, and
the Indian states of Uttarakhand to the west and Uttar Pradesh to the south.
• The province covers an area of 19,515.52 km2 - about 13.22% of the country's total area. Initially known as Province
No. 7, the newly elected Provincial Assembly adopted Sudurpashchim Pradesh as the permanent name for the province
in September 2018. As per the 28 September 2018 Assembly voting, Godawari has been declared the capital of the
Province.
• It covers an altitude of 109 m to 7132 m tallest peak being mt. api. Covering total area of ​​ is 19539 sq. Km.
• The province is adjoining with the former Far-Western Development Region, Nepal. The three major cities in terms of
population and economy are Dhangadhi, Bhimdutta (Mahendranagar) and Tikapur.

3. SOME FACTS OF THE PROVINCE
• The major rivers of this state are Seti and Mahakali.
• The major temples of this region are Badimalika in Bajura, Surmadebi, Jalphadebi, Mashta, and Durga in Bajhang,
Marlkarjun of Darchula, Latinath, Gallakedar, Tripurapurasundari of Baitadi etc.
• Major tourist destinations in the region are Khaptad, Budhinanda Devi, Shuklaphata, Surmasarobar Lake, Mahabharat
Parvat, Ghanghashyalek, Bhelchhada, Patal Bhumeshwar, Raulakedar, Ghodaghodi Lake, Ajaymerukot, Alital, Betkot,
Vyas Himal, Saipal Himal, Badimalika, Melalika Park, Api Himal, Ramaroshan area, Dodharachadni suspension bridge,
Karnali bridge, etc. most which are religious sites, kapahad (6644m), Mt. Lassa (6189m) are the major Mountain peaks of
this province
• 9 Districts/ 1Sub-Metropolitan City/ 33 Urban Municipalities/ 54 Rural Municipalities
• The Chhetri are the largest group, making up 41.09% of the population. The Tharu are the second largest, making up
17.15%.
• This province has a population of 2,552,517 which is 9.63% of the total population of Nepal. 83.14% depend on
Agriculture 16.86% work with Non-agriculture
• Major language spoken in the province are: Doteli, Tharu, Kumaoni, Nepali

4. CULTURAL AND SOCIETAL STATE
Sudurpaschim province is arguably known as the more backward state. There has been
improvement in the recent years but nowhere near the proper margin. Bajura is the
district with the lowest HDI value with 0.364 in Nepal. Out of the 10 lowest ranking
districts in Nepal 3 falls in Sudurpaschim province. with 33.56 percent population
living under the poverty line, Sudurpaschim province has the highest level of poverty
across the country. People form Susdurpaschim have very superstitious thinking they
have some of the highest rates of conducting Chaupadi with 47.7% the highest in the
whole country by a big lead from Karnali who had 20.5%.

5. PROBLEMS FOR THE PROPER DEVELOPMENT
Major problems in the province include
1. Poverty, having no proper income generation
2. Lack of education, not being able to afford school/ not giving importance
3. Gender discrimination, females not being allowed to study in most of the rural areas
4. Corruption, Sudurpaschim having a rise in corruption according to CIAA
5. Difficult topography, having tall mountains and hills
6. Socially backward community believing in superstitions
7. high infant and maternal mortality rate in the province
8. Ignorance from the center in the past, too much centralization of power did not allow to mobilized
means and resources.

6. THE MAJOR ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES INCLUDE
1. Remittance: Highly depend upon India
2. Agriculture: Majority of the people are involving on agriculture but still
agriculture is highly based upon the livelihood not commercialized
3. Tourism: Many places are there for the tourism development in the province
but due to the lack of publicity and basic infrastructures it is not developed
properly.
4. Industry, Trade and Business: It has the high potentiality of trade and
business if infrastructure is well developed because this province is touched
by both our neighboring countries.