Sindhuli District
Sindhuli District is a district of Bagmati Province in Nepal. The district, with Sindhulimadhi as its headquarters, covers an area of. It is divided into nine local bodies with two municipalities and seven rural municipalities. As per the 2021 census, Sindhuli district has a population of 300,026.
Sindhuli district is composed of Inner Terai and hilly areas. It is classified as Inner Terai District for administrative purposes. It borders 10 other districts, making it the district that borders the most districts. It borders Koshi Province to the east and Madhesh Province to the south.
The district is famous for the historic Sindhuli Gadhi Fort where troops of British East India Company were defeated by Gorkhali Army in 1767 A.D. The iconic BP Highway passes through this district. Sindhuli is also known for the production of Junar.
According to the former administrative divisions of Nepal, Sindhuli fell under Janakpur Zone in Central Development Region. Sindhuli Gadhi was the headquarter of the district till 1967 A.D.
Etymology
Sindhuli District is named after the Sindhuli Valley. Various accounts are associated with the naming of Sindhuli and there is no definite evidence explaining how the place got its name “Sindhuli ”.- One belief is that the name "Sindhuli" originated from the name of King Sindhul, who ruled this area in ancient times.
- About 11 kilometers from the district headquarter Sindhulimadhi, at an elevation of 1,077 meters above sea level, lies Siddhababa Temple. Sindhuli Valley used to be referred as Siddhasthali, named after this temple. The word “Siddhasthali” later became distorted over time and eventually evolved into “Sindhuli”.
- Before the unification of Nepal, Sindhuli was the part of the Makawanpur Kingdom, which was ruled by kings of the Sen dynasty. Sindhuli Valley was the hunting and fishing area for those rulers and their officials. The fishing was done by creating a small structure in the river, called Duwali. Locally, the fishing Duwali used by the Sen kings used to be referred as Sen Ko Duwali, which meant Sen's Duwali. When spoken quickly, it became Senduwali. Gradually the word got distorted into "Senduli ", and eventually became “Sindhuli.”
- This region has the presence of intense forest. An indigenous group were predominant in this region and their way of living was dependent on agriculture and forest resources. These indigenous people call Singthuwa for cutting down tree and Singthuji for collecting timber. Over time due to gradual deviation in the pronunciation, the region got its name "Sindhuli".
History
Before unification of Nepal
Sindhuli has been the historical and important route linking the Kathmandu Valley with the eastern hills and the southern plains, giving it strategic and economic significance. Local forts and hill strongholds, including Sindhuli Gadhi, were controlled by regional powers and functioned as defensive outposts and transit points for trade and movement. Doyas of Karnat Dynasty in 1244 A.D and Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah, Sultan of Bengal in 1349 A.D, used the route of Sindhuli Gadhi to attack Kathmandu Valley. Prior to unification of Nepal, Sindhuli was the part of Makawanpur Kingdom, ruled by kings of the Sen dynasty.Battle of Sindhuli
The Battle of Sindhuli, fought in 1767 A.D, stands as one of the most important military victories in the history of Nepal. It was a confrontation between the Gorkhali forces, led under the broader unification campaign of King Prithvi Narayan Shah, and the troops of the British East India Company. The battle demonstrated the strength, strategy, and determination of the Gorkhali army and played a crucial role in protecting Nepal’s independence.During the mid-18th century, King Prithvi Narayan Shah was actively working to unify the many small kingdoms of the Himalayan region into a single nation. At the same time, the British East India Company was expanding its influence in the Indian subcontinent. When the King of Kantipur, Jaya Prakash Malla sought British help to counter the Gorkhali advance, a British force under Captain Kinloch was sent toward Kathmandu. To reach the valley, the troops had to pass through the difficult hill region of Sindhuli Gadhi.
The Gorkhali forces took full advantage of the rugged terrain and dense forests of Sindhuli Gadhi. Instead of facing the British in open battle, they used guerrilla warfare tactics—ambushing supply lines, blocking routes, and constantly harassing the advancing troops. The British soldiers, unfamiliar with the landscape and suffering from shortages of food and supplies, became exhausted and demoralized.
Unable to withstand the continuous pressure and harsh conditions, the British troops were forced to retreat. This defeat was significant because it showed that a well-organized local force, using smart strategy and knowledge of the land, could defeat a powerful foreign army. The victory at Sindhuli Gadhi strengthened the Gorkhali position and discouraged further British military involvement in Nepal at that time.
Shah and Rana rule
Following the successful unification of Nepal, Sindhuli was incorporated into the centralized administrative system of the Shah monarchy. During the Rana regime, it was the part of East No. 2 District. The district remained largely rural, with limited infrastructure development and minimal state investment. Governance was exercised through appointed officials, and the local population was primarily engaged in agriculture and subsistence livelihoods.Later period
Sindhuli as a district came into existence in 1962 A.D with Sindhuli Gadhi as its headquarter, when Nepal was divided into 75 districts and 14 zones. On 2 January 1967 A.D, the district headquarter was moved to Sindhulimadhi.During Panchayat era, Sindhuli gradually experienced administrative and social changes. Infrastructure development, including roads and public services, expanded slowly due to the district’s hilly terrain. In the 1990s and 2000s, Sindhuli, like many districts of Nepal, was affected by political movements, including the Maoist insurgency. In recent decades, local governance reforms and development initiatives have contributed to improved connectivity and recognition of the district’s historical heritage, particularly the preservation of Sindhuli Gadhi as a national historical site.
Geography and Climate
Topography
Sindhuli District consists of a diverse landscape that includes the Mahabharat Hills and Chure Hills, with majority of the district lying in Inner Terai region. Forests cover two-thirds of the district's total area.Mahabharat Hills occupy the northern belt of the district. The highest point of the district, Phikkal Peak with an elevation of 2,386 meters above sea level, lies in this region.
The middle section of district is composed of the Inner Terai region. This region includes river valleys and plains such as Sindhuli Valley, Kamala Plain, Marin Plain and Tinpatan Valley Plain. The majority of the district's population reside in this region. The lowest point of the district at an elevation of 168 meters above sea level is in Dudhauli, which lies in this region.
The southern belt is occupied by Chure Hills. These hills are covered with dense forest and separate the rest of the district from outer Terai.
Rivers
Sindhuli district has a total of 149 large and small rivers. Majority of rivers originate from Mahabharat Hills, with some from Chure Hills. Major rivers include Kamala, Marin, Chadaha, Gwang, Thakur Khola, Kyan Khola and Bitijor Khola.The Sunkoshi River flows along the northern border of the district while the Bagmati River flows along its western border.District Border
Sindhuli borders 10 districts and 2 provinces which are as follows:East: Udayapur and Siraha
West: Rautahat, Makawanpur and Kavrepalanchok
North: Okhaldhunga and Ramechhap
South: Dhanusha, Mahottari and Sarlahi, all of which belong to Madhesh Province
Climate
Administration
Sindhuli District is administered from headquarter Sindhulimadhi, Kamalamai. District Administration Office, under Ministry of Home Affairs is responsible for administration, as well as maintaining law and order in the district. DAO is headed by Chief District Officer.District Coordination Committee maintains coordination among local bodies, and with provincial and federal government.Sindhuli District Court has jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases within the district. 13 post offices are functioning in the district which comes under the Sindhuli District Post Office with 45900 as its postal code.
Local Bodies
The district consists of nine local bodies, out of which two are Municipalities and seven are Rural Municipalities. These are as follows:Former Village Development Committees
There were total of 55 Village Development Committees in Sindhuli till 1997. After the formation of Kamalamai Municipality in 1997, the number of VDCs got reduced to 53. In 2014, Dudhauli Municipality was formed and the number of VDCs got further reduced to 50. On 10 March 2017, as part of Nepal's restructuring of local bodies, the existing VDCs were abolished and incorporated into Municipalities and Rural Municipalities.| S.N | Local Body | Incorporated VDCs | Incorporated Date |
| 1 | Kamalamai Municipality | Siddheshwar and Bhiman | 27 March 1997 |
| 1 | Kamalamai Municipality | Dandiguranse, Bhadrakali, Jalkanya, Ranichuri and Ranibas | 10 March 2017 |
| 2 | Dudhauli Municipality | Dudhauli, Tandi and Ladabhir | 2 December 2014 |
| 2 | Dudhauli Municipality | Hatpate, Nipane, Sirthauli, Harsahi, Arun Thakur, Kakur Thakur and Jinakhu | 10 March 2017 |
| 3 | Tinpatan Rural Municipality | Belghari, Bhimsthan, Jarayotar, Balajor, Tosramkhola, Bahuntilpung, Tribhuvan Ambote and Lampantar | 10 March 2017 |
| 4 | Marin Rural Municipality | Kapilakot, Kalpabrikshya and Mahadevsthan | 10 March 2017 |
| 5 | Hariharpurgadhi Rural Municipality | Hariharpurgadhi, Pipalmadi, Mahendrajhyadi and Kyaneshwar | 10 March 2017 |
| 6 | Golanjor Rural Municipality | Dudbhanjyang, Bitijor Bagaincha, Bhuwaneshwari Gwaltar, Tinkanya, Ratanchura, Baseshwar and Bhimeshwar | 10 March 2017 |
| 7 | Sunkoshi Rural Municipality | Kusheshwar Dumja, Jhangajholi Ratmata, Purano Jhangajholi, Sitalpati and Majhuwa | 10 March 2017 |
| 8 | Phikkal Rural Municipality | Mahadevdanda, Sumnam Pokhari, Kholagaun, Khangsang, Solpathana and Ratnawati | 10 March 2017 |
| 9 | Ghyanglekh Rural Municipality | Amale, Bastipur, Tamajor, Netrakali and Shanteshwari | 10 March 2017 |