en Varagung Muktichhetra Rural Municipality

Varagung Muktichhetra

वारागुङ मुक्तिक्षेत्र
Varagung Muktichhetra वारागुङ मुक्तिक्षेत्र
Rural municipality
	Kagbeni, the admin center of Baragung Muktichhetra
	Varagung Muktichhetra Location in province Varagung Muktichhetra Varagung Muktichhetra (Nepal)
	Coordinates: 28°50′12″N 83°46′59″E / 28.83667°N 83.78306°E
Country	Nepal
Province	Gandaki Province
District	Mustang
Wards	5
Established	10 March 2017
Government
• Type	Rural council
• Body	Barhagaun Muktichhetra Rural Council
• Chairperson	Mr. Rinzen Namgel Gurung (NCP)
• Deputy-Chairperson	Dhiki Gurung (NCP)
Area
• Total	885.78 km2 (342.00 sq mi)
Highest elevation	5,310 m (17,420 ft)
Lowest elevation	2,800 m (9,200 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	2,330
• Density	2.6/km2 (6.8/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+5:45 (Nepal Time)
Headquarters	Kagbeni
Website	varagungmuktichhetramun.gov.np

Varagung Muktichhetra (Nepali: वारागुङ मुक्तिक्षेत्र), earlier Bahragaun Muktichhetra is a rural municipality situated in Mustang District of Gandaki Province of Nepal^[1] The rural municipality is situated on the southern part of the Mustang, surrounded by Dalome rural municipality on the north, Gharpajhong and Thasang rural municipalities on the south, Manang District on the east and Dolpa District on the west. The north-southern border of the rural municipality touches the Myagdi District boundary.

The total area of the rural municipality is 885.78 square kilometres (342.00 sq mi) and the total population, according to 2011 Nepal census, is 2,330 individuals. The rural municipality is divided into 5 wards. The admin center of the rural municipality is at Kagbeni.^[2]

Kagbeni, Jhong, Chhusang and Muktinath village development committees were Incorporated while established this rural municipality.^[2] The rural municipality came into existence on 10 March 2017, fulfilling the requirement of the new Constitution of Nepal 2015, Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration replaced all old VDCs and Municipalities into 753 new local level bodies.^[3]^[4]

Etymology

The rural municipality was named Bahrachhetra Muktinath at the time of establishment of this rural municipality. The rural municipality had to named Varagung Muktichhetra but by mistake it spelled to Bahragaun Muktichhetra, so in the first meeting of this rural council on 17 July 2017, it was decided to send a request to related office to make the corrections in the name of the rural municipality.^[5]

Demographics

At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, Varagung Muktichhetra Rural Municipality had a population of 2,704. Of these, 59.8% spoke Gurung, 18.7% Thakali, 15.2% Nepali, 2.4% Magar, 1.9% Tamang, 1.2% Sherpa and 0.8% other languages as their first language.^[6]

In terms of ethnicity/caste, 60.5% were Gurung, 19.1% Thakali, 4.5% Kami, 3.8% Magar, 3.1% Hill Brahmin, 2.3% Chhetri, 2.1% Tamang, 1.5% Thakuri, 1.1% Sherpa, 0.5% Damai/Dholi and 1.6% others.^[7]

In terms of religion, 79.3% were Buddhist, 16.6% Hindu, 3.3% Bon, 0.5% Christian, 0.1% Kirati and 0.2% others.^[8]

In terms of literacy, 56.0% could read and write, 1.8% could only read and 42.2% could neither read nor write.^[9]

Administrative divisions

Varagung Muktichhetra is divided into 5 wards:

Administrative wards
Ward No.	Ward Name	Area (KM2)	Population	Ward Councillor
1	Muktinath	59.55	628	Mr. Pramesh Gurung
2	Jhong	50.01	253	Mr. Nohru Gurung
3	Chhusang	490.78	512	Mr. Binod Gurung
4	Kagbeni	58.3	555	Mr. Karma Ghacho Gurung
5	Phalyak	227.15	382	Mr. Surendra Gurung