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| Gandaki Zone | |
|---|---|
| Name | Gandaki Zone |
| Native name | गण्डकी अञ्चल |
| Settlement type | Zone |
| Country | Nepal |
| Province | Gandaki Province |
| Established | 1962 |
| Abolished | 2015 |
| Capital | Pokhara |
| Area km2 | 21020 |
| Population | 2,403,126 |
| Timezone | Nepal Time |
Gandaki Zone was one of the fourteen former administrative zones of Nepal, occupying much of the north-central part of the country and incorporating diverse Himalaya ranges, Annapurna, Manaslu, and Dhaulagiri massifs. The zone contained major urban centers such as Pokhara, Gorkha (town), and Baglung and historic routes linking Lumbini, Kathmandu, and the Tibetan Plateau. Administratively abolished in 2015 by the Constitution of Nepal 2015, the area became part of Gandaki Province; its legacy remains in regional identity, cultural sites like Muktinath Temple and Mansarovar pilgrimage connections, and trekking circuits such as the Annapurna Circuit.
Gandaki Zone straddled river basins of the Gandaki River, including the Kali Gandaki River gorge, and encompassed altitudinal zones from the Terai fringe to the Trans-Himalaya rain shadow. High peaks included Dhaulagiri I, Annapurna I, Manaslu, and lesser summits like Pisang Peak, Machapuchare, and Tilicho Peak; major glaciers such as Gangapurna Glacier fed tributaries of the Ganges River system. Valleys like the Kaski District basin and the Myagdi Valley supported alpine meadows, rhododendron forests recognized by botanists comparing with Darjeeling and Sikkim floras; protected areas included Annapurna Conservation Area and wetlands like Begnas Lake and Rara Lake influences extending toward Chitwan corridors.
The region contains archaeological and medieval remains tied to polities such as the Gorkha Kingdom, the Khasa Kingdom, and principalities referenced in the Licchavi inscriptions. Military and dynastic events included campaigns by Prithvi Narayan Shah during the unification of Nepal and engagements associated with the Gorkha soldiers tradition later linked to the British Indian Army, French Foreign Legion recruits, and Nepalese Royal Nepalese Army service. Religious heritage traces to pilgrims of Padmasambhava and medieval monastic patrons like Atisha; treaties and administrative reforms enacted under rulers comparable to Jung Bahadur Rana and legal codifications during the Rana dynasty affected land tenure and taxation systems that the Panchayat era later modified prior to the Nepalese Civil War.
Before 2015 the zone was subdivided into districts including Kaski District, Gorkha District, Lamjung District, Tanahu District, Manang District, Mustang District, and Myagdi District. Each district included municipalities such as Pokhara Metropolitan City, rural municipalities echoing former Village Development Committees, and judicial posts tied to courts inheriting precedents from the Muluki Ain codes. Provincial reorganization followed models debated during the Interim Constitution of Nepal 2007 and adopted in the Constituent Assembly proceedings chaired by figures like Sushil Koirala and Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
Population patterns reflected ethnic groups including Gurung, Magar, Tamang, Thakali, Newar, and Brahmin communities, with language varieties such as Nepali language, Gurung language, Magar language, and Thakali language in everyday use. Religious adherents included Hinduism in Nepal, Buddhism in Nepal, and animist practices connected to indigenous ritual specialists like Lamas and Shamanism in Nepal practitioners; migration flows to Kathmandu District, Gulf Cooperation Council labor destinations, and United Kingdom military recruitment shaped remittance economies. Health and education indicators were influenced by programs from World Health Organization, UNICEF, UNESCO and NGOs including Mercy Corps and Helvetas.
Economic activities combined agriculture—terraced farming of millet, maize, rice—with horticulture of apple and cardamom production in mid-hill zones, plus hydropower projects exploiting rivers such as the Marsyangdi River and Seti River. Tourism and trekking centered on enterprises like lodges on the Annapurna Circuit and expedition logistics to Mount Dhaulagiri and Mount Manaslu, linked to international tour operators from Nepal Tourism Board, Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal, and investment by firms such as United Nations Development Programme partners. Trade corridors to Tibet historically carried salt and wool; contemporary commerce engages banks like Nepal Rastra Bank supervised institutions, cooperatives, and microfinance bodies including Nirdhan Utthan.
Cultural heritage includes festivals such as Tihar, Dashain, Losar, and indigenous celebrations like Tamu Losar for the Gurung people and Maghe Sankranti observances. Architectural sites include Gorkha Durbar, Bindhyabasini Temple, and historic stupas and monasteries frequented by pilgrims bound for Muktinath, Manakamana Temple devotees via cableways and foot trails. Trekking, paragliding at Sarangkot, and adventure sports connect to operators once certified by the Nepal Mountaineering Association and Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal; conservationists affiliated with IUCN and scientists from Tribhuvan University study biodiversity in the Annapurna Conservation Area Project.
Transportation networks combined arterial highways like the Prithvi Highway and feeder roads linking Pokhara to Kathmandu and to border crossings with Tibet Autonomous Region; air service included Pokhara Airport and mountain airstrips at Jomsom Airport and Talcha Airport. Hydropower dams, irrigation systems, telecommunications by providers such as Nepal Telecom and Ncell (provider) and education facilities like Pokhara University and medical centers associated with B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences contributed to regional access. International development projects funded by agencies like the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, and bilateral partners from Japan and Germany supported road upgrades, micro-hydro installations, and disaster risk reduction after events like the 2015 Nepal earthquake.
Category:Zones of Nepal