Temple, monastery or heritage site
Argha
The hill area that gave Arghakhanchi half its name, once seat of a small principality.
Lumbini Provinceअर्घाखाँची
Arghakhanchi District
A quiet mid-hill district of terraced ridges and old hilltop shrines, best known for the Supa Deurali temple above Sandhikharka.
- Province
- Lumbini
- Headquarters
- Sandhikharka
- Area
- about 1,244 km²
- Places on Firfirey
- 3
About Arghakhanchi
Arghakhanchi lies in the middle hills of Lumbini Province, a district of forested ridges, terraced slopes and small river valleys sitting between the Terai plains and the higher hills. It borders Gulmi and Palpa to the east, Pyuthan to the north and Dang to the west, while Kapilvastu and Rupandehi lie to the south. The headquarters, Sandhikharka, sits on a ridge with wide views over the surrounding hills.
The district takes its name from two of the small hill principalities, Argha and Khanchi, that existed before the unification of Nepal. Brahmin, Chhetri and Magar communities make up much of the population, and most families farm maize, millet, rice and vegetables, with many households supported by work abroad. Travellers are few, and those who come are usually pilgrims, people visiting family or walkers looking for unhurried hill villages away from busier routes.
Places in Arghakhanchi
Town or village
Sandhikharka
The quiet hill headquarters of Arghakhanchi district, a base for its temples and old principality sites.
Temple, monastery or heritage site
Supa Deurali Temple
A hilltop goddess temple that is the best-known pilgrimage site in Arghakhanchi.
Getting there
Most travellers come up from the Butwal and Bhairahawa area, where a road climbs north into the hills to Sandhikharka; allow most of a day by bus or jeep. The nearest airport with regular flights is Gautam Buddha International Airport at Bhairahawa.
Best time to visit
October to April is the most comfortable period, with clear autumn skies and mild days; the monsoon from June to September brings heavy rain and occasional landslides on hill roads.
Editorial draft: the district overview is being checked. Headquarters and Nepali names: nepal-places dataset (MIT). Area and map position computed from the district boundaries of the Government of Nepal, Survey Department, via OCHA.