Town or village
Mangalsen
The ridge-top headquarters of Achham, with an old palace site and views over the hills of the far west.
Achham District
A quiet hill district of the far west, known for the lakes and meadows of Ramaroshan and the old hilltop seat of Mangalsen.
- Province
- Sudurpashchim
- Headquarters
- Mangalsen
- Area
- about 1,706 km²
- Places on Firfirey
- 3
About Achham
Achham lies in the middle hills of Sudurpashchim, between Doti to the west and Bajura to the north, with the Karnali River marking much of its eastern edge towards Karnali Province. The Budhiganga River cuts through the district, and the land rises from warm river valleys to forested ridges and high grassy uplands. Mangalsen, the headquarters, sits on a ridge above the surrounding terraced slopes.
Most people are Khas Chhetri and Brahmin farmers, alongside Dalit communities, and many families depend on seasonal work in India or elsewhere in Nepal. Deuda songs and dances are a strong part of local life, especially at festivals. Visitors are few, and those who come are usually drawn by the lakes and meadows of Ramaroshan, by village life, and by the chance to see a part of Nepal far from the trekking crowds.
Places in Achham
Valley or region
Ramaroshan
A highland of lakes, meadows and forest in Achham, one of the far west's quiet nature escapes.
Town or village
Sanphebagar
A river-valley bazaar and airstrip town in Achham, the main transport hub for the district.
Getting there
Achham is reached by road from Dhangadhi in the Terai, usually via Doti, which makes for a long day of hill driving. A road also links the district with Surkhet and Karnali Province. Sanfebagar in the Budhiganga valley has a small airport with limited services; the nearest regular flights are otherwise into Dhangadhi.
Best time to visit
Autumn and spring are the best times to visit, while the monsoon brings landslides that close hill roads and winter nights are cold, with snow possible on the highest ground around Ramaroshan.
Other districts in Sudurpashchim Province
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.