Town or village
Bhojpur Bazaar
The hill-top headquarters of Bhojpur district, known across Nepal for its blacksmiths and khukuri knives.
Koshi Provinceभोजपुर
Bhojpur District
A quiet Kirat hill district between the Arun and the high ridges, known for its khukuri smiths, Salpa Pokhari and long views from Tyamke Danda.
- Province
- Koshi
- Headquarters
- Bhojpur
- Area
- about 1,530 km²
- Places on Firfirey
- 3
About Bhojpur
Bhojpur is a hill district of Koshi Province lying west of the Arun River, which separates it from Dhankuta and Sankhuwasabha. Khotang lies to the west and Solukhumbu to the north-west. The land rises from warm, terraced river valleys to forested ridges in the north, where the sacred lake of Salpa Pokhari sits high on the divide. The district headquarters, Bhojpur Bazaar, occupies a ridge above the Arun valley.
The district is a heartland of the Rai people, alongside Chhetri, Brahmin, Newar and other communities. Farming of maize, millet and rice dominates, and the Newar bazaar of Bhojpur has a long tradition of metalwork, above all the forging of khukuri knives. Travellers come for village walks, the Salpa Pokhari pilgrimage route, hilltop viewpoints such as Tyamke Danda and a slow look at rural Kirat life.
Places in Bhojpur
Lake · 3,414 m
Salpa Pokhari
A high sacred lake in the forested hills of northern Bhojpur, revered by the Kirat Rai and reached on foot.
Viewpoint
Tyamke Danda
A forested ridge top above Bhojpur used for sunrise views of the eastern Himalaya and for local pilgrimage.
Getting there
Most visitors arrive by road from the Koshi Highway side, coming up from Dharan and Dhankuta and crossing the Arun valley before climbing to Bhojpur Bazaar; it is a long day's journey on partly rough roads. A small domestic airstrip near the headquarters has had flights to Kathmandu, though services can be irregular.
Best time to visit
Autumn (October to November) and spring (March to April) bring clear weather and good walking; the monsoon makes roads slippery and prone to landslides, while winter is dry and cold on the higher ridges.
Other districts in Koshi 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.