Temple, monastery or heritage site
Chandannath Temple
The principal temple of Jumla bazaar, home of the town's patron deity Chandannath.
Karnali Provinceजुम्ला
Jumla District
Historic heart of the Karnali region, known for its red marsi rice, apples, the Sinja Valley and as the trailhead for treks to Rara Lake.
- Province
- Karnali
- Headquarters
- Jumla
- Area
- about 2,563 km²
- Places on Firfirey
- 4
About Jumla
Jumla sits in the high hills of Karnali Province, north of Kalikot and south of Mugu, with Dolpa to the east. Its main valley follows the Tila River, a tributary of the Karnali, at a height where pine forest, wide terraced fields and cold winters are the norm. The bazaar of Jumla, the district headquarters, lies in this valley, with higher ridges and passes rising on all sides.
Jumla has long been a centre of the Karnali hills: the Sinja Valley was a seat of the medieval Khasa Malla kingdom, and the Chandannath temple stands in the town. Farming dominates, notably the hardy red marsi rice grown at high altitude, along with apples, beans and walnuts. Travellers use Jumla as a base for treks north to Rara Lake and for exploring the old villages and temples of the district.
Places in Jumla
Valley or region
Gothichaur
Open high meadows and pine forest in Jumla district, a quiet pastoral excursion from Jumla bazaar.
Valley or region
Sinja Valley
The highland valley north-west of Jumla that was the seat of the medieval Khas Malla kings.
Trek stops
Getting there
Jumla is linked to Surkhet by the Karnali Highway, a long and often rough drive through Dailekh and Kalikot. Jumla also has an airport with flights from Nepalgunj and Surkhet, though services depend on the weather.
Best time to visit
Spring and autumn bring clear skies and comfortable walking, the monsoon is wetter but less intense than further east, and winters are cold with snow on the surrounding passes.
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.