Sundarijal

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Sundarijal
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settlement_type = Village Development Committee
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image_caption =A merchant in Sundarijal


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pushpin_map_caption =Location in Nepal
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = flag|Nepal
subdivision_type1 = Zone
subdivision_name1 = Bagmati Zone
subdivision_type2 = District
subdivision_name2 = Kathmandu District
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unit_pref =Imperial
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area_total_km2 =5.18
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population_as_of =2001
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population_total =2586
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timezone = Nepal Time
utc_offset = +5:45
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latd=27 |latm=43|lats=46.20 |latNS=N
longd=85|longm=24|longs=23.45|longEW=E
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Sundarijal is a Village Development Committee in Kathmandu District in the Bagmati Zone of central Nepal.

History

The VDC was named after the Hindu goddess, Sundarimai. A temple is dedicated to the deity in Sundarijal.cite web|url=http://nepalstudycenter.unm.edu/SundarJalUpperBagmati.html|title=Integrative Microdevelopment in Sundarijal? |date=2005|last=Khadka|first=R.B.|work=Nepal Study Center|publisher=University of New Mexico|accessdate=2008-10-06]

In 1960, the Sundarijal Military Detention Camp was the location of Nepali Congress leaders B.P. Koirala (the Prime Minister), Ganesh Man Singh, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, Diwan Singh Rai, Ram Narayan Mishra, Yogendra Man Sherchan, and Jaman Singh Gurung. They were held without trial for eight years due to their participation in a 1960 coup. [cite web|url=http://www.nepalicongress.org.np/bpkoirala/sundarijal/sundarijal.html|title=Picture of Sundarijal Military Detention Camp |work=Nepali Congress|accessdate=2008-10-07 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20020802063058/www.nepalicongress.org.np/bpkoirala/sundarijal/sundarijal.html |archivedate=2002-08-02]

Geography and climate

Geographical situation

Sundarijal is located convert|15|km|mi|0 northeast of Nepal's capital, Kathmandu. It is west of Gagalphedi, east of Nayapati and Baluwa, and north of Aalapot. The VDC touches Nuwakot and Sindhulpalchok Districts to the north.

Sundarijal covers an area of convert|5.18|km2|sqmi|0. The Bagmati River flows through the VDC, where it is joined by the Shyalmati and Nagmati Rivers. Largely hilly in its terrain with few flat areas, the VDC is covered by forests. Shivapuri National Park covers large amounts of the Sundarijal.

Climate

The climate of Sundarijal is temperate. The average for the summer is 25.5˚C while that for the winter is 0˚C.

Demographics

At the time of the 1991 Nepal census Sundarijal had a population of 1984 residing in 374 individual households. [cite web| url=http://www.digitalhimalaya.com/collections/nepalcensus/form.php?selection=1|title=Nepal Census 2001|work=Nepal's Village Development Committees|publisher=Digital Himalaya|accessdate=2008-08-28] For the 2001 census Sundarijal had a population of 2586 in 444 individual households. Sixty percent of the townsfolk are Buddhists, while a 40% minority of Hindus are present.

Below is the population and households of Sundarijal's four wards:

Economy

Agriculture

Agriculture in the VDC is only present in the eight ward. No modern technology for this is in existance, as farmers only use traditional techniches. In the northern part of the ward, the predominate crops are millet and maize, although cutivation also includes barley and some vegetables. In the southern area, wheat, barley, maize, potato, vegetables and millet are grown.

Tourism

Tourism is a large industry in Sundarijal. Pollution has risen in the Sundarijal reservoir due to large amounts of tourists who croud the VDC every weekend. [cite news|url=http://www.nepalnews.com.np/contents/englishweekly/sundaypost/2001/jun/jun03/head.htm|title=Put on your hiking boots and... |last=Phuyal|first=Surendra|date=2001-06-03|work=Sunday Post|publisher=The Kathmandu Post|accessdate=2008-10-08] They are attracted to the area's natural beauty, including the waterfalls and rivers. People from Kathmandu valley come due to being about an hour drive away. In addition, the VDC is a starting point for hikers along the Langtang Range. There are several picnic tables to meet the needs of tourists.

Culture

The main cultural sites in Sundarijal are the temples of Sundarimai Mandir, Ganesh Mandir, and Krishna Mandir. In July, the Dashahara festival is celebrated near bodies of water close to the temples.

Infrastructure

A 640 kW Hydropower plant near the bus park area provides electricity to Sundarijal. A mail post and police station are also located here.

There is a US$464 million drinking water project that would bring water from Melamchi, treated, and distributed in Sundarijal. A pipeline convert|58|km|mi|0 in length would be lain in Sundarijal to other places in the Kathmandu Valley. [cite news|url=http://www.nepalnews.com.np/contents/englishdaily/trn/2002/feb/feb10/index1.htm|title="Exorbitant" land price obstructs Melamchi Project |date=2002-02-10|work=The Rising Nepal |accessdate=2008-10-08] It will start pumping 170 million liters of water daily in 2011 or 2012. [cite news|url=http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=103110|title=ADB to trim Melamchi by US $ 114 m|last=Sangraula|first=Bikash|date=2007-03-09|work=eKantipur|accessdate=2008-10-08]

Education

About 50% of townsfolk can read or write, though less than that number are fully literate. Members of the younger generation under 25 years of are more likely to be literate than those over 40 years old. Classes to teach this to older adults have existed in the past, though they are no longer due to low attendance.

There are four schools in Sundarijal, whose attendance is shown below:

Biodiversity

Sundarijal's vegetation consists of mostly pine, oak, rhododendron, and other forest types. Wildlife recorded in the area include the Himalayan Black bear, leopard, jungle cat, and rhesus monkey. The are around Sundarijal is the habitat of 177 species of birds, which includes at least nine threatened species, 102 species of butterflies with several endangered species, and 129 species of mushrooms.

References