Five development region of the Nepal

1) Eastern (Purwanchal) Region

The fourteen administrative zones of Nepal are split between five development regions, one of which is the Eastern (Purwanchal) Region. The town of Dhankuta is the capital of the Eastern Region, as well as the capital of the Dhankuta District. The area around the town is primarily used for agriculture, with small rural villages scattered throughout the region. Dhankuta is located on the North-South Koshi Highway and serves as an important commercial and trading center for the Eastern Region of Nepal.

Located in the Koshi Zone of the Eastern Region, the city of Biratnagar is Nepal's second largest city, offering quite a number of attractions that tourists find appealing. Biratnagar is the gateway to the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, a peaceful haven for Nepal’s flora and fauna and a prime bird-watching destination that is visited by birding enthusiasts from far and wide. Also near Biratnagar is the Hindu pilgrimage site of Baraha Kshetra drawing Hindu devotees to worship.

Trekking is a wonderful way to enjoy the natural treasures and scenic beauty of Nepal and there are many trekking routes to choose from in the Eastern Region. Whichever way you choose to travel you are sure to find many interesting places when exploring the Eastern Region (Purwanchal) of Nepal.

2)Central (Madhyamanchal) Region

As one of the five development regions of Nepal, the Central (Madhyamanchal) Region incorporates the city of Kathmandu, which is the capital of both the region and the country.Kathmandu, and the beautiful Kathmandu Valley are among Nepal's most popular tourist destinations, with many tours andtrekking routes into the surrounding area starting from the city. Kathmandu is also an important commercial center and a sacred place for pilgrims who travel from far and wide to attend various religious festivals and to worship at its many temples.

Located in the Chitwan Valley of the Central Region of Nepal, the vibrant city of Bharatpur has a number of attractions that are enjoyed by local and international visitors, including the renowned Chitwan National Park and Bish Hazar Lake. Historic and cultural attractions include the Diyalo Bangala Palace and Kasrra Palace, as well as the Bageshwori, Kalika and Ganeshthan Temples. Referred to as the 'City of Culture' and 'Nepal's Cultural Gem', the city of Bhaktapur incorporated the Durbar Square, an area incorporating palaces, monasteries and temples and offering a panoramic view of theHimalaya Mountains.

The city of Bhairawa (also known as Siddharthanagar) in the south of the Central Region is the gateway to Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha and an important Buddhist pilgrimage site. Lalitpur is an ancient city located south-east of Kathmandu, which abounds with Hindu temples and Buddhist monuments, as well as museums offering insight into Nepal's two most predominant religions – all well worth visiting.

Nagarkot offers visitors the most spectacular views of the Kathmandu Valley, Mount Everest and the Indrawati River Valley, and is a popular trekking destination. With all motorized traffic banned from the city center, Janakpur is a pleasure to explore, and has such a strong Indian influence that visitors may be forgiven for thinking they were in India and not Nepal.

Other towns and cities in the Central Region (Madhyamanchal) of Nepal include Khokana, Hetauda, Harisiddhi, Godavari, Daman, Panauti, Sankhu and Thankot. Each town, city and village in Nepal has a charm of its own, which is very evident in the Central Region (Madhyamanchal). They do however share a common thread in their appreciation for their historic, cultural and spiritual heritage as displayed through their many monuments, temples and museums.

3)Western (Pashchimanchal) Region

With its headquarters in the city of Pokhara, the Western (Pashchimanchal) Region is one of Nepal's five development regions, and despite its name, it actually lies in the middle of the country with the Mid-Western and Far-Western Regions to the north-west and the Central and Eastern Regions to the south-east. The city of Pokhara lies in the picturesque Pokhara Valley, an extension of the Seti Gandaki valley. The Western Region is known for its impressive geographical features, with mountains rising up dramatically to great heights, such as the Annapurna, Manaslu and Dhaulagiri ranges which all have peaks over 8,000 meters in height.

Pokhara receives a large number of tourists each year, many of whom are on their way to climb nearby mountains, or enjoy the spectacular trekking routes in the Western Region ofNepal. Other attractions in the area including the Mahendra, Gupteswor and Bat Caves, the Phewa Tal (Phewa Lake) and the awe-inspiring Devi's Falls, where water from the lake rushes over a cliff, disappearing into a seemingly bottomless hole.

The town of Tansen is also a popular holiday destination, offering breath-taking views of the Himalayas and the Terai plains, as well as many historical and cultural attractions.Trekking is an excellent way to enjoy the beauty of the Western Region of Nepal andTansen serves as a base for trekking enthusiasts to explore the region by means of routes designed to showcase the beauty of the area, such as the route that runs along the Kali Gandaki River.

Travelers who have visited Nepal will agree that the scenery is beyond description, and even the best photograph can’t capture its true beauty. For the experience of a lifetime, visit any of the five regions of fascinating Nepal.

4) Mid Western (Madhya Pashchimanchal) Region

Located between the Western and Far Western regions of Nepal, the Mid Western (Madhya Pashchimanchal) Region is one of the country's five Development Regions and has the city of Birendranagar as its headquarters. Birendranagar, which was named in honor of the late King Birendra, lies in the beautiful Surkhet Valley of the Mid Western Region and serves as the commercial center for surrounding rural villages and towns.

Birendranagar has a number ofattractions for visitors to view and explore. There is a beautiful clock tower in Birendranagar which was erected as a joint effort between Nepal and Japan. There is also a park with fountains and a lake set in cultivated gardens, creating a mini-oasis in the bustling city for locals and visitors to enjoy. A domestic airport located at Birendranagar provides a convenient method of transport to the city from other parts of Nepal. The Dauit Bajai Hindu Temple in the city draws devotees from near and far to worship. The temple has been declared a national heritage site of Nepal, and as such also attracts tourists. Outside the city is the 12th century Hindu Buddhist temple of Kakre Bihar, set in exquisitely beautiful mountainous territory, the temple contains bronze statues of Hindu gods and goddesses as well as Buddha.

Other major towns located in the Mid Western Region of Nepal include Chinchu, Babiyachour, Tribhuvannagar (also known as Ghorahi) and Nepalgunj. Nepaljunj is located near the southern border of Nepal and is a convenient stop-over point on the way to India. It is also a major transportation and commercial hub for many of the Mid Western Region towns.

Activities in the Madhya Pashchimanchal Region include white water rafting on the Karnali River, trekking, mountain climbing, rock climbing and various tours which include visits to rural villages, temples, and other places of interest in the various towns.

5) Far Western (Sudur Pashchimanchal) Region

The Far Western (Sudur Pashchimanchal) Region is one of the five development regions ofNepal, and as the name would suggest the region is to the extreme west of the country. The administrative headquarters for the region is located in the city ofDipayal, also known as Dipayal Silgadhi, which is in the Doti District of the Far Western Region's Seti Zone.

The Far Western Region of Nepalis sometimes referred to as the Doti region, a word which some believe originated from 'Dovati' meaning the land between two rivers, while others are of the opinion that it originated from the Hindu god Dev, and aatavi, meaning the place of re-creation. While it may not be clear as to the origin of the name, there is no denying that the area has an ancient and fascinating history, going back to the 13th century when Niranjan Malldeo founded the Doti Kingdom following the fall of Karyuris Kingdom. Dotiyali is still spoken in the Far Western Region, and is considered to be a Nepali Dialect.

A popular tourist destination in the Far Western Region is the town of Mahendranagar, located in the Kanchanpur district in the Mahakali Zone of Nepal. It is the eighth largest city of the country - the other seven being (in order), Kathmandu, Pokhara, Lalitpur, Biratnagar, Dharan, Birganj and Bharatpur – and is situated five kilometers east of the Indian border.Mahendranagar is the main commercial center of its zone, providing education and health care services, as well as employment opportunities to inhabitants of the region.

The Far Western (Sudur Pashchimanchal) Region incorporates the Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve, home to one of the largest herds of golden swamp deer, or barasingha, which are considered to be endangered. Other animals that visitors to the Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve may come across include elephant, blue bull, leopard, tiger, hog deer and wild boar.