Dhawalagiri (Nepali: धौलागिरी अञ्चल) was one of the fourteen administrative zones of Nepal. Located in the western part of the country, it took its name from the Dhaulagiri mountain massif that dominates the skyline.
Overview and population
The zone comprised four districts — Baglung, Myagdi, Mustang and Parbat — and included a mix of mid-hill valleys and high Himalayan terrain. According to the 2001 census (2001 census), the zone had a population of about 556,191. Baglung town served as an important administrative and market centre for the region.
Geography and notable features
Dhawalagiri Zone is best known for the Dhaulagiri massif, whose highest peak, Dhaulagiri I, rises above 8,000 metres and is among the world’s highest mountains. The landscape ranges from terraced farming slopes to alpine highlands; deep river gorges such as those of the Kali Gandaki and tributaries carve the region. Mustang in the north preserves high-altitude desert plateaus and a strong Tibetan cultural influence.
History and administrative change
The zone system, including Dhawalagiri as one of the fourteen zones, was the primary subnational division in Nepal for decades. In 2015 Nepal reorganized into provinces, and the territory of the former Dhawalagiri Zone now lies mainly within Gandaki Province under the federal structure.
Economy, tourism and conservation
The local economy combined subsistence agriculture, pastoralism in high valleys, and growing tourism. Treks around Dhaulagiri and across Mustang attract international hikers and contribute to livelihoods. Parts of the area are subject to conservation and sustainable-use programs intended to protect fragile mountain ecosystems while supporting mountaineering and trekking.
Distinctive facts
- The name means "white mountain" and is derived from Sanskrit roots.
- The zone linked contrasting environments: low hills, river gorges and some of the highest Himalayan peaks.
- For current administrative details consult provincial records, since former zone boundaries are now part of the federal system.
For further administrative and demographic details see official sources and census summaries (census) or general overviews of Nepal’s subnational divisions (zones, nation).