Musikot

Musikot (Nepali: मुसिकोट) is a municipality and the district headquarters of Western Rukum District in Karnali Province, Nepal. It was established as Musikot Khalanga on 2 December 2014 by merging the two former Village Development Committees of Musikot and Khalanga. From 2014 until 2018 it was known as Musikot Khalanga, and until 2017 it served as the district headquarters of the then-undivided Rukum District. The municipality lies on the bank of the Sani Bheri River and borders Eastern Rukum to the east, Sanibheri Rural Municipality to the west, Banfikot Rural Municipality to the north, and Tribeni Rural Municipality and Rolpa District to the south. Historically, the area was part of the Baise principalities of the Karnali region. The official municipal website recounts that during the reign of Bahadur Shah and Rana Bahadur Shah, several small states including Rukumkot, Musikot, Gotamkot, Athbiskot, Banfikot and Kotjahari were incorporated into the Kingdom of Nepal. After Nepal was divided into 14 zones and 75 districts in 1963 (Vikram Samvat 2018), the Musikot area fell within Rukum District of Rapti Zone. In 1973 (V.S. 2030) the district headquarters was moved to Jumlikhalanga, and the place began to be called Musikot Khalanga. The name Musikot is also linked to Musikot Durbar (now a temple) and to a legend about a Magar caretaker named Musina; a statue of Musi in the Durbar in Ward No. 4 is cited as evidence of this origin story. As a local government unit, Musikot Municipality provides civic administration and public services to its residents. Its official website publishes municipal decisions, public notices, budget and programme documents, progress reports, procurement notices, social security information, teacher transfer notices, and other governance materials. The municipality operates under an executive body (the Nagar Karyapalika) and a municipal assembly, and it maintains a Facebook page and YouTube presence for public communication. The website's slogan reads: "Social good governance, economic prosperity and sustainable development; a society with health, education and employment is our way out." According to the 2011 Nepal census, Musikot Municipality had a population of 33,882. The vast majority (98.9%) spoke Nepali as their first language, with small numbers speaking Magar-Kham, Magar and other languages. In terms of ethnicity, 57.8% were Chhetri, 18.4% Magar, 10.9% Kami, 3.9% Damai/Dholi, 3.0% Thakuri, 2.9% Hill Brahmin, and smaller proportions of other groups. By religion, 98.4% were Hindu, 1.3% Christian, and tiny minorities Buddhist, Muslim, Prakriti and others. Literacy stood at 71.9% able to read and write, 2.0% able to read only, and 26.1% unable to read or write. Politically, Musikot was once described as a "red fort" of the CPN (Maoist Centre), but since 2022 it has been governed by the Nepali Congress, with the Maoists losing both the mayoral and deputy mayoral posts. The municipality has one community FM radio station, Radio Sani Bheri F.M. at 89.2 MHz, which promotes local culture. Rukum Salle Airport lies in Old-Musikot and offers flights to Nepalgunj and Kathmandu, while the Rapti Highway links Musikot to the Terai region of Nepal.

Musikot's history is intertwined with the medieval Baise principalities of the Karnali region. According to the municipality's official website, during the regency of Bahadur Shah and the reign of Rana Bahadur Shah, several small states—Rukumkot, Musikot, Gotamkot, Athbiskot, Banfikot and Kotjahari—were incorporated into the Kingdom of Nepal. After Nepal was reorganized into 14 zones and 75 districts in 1963 (Vikram Samvat 2018), the Musikot area became part of Rukum District in Rapti Zone. At that time the district headquarters was at Rukumkot, nestled in a narrow gorge of high mountains. In 1973 (V.S. 2030) the headquarters was moved to Jumlikhalanga, and the place came to be called Musikot Khalanga. The name Musikot is also connected to Musikot Durbar, which now exists as a temple. A local legend holds that a king of the medieval Musikot state settled a Magar caretaker named Musina in the area, giving the place its name. A statue of Musi in the Durbar in Ward No. 4 is cited as supporting this origin story. Modern Musikot was created on 2 December 2014 by merging the two former Village Development Committees of Musikot and Khalanga, and was initially named Musikot Khalanga. From 2014 until 2018 it carried that name, and until 2017 it served as the district headquarters of the undivided Rukum District. Following Nepal's federal restructuring, it became the district headquarters of Western Rukum District in Karnali Province. The municipality lies on the bank of the Sani Bheri River and borders Eastern Rukum in the east, Sanibheri Rural Municipality in the west, Banfikot Rural Municipality in the north, and Tribeni Rural Municipality and Rolpa District in the south. Politically, Musikot was once regarded as a "red fort" of the CPN (Maoist Centre). However, in the 2022 local elections the Nepali Congress won both the mayoral and deputy mayoral posts, ending Maoist control. The municipality operates a community radio station, Radio Sani Bheri F.M. at 89.2 MHz, to promote local culture. Rukum Salle Airport in Old-Musikot provides flights to Nepalgunj and Kathmandu, and the Rapti Highway connects Musikot to the Terai region.

• 2022

  Nepali Congress won both mayoral and deputy mayoral posts, ending Maoist control of the municipality.

• 2018

  The name was changed from Musikot Khalanga to Musikot.

• 2017

  Until 2017, Musikot served as the district headquarters of the undivided Rukum District.

• 2014

  Musikot established as Musikot Khalanga by merging the former Village Development Committees of Musikot and Khalanga.

1. 1मुसिकोट नगर कार्यपालिकाको कार्यालय रुकुम (पश्चिम), कर्णाली प्रदेश नेपालmusikotmunrukum.gov.np
2. 2Musikot, Western Rukum - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
3. 3Musikot - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4२०८२।०८३ को प्रतिवेदन | मुसिकोट नगर कार्यपालिकाको कार्यालय रुकुम (पश्चिम), कर्णाली प्रदेश नेपालmusikotmunrukum.gov.np
5. 5स्वत प्रकाशन बैशाख देखी असाढ सम्म | मुसिकोट नगर कार्यपालिकाको कार्यालय रुकुम (पश्चिम), कर्णाली प्रदेश नेपालmusikotmunrukum.gov.np
6. 6आ व २०८२/०८३ कार्तिक - पौष महिना सम्मको प्रगति | मुसिकोट नगर कार्यपालिकाको कार्यालय रुकुम (पश्चिम), कर्णाली प्रदेश नेपालmusikotmunrukum.gov.np