Arghakhanchi ( ) is one of the districts of Lumbini Province in Nepal. The district headquarter is Sandhikharka. The district covers an area of and has a population (2011) of 197,632. Its neighboring districts are Palpa in the east, Gulmi in the north, Kapilvastu District in the south and Pyuthan in the west. History The district consists of two pre-unification principalities Argha and Khanchi. Argha (Nepali:अर्घा) was the name given to ritual offerings made at the former principality's main Bhagwati Temple. Khanchi may come from the word Khajanchi (Nepali:खजाञ्चि) or tax collector since the center of the latter principality was known for its tax office. Both were two of the Chaubisi rajya (24 principalities) centred in the Gandaki Basin. In 1786 A.D. (1843 BS) during the unification of Nepal the two were annexed by Gorkha. Later the merger was renamed “Arghakhanchi” and added to Gulmi District. Arghakhanchi became a separate district in 1961 A.D. (2018 BS). Demographics In 2001, the population was 208,391. In 1991, the population was 180,884. At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, Arghakhanchi District had a population of 197,632. Of these, 97.43% spoke Nepali and 1.35% Magar as their first language. According to the 2011 census the total population was 197,632. Of these 86,266 were male and 111,366 are female. The total number of households was 46,835 and the average household size 4.22 on the basis of usual place of residence. The sex ratio (number of males per 100 females) was 77.5 and population density was 166. Hinduism is the predominant religion (97.0%) while Buddhists (1.9%) and Muslims (0.9%) are the second and third-largest religions respectively. Khas Arya is the largest group of ethnicities, with Bahuns being the most populous group at 32.8% of the population and Chhetris at 18.2%. Magars are at 18.1%. Khas Dalit is the third-largest group with Kamis at 11.3%, Sarki 6.1% and Damai at 3.2%. Other non-Magar Janajatis are Kumal at 3.4% and Newar at 2.8% of the population. Geography and climate Arghakhanchi lies between 27'45"N and 28'6"N latitude, and 80'45"E to 83'23"E longitude. It covers 1,193 km. The altitude of the district varies from 305 to 2515 meter above the sea level. 68% of the district is in the mountainous Mahabharat Range and the rest is in the Siwalik Hills. Elevations range from 305 to 2575 m above sea level and about 40% of the total area is forested.