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Karnali Province

Kalikot कालिकोट

Karnali highlands

Karnali Province HQ: Manma
Terraced mid-hill country in Nepal (illustrative)
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Kalikot is a rugged Karnali district where the Karnali River cuts deep gorges between Manma, its headquarters, and the high pastures above. Pachal Jharna, in the district's Pachaljharna municipality, is contested as Nepal's tallest waterfall, yet remains almost unknown outside the province. The Karnali Highway threads the valley, but road conditions keep most of the district effectively remote.

About Kalikot

Kalikot is a rugged district where the Karnali River cuts deep gorges through terraced mid-hills between Manma, the headquarters, and high pastures above 3,500 metres. Its most significant — and little-known — natural feature is Pachal Jharna, a waterfall measured by GPS at 381 metres that has credible claim to being Nepal's tallest, yet remains almost entirely unknown outside the province. The surrounding country offers demanding walking through forest and cliff-edge terrain along the Karnali corridor, with the river's roar audible from the trails above.

Kalikot is one of the harder districts to reach in Karnali: the Karnali Highway from Surkhet passes through Manma but road conditions are notoriously poor — potholed, narrow and prone to landslide damage — making journey times unpredictable. There is no commercial airport. The district is also among Nepal's least developed by economic indicators, and tourist infrastructure is essentially absent; it suits self-sufficient travellers en route to Jumla or Humla who want to stop rather than transit.

At a glance

Province
Karnali
Capital Birendranagar (Surkhet) · 10 districts
Headquarters
Manma
Known for
Karnali highlands

Getting there

The Karnali Highway from Surkhet passes through Manma, Kalikot's headquarters — roughly 150 km from Surkhet, 4–5 hours by jeep on a notoriously rough road prone to potholes and landslide damage. There is no commercial airstrip. Most travellers reach Kalikot as a stop on the road between Surkhet and Jumla.

Highlights in Kalikot

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