Taplejung

Taplejung is a municipality and the headquarters of Taplejung District in the Mechi Zone of Nepal. The municipality was formed merging the two Village Development Committees of Phungling and Dokhu in May 2014. At the time of the 2011 Nepal census it had a population of 19,085 people (Phungling 14,974 and Dokhu 4,111) living in 4,480 individual households.It is located at 27°21'0N 87°40'0E with an altitude of 1441 metres (4730 feet). The name Taplejung is derived from the words Taple and jung. Taple was the medieval Limbu king who used to rule the area and "jung" in Limbu language means fort. Literally, Taplejung means Fort of King Taple.GeographyTaplejung is in northeastern Nepal; the Tamur River flows through the district. The area is home of Kangchenjunga (8586 m),the third highest mountain in the world. Taplejung has an airstrip with commercial flights to Biratnagar and Kathmandu. A road connects the district headquarters with the Tarai plains. Most of the population are involved in agriculture, and the vegetation zones range from sub-tropical to temperate forests, alpine meadows, and snow, and ice.Taplejung is one of the most beautiful areas in eastern Nepal, with a spectacular landscape, Himalayan peaks of heights above 7000 meters and a wide range of flora and fauna. Alpine grassland, rocky outcrops, dense temperate and subtropical forests, and no river valleys make up the region. Taplejung occupies an area ranging from 670 meters to 8586 meters (Mt. Kangchenjunga) above sea level. Kumbhakarna is an outlier of Kangchenjunga.