Taplejung District, a part of Mechi Zone, is one of seventy-five districts of Nepal, a landlocked country of South Asia. The district, with Taplejung as its district headquarters, covers an area of 3,646 km² and has a population (2001) of 134,698.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.
Nature with beauty: view from Ghunsa, Taplejung.
Geography
Taplejung is located in North Eastern Nepal; the Tamur River flows through the district. The area is famous for its proximity to Kanchenjunga, 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. Mt. Kanchanjunga (8586 m), the world's third largest peak, lies in this region. Alpine grassland, rocky out crops, 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. Kanchanjunga) above sea level.