Rolpa (Nepali: रोल्पा जिल्ला)Listenⓘ, is a "hill" district in Lumbini Province of Nepal. Rolpa district covers an area of 1,879 km2 (725 sq mi) with population (2011) of 221,177. Rolpa town is the district's administrative center.
The various grievances of Rolpa's population made the district ripe for revolt. It became a "Maoist Stronghold" of the Communist Party of Nepal.[2] In May 2002 a major battle between Maoist guerillas and the army was fought at Lisne Lekh near the Rolpa-Pyuthan border.
History
The area of Rolpa District was under the Rukumkot (Rukum District) King before 15th century. Tuthansen (King of Salyankot) established a separate kingdom carving out some 18 villages from Rukumkot Kingdom. The new kingdom was named Gajulkot. These 18 villages were given to Tuthansen in dowry by Jayant Berma who was the king of Rukumkot. These ruins are still available to see in Rolpa District.[3]
Rolpa is drained southward by the Madi Khola from a complex of 3,000 to 4,000 meter ridges about 50 kilometers south of the DhaulagiriHimalaya. This mountainous barrier historically isolated Rolpa by encouraging travelers between India and Tibet to detour to follow easier routes to the east or west, while east–west travelers found easier routes to the north through Dhorpatan Valley, or to the south through Dang Valley or along the Mahabharat Range.