Phidim Municipality

Phidim Municipality is the headquarters of Panchthar District in the Koshi Province of eastern Nepal. Its old name is Pheden, which in Limbu langauage means land on top of hills. Phidim was the capital of Panthar Thum of Limbuwan and was upgraded from a village to a municipality when a development committee merged with other VDCs (village development committees) - including Phidim Chokmagu and Siwa villages - on May 18, 2014.^[1][2] It offers a route for trekkers and locals to and from the Taplejung district bordering the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China. It is also a commercial hub for the rural surroundings.

Phidim फिदिम नगरपालिका
Municipality
Phidim bazar area
Phidim Location in Nepal
Coordinates: 27.146°N 87.766°E / 27.146; 87.766
Country	Nepal
Province	Koshi
District	Panchthar
Government
• Mayor	Mitra Prasad Kafle (NC)
• Deputy Mayor	Radha Krishna Neupane
Population  (2021)
• Total	48,713
Time zone	UTC+5:45 (NST)
Postal code	57400
Area code	024
Website	www.phidimmun.gov.np

Transport

Phidim is connected to the rest of the country via the Mechi Highway, a 268 kilometres (167 mi) road that begins in Charali of Jhapa district and ends in Phungling. Buses and jeeps to Phidim are available at Birtamod and Ilam. Though abundant public transport is available in the region, locals have frequently complained about the excessive rise in fares that rose after the Covid pandemic. A new Madhya Pahadi Rajmargha connects Phidim with the Athrai Rural Municipality of Terhathum, which is linked to Koshi Highway in Myanglung (the headquarters of Terhathum District). Madhya Pahadi Rajmargha, one of the roads linking east and west Nepal through hilly areas, starts from the Panchthar district and is connected to Phidim. The Koshi Corridor is under construction and will connects Phidim directly with Dharan which is also the shortest route to the terai region. Phidim has hotels and inns.

Geography

Phidim is a hill township within a valley in the foothills of the Himalayas of eastern Nepal. It is a six-hour drive from Birtamod through a winding road via Ilam. It offers views of the Himalaya and other hills. Phidim is characterized by tin-roofed houses and small concrete buildings. Two rivers — Phewa and Hewa — surround the hill where the town is located.

Phidim, a municipality of Panchthar district in the Koshi Province

Demography

At the time of the 2001 Nepal census, Phidim had a population of 13,652.^[3] The inhabitants are Limbu, Magar, Yakha, Gurung, Rai, Tamang, Dalit, Brahmin and Newar, which makes it one of the most culturally diverse places in eastern Nepal.^{[citation needed]}

Climate

The climate of Phidim is warm during the summer and mild in winter. Maximum temperature in the summer is 35 °C, and in winter 5 °C.

Economy

With its fertile soil and irrigation, Phidim produces rice, potato, cardamom and tea. Kanchenjunga Tea Estate, one of the major producers of Nepal tea, has a field office in Phidim.

Media

Phidim has three community radio stations: Radio Sumatlung - 104.2 MHz, Eagle FM and Singhalila FM – 97.3 MHz, and two weekly newspapers, Public Post started in 2009 and Miklajung Awaj from February 2016.