Gandaki

Gandaki refers to several closely related geographic and administrative uses in Nepal. Most commonly, it denotes Gandaki Province, one of the country’s seven federal provinces established by the 2015 constitution. Named for the Gandaki River, the province lies in western Nepal and includes the Pokhara Valley, the foothills of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massifs, and several hill districts. The provincial capital is Pokhara, and the region is known for its tourism, agriculture, and small-scale industry.

The name also refers to the Gandaki River itself, a major Himalayan river that rises in the high mountains of central Nepal, flows south through the Kali Gandaki Gorge near Mustang and Myagdi, passes the city of Pokhara, and continues into the lower plains where it contributes to the greater Ganges river system. The river has historical and cultural significance in the area and is a focus for hydropower development and whitewater tourism.

In historical contexts, Gandaki was used to designate a former administrative zone (Gandaki Zone) in Nepal’s zones-era system; the current Gandaki Province inherits its name from the river and covers much of the same region. The Kali Gandaki Gorge, located between the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna ranges, is often cited as one of the deepest gorges in the world and is a key natural feature of the Gandaki region.