Western Rukum (Nepali: पश्चिमी रुकुम ) a part of Karnali Province, is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal.

[4] Ethnicity/caste: 53.9% were Chhetri, 15.4% Kami, 14.7% Magar, 5.0% Thakuri, 3.8% Hill Brahmin, 3.7% Damai/Dholi, 1.8% Sarki, 0.8% Sanyasi/Dasnami, 0.3% Badi, 0.1% other Dalit, 0.1% Musalman, 0.1% Newar, 0.1% other Terai and 0.1% others.

[7] Though Western Rukum is considered a remote district, transportation has been rapidly expanded after the Second People's Movement of 2006.

With recent building of roads, bus and jeep services are available with links to the southern plains and major cities including Kathmandu.

Chaurjahari Airport lies near the Bheri River, 762 m above sea level and accessible by footpaths and horse trails only, with a grass runway 850 m long and 30 m wide.

It was the primary mode of travel to Rukum for government, NGO personnel, aid workers and backpackers before the civil war.