Pyuthan District, a part of Rapti Zone, is one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal, a landlocked country of South Asia. The district, with Pyuthan as its district headquarters, covers an area of 1,309km² and has a population (2001) of 212,484.

This district lies on the northern slopes of the Mahabharat Range in mid-western Nepal. The core of the district is the valley of Jimruk Khola which joins another important stream called Mardi Khola downstream as they cross the Mahabharat Range to form the (West) Rapti River. The alluvial floodplain of the Jimruk is mainly inhabited by Brahman and Chhetri rice farmers, plus Newar shopkeepers. Highlands around the valley are mostly inhabited by Magars, including Kham Magars. The district center is officially called Pyuthan but is locally known as Khalanga, meaning fortress. This town is situated east of the Jimruk and about 500 meters above it.