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Dharan
Dharan is a major city located in the foot hills of eastern Nepal. Well paved roads, remarkable homes and beautiful scenery aren't all that makes Dharan. It embraces cleanliness, openness, friendly hill people and their smiles. Dharan grew after British setup the `Gurkha Recruitment Center' in 1953, which helped many Nepalese earn employment. Two ethnic groups namely Rais and Limbus used to constitute the major portion of Gurkah soldiers. These groups came from the eastern region of Nepal, and Dharan was their center for training.
Dharan was established when a thick jungle was cleared for a small human settlement in the 1890s. In 1902 the then Prime Minister, Juddha Sumshere Rana, established a small village at the foot of Vijayapur hillock and named it Chanrdranagar (now Purano Bajar). The settlement grew steadily and over the course of time became a town, becoming a 'municipal town' in 1960. However, the history of Vijayapur village goes back more than 225 years.
It serves as a trading post between the hilly region and the plains of Terai region. It was once the location of a British Gurkha recruitment center, which was opened in 1953. The recruitment center closed in the last decade, and the only remaining center is in the town of Pokhara, west of Kathmandu. It is known for having B. P. Koirala Institute of Health and Science, over 25 Temples and holy sites, making it an important pilgrimage destination and Dharan is the gateway to Nepal's popular tea growing region `Dhankuta'. It is also known as environmentally friendly city, and a land of friendly hill people.
Dharan is a town of having full potential in tourism development. It's a tourist center of the eastern part of the country as it is the gateway to the eastern hilly districts. It's a meeting point of mountainous region and the Terai plains. The geographical location, climate, religious shrines, places of tourist importance, and places of religious and historical values make Dharan an important destination of national and international tourists.
The Vijayapur hillock at the foot of which Dharan lies, many different temples and shrines of both religious and historical importance, rituals and fairs in those shrines, Bhedetar where it is cool all the year round, Charles Point (Bhedetar View) where the British Prince Charles had climbed, and Jatras and fairs growing in Dharan add to the tourist trade developing in Dharan.
Dharan is the gateway to beautiful tourist attractions of the eastern hills of the country: Dhankutta, Taplejung, Kumbhakarna Himal, Kanchenjunga, Makalu-Varun National Park, Arun Valley, Tinjure-Milke (Rhododendron Protection Area), Gupha Lake, Hyatrung Fall, and Sabha Pokhari. These too add to Dharan's importance as a tourist center.
Different castes, creeds, ethnic groups and their traditional cultures and life-styles too add to Dharan's importance as the tourist center. Lakhe naach and Gai jatra of Newar people, Dhan naach of Limbus, Chandi naach of Rai people, Selo of Tamangs, Rodighar of Gurungs, Baalan and Sangini of Brahmin and Chhetris are other attractions of Dharan.
Places to visit
· Pindeshwar Temple
· Dantakali Temple
· Pancha Kanyan Temple
· Buddha Subba Temple
· Bhedetar
Bhedetar is located 9 Kilometer away from Dharan. When the sky is clear (especially during Autumn season), one can witness magnificent views of the Himalayan range, and enjoy fresh Himalayan breeze.
· Pakhri Bash
Small hill village which had the British base camp built to Recruit Gurkha Army. Some British monuments can be found here.
· Dhankuta / Hile - Tea Gardens and Market
From Dharan, about 50 Kilometers of what is the most scenic drive in Nepal takes you to a place where your imagination of greenery gardens are revealed. Some say, come to Dhankuta, if you want to walk in the clouds. Meet the clouds, village folks, and greet the awesome enchanting tea gardens here, and learn somd on organic tea and tea processing units in Nepal. If you are a tea lover, you will enjoy visiting a privately owned tea garden and factory named Guranse. Also visit Hile, a hill town situated at 1850 meter altitude, which is just 6 Kilometer from Dhankuta for the Hile Bazaar and gracious people.
· Basantapur
This hill is located about 90 KM from Dharan, and about 1 KM from Hile. It is the starting point for trekking to Kanchanjunga base camp. Beyond the hill, beautiful forests Rhododendrons (Guranse in Nepali) can be seen. Guranse is the Nepal's national flower.
· Raja Rani Hill
Excellent spot to view Kanchenjunga, Khumbakarna, Makalu and Mt. Everest. The hill is located 20 Kilometer from Dharan
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