Dharan lies right at the foot of hills, but the transformation when coming from Terai is dramatic. It is a hill town with hill people. Dharan is also the gateway to such towns in eastern hills as Dhankuta which are being developed as regional center for the whole area. Until 1989 there used to be a British Gurkha Camp in Dharan which was used to recruit Gurkha soldiers from the eastern hills. Rais and Limbus from eastern Nepal used to constitute the major portion of Gurkha soldiers. Dharan is now a bustling bazaar town that has grown rapidly. Temples of Dhantakali, Buda Subba and Singha Bahini in Dharan are unique and famous.
What is Dharan known for?
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.
Places to Visit and Things to do in Dharan
Sightseeing : Temples
Dharan is one of the holy places of Nepal. It has numerous temples;
Pindeshwar temple, Dantakali temple, Pancha Kanyan temple, and Buddha
Subba temple. Many Hindu pilgrims visit holi temples located in this
region as well as those located in other parts of Makwanpur District
of Nepal
Heavenly Drink!
Drink Tongba : In Dharan and also in north of Dharan, find a special Limbu culture of drink known as Tongba, which is another name for Limbu's homemade wine. Fermented millet seeds are put in a wooden or plastic mug which is filled with hot water. One sips through a bamboo straw as more hot water is added which makes Tongba go down easily and has more influence. Many consume this drink during winter season, and is also a favorite drink of the domestic tourists in the region.
Sightseeing of Bhedetar - The Mountain Views
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.
Sightseeing : 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 Bazaar: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 some 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.
Hiking : 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.
Hiking : Raja Rani Hill
Excellent spot to view Kanchenjunga, Khumbakarna, Makalu and Mt. Everest. The hill is located 20 Kilometer from Dharans
How to get to Dharan?
Dharan is linked by road with the East-West highway of Nepal. Dharan
can be reached by a two hours drive from Biratnagar
Related Contents
Trip Facts:
Activities: tour ,sightseeing
Destination: Nepal – Dharan
Duration:06 days
Grade: Leisure Holidays
Accommodation: Hotel/Resort
Transportation: Car/Van Group
Size: Minimum two people to max. Twenty people
Best Time: All year round
Day 01: Arrival and transfer to hotel
Day 02: Full day Kathmandu Valley sight-seeing such as Pashupati
Nath, Buddha Nath and Kathmandu Durbar Square. (B)
Day 03: Drive to Dharan. (B.L.D)
Day 04: Sight-seeing and explore at Dharan. (B.L.D)
Day 05: Drive back to Kathmandu. (B.L)
Day 06: Final departure to airport for your own destination.
(B)