Places to Visit in Dharan

Dharan lies east of Kathmandu at the very foothills of the Himalayas. This picturesque town, that was once a British settlement, stands 1200 feet above the sea level. Its broad roads, decorated homes and natural beauty mark the city. Once a sleepy hamlet, Dharan grew after British setup the `Gorkha Recruitment Center' in 1953. It came as a great employment opportunity for the locals. Two ethnic groups namely Rais and Limbus basically inhabit the place around Dharan. These two groups constitute the majority of Gorkha Regiment. These groups came from the eastern region of Nepal, and Dharan was their center for training. Sapta Kosi, the second longest river of Nepal, runs near Dharan.

Dharan is called "Eton of Nepal" because of the numerous educational institutions that are scattered all around. Apart from that the place has over 25 Temples and holy sites, making it an important pilgrimage destination for the Hindus. Among the temples Pindeshwar, Dantakali and Pancha Kanyan are the must visit because of their distinct architecture styles. Bhedetar, located 9 Kilometer away from Dharan, is probably the best viewpoint in the entire Tarai region. Weather permitting; one can witness magnificent views of the Himalayan range from this site.

Apart from that, you have Pakhri Bash to visit. This was mere a small hill village before the British chose it for building the base camp for the Gorkha Regiment. The place was used to recruit cadets in the Gorkha Regiment of the Colonial British Armed Force. Some British monuments, including a Church can be found here. The place is also popular for "Thongba", liquor made out of fermented millet seeds and lemonade. This light drink is a craze among the westerners.

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

The Mountain Views of 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 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.

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.