Dharan, Nepal

Dharan (Nepali: धरान) is a major city in eastern Nepal, in the Sunsari District, situated on foothills of Himalayas with southern tip touching the edge of the Terai at an altitude of 1148 ft (349m). 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, opened in 1953. The recruitment center is closed and the campus is now the home of B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences since 1993.

History
Dharan's history can be traced back to 1584 A.D. to the Kingdom to Limbuwan,which was also known as Pallo Kirat Pardesh (a collective of ten Limbu Kingdoms). Dharan-Bijaypur was the capital city of the Morang. This was prior to conquest and annexation of the Limbuwan by Gorkha King, King Prithivi Narayan Shah. Dharan was known as Bijaypur until the 1950s when the settlement grew on the southern portion of Bijaypur and took its own name of Dharan. History of Limbuwan shows that Dharan/Bijaypur was an important town.
The indigenous people of Dharan are Limbu and Rai, collectively known as Kiranti. Dharan started as a small trading settlement of Chaubis or Miklung Kingdom of Limbuwan ( one of the ten Kingdoms of Limbuwan ). Over the last couple of decades, the population of Dharan has increased and diversified to include people from various ethnicity like Gurungs, Newar, Bahuns(hill Brahmin), Chhetris etc.
The modern Dharan's foundation was laid in 1902 A.D by prime minister Chandra Samsher. He established a small village at the foot of Vijayapur hillock and named it Chandranagar (now Purano Bajar). The purpose was to supply timber to East India Company, who in 1890's had expanded it's North Eastern territory and was laying railway tracks. The first government official to be appointed in this small village of Chandranagar was Subba Ratna Prasad. A settlement grew steadily over the course of time. This growing settlement was named Juddha Nagar (now Naya Bazaar) after Prime minister Juddha Samsher. In 1960 Dharan was recognized as a 'municipal town'.
This transformation of Dharan was triggered by the establishment of the British Gurkha (GORKHA) recruitment center in 1953. Recruits from all over Nepal flocked to join British Gurkha thereby drastically altering the face of Dharan. There was a surge in population with recruits bringing their families, and others who came to seek employment and exploit business opportunities. As a result, Dharan has emerged as one of the biggest town in eastern Nepal. It is in true sense a melting pot of different ethnic groups, languages, dialects and religions.
In 1962, Nepal was divided into 14 administrative zones and 75 districts and Dharan was made the zonal headquarters of Kosi Zone. Initially, the town was divided into eleven wards, but in 1980 Banjjhogara Gaon Panchayat at the east (which is now the most developed area of Dharan) and Ghopa Gaon Panchayat at the west were added to Dharan Town Panchayat. This expansion led to the reformation of the wards. Now Dharan is divided into nineteen wards.

Etymology
The name of the city originates from "Dharan", which literally means a place where you saw timber. A typical Dharan is constructed by digging a rectangular plot about 5 to 6 feet deep. This hole is large and deep enough for an adult to comfortably move about. A platform is constructed to cover half the hole. A timber is placed on this platform and two man team, one standing on the platform and the other in the dug out proceed to saw timber with a huge saw blade. This is very labor intensive and dangerous process.

Culture

This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards.Please improve this article if you can. (October 2008)
One area of difference between Limbus and Brahmans is Religious. Limbus recognize and participate in many popular Hindu festivals but also have a number of their own practitioners. They worship by means of blood sacrifice. They believe that lineage divinities are not transmitted patrilineally.
Rather, a woman inherits her mother's gods and when she marries and lives with her husband, she brings with her the deities that will then be recognized as the gods of the Household. Every time a bad thing or feeling is caused by the man, he will have to be washed clean of it. There are also forest deities that inhabit the area and have nothing to do with women. Limbu bury their dead and observe two to three days of pollution; the length of the period depends on whether the deceased is a female or a male, respectively.
Drinking and dancing are very important to the Limbus. Weddings, mourning, gift exchanges, and settlement of conflicts involve much consumption of liquor, especially beer. Dancing parties are given for visitors to the village. These affairs give the young Limbu girls and boys a chance to meet and enjoy dancing and drinking.
Yakthung Limbu Culture is so rich both in terms of its developmental aspects, its meaning and valule. Yakthung Paan Limbu language is one of the most primitive language all over the world. Only the reason to prove that is about its Mundhum the holy scripture based on oral traditions that Yakthungs do know as insight book or Sik Sapla. It always starts from its nought point i.e. before the creation of the universe and the Earth. Language is so unique and great that we can prove from its highly developed form of linguistic richness. It reaches to the bottom of the feelings and height of the feelings. It is also regarded as a science because it always advocates how artistically and logically the Universe, the Earth was made by Porokmiba Yambhamiba seems like a particular scientist like albert einstein and some other physisists.

Tourism
Dharan is a tourist destination in its own right. It is well quipped to cater to any tourist's needs with its good transport system, hotels, hospitals, banks, travel agencies, shopping centers, restaurants, cafes, Internet/phone cafes, movie theaters, sporting stadium, all year around events and sites of interests. Local people are very genial and friendly. Communication is mainly in Nepali and English speakers should have no problem.
Dharan tends to get a bit hot during summer. This is a perfect opportunity to escape to the cooler hill station of Bhedetar, an hour drive/ride from Dharan. Bhedetar with its plethora of restaurants and watering holes is ideal for a quick jaunt. After a meal you can burn the calories by climbing the summit of Charles Point, aptly named after Prince Charles of England who climbed this hill in Date needed. You do not require mountaineering experience, gears or porters to reach the summit. Just good pair of legs will suffice. It offers the most magnificent panoramic view of Dharan and Tarai.
Beyond Bhedetar lies the eastern hilly district such as Dhankuta, Bhojpur, Terathum. Dharan serves as a gateway to some of the remote tourist attractions like Kumbhakarna Himal, Kanchenjunga, Makalu-Varun National Park, Arun Valley, Tinjure-Milke (Rhododendron Protection Area), Gupha Lake, Hyatrung Fall, and Sabha Pokhari. They are a bit further and therefore require extended day trips.
To the south of Dharan is the city of Biratnagar and connecting towns, all within an hours drive. The towns of Tararah and Ithari are popular with the local population of Dharan.
Dharan with its diverse population has numerous centers of worship i.e. temples, churches and a mosque. Vijayapur hill is of a particular significance, as it has several temples of importance, such as Dantakali temple, Pindeshwar temple, Budha Subbha temple and Panch Kanya. These temples are of historical and archaeological importance in as much as religious. These temples are centers for rituals, fares and events.
Different ethnic groups host their traditional cultural festivities all year around. The Lakhe naach and Gai jatra of Newars, Dhan naach of Limbus, Chandi naach of Rai people, Selo of Tamangs, Rodighar of Gurungs, Baalan and Sangini of Brahmin and Chhetris, all add to the rich cultural tradition of Dharan.
Other potential tourism prospects include:
White water rafting in Kosi river, starting from Chatara to Kosi Barrage.
Paragliding from surrounding hills and Bhedetar for the dare-devils.
Development of Panchakanya, a Natural Park into a mini zoo.
Archeological dig at the ruins of the palaces of the Kirat Limbu kings at the heart of the Panchakanya jungle.History of Limbuwan
Protection and development of flora and fauna of Chaarkose forest.
Cable car at Dharan-Bishnupaduka-Baraha Kshetra.
Better advertisement of Babadham fair.
Construction of an airport in Dharan.
Some measures taken by the Municipality of Dharan to promote tourism:
Emphasis on the development infrastructures of the city.
Support development and management of Pindeshwar Babadham fair, Baraha Kshetra fair and Bishnupaduka fair to promote religious tourism.
Budhasubba Football Tournaments coordinated by the municipality every year.
Annual publication of a brochure and city information of Dharan.
Publication and distribution of postcards and photographs of Dharan and Bhedetar.
Promote Dharan festivals. E.g. Dharan Mahotsav.
Dharan Clock Tower.
Development of the Saptarangi Park (Park of Seven Colours) and Panchakanya Natural Park.
Financial and other assistance to the development of a privately run Yalambar Park.

Geography
Surrounded by hills at three directions, Charkose jhadi (Forest) at the south, flanked by two rivers to the east and west (Seuti river and Shardhu river).
Temperate climate.
Great change of altitude at a short distance (305 m. to 700m. at a short distance of 4 km.)
Sloped terrain.
Mid-point between Hills and the Terai plains (Bhawar region), and a gateway to the hills.

Media

This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards.Please improve this article if you can. (October 2008)
Residents of Dharan can receive two broadcast television stations (Dharan cable and Space), one of which broadcast from within Dharan. One daily newspaper, the THe Blast, and several monthly neighborhood papers serve the city. There are 11 local newspapers. Bijaypur FM is home to Dharan Public Radio, a three-format system that broadcasts around Eastern region. Locally delivers news and information, classical, and The Current (which plays a wide variety of music). There is three ISP (internet service Provider).

Transport
There is a good transport network bus connecting Dharan to all major cities and local towns. The local transport consists of cars, auto-rickshaws and rickshaws. Sharing a ride with other passengers is the mode of transport and most economical. Walking is a healthier and heartier way to get about town.

Education

This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards.Please improve this article if you can. (October 2008)
Dharan is one of those towns in Nepal where the number of higher education institutions per capita is higher than the rest. Dharan boasts of five private colleges and one public university, with more than 40 public and private secondary schools. Well-known colleges and universities include: BPKIHS( B.P Koirala Institute of health and science, Hattisar Campus (TU, Food Technology), Purwanchal Campus (TU, Agriculture Engineering, Overseer). It also has 9 private and 1 public library and 3 special education centre. It has more than 5 technical school affiliated to CTVT.

Statistics
It is one of the largest city of Nepal.
Land area: 12.23 km²
Population: 95,332 (census 2001), of which male 55.514%, female 44.486%, 2007 approx. 118,000

Civic Administration
Zone: Koshi
District: Sunsari
Number of Wards: 19