Dharan

Dharan धरान Bijaypur
Town
Nickname:  Dharan Bazar
Motto(s):  "To build an environmentally sound city, functioning as the centre of education, health, tourism and business with fully developed infrastructure".
Country	Nepal
Development Region	Eastern
Zone	Koshi Zone
District	Sunsari District
Government
• Mayor	Mr. Manoj K Meyangbo limbu
Area
• Total	10 sq mi (30 km2)
• Water	1.7 sq mi (4.4 km2)
Population  (2007)
• Total	118,000
• Ethnicities	Brahmin Limbu and Rai
• Religions	Mundhum Buddhist Hindu Christian Islam
Time zone	GMT +5:45
Area code	025
Website	http://www.dharan.gov.np/

Dharan (Template:Lang-ne) 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

Limbuwan strike at Dharan

Dharan's history can be traced back to 1584 A.D,to ten Kingdoms of Limbuwan which was also known as Pallo Kirat Pardesh (a collective of Ten Kirant Limbu Kingdoms). Dharan-Bijaypur was the capital city of the Morang kingdom of Limbuwan region. This was prior to conquest and annexation of the Kirat Kingdom by Gorkha King, King Prithvi 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, Brahmins, Chhetris etc.

limbuwan flag and hoarding in Tinkune, Dharan

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.

Games/ Sports

From the very beginning Dharan has been an arena for games and sports. Many of its players have represented Nepal in international competitions. Till now Dharan is a force to recon with in Football, Martial Arts and Cricket. The biggest and probably the best Golf Course of the country (18 hole s) is in Dharan. Buddha Subba gold cup football tournament is co-organised by the municipality every year.

Tourism

Dharan is a tourist destination in its own right. Communication is mainly in Nepali and English. People who are English speakers should have no problem comprehending many signs and road maps in Nepal.

Beyond Bhedetar lies the eastern hilly district such as Dhankuta, Bhojpur,Phidim, Terathum. Dharan serves as a gateway to some of the remote tourist attractions like Kumbhakarna Himal, Kanchenjunga, Makalu Barun National Park, Arun Valley, Tinjure-Milke (Rhododendron Protection Area), Gupha Lake, Hyatrung Fall, and Sabha Pokhari. They are quite 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 Itahari 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 Dhan naach and Chyabrum naach of Limbus, Lakhe naach and Gai jatra of Newars, Sakela Sili naach of Rai people, Selo of Tamangs, Rodighar of Gurungs, Baalan and Sangini of Brahmin and Chhetris, all add to the cultural tradition of Dharan.

Other potential tourism prospects include:

• White water rafting in Kosi river, starting from Chatara to Koshi 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 which is Seuti river and Shardhu river respectively.
• Temperate climate.
• Great change of altitude at a short distance (305 m to 700 m 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

Dharan has two Satellite broadcast television stations.

• Dharan Cable Network
• Space Time Network

The people of Dharan are served by several Daily local newspapers and National Newspapers. There are 11 local newspapers in total. Among all of these, the most popular is The Blast and The Morning Post. National Newspapers are also provide to the people of Dharan on daily basis. Some of the National newspapers are The kathmandu post, Kantipur, Himalayan times e.t.c. And several monthly neighborhood papers serves the Town.

Bijaypur FM is home to Dharan's People which is a three-format system broadcaster that broadcasts around Eastern region of Nepal. Bijaypur F.M provides Local, National and International news and information, classic songs, and The current(which plays a wide variety of music).

Transport

There is a 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 most economical mode of transport.

Education

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 Sciences), 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.

List of Famous Academic center

• Mahendra Multiple Campus, Dharan
• Science And Technology Campus (Hattisar)
• Purbanchal Engineering Campus
• B.P.K.I.H.S. (B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences)
• Delhi Public School

Statistics

• It is one of the largest cities of Nepal beside Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Pokhara and Birgunj
• 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
• Development Region: Eastern Development Region

External links

• Dharan and Municipality activities