One of the beautiful cities of Nepal, Dharan, is a jewel of Eastern Nepal. Compared to Hongkong, Dharan lies at the foothills of the Mahabharata range, north of the Terai and base of the Hilly region in the Sunsari District of Province No. 1. Rich in natural beauty and unique landscape, the city, is one of the perfect touristic destinations with all kinds of facilities for tourists.

Gateway to several touristic destinations of the Eastern Neal like Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, Arun Valley, Makalu Barun National Park, Pathivara Devi Shrine, and beautiful cities Dhankuta, Hile, Basantapur, Dharan is a complete package of beauty, adventure, cultural blend, and rich infrastructures.

Sapta Koshi River, the second-longest river of Nepal, runs nearby Dharan, and several must-visit destinations can be traveled in a day from Dharan like Bhedetar, Tamor River, Hile, Basantapur, Rajarani, Ilam, Okhre, Jefale, Namje, etc.

Home to several ethnic groups, Dharan is occupied by Rai, Limbu, Magar, Tamang, Brahmin, Newar, and Chhetri. Dharan is also famous for the fashion and lifestyle of people. The locals in the city are fashionable and enjoy a free life.

With different famous temples of Eastern Nepal, Dharan is a prominent pilgrimage location with Budhasubba, Pindeshwari, Dantakali, and Panchakanya as star attractions. Pilgrims from all over the country and India come to these temples on special occasions like Dashain and the month of Lord Shiva (between July and August). Budhasubba is believed as a wish-fulfilling temple, Pindeshwori, as the temple of oil lamps, Panchakanya as the temple of five pious ladies of Hindu myth, and Dantakali as a Shakti Peetha, where the Lord Shiva’s consort fell.

Singshore Bridge, Ghum Monastery, Senchal Lake, Osho Khola, Wildlife Sanctuary, rejuvenating hill stations, etc. are attractions of the city. Paragliding at Chindey Danda and Bhedetar, Mountain Biking, canyoning at Namaste Falls, white-water rafting in Tamur river, and hiking on several hills around Dharan are some of the popular activities in the city. Cable car ride from Dharan to Barahachhetra is also gaining a lot of popularity among tourists. 

The city is rich in educational institutions for Engineering, Medicine, Agriculture, Food and Nutrition, Law, etc., making it the ‘Eton of Nepal’. Because of these institutes, Dharan welcomes thousands of students each year, from all over the country, and lives in peace and comfort in the city.

The fantastic views of the city can be witnessed from View Point in Laxmi Chowk and Bijayapur Hill. Rich in greens and blues, the city has several parks like Yalamber and Saptarangi, popular for picnic and gatherings.

The street food of Dharan is famous all over the country. Some unique dishes like ‘aalu nimki’, ‘dahi wada’, ‘thukpa’, etc. are quite popular among the locals. Chhurpi (stoned ricotta cheese), and Sukuti (preserved meat) are taken along by tourists as the souvenir of Dharan. Local home-made drinks, wine, and tonga – an alcoholic beverage brewed from fermented millet and lemon are common and loved.

The nightlife of Dharan is extra-ordinary. Youths and adults cover the pubs, restaurants, and dance clubs. The area around Putali Line (near bus park) and Bagarkot are full of pubs that offer awesome pork sukuti, drinks, live music, and varieties of food. The city is up till 11:00 pm.

To reach Dharan, one can take a flight to Biratnagar airport. Dharan is a 1-hour drive with a 40 km distance from Biratnagar. Buses are available from almost all the corners of the Terai and Hills.

The best time to travel Dharan is August to November, which is the peak season for tourists. Overall, Dharan is perfect throughout the year, and one can go to Dharan any month of the year.

Places To Visit In Dharan

 Budha Subba Temple, Dharan Overview

One of the most famous Hindu pilgrims of Eastern Nepal, the Budha Subba Temple, is a beautiful shrine, located at a hilltop of Dharan in Province No. 1. With several folk tales behind the establishment of the temple, Budha Subba lies in a peaceful location and is a center for devotees seeking luck and happiness.

The popular belief among the young couples is that tying colorful strings around the trunks of the tree or the temple will make their love life successful. It has led to the tying of millions of strings on the logs and has made the temple more beautiful.

Devotees and visitors crowd the temple on several occasions like Dashain. Several small shops in and around the temple sell handicrafts that visitors buy as souvenirs. A small car parking area is available at the main entrance of the temple complex.

Pindeshwor Temple, Dharan Overview

Pindeshwor Temple is an important and popular shrine, dedicated to Lord Shiva, in Dharan of Sunsari District in Province No. 1. The shrine is located at the base of Vijayapur Hill, in the central region of Dharan. The temple brings thousands of pilgrims from Eastern Nepal, and the Indian States bordered in the East.

 As Temple of Lord Shiva, the devotees crowd the temple on certain occasions like Maha Shivaratri (Lord Shiva's Birthdate) and on the month of Shrawan (between July and August). The temple's specialty is the burning lamp that has been burning from the establishment of the temple. Staying in and around the temple brings positivity and divine vibe along with peace.

Dantakali Temple, Dharan Overview

Dantakali Temple of Dharan is located in Bijayapur, around 3 km inside the central Dharan. Recognized as the powerful Shakti Peetha, the temple was built to honor Goddess Parvati and is one of the famous Hindu pilgrims in Eastern Nepal.

History reveals that after Parvati died, her body was carried by Lord Shiva on his shoulder and roamed for three days when her sacred teeth fell on the Dantakali area, which was later turned into temple. Dantakali forms of two words Danta and Kali, where Danta means teeth, and Kali is another name of Goddess Parvati. The temple receives thousands of devotees and more on certain occasions like Dashain.

Bijayapur, Dharan Overview

Bijayapur is a beautiful village located 3 km inside the central Dharan city, at a hilltop. The village is famous for shrines like Budha Subba and Dantakali – a Shakti Peetha built in dedication to Sati Devi. Pilgrims and visitors crowd both these temples during special occasions like Maha Shivaratri and Dashain.

The Bijayapur Danda (hill) is a widespread viewpoint of Dharan. You can witness an outstanding view of the entire city from Bijayapur. The area is cool and free from noise pollution and covered with ancient trees. Locals, from the city, visit Bijayapur for a little hiking experience and visit the shrines.