Dharan is a city in Sunsari district, eastern Nepal.
Dharan is a municipal city located in Sunsari district of the eastern Nepal. It is also known as the city of football or mini-Brazil. Dharan is south to the hill station Bhedetar of Dhankuta district and north of Itahari. It is also the gateway to the hills of Mahabharat range. Therefore it sees a mild summer and a mild winter. Not too hot not too cold.
Under the clause 3 (iv) of Agreement on the Koshi Project between Nepal and India which was signed by Mahabir Shumsher and Gulzarilal Nanda on April 25, 1954 in Kathmandu, the Nepalese Government permitted to quarry construction materials (boulders) required for the Project from deposits site in Dharan and Chatra. Accordingly, the rail tracks were laid down to link Dharan and Chatra to Bhimnagar to transport boulders required for the construction of Koshi Barrage that was started in 1958 and completed in 1962. The rocks were transported to Ghopa, Railway Line for stock piles by ropeway from the quarry site at Phusre. Retention walls built to haul these materials on train wagons at Ghopa still stands but in a ruined stage. In fact, the place is now called “Reeting” probably a derivative term for “Retention”. The train was still running in the late 60s (or was it early 70s). However, one cannot believe that Dharan and Chartra were once linked with railways to Bhimnagar since there isn’t any sign of steel rails or sleepers expect some culverts or masonry works in few places. Nevertheless, one can find few steel rails now erected as electricity poles at Chartra apart from an overhead water tank that used to fill trains in early days.
By bus or micro-van from Kakarbhitta or Biratnagar. Bus fare is 130-160 Rs, from Kakarvitta to Dharan and it is only 40 Rs. from Biratnagar to Dharan. From Itahari, Dharan is only 20 minutes bus journey and Itahari is well connected to all the other cities of Nepal. So anybody can come to Itahari and then take a micro van or bus to Dharan. Kakarvitta and Biratnagar both are on India-Nepal border and both are well connected to other major cities from Indian side. There are direct long distance bus routes from Kathmandu and Pokhra (fare is around 600 Rs. for both the cities).
The main bus terminus is situated at Bhanu Chowk, near the clock tower. All the long distance buses and city bus/micro-vans/tempos start from this point. Bhanu Chowk is the city centre.
You can find a large number of shopping outlets in and around Bhanu Chowk where you can choose the right things you are looking for and at the same time you can compare the prices. If you don't have time and wish to buy all the things in one place, try Sailung, couple of blocks from Bhanu Chowk.
There are many lodges (low cost) and hotels around the main bus terminus at Bhanu chowk.
There are bus routes to Basantpur, Hille and Dhankuta. Kathmandu and Pokhra require overnight journey by bus.
2nd-order administrative division
Primary administrative division