View source for Dhankuta

{{EngvarB|date=March 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!--See the table at Infobox settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage-->
<!-- Basic info  -->| name               = Dhankuta
| other_name         = 
| native_name        = {{lang|ne|धनकुटा}}
| nickname           = Eastern Hillstation
| settlement_type    = City
| motto              = Hamro Dhankuta, Ramro Dhankuta
<!-- images and maps  -->| imagesize          = 250px
| flag_size          = 300px
| image_skyline      = Dhankuta.jpg
| image_caption      = A view of Dhankuta hill town
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = 
| image_map          = <!-- NepalDhankutaDistrictmap.png -->
| mapsize            = 300px
| map_caption        = Map of Dhankuta District. Dhankuta is shaded in light blue second from top.
| pushpin_map        = Nepal Province1#Nepal <!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| pushpin_mapsize    = 300
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Koshi Province
<!-- Location -->| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|Nepal}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces of Nepal|Province]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Koshi Province]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Districts of Nepal|District]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Dhankuta District]]
| government_footnotes = <!--
-->
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Mr. Chintan Tamang ([[Nepal Communist Party|NCP]])
| leader_title1      = [[Deputy Mayor]]
| leader_name1       = Ms. Bhima Devi Khanal ([[Nepal Communist Party|NCP]])
| established_title  = <!-- Settled -->
| established_date   = <!-- Area    -->
| unit_pref          = <!--Enter: Imperial, if Imperial (metric) is desired-->
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_total_km2     = <!-- ALL fields dealing with a measurements are subject to automatic unit conversion-->

<!-- Population   -->| population_as_of   = 2011<ref name="National Population and Housing Census 2011 (National Report)">{{cite news|title=National Population and Housing Census 2011(National Report) |url=http://cbs.gov.np/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/National%20Report.pdf |access-date=1 November 2012 |agency=Government of Nepal |publisher=[[Central Bureau of Statistics (Nepal)|Central Bureau of Statistics]] |date=November 2012 |ref=Central Bureau of Statistics |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130418041642/http://cbs.gov.np/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/National%20Report.pdf |archive-date=18 April 2013 }}</ref>
| population_footnotes = 
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 26440
| population_density_km2 = 
| population_density_sq_mi = 
| population_metro   = 
| population_density_metro_km2 = 
| population_density_metro_sq_mi = 
| population_urban   = 
| population_density_urban_km2 = 
| population_density_urban_sq_mi = 
| population_blank1_title = Ethnicities
| population_blank1  = [[Athpahariya language|Athpare]], [[Yakkha people|Yakkha]],   [[Limbu people|Limbu]], [[Brahmin]], [[Chhetri]], [[Gurung]]
| population_blank2_title = Religions
| population_blank2  = [[Yuma Sammang]], [[Kirat Mundhum]], [[Hinduism]], [[Buddhist]]
<!-- General information  -->| timezone           = [[Nepal Standard Time|NST]]
| utc_offset         = +5:45
| timezone_DST       = 
| utc_offset_DST     = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|26|59|0|N|87|20|0|E|type:city(41210)_region:NP|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref> </ref> tags-->
| elevation_m        = <!-- Area/postal codes & others -->
| postal_code_type   = [[Postal Code]]
| postal_code        = 56800
| area_code          = 026
| blank_name         = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info         = [[Humid subtropical climate|Cwa]]
| blank1_name        = [[List of roads in Nepal|Highway]]
| blank1_info        = [[Koshi Highway]]
| website            = {{URL|www.dhankutamun.gov.np}}
| footnotes          = 
| numbers of wards   = 
| official_name      = 
}}

'''Dhankuta''' ({{langx|ne|धनकुटा}} {{audio|Dhankuta.ogg|listen}})<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ddcdhankuta.gov.np|title=धनकुटा जि.स.स|website=ddcdhankuta.gov.np}}</ref> is a hill town and the headquarters of [[Dhankuta District]] in [[Koshi Province]] in Eastern [[Nepal]]. According to [[2011 Nepal census]], it has population of 26,440 inhabitants.

==History==
{{main|Province No. 1}}

Until about 1963, Dhankuta Bazaar (the town) was the administrative headquarters for the whole of north-eastern Nepal. Located a half-mile above the town were the buildings of the [[Bada Hakim]], the feudal district which governed the whole north-eastern region. The town also held the regional jail and army post. Because of Dhankuta's isolation from the lowland [[Terai]] and from [[Kathmandu]], it was in many ways a self-governing area.<ref name="ReferenceA">Personal experience of Professor Dick Mayer, Nepal 2 Peace Corps Volunteer, 1963–65</ref>

Income to purchase items (cloth, kerosene, batteries, medicines, etc.) that could not be produced locally came from a combination of sales of hill produce (tangerines, potatoes, etc.) and funds repatriated back into the hills by Gorkha soldiers serving first in the British and then more-often in the Indian armies.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

The first five American [[Peace Corps]] volunteers arrived in Dhankuta Bazaar in Fall, 1962 to work as teachers in the two high schools.  In October 1963 three additional volunteers arrived to help establish the new Panchayat Development program.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

From 1963 Nepal was divided into 75 Panchayat Districts, and the traditional Dhankuta administrative region was divided up into about six of the panchayat districts.  The power of the Bada Hakim was transferred to the central government's appointed Panchayat Development Officer and each district's elected Panchayat President.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

During the pre-panchayat period Dhankuta Bazaar prided itself as being in the cultural vanguard, a relatively progressive community with its own "intellectual" elite.  Dhankuta Bazaar, already in the 1930s, had the only high school in Nepal to be located outside of the [[Kathmandu Valley]].  Early on it added a girl's high school and a two-year college.<ref>Professor Dick Mayer, Nepal 2 Peace Corps Volunteer, 1963–65</ref>

Then and now there is a sharp contrast between Dhankuta Bazaar and the surrounding rural villages.  The town is a commercial center and has a population that is primarily [[Newar]].  The surrounding area is agricultural and the population is made up of many caste/tribal groups, notably [[Athpare language|Athpare]], [[Limbu people|Limbu]], [[Yakkha people|Yakkha]], [[Rai (ethnic group)|Rai]], [[Magar people|Magar]], [[Tamang people|Tamang]] and [[Tibetan people|Tibetan]].

One of the famous places in ''Dhankuta'' is ''Hile''. It serves as a gateway to ''Dhankuta'' and ''Panchthar'' districts and from here, visitors can also trek to the temple of Goddes ''Pahtibhara'', situated three kilometers west of the place. Another place situated here is the ''Rajarani'' valley, which is a place of historical significance and is also believed to be the capital of ''[[Limbu people|Limbu]]'' kingdom in the past. The place that once had two ponds called ''Raja'' and ''Rani'' now lay as plain areas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dhankuta; The gateway to the Eastern Hills and Mountains |url=https://nepaltraveller.com/travel/cities/dhankuta}}</ref>

[[File:Looking north to Dhankuta bazaar from roof of house in Chuliban ( 26°57'47.23"N 87°20'50.05"E).png|thumb|500px|center|Looking north to Dhankuta Bazaar and Hile Bazaar from Chuliban]]

==Demographics==
At the [[2011 Nepal census]], Dhankuta Municipality had a population of 38,629. Of these, 49.8% spoke [[Nepali language|Nepali]], 14.6% [[Athpare language|Athpare]], 7.0% [[Tamang language|Tamang]], 6.6% [[Magar language|Magar]], 6.2% [[Newar language|Newar]], 4.5% [[Kiranti languages|Rai]], 3.5% [[Limbu language|Limbu]], 2.1% [[Bantawa language|Bantawa]], 1.2% [[Maithili language|Maithili]], 0.6% [[Yakkha language|Yakkha]], 0.5% [[Sherpa language|Sherpa]], 0.4% [[Chamling language|Chamling]], 0.3% [[Sampang language|Sampang]], 0.3% [[Urdu]], 0.2% [[Bhujel language|Bhujel]], 0.2% [[Gurung language|Gurung]], 0.2% [[Hindi]], 0.1% [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]], 0.1% [[Chulung language|Chhiling]], 0.1% [[Chintang language|Chintang]],  0.1% [[Khaling language|Khaling]], 0.1% [[Kulung language (Nepal)|Kulung]], 0.1% [[Majhi language|Majhi]], 0.1% [[Tharu languages|Tharu]], 0.1% [[Thulung language|Thulung]], 0.1% [[Yamphu language|Yamphu]] and 0.3% other languages as their first language.<ref> NepalMap Language [https://nepalmap.org/data/table/?table=LANGUAGE&primary_geo_id=local-7003&geo_ids=local-7003,district-18,province-1,country-NP]</ref>

In terms of ethnicity/caste, 20.5% were [[Chhetri]], 15.7% Aathpariya, 10.1% [[Rai people|Rai]], 9.6% [[Bahun|Hill Brahmin]], 9.3% [[Newar people|Newar]], 8.2% [[Tamang people|Tamang]], 7.3% [[Magars|Magar]], 4.3% [[Limbu people|Limbu]], 3.8% [[Kami (caste)|Kami]], 1.9% [[Damai]]/Dholi, 1.4% Gharti/[[Bhujel]], 1.4% [[Thakuri]], 1.2% [[Sarki (ethnic group)|Sarki]], 0.6% [[Yakkha people|Yakkha]], 0.5% [[Sherpa people|Sherpa]], 0.4% [[Gurung people|Gurung]], 0.3% Bantawa, 0.3% Majhi, 0.3% [[Nepalese Muslims|Musalman]], 0.3% [[Tharu people|Tharu]], 0.2% [[Halwai]], 0.2% [[Teli]], 0.2% other Terai, 0.1% [[Bengalis|Bengali]], 0.1% [[Bhotiya|Bhote]], 0.1% Terai [[Brahmin]], 0.1% [[Chamar]]/Harijan/Ram, 0.1% Chamling, 0.1% other [[Dalit]], 0.1% [[Dom (caste)|Dom]], 0.1% [[Hajjam]]/Thakur, 0.1% [[Kalwar (caste)|Kalwar]], 0.1% [[Kayastha]], 0.1% [[Marwari people|Marwadi]], 0.1% Sanyasi/Dasnami, 0.1% [[Yadav]] and 0.5% others.<ref> NepalMap Caste [https://nepalmap.org/data/table/?table=CASTE&primary_geo_id=local-7003&geo_ids=local-7003,district-18,province-1,country-NP]</ref>

In terms of religion, 62.5% were [[Hinduism in Nepal|Hindu]], 23.6% [[Kirat Mundhum|Kirati]], 11.2% [[Buddhism in Nepal|Buddhist]], 1.8% [[Christianity in Nepal|Christian]], 0.3% [[Islam in Nepal|Muslim]], 0.1% [[Animism|Prakriti]] and 0.4% others.<ref> NepalMap Religion [https://nepalmap.org/data/table/?table=RELIGION&primary_geo_id=local-7003&geo_ids=local-7003,district-18,province-1,country-NP]</ref>

In terms of literacy, 81.7% could read and write, 1.5% could only read and 16.8% could neither read nor write.<ref> NepalMap Literacy [https://nepalmap.org/data/table/?table=LITERACY_SEX&primary_geo_id=local-7003&geo_ids=local-7003,district-18,province-1,country-NP]</ref>

==Climate==

{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y 
|location = Dhankuta, elevation {{convert|1192|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1987–2018)
|Jan record high C = 26.7
|Feb record high C = 30.6
|Mar record high C = 31.8
|Apr record high C = 33.0
|May record high C = 33.6
|Jun record high C = 32.6
|Jul record high C = 33.0
|Aug record high C = 33.4
|Sep record high C = 33.2
|Oct record high C = 32.5
|Nov record high C = 32.0
|Dec record high C = 28.8
|Jan record low C = 2.0
|Feb record low C = 2.4
|Mar record low C = 5.0
|Apr record low C = 8.5
|May record low C = 11.3
|Jun record low C = 14.3
|Jul record low C = 15.7
|Aug record low C = 16.2
|Sep record low C = 13.0
|Oct record low C = 8.7
|Nov record low C = 6.5
|Dec record low C = 2.9
|Jan high C = 	18.7
|Feb high C = 	20.4
|Mar high C = 	24.0
|Apr high C = 	26.6
|May high C = 	27.4
|Jun high C = 	27.9
|Jul high C = 	27.7
|Aug high C = 	28.0
|Sep high C = 	27.5
|Oct high C = 	26.1
|Nov high C = 	23.3
|Dec high C = 	20.4
| year high C = 	24.8
|Jan mean C = 	12.8
|Feb mean C = 	14.8
|Mar mean C = 	18.4
|Apr mean C = 	21.2
|May mean C = 	22.7
|Jun mean C = 	24.1
|Jul mean C = 	24.2
|Aug mean C = 	24.3
|Sep mean C = 	23.5
|Oct mean C = 	21.0
|Nov mean C = 	17.5
|Dec mean C = 	14.4
| year mean C = 	19.9
|Jan low C = 	6.9
|Feb low C = 	9.2
|Mar low C = 	12.8
|Apr low C = 	15.8
|May low C = 	18.0
|Jun low C = 	20.3
|Jul low C = 	20.7
|Aug low C = 	20.5
|Sep low C = 	19.4
|Oct low C = 	15.8
|Nov low C = 	11.7
|Dec low C = 	8.4
| year low C = 	15.0
|precipitation colour = green	
|Jan precipitation mm = 	11.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 	15.4
|Mar precipitation mm = 	26.9
|Apr precipitation mm = 	52.9
|May precipitation mm = 	113.7
|Jun precipitation mm = 	143.6
|Jul precipitation mm = 	239.0
|Aug precipitation mm = 	160.6
|Sep precipitation mm = 	120.4
|Oct precipitation mm = 	35.2
|Nov precipitation mm = 	10.9
|Dec precipitation mm = 	6.4
| year precipitation mm = 	936.7
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 	1.5
|Feb precipitation days = 	1.9
|Mar precipitation days = 	3.0
|Apr precipitation days = 	6.1
|May precipitation days = 	10.8
|Jun precipitation days = 	13.3
|Jul precipitation days = 	17.3
|Aug precipitation days = 	13.8
|Sep precipitation days = 	11.1
|Oct precipitation days = 	3.1
|Nov precipitation days = 	0.7
|Dec precipitation days = 	0.6
|year precipitation days = 	83.1
|source 1 = [[World Meteorological Organization]]<ref name=WMOCLINO>{{cite web
| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-2-WMO-Normals-9120/Nepal/CSV/Dhankuta_44477.csv
| title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020
| publisher = World Meteorological Organization
| access-date = 14 October 2023}}</ref>
|source 2 = Department of Hydrology and Meteorology<ref name = DHM2>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231014213207/https://nepalindata.com/media/resources/items/13/bANNUAL_EXTREME_TEMPERATURES.pdf
| archive-date = 14 October 2023
| url = https://nepalindata.com/media/resources/items/13/bANNUAL_EXTREME_TEMPERATURES.pdf
| title = Annual Extreme Temperatures
| publisher=Department of Hydrology and Meteorology
| access-date = 15 October 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Present status==
[[File:Basantatar.jpg|thumb|200px|Dhankuta]]
[[File:A view of Pakhribas Bajar.JPG|thumb|200px|Pakhribas Bazaar]]
Dhankuta Bazaar, on the North-South Koshi Highway, is now the administrative headquarters for the Eastern Development Region, and is home to a number of offices for [[Non-governmental organization|NGOs]] and aid agencies serving in the area. The large bazaar of [[Hile]] further up the road, is an important trading centre and major road head, serving the remote hinterlands of the Arun valley and [[Bhojpur, Nepal|Bhojpur]].  Villagers walk for many days from surrounding districts to trade in Hile and Dhankuta bazaars, although road building in the district may reduce the importance of these centers.

‘Nepal's cleanest city’ as proposed by The Kathmandu post.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2017-08-05/nepals-cleanest-city.html|title='Nepal's cleanest city'|access-date=20 November 2017}}</ref>

==Vegetation==
The vegetation zones in the district range from sub-tropical Sal forest along the [[Tamor River|Tamor]] and [[Arun River (Nepal)|Arun]] rivers, and cooler temperate forests on some of the high ridges that mark the watershed between the two catchments.  The altitude ranges from around 300m to 2500m.  The majority of the population are involved in agriculture and crops include maize, rice and [[millet]].  Important cash crops include citrus fruits, [[cauliflower]], [[cabbage]], [[ginger]], and in recent years, [[tea]]. A well-preserved forest (Rani Bhan – Queen's Forest) spreads along a ridge line on the northwest side of the village, with well-developed mature stands of rhododendron and pine trees.

==Health centres==
[[Image:Dhankuta-hospital.jpg|thumb|alt=Dhankuta Hospital.|200px|right|Dhankuta District Hospital]]
Dhankuta District Hospital is located off the main street at the south end of the town. The hospital has facilities like inpatient service, [[Ultrasonography]] and x-ray. Besides the government posted doctors, medical and dental intern doctors from [[BPKIHS]] are also posted there.

==Media==
[[Radio Nepal]] has a regional station in Dhankuta which transmits various programs of mass interest. Likewise, Radio Lali Guransa (105.2&nbsp;MHz), Radio Makalu Dhankuta (92.2&nbsp;MHz), and Radio Dhankuta (106.2&nbsp;MHz) are [[community radio]] stations transmitting local programmes.

[[File:Dhankuta Chuliban Pine Trees and view below it .jpg|thumb|Pine trees]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Municipalities of Koshi Province}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places in Dhankuta District]]
[[Category:Municipalities in Koshi Province]]
[[Category:Nepal municipalities established in 1978]]
[[Category:Municipalities in Dhankuta District]]
[[Category:Hill stations in Nepal]]