View source for Dharan

{{Short description|Sub-Metropolitan City in Koshi Province}}
{{distinguish|Dhahran}}
{{Other uses}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Dharan
| native_name        = {{lang|ne|धरान उपमहानगरपालिका}}
| nicknames          = 
| settlement_type    = [[Administrative divisions of Nepal|Sub-Metropolitan City]]
| motto = {{force singular}} "To build an environmentally sound city, functioning as the centre of education, health, tourism and business with fully developed infrastructure"
| image_skyline      = {{Photomontage |photo1a =Dharan Clock tower.jpg
| image_size                = 300
| image_alt                = 
| spacing                  = 1
| color                    = white
| color_border             = black}}
| imagesize          = 300
| image_caption      = <div style="background:#fee8ab;"> '''From Top:'''<br/>View of Dharan city, Dharan Clock tower</div>
| flag_size          = 300px
| pushpin_map        = Koshi#Nepal<!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| pushpin_map_caption = 
| pushpin_mapsize    = 300
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|Nepal}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces of Nepal|Province]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Koshi Province|Koshi]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[List of districts of Nepal|District]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Sunsari District|Sunsari]]
| established_title  = First Settled
| established_date   = 1902
| established_title1 = Established
| established_date1  = 1958
| established_title2 = Upgraded to Sub-metropolitan city
| established_date2  = 2017
| founder            = Ratna Prasad Shrestha
| parts_type         = No. of [[Ward (electoral subdivision)|Ward]]s
| parts              = 20
<!-- Politics -------------->| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| governing_body     = 
| leader_title       = [[Mayor of Dharan|Mayor]]
| leader_name        = [[Harka Raj Rai]] ([[Shram Sanskriti Party|Shram Sanskriti]])
| leader_title1      = [[Deputy Mayor]]
| leader_name1       = Aindra  Begha Limbu ([[Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre)|Maiost]])
<!-- Area    --------------------->| area_magnitude     = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial <!--Enter: Imperial, if Imperial  (metric) is desired-->
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_total_km2     = 192.61 <!-- ALL fields dealing with a measurements are subject to automatic unit conversion-->
| area_land_km2      = <!--See table @ Template:Infobox settlement for details on automatic unit conversion-->
| area_water_km2     = 4.4
| area_total_sq_mi   = 
| area_land_sq_mi    = 
| area_water_sq_mi   = 
| area_water_percent = 
| area_urban_km2     = 
| area_urban_sq_mi   = 
| area_metro_km2     = 
| area_metro_sq_mi   = 
| area_blank1_title  = 
| area_blank1_km2    = 
| area_blank1_sq_mi  = <!-- Population   -----------------------> 108,600
| population_as_of   = 2022
| population_footnotes = 
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 166,531
| population_rank    = [[List of cities of Nepal|15th (Nepal)]]<br/> 3rd ([[Koshi Province]])
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_sq_mi = 
| population_metro   = 
| population_density_metro_sq_mi = 
| population_urban   = 
| population_density_urban_km2 = 
| population_density_urban_sq_mi = <!-- General information  -->
| population_blank1_title = Ethnicities
| population_blank1  = [[Rai people|Rai]](19.4%), [[Limbu people|Limbu]](13.01%), [[Newar people|Newar]](11.1%), [[Chhetri]](10.7%), [[Tamang people|Tamang]](7.3%), [[Bahun]](7.1%), [[Kami (caste)|Kami]](6.2%), [[Marwari people|Marwadi]](3.1%), [[kushwaha]](1.1%), [[yadav]](0.96), [[Tharu people|Tharu]](0.55%), Others (20.69%)
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Nepali language|Nepali]]
| demographics1_title2 = Additional
| demographics1_info2 = [[English language|English]] , [[Limbu language|Limbu]]
<!-- General information  --------------->| timezone           = [[Nepal Standard Time|NST]]
| utc_offset         = +5:45
| timezone_DST       = 
| utc_offset_DST     = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|26|49|0|N|87|17|0|E|region:NP|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref> tags-->
| elevation_max_point = Near [[Bhedetar]]
| elevation_max_m    = 1778
| elevation_min_point = at Tarahara
| elevation_min_m    = 119 
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->| postal_code_type   = [[Postal Code]]
| postal_code        = 56700  (Sunsari), 56702  (Mangalbare)
| image_seal         = 
| area_code_type     = Telephone code
| area_code          = 025
| blank_name         = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info         = [[Humid subtropical climate|Cwa]]
| website            = {{URL|http://www.dharan.gov.np}}
| footnotes          = 
}}
'''Dharan''' ({{langx|ne|धरान}}) is a sub-metropolitan city in [[Sunsari District]] of [[Koshi Province]], in eastern Nepal, which was established as a fourth municipality in the [[Kingdom of Nepal|Kingdom]] in 1958. It is the [[List of cities of Nepal|third most populous city in eastern Nepal]] after [[Biratnagar]] and [[Itahari]]. The Nepali word "dharan" means a saw pit.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/nepali-brihat-sabdakosh-nepali-dictionary/page/644 |title=Nepali Brihat Shabdakosh |publisher=Pragya Pratisthan |year=2018 |page=644 |language=ne}}</ref>

In 1960, a British Gurkha camp was also established near the city.<ref>Nepal and the Gurkhas, (1965) Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, UK. p 135.</ref>  The use of the camp by British Gurkhas finished in the mid-1990s. Dharan has an estimated city population of 173,096 living in 34,834 households as per the [[2021 Nepal census]]. It is one of the cities of the ''Greater Birat Development Area'' which incorporates the cities of [[Biratnagar]]-[[Itahari]]-Gothgau-[[Biratchowk]]-Dharan<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/capital-of-province-1-to-be-scattered-in-various-districts/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513123630/https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/capital-of-province-1-to-be-scattered-in-various-districts/|archive-date=13 May 2021|title=Capital of Province 1 to be scattered in various districts}}</ref> primarily located on [[Koshi Highway]] in eastern Nepal, with an estimated total urban agglomerated population of 804,300 people living in 159,332 households.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://censusnepal.cbs.gov.np/Home/Details?tpid=5&dcid=3479c092-7749-4ba6-9369-45486cd67f30&tfsid=17 |title=Census Nepal 2021 |website=censusnepal.cbs.gov.np |access-date=22 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127124837/https://censusnepal.cbs.gov.np/Home/Details?tpid=5&dcid=3479c092-7749-4ba6-9369-45486cd67f30&tfsid=17 |archive-date=27 January 2022 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It is the largest city in the [[Koshi Province]] by area, at 192.61 square kilometres, and Biratnagar and Itahari are the second- and third-largest cities by area respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |title=धरान उप-महानगरपालिकाको वस्तुगत विवरण &#124; धरान उपमहानगरपालिका, नगर कार्यपालिकाको कार्यालय |url=https://www.dharan.gov.np/ne/node/16 |access-date=2025-06-16 |website=www.dharan.gov.np |language=ne}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dharan (Sub-Metropolis, Nepal) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/nepal/mun/admin/sunsari/0605__dharan/ |access-date=2025-06-16 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}</ref>

== Geography ==
[[File:Dharan.jpg|alt=|left|thumb|300x300px|Dharan top view]]
Dharan is situated on the foothills of the [[Mahabharat Range]] in the north with its southern tip touching the edge of the [[Terai]] plains. The city sits at an altitude of 1148&nbsp;ft (349 m). Dharan Bazaar grew up near Phusre, where the old walking route to [[Dhankuta]] and a large part of the Eastern hills left the plains with the ascent of Sanghuri Danra.  Historically, hill villagers made annual treks to the plains for trade, making this a natural location for a marketplace at the junction of the hills and the Terai.  In 1952, the construction of the Kosi barrage began and a narrow gauge railway was built to take stone from Phusre, loaded at a locality now known as "Railway", to the site of the barrage near the [[India–Nepal border|Indian border]].<ref>Benson. J. (1975) The Kosi Project Railway, Industrial Railway Society Record no 6, August, pp 65-71. Industrial Railway Society, Greenford, Middlesex, UK.</ref>

[[Koshi Highway]] runs through the city, connecting Dharan to [[Biratnagar]] and [[Itahari]], where it links to the east–west [[Mahendra Highway]]. The highway also extends north to [[Kimathanka]] at the Nepal-China border. The road from Dharan to Dhankuta was funded by the [[United Kingdom]] under the Overseas Development Administration aid scheme. The construction began in 1976 and was substantially completed by mid-1982. The road, which measures 51&nbsp;km in length, was largely built by hand using local labor, with as many as 15,000 workers employed at the height of the project.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dharan Dhankuta Road Project |url=http://www.ddrp.co.uk/about/history.htm |access-date=2025-06-16 |website=www.ddrp.co.uk}}</ref>

==History==
Dharan served as the capital of the [[Morang District|Morang]] Kingdom, a [[Limbu people|Limbu]]-ruled state in the lowlands of Limbuwan. It was ruled by Limbu King [[Buddhi Karna Raya Khebang Limbu]]. From 1584 to 1774 AD, Dharan-Bijaypur was the capital of the Morang Kingdom of [[Limbuwan]]. In August 1774, the [[Gorkha]] King [[Prithivi Narayan Shah]]'s representatives [[Abhiman Singh Basnet]], Parath Bhandari, Kirti Singh Khawas and Bali Baniya met the ministers of Morang. They agreed to accept the Gorkha monarch as Maharaja and retained self‑government rights for the Limbu rulers under a treaty, which also pledged the land's autonomy.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chemjong |first=Imanshing |url=https://www.google.com.np/books/edition/Kirat_History_and_Culture/_7M9AwAAQBAJ |title=Kirat History and Culture |date=2014-04-15 |publisher=Amar Nembang |language=en}}</ref>

== Demographics ==
{{bar box
| title    = Religion in Dharan (2021)
| titlebar = #Fcd116
| left1    = Religion
| right1   = Percent
| float    = right
| bars     = 
{{bar percent|[[Hindusim]]|orange|45}}
{{bar percent|[[kirat]]|pink|35}}
{{bar percent|[[Buddhism]]|red|9.5}}
{{bar percent|[[Christianity]]|blue|8.6}}
{{bar percent|Others|Black|1.9}}
}}

=== Languages ===
{{Pie chart
|caption=Language in Dharan census (2021)
|label1=Nepali |value1=42.5 |color1=orange
|label2=Limbu |value2=10.1 |color2=grey
|label3=Maithili |value3=8.0 |color3=  
 dark green 
|label4=Newar |value4=7.4 |color4=red
|label5=Rai |value5=5.9 |color5=skyblue
|label6=Tamang |value6=5.9 |color6=violet
|label7=Bantawa |value7=5.8 |color7=blue
|label8=Others |value8=14.4 |color8=black
}}
At the time of the 2021 Census of Nepal, 42.5% of the population in the city spoke Nepali, 10.1% Limbu, 8.0% Maithili ,7.4% Newar, 5.9% Rai, 5.9% Tamang, 5.8% Bantawa, and 14.4% spoke other smaller languages as their first language.

=== Caste and ethnic groups ===
The largest single caste/ethnic in Dharan is Rai, who make (19.4%) of the population, Limbu comes to second with (13.01%), Newar makes (11.1%) of population Chhetri (10.7%), Tamang (7.3%), Hill Brahmin (7.1%), Kami (6.2%) and other various ethnic groups makes (25.2%) Of the population.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://nepalmap.org/profiles/local-6005-dharan/ | title=NepalMap profile: Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City }}</ref>{{Pie chart|thumb=left |caption=Caste And Ethnic groups in Dharan cencus (2021) |label1=Rai|value1=19.4|color1=blue |label2=Limbu|value2=13.01|color2=yellow |label3=Newar|value3=11.1|color3=dodgerblue |label4=Chhetri|value4=10.7|color4=red |label5=Tamang|value5=7.3|color5=darkgreen |label6=Hill Brahmin|value6=7.1|color6=orange |label7=Kami|value7=6.2|color7=silver |label8=Marwadi|value8=3.1|color8=purple |label9=Kushwaha|value9=1.1|color9=pink |label10=yadav|value10=0.96|color10=green |label11=Others|value11=25.2|color11=black }}

{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="font-size: 90%;"
|+ Broad Caste and Ethnicity category (2021 Census)
|-
! Broad Ethnic Category !!Sub Category<ref>{{cite web | url=https://nepalmap.org/profiles/local-6005-dharan/ | title=NepalMap profile: Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City }}</ref> !!Linguistic Family !!Population Percentage
|-
| [[Janajati]]   (Hill Ethnic Groups)||  [[Magar people|Magar]], [[Tamang people|Tamang]], [[Gurung people|Gurung]], [[Sherpa people|Sherpa]], [[Rai people|Rai]], [[Limbu people|Limbu]], [[Yakkha people|Yakkha]], [[Sunuwar]] etc ||  || 37.74
|-
|[[Khas people|Khas]] (Hill/Pahari Caste Groups) || [[Bahun|Khas Brahmin]], [[Chhetri]], [[Kami (caste)|Kami]], [[Damai]] [[Sarki (ethnic group)|Sarki]], [[Daśanāmi Sampradaya|Sanyasi/Dasnami]]  || [[Indo-Aryan languages|Indo-Aryan]] || 24.8
|-
| [[Newar]] (Kathmandu Valley Caste Groups)|| [[Rajopadhyaya|Newari Brahmin]], [[Shresthas#Sr.C4.93.E1.B9.A3.E1.B9.ADha sub-caste groups|Shrestha]], [[Tamrakar]], [[Uray (caste group)|Newar Buddhist]], [[Maharjan]], [[Rajkarnikar]] etc || [[Indo-Aryan languages|Indo-Aryan]] And [[Sino-Tibetan|Indigenous people of nepal]] || 11.1%
|-
| [[Madheshi people|Madeshi]]  (Terai Caste Groups) || [[Yadav]], [[Maithil Brahmins]], [[Chamar]], [[Kushwaha]], [[Musahar]], [[Kurmi]], [[Dhanuk]] etc|| [[Indo-Aryan languages|Indo-Aryan]] || 11.0%
|-
| [[Marwari people|Marwadi]], [[Bengalis]] ||- || [[Indo-Aryan languages|Indo-Aryan]] || 3.4%
|-
| Adibasi  (Terai Indigenous Groups) || [[Tharu people|Tharu]], [[Rajbanshi people|Rajbanshi]], etc ||[[Indo-Aryan languages|Indo-Aryan]] And [[Sino-Tibetan|Indigenous people of Nepal]] || 2.3%
|-
| Muslim || - || [[Indo-Aryan languages|Indo-Aryan]] || 1.3%
|-
| Others || - || - || 3.1%
|}

== Environment ==
A study conducted in 2016 to analyze the [[Bacteriological water analysis|bacteriological]] quality of [[Bottled water|bottled drinking water]] and that of municipal [[tap water]] in Dharan found that one hundred percent of the tap water samples and 87.5% of the bottled water samples were contaminated with [[Heterotrophic microorganism|heterotrophic]] [[bacteria]]. Of the tap water samples, 55.3% were positive for total [[Coliform bacteria|coliforms]], compared with 25% of the bottled water, but no bottled water samples were positive for [[fecal coliform]]s and fecal [[Streptococcus|streptococci]], in contrast to 21.1% and 14.5% of the tap water samples being contaminated with fecal coliforms and fecal streptococci, respectively. One hundred percent of the tap water samples and 54.2% of the bottled water samples had [[pH]] in the acceptable range.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Pant|first1=Narayan Dutt|last2=Poudyal|first2=Nimesh|last3=Bhattacharya|first3=Shyamal Kumar|date=7 June 2016|title=Bacteriological quality of bottled drinking water versus municipal tap water in Dharan municipality, Nepal|journal=Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition|volume=35|issue=1|pages=17|doi=10.1186/s41043-016-0054-0|issn=2072-1315|pmc=5025974|pmid=27267213 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

==Media and communication==
*'''Newspapers:''' The people of Dharan are served by several daily local newspapers and national newspapers. There are 11 local newspapers in total. These include ''The Blast Times'' and ''The Morning Times''. National newspapers are also provided to the people of Dharan on a daily basis. National newspapers include ''[[The Kathmandu Post]]'', ''[[Kantipur (daily)|Kantipur]]'', ''Annapurna Post'', and ''[[The Himalayan Times|Himalayan Times]]''. Several monthly neighborhood papers serve the town.
*'''Radio:''' The state-owned [[Radio Nepal]] is broadcast on the medium wave on 648&nbsp;kHz in the city. Five private local FM stations are available. They are Star FM - 95.6&nbsp;MHz, [[Vijaypur FM|Vijayapur FM - 98.8&nbsp;MHz]], Dantakali FM - 88.5&nbsp;MHz, and [[Radio Dharan|Radio Dharan FM - 88.8&nbsp;MHz]]. Radio Ganatantra FM 95.1&nbsp;MHz is a [[community radio]] station. Likewise, Dharan has a [[British Forces Broadcasting Service|BFBS Radio]] Relay station. It broadcasts on FM frequencies.
*'''Television:''' Nepal's state-owned television broadcaster, [[Nepal Television]]'s relay station is present near its border, which provides two free-to-air terrestrial channels. A mix of Nepali, Hindi, English, and other international channels are accessible via [[Cable television|cable subscription]] and [[Direct-broadcast satellite|direct-broadcast satellite services]]. Dharan Cable Network broadcasts Kriti Television Channel as a local television channel that covers events in the city.

==Climate==
{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y 
|location = Dharan, elevation {{convert|310|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1998–2017)
|Jan record high C = 29.5
|Feb record high C = 32.7
|Mar record high C = 36.7
|Apr record high C = 38.8
|May record high C = 37.5
|Jun record high C = 37.9
|Jul record high C = 38.7
|Aug record high C = 37.4
|Sep record high C = 35.9
|Oct record high C = 35.8
|Nov record high C = 33.0
|Dec record high C = 29.9
|Jan record low C = 3.5
|Feb record low C = 6.6
|Mar record low C = 7.6
|Apr record low C = 11.6
|May record low C = 15.2
|Jun record low C = 18.3
|Jul record low C = 19.5
|Aug record low C = 20.2
|Sep record low C = 19.6
|Oct record low C = 15.0
|Nov record low C = 11.2
|Dec record low C = 5.2
|Jan high C = 22.8
|Feb high C = 26.0
|Mar high C = 30.4
|Apr high C = 32.8
|May high C = 32.7
|Jun high C = 32.4
|Jul high C = 31.9
|Aug high C = 32.3
|Sep high C = 31.9
|Oct high C = 31.0
|Nov high C = 28.4
|Dec high C = 25.0
|year high C = 29.8
|Jan mean C = 17.0
|Feb mean C = 20.2
|Mar mean C = 24.2
|Apr mean C = 27.1
|May mean C = 27.7
|Jun mean C = 28.3
|Jul mean C = 28.2
|Aug mean C = 28.5
|Sep mean C = 27.8
|Oct mean C = 26.0
|Nov mean C = 22.7
|Dec mean C = 19.2
|year mean C = 24.7
|Jan low C = 11.2
|Feb low C = 14.3
|Mar low C = 17.9
|Apr low C = 21.3
|May low C = 22.7
|Jun low C = 24.1
|Jul low C = 24.5
|Aug low C = 24.6
|Sep low C = 23.7
|Oct low C = 20.9
|Nov low C = 16.9
|Dec low C = 13.3
|year low C = 19.6
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 10.4
|Feb precipitation mm = 14.2
|Mar precipitation mm = 29.9
|Apr precipitation mm = 71.5
|May precipitation mm = 162.3
|Jun precipitation mm = 317.8
|Jul precipitation mm = 547.6
|Aug precipitation mm = 461.0
|Sep precipitation mm = 344.5
|Oct precipitation mm = 121.2
|Nov precipitation mm = 12.7
|Dec precipitation mm = 3.9
|year precipitation mm = 2097
|source 1 = Department of Hydrology and Meteorology<ref name=DHM>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231014124305/https://nepalindata.com/media/resources/items/0/bPRECIPITATION_NORMAL_MM_1991-2020.pdf
| archive-date = 14 October 2023
| url = https://nepalindata.com/media/resources/items/0/bPRECIPITATION_NORMAL_MM_1991-2020.pdf
| title = PRECIPITATION NORMAL (MM) (1991–2020)
| publisher = Department of Hydrology and Meteorology
| access-date = 14 October 2023}}</ref><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>
}}

==Notable people==
* [[Bhola Rijal]], Doctor and lyricist
* [[Deep Shrestha]], Singer and music composer
* [[Deepak Limbu]], Singer
* [[Govinda Subba]],  First governor of Koshi Province
* [[Hari Nath Bastola]], Politician
* [[Harka Raj Rai]], Current [[mayor of Dharan]], social activist, and leader of public mobilization movement.
* [[Krishna Kumar Rai, Dharan|Krishna Kumar Rai]], Politician 
* [[Malina Joshi]], [[Miss Nepal 2011]]
* [[Malvika Subba]], [[Miss Nepal 2002]]
* [[Minendra Rijal]], Politician & MP
* [[Prashna Shakya]], Singer
* [[Namrata Shrestha]], Actress
* [[Miruna Magar]], Actress
* [[Raju Kaji Shakya]], Former captain of national football team
* [[Sabin Rai]], Singer
* [[Subin Limbu]], [[Miss Nepal 2014]]

==See also==
* [[List of educational institutions in Dharan]]
* [[2022 Dharan municipal election]]
* [[Bhanu Chowk]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Geographic location
|Centre = Dharan
|North = [[Sangurigadhi]] ([[Dhankuta]])
|Northeast =
|East = [[Kerabari Gaunpalika|Kerabari]] ([[Morang District|Morang]])
|Southeast =
|South = [[Ramdhuni]], [[Itahari]]
|Southwest = 
|West = [[Baraha Municipality|Barahachhetra]]
|Northwest = 
}}
{{Sunsari District}}
{{Municipalities of Koshi Province}}
{{Metropolitan Municipalities of Nepal}}
{{Koshi Province topics|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places in Sunsari District]]
[[Category:Sunsari District]]
[[Category:Municipalities in Koshi Province]]
[[Category:Nepal municipalities established in 1962]]
[[Category:Submetropolitan municipalities of Nepal]]
[[Category:Municipalities in Sunsari District]]