Dhankuta

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title: "Dhankuta" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["populated-places-in-dhankuta-district", "municipalities-in-koshi-province", "nepal-municipalities-established-in-1978", "municipalities-in-dhankuta-district", "hill-stations-in-nepal"] topic_path: "general/populated-places-in-dhankuta-district" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhankuta" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
name
native_nameधनकुटा
nicknameEastern Hillstation
settlement_typeCity
mottoHamro Dhankuta, Ramro Dhankuta
imagesize
flag_size300px
image_skylineDhankuta.jpg
image_captionA view of Dhankuta hill town
image_map
mapsize300px
map_captionMap of Dhankuta District. Dhankuta is shaded in light blue second from top.
pushpin_mapNepal Province1#Nepal
pushpin_label_positionbottom
pushpin_mapsize300
pushpin_map_captionLocation in Koshi Province
subdivision_type
subdivision_nameNepal
subdivision_type1Province
subdivision_name1Koshi Province
subdivision_type2District
subdivision_name2Dhankuta District
government_footnotes
leader_titleMayor
leader_nameMr. Chintan Tamang (NCP)
leader_title1Deputy Mayor
leader_name1Ms. Bhima Devi Khanal (NCP)
established_title
established_date
unit_pref
area_total_km2
population_as_of
population_total26440
population_blank1_titleEthnicities
population_blank1Athpare, Yakkha, Limbu, Brahmin, Chhetri, Gurung
population_blank2_titleReligions
population_blank2Yuma Sammang, Kirat Mundhum, Hinduism, Buddhist
timezone
utc_offset+5:45
coordinates
elevation_footnotes
elevation_m
postal_code_typePostal Code
postal_code56800
area_code026
blank_nameClimate
blank_infoCwa
blank1_nameHighway
blank1_infoKoshi Highway
website
::

| name = Dhankuta | other_name = | native_name = धनकुटा | nickname = Eastern Hillstation | settlement_type = City | motto = Hamro Dhankuta, Ramro Dhankuta | imagesize = 250px | flag_size = 300px | image_skyline = Dhankuta.jpg | image_caption = A view of Dhankuta hill town | image_flag = | image_seal = | image_map = | mapsize = 300px | map_caption = Map of Dhankuta District. Dhankuta is shaded in light blue second from top. | pushpin_map = Nepal Province1#Nepal | pushpin_label_position = bottom | pushpin_mapsize = 300 | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Koshi Province | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Nepal | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Koshi Province | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Dhankuta District | government_footnotes =

| government_type = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Mr. Chintan Tamang (NCP) | leader_title1 = Deputy Mayor | leader_name1 = Ms. Bhima Devi Khanal (NCP) | established_title = | established_date = | unit_pref = | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 =

| population_as_of = 2011 | 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 = Athpare, Yakkha, Limbu, Brahmin, Chhetri, Gurung | population_blank2_title = Religions | population_blank2 = Yuma Sammang, Kirat Mundhum, Hinduism, Buddhist | timezone = NST | utc_offset = +5:45 | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = | coordinates = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | postal_code_type = Postal Code | postal_code = 56800 | area_code = 026 | blank_name = Climate | blank_info = Cwa | blank1_name = Highway | blank1_info = Koshi Highway | website = | footnotes = | numbers of wards = | official_name =

Dhankuta ( ) 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 article: 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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, Limbu, Yakkha, Rai, Magar, Tamang and 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 kingdom in the past. The place that once had two ponds called Raja and Rani now lay as plain areas.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Looking_north_to_Dhankuta_bazaar_from_roof_of_house_in_Chuliban_(_26°57'47.23"N_87°20'50.05"E).png" caption="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, 14.6% Athpare, 7.0% Tamang, 6.6% Magar, 6.2% Newar, 4.5% Rai, 3.5% Limbu, 2.1% Bantawa, 1.2% Maithili, 0.6% Yakkha, 0.5% Sherpa, 0.4% Chamling, 0.3% Sampang, 0.3% Urdu, 0.2% Bhujel, 0.2% Gurung, 0.2% Hindi, 0.1% Bhojpuri, 0.1% Chhiling, 0.1% Chintang, 0.1% Khaling, 0.1% Kulung, 0.1% Majhi, 0.1% Tharu, 0.1% Thulung, 0.1% Yamphu and 0.3% other languages as their first language.

In terms of ethnicity/caste, 20.5% were Chhetri, 15.7% Aathpariya, 10.1% Rai, 9.6% Hill Brahmin, 9.3% Newar, 8.2% Tamang, 7.3% Magar, 4.3% Limbu, 3.8% Kami, 1.9% Damai/Dholi, 1.4% Gharti/Bhujel, 1.4% Thakuri, 1.2% Sarki, 0.6% Yakkha, 0.5% Sherpa, 0.4% Gurung, 0.3% Bantawa, 0.3% Majhi, 0.3% Musalman, 0.3% Tharu, 0.2% Halwai, 0.2% Teli, 0.2% other Terai, 0.1% Bengali, 0.1% Bhote, 0.1% Terai Brahmin, 0.1% Chamar/Harijan/Ram, 0.1% Chamling, 0.1% other Dalit, 0.1% Dom, 0.1% Hajjam/Thakur, 0.1% Kalwar, 0.1% Kayastha, 0.1% Marwadi, 0.1% Sanyasi/Dasnami, 0.1% Yadav and 0.5% others.

In terms of religion, 62.5% were Hindu, 23.6% Kirati, 11.2% Buddhist, 1.8% Christian, 0.3% Muslim, 0.1% Prakriti and 0.4% others.

In terms of literacy, 81.7% could read and write, 1.5% could only read and 16.8% could neither read nor write.

Climate

|metric first=y |single line=y |location = Dhankuta, elevation 1192 m, (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{{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}} |source 2 = Department of Hydrology and Meteorology{{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}}

Present status

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Basantatar.jpg" caption="Dhankuta"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/A_view_of_Pakhribas_Bajar.JPG" caption="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 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. 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.

Vegetation

The vegetation zones in the district range from sub-tropical Sal forest along the Tamor and 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

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/Dhankuta-hospital.jpg" caption="Dhankuta District Hospital" alt="Dhankuta 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 MHz), Radio Makalu Dhankuta (92.2 MHz), and Radio Dhankuta (106.2 MHz) are community radio stations transmitting local programmes.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/Dhankuta_Chuliban_Pine_Trees_and_view_below_it_.jpg" caption="Pine trees"] ::

References

References

  1. (November 2012). "National Population and Housing Census 2011(National Report)". [[Central Bureau of Statistics (Nepal).
  3. "धनकुटा जि.स.स".
  4. Personal experience of Professor Dick Mayer, Nepal 2 Peace Corps Volunteer, 1963–65
  5. Professor Dick Mayer, Nepal 2 Peace Corps Volunteer, 1963–65
  6. "Dhankuta; The gateway to the Eastern Hills and Mountains".
  7. NepalMap Language [https://nepalmap.org/data/table/?table=LANGUAGE&primary_geo_id=local-7003&geo_ids=local-7003,district-18,province-1,country-NP]
  8. NepalMap Caste [https://nepalmap.org/data/table/?table=CASTE&primary_geo_id=local-7003&geo_ids=local-7003,district-18,province-1,country-NP]
  9. NepalMap Religion [https://nepalmap.org/data/table/?table=RELIGION&primary_geo_id=local-7003&geo_ids=local-7003,district-18,province-1,country-NP]
  10. 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]
  11. "'Nepal's cleanest city'".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

populated-places-in-dhankuta-districtmunicipalities-in-koshi-provincenepal-municipalities-established-in-1978municipalities-in-dhankuta-districthill-stations-in-nepal