Dhankuta
The breezy hills of orange groves and historic charm
Dhankuta is known as Nepal's orange capital, a breezy mid-hill district where citrus orchards, tea and cardamom farming define its terraced hillsides above the Koshi Valley.
Dhankuta Bazaar, one of eastern Nepal's cleanest and oldest hill towns, was once a key stop on the trade route between the Terai and the high Himalaya, and retains colonial-era brick buildings from that era.
Nearby Hile Bazaar, at a ridge-top junction, continues to serve as a gateway market town for trekkers and traders heading further into the eastern hills.
Curated Experiences
Our journeys in Nepal.
Categories
Points of Interest
4 places
Attraction
Dhankuta Bazaar
Nepal's orange capital, a clean hill town above the Koshi Valley
Attraction
Hile Bazaar
The lively ridge-top market town gateway to the eastern hills
Natural Wonder
Namaste Falls
80-metre waterfall in the Bhedetar area
Temple / Religious Site
Chintang Devi Temple
Temple significant to both Kirati and Hindu traditions
Culture
People & Culture
Dhankuta is home to a mix of Rai communities and hill Brahmin/Chhetri settlers, with a long-established Newar trading community in Dhankuta Bazaar itself, a legacy of the town's role on the old trans-hill trade route. Its orange orchards and tea gardens continue to shape the district's farming calendar and local festivals.
Activities
Things to Do
Walk the clean, terraced streets of Dhankuta Bazaar
Visit Hile Bazaar, the ridge-top gateway to the eastern hills
Tour Dhankuta's orange orchards and tea gardens
Visit Namaste Falls, 80-metre waterfall in the Bhedetar area
Visit Chintang Devi Temple, temple significant to both Kirati and Hindu traditions
Travel Information
Best Time to Visit
October, December, February, April
Other Districts in Koshi Province
Stories from Dhankuta
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