It is a very beautiful city. It is famous for temples, scenery and cleanliness.It is also famous for various street food and also Churpi. The city is located in the foothills of Mahabharat range and has a population around 110,000. The population mainly consists of Mongolian origin; Rai, Limbu, Newar, Tamang, Gurung and Magar.
By Gone: Ropeway and Railway
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. Acordingly, 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 60’s (or was it early 70’s). 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.