Temple, monastery or heritage site
Chaughera Ratannath Temple
An old Nath yogi shrine near Ghorahi, linked by tradition with the sage Ratannath and a cross-border pilgrimage.
Dang District
Two broad inner Terai valleys, Dang and Deukhuri, with growing cities, Tharu culture and the old Ratnanath shrine at Chaughera.
- Province
- Lumbini
- Headquarters
- Ghorahi
- Area
- about 3,014 km²
- Places on Firfirey
- 3
About Dang
Dang is one of the largest districts in Lumbini Province and is made up mainly of two wide inner Terai valleys: Dang valley in the north, around Ghorahi and Tulsipur, and Deukhuri valley in the south, where the Rapti river flows. The Mahabharat and Churia hills separate the valleys and border neighbouring Pyuthan, Rolpa, Salyan, Banke, Arghakhanchi and Kapilvastu, with India to the south.
The Tharu were the original people of both valleys, and their culture is still visible in village life, dances and food, alongside a large population from the hills. Ghorahi, the headquarters, and Tulsipur are fast-growing sub-metropolitan cities with colleges, hospitals and markets, and the valleys are an important farming area. Travellers usually stop on the way to the hill districts to the north, or to visit the Ratnanath temple at Chaughera, linked to the Nath tradition.
Places in Dang
Getting there
The East-West Highway runs through the Deukhuri valley via Lamahi, from where a road crosses the hills north to Ghorahi and Tulsipur. Buses from Kathmandu take a long day. The nearest airport with regular flights is Nepalgunj, a few hours' drive to the west.
Best time to visit
October to March is the most pleasant period, with dry, mild weather and cool mornings; April to June is hot in the valleys, and the monsoon brings heavy rain that can cause flooding along the rivers.
Other districts in Lumbini Province
Editorial draft: the district overview is being checked. Headquarters and Nepali names: nepal-places dataset (MIT). Area and map position computed from the district boundaries of the Government of Nepal, Survey Department, via OCHA.