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NEPALGANJ-DANG SECTOR:From Nepalganj airport one can come to conjested smelly town of Nepalganj bazaar which is the biggest trade center of the west and far west. One can drive in fair weather either east or west or north. East is Banke and west is Bardi. Both the district including Dang is the home of aborigines Tharu. In the east Rapti River with the full of sand will provide view of wild ducks in thousands. On the west Karnali river will provide for watching snowy cold mountainous river crocodile and also duck. On the way thick and dense forest is found, where big game hunting animals like tiger, deer, blue bull, wild bear are found in plenty. One can visit Royal hunting camp. After following north, south road one enters Surkhet valley in the west and Dang valley in the east. Surkhet is a small basin in the hills located along the Bheri River, where mixed cultures are found whereas the Dang and Rapti valleys are famous for Dangauria Tharus. Though Tharus are also found in Banke Bardia the Danguria Tharu have developed special dress which is mixed between hill and ancient Terai culture. They prefer to wear white cloth in all the forms whereas Tharus of other areas have fancy for colourfull dresses. In this belt one may come across the Rajis and Raute, the nomadic tribes. Rajis have now settled and are farmers whereas Raute are moving. In the east of the Dang is the Piuthan where Magars are dominant. North of Dang and Surkhet lies hilly mountainous area which was ruled by small chieftains in the past and is most backward compared to other parts of Nepal. These include Piuthan, Rukum, Rolpa Sallayan, Dailekh, Jumla etc.
In the north, Rolpa and Rukum are important districts headquarters. Sunchhara of Rolpa at 2134 m. is still enjoyable after a long trek. Cave of Bhamo on the Jaljalla Mountain maintains religious sanctity among the Magars of that region.Rukum was the center of many chieftains. Musikot, Rukumkot, Bhapnikot, Gotamkot are still preserving the ruins of ancient history.After climbing Ranimatta lekh form Surkhet, one enters in Lohre Khola and then climb for Dailekh-Dullu starts.Dailekh and Dullu on the north of Surkhet were also hearquarters of small Rajas. Dullu surpassed in culture with temples of Dhuleshwar, Padukasthan and Sirsthan, Dullu is also center for oranges. During November-January, one can see beautiful trees of oranges on the dry hill tops.North of Dailekh after crossing major hill range of granite, river at an altitude of 2714 m. Chandannath and Bhairavnath temples are located near Khalanga. Chandannath and Pandusura are important and flourishing villages. In the north Tibrikot is important district where Deepalgaon, Dhansangu Gothichaur, Swami kartikey Thakurjee Temple and Ganesh gupha caves, Mani Sangu Garas nahani, Dhanchaur, Malikasthan are important spots and places. Gothichaur at 3353 m. located, 11 km. in south east of Dipalgaon is interesting area. Swami Kartikey temple at 4573 m. is the best place with numerous lakes (Takurji Dah, Bistadha, Giridah, Santhadah) while going to Thakurji form Jumla. The cave is found and is made of limestone.Mugu located in the north has tibtan culture and is dense village. Rara lake is beautiful at 3048 m. From the Jumla airport one can climb and get down in Sinja Khola. After one climb, beautiful lake of Rara is reached. Railing has Buddhist gumba where 4 or 5 Lamas are worshipping regularly, Simikot of Humla is mixed with Chetri, Tamang, Sarki, and Damai communities. DHANGADHI-MAHENDRANAGAR AXIS In the far western Nepal, Dhangadhi and Mahendranagar are important towns and districts head quarters, locate in the terai area. In the midland Dandeldhura, Doti, Bajura and Achham and in north Baitadi, Bhajhang and Darchula. Dhangadhi-Mahendranagar belt is the center of Tharus (Dangaura and Rana). In the east beautiful Rose garden and developed by Khadaga Bahadur Singh at Tikapur and in the west Royal Sanctuary of Suklaphanta are interesting places, besides the famous wild forest and natural lakes of the area. Dhangadhi, Lalpurbani, Chaumala, Hasulia, Bhajni, and Malakheti are important trade centers in the east, Singhpur, located in Rauteli Richhwa village preserves the ruin of palaces of King Singhpal. Ranipokhari the Queen bathing place is located nearby. In the north a drive of 144 km. will lead to beautiful place of Dandeldhura in the west and for Doti one has to walk 4 days on foot from the nearest point on the highway.Dandeldhura is the headquarter of the district at 1890 m. Pokhara, Jogbura and Kesharpur are important places. In Silgrhi Doti, a walk of two days from the main town will lead to Khaptad lekh plateau. This plateau is like a Labyrinth and is open during June to August and provides scenic grandeur. It is at 3048 m. elevation. If proper precaution is not taken, in this natural labrynth where all valleys look alike one can be lost or go astray. Other places of Doti are Jorail, Malikasthan and the airstrip of Dipayal. Jayagad of Achham located in the east preserves the ruins of ancient palaces. Ram roshan has a dozen ponds and Bayalpata in important center. Walking along the Seti river one will reach to Chianpur the main town of Bhajang district, the further north to Salmor valley.Bhajhang is the citadel of Takhuris. The area is also famous for hashish as it grows wildly and densely. Beautiful Surma lake located at 3684 m. is the source of Suligad. Dhankunda and Ragashya lakes are also enchanting. Water fall of Seti River at Dhachaur which is a long walk in wilderness from Dhuli is real scenic grandeur of the far west Nepal.Tate which lies in Bajura is the district headquarter.In the southwest of Bajhag lies Baitadi district and is the main gateway of farwestern Nepal to India. Form Baitadi head quarter, the Chainpur is 96 kms. And Dandeldhura 48 kms. The town of Baitadi liesat 1524 m. Sahi lekh bazaar, adjacent to Baitadi town is also picturesque. The airport is located at Patan i.e. Surnaigad area at a distance of 19 km from Baitadi. Jhulaghat lies in the west and there is hanging bridge on the river Mahakali connects India and Nepal. Temples are found in Devaghat (near Kulekot) Tripura Sundari (at Dhami Village) and Jaganth (Khalanga Village). Darchula lies in the extreme north-west corner. Tinkar is the last village in the Himalayas. Other important villages are Kalapani and UKU. Religious centers are Tapoban, Gokuleshwor temple, Malikarjun and Jaljibi. Tharus of Dang: it is believed that Tharu originally migrated from Thar Desert of Sind and some suspect that they belong to Rajput clan of India. It is said that Rajput women came to Terai part of Nepal for political asylum, when India was terrorized my Muslims. With them some of their followers and local inhabitants started being called Tharus. Tharus from their facial and other features appear to belong Mongal-Kirat. Tharus have 32 casts. Those settled in Dan are called Dangauria, other titles are as follows: Kochila Khar Dangauria Bewat Mahant Rajhatia Lamphuchuwa Katharia Khunha Dangbadia Mardana Morangnia Rana Lalpuria Khausia Chitaunia Batar Mazuria Routar Sunaha Raj
Male wears loose loin cloth (strip) and special half shirt, waist coast have full of button made from old coins. They wear Nepalese Cap. Tharus ladies in Dang wear mostly white dress whereas in other parts they prefer colourful dresses. They make drawing of elephant, horse, parrot, and flower on the wall of the house. Tharus have temple Chauhardharchandi. They celebrate in the months of Chaitra or Bhadra.The Dangaura Tharus carry material on two sides of yoke carried on their shoulders. For long distance carrying they employ horses. They come in herds to Koilabas near Indo Nepal border along with their horses to carry salt and cloth for businessmen of Dang on charge basis. Their charges is on per standard weight i.e. Panseri (five seers 4.5 kg). They usually move in early hours and during the day when it is hot they stay in the shade of a tree for 3 to 4 hours near a stream. Drink their “Jand” beer which they carry in dried cell of long gourd. Walking with them in the herds of horses is interesting. Tharus of Kailali-Kanchanpur: in Kailali district of the Dhangadhi and the east are found Danguria Tharus in many villages whereas in the west i.e. Kanchanpur the Ranas are more dominant. The main village of Rana are Dekhatbhuli, Rajpur, Biyesebichwa and Sankarpur. Dangauria as usual are found of white dress whereas Rana wear mostly colorful dress. Rana lady prefers mostly black dress with red border or ribbon. Rana men folk celebrate Tij whereas in the rest of the Nepal this is women festival. Young boys wear coin necklace and button and waist coat. Unmarried Thaurs girl wear dress which has rear opening and when married they use front opening. They celebrate Hudia, Maghi, Dudhari, Dasian, Tihar, Phagu purnima, Khichari kajari, Tida ect. Tharus have Sakhiya, Mahwal Lathawa and Katgori dances. Raji of Dang-Dailekh: Rajis were nomadic fishing tribe earlier and has their dialect. Now mostly they are settled and live in congested village and shift to new area after 2 to 3 years if land is available. They have Pandali, Naukule, and Purbia altogether three casts. Raute: A mobile nomadic tribe belonging to Mongolian origin are found in the peripheri of Jajarkot and Salyan. The northern limit is 3048 m. hills whereas Piuthan in the east and Dailekh in the west and Churia hill in the south are other geographical limits. Raute look like Tharus. Raute live in group and stay at one place at the most for 15 days, build their temporary huts and eat monkey and wild foods. They make wooden utensil which they exchange with the food stuff from the villagers. Among themselves they speak their own dialect whereas with others only Nepali.
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