Chatara is located at about 11 kilometers west of Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City in Sunsari District, and it is also connected to Itahari municipality by a well-paved road. Itis one of the most important religious sites in Eastern region of Nepal. It lies on the bank of Koshi river and is regarded as a sacred site for Hindus as there are several Hindu Temples, large statues of Lord Hanuman, Dharamshala and many more other significant monuments and structures. Hindus visit this place for conducting various religious rituals such as bratabandha, sraddha, etc.
Pilgrims visit this place specially during Rishi Panchami, Byas Panchami, Kartik Purnima. It is also known as Chataradham or Prachin Haridwar and was the site of Kumbha Mela (Festival of Religions) in the year 2003 and 2014 AD. During this fair, huge number of people from all over the country gather around this place as bathing in this river is considered holy and sacred. Among the major rituals conducted here during Kumbh Mela is Shahi Snan or Royal Bath. A bath here is said to wash away all of one’s sins and free one from the cycle of re-birth according to Hindu mythology. It is estimated that around 10 million pilgrims from Nepal and India visited this religious assembly that is observed in every 12 years.
Chatara is home to many famous temples such as Radha Krishna Mandir, Hanuman Mandir and Statue, Auliya Baba Dham, Shiva Mandir and many more. This sacred location is accessible by road from Dharan or Itahari. Boating is also possible here, with routes running from Chatara to Simle and Ghurmi. Chatara can also be reached by rafting down the Tammur or Sunkoshi rivers.
-By: Ujjwal Bhetwal for Land Nepal
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