Chhange Jharana : A wonderful and hidden waterfall in Dhulikhel


Part of Chhage Jharana

Is there a waterfall in 
Dhulikhel? No that many people know of. Read the full blog to know.

Not necessary to say, Dhulikhel is widely accepted touristic place that lies in Kavre district and the beautiful city is about 30 kilometers to the east of Kathmandu valley.

Today, we are going to talk about a waterfall that was not known by many people till now. Locals knew it as they used to block the stream to irrigate their farm and as the saying has it:  'short pilgrimage is the most neglected one', they didn't perceive it that one day it will be a joyful destination for the youths of the district.  

Anekot Village
Farmland of Rabi Village and distant Anekot village

The youngsters of Rabi village and Debitar village are quite enthusiastic to develop it as an internal tourist hub. These two villages were separate village development committee and now they have become first and second ward of Dhulikhel municipality. These two villages contrast in many aspect: the ethnic distribution of Debitar is dominated by Tamang community and Rabi by Brahmin community with surnames Koirala, Chaulagain, Sapkota and Neupane.. The education, social and political interest, health and sanitation, and human development index is all very poor in Debitar. However, with new hope and energy Dhulikhel municipality is planning to improve the situation. Now, a good road has tourched Debitar.

Dhulikhel City as seen from Rabi village
Dhulikhel City as seen from Rabi village

Furthermore, Rabi village, though it is a relatively dry hill, shares its popularity for producing vegetables, milk and livestock meat with Pachkhal valley. Rabi has widespread organic production of tomatoes, cucumber, cauliflower, potatoes, green leaves, cabbages, maize, onions, garlic and beans. This village harbors very old Seti Devi Higher secondary school, and agricultural saving and credit co-operative on the same name. There was Ginette Harrison charity boarding school which now have merged with Seti Devi. The political awareness among the village dwellers is noticeably high; and they mostly rely upon agriculture and jobs and business.  

Kuttal Village as seen from Chapleti
Kuttal village and access road as seen from Chapleti

Rabi village is at about 5 kilometers of distance from Banepa major roundabout. The road is black topped up to Chapleti, a wonderful hill that offers panoramic view of Dhulikhel, Pachkhal, Anekot, Palanchok Bhagawati, Jugal and Gaurishankhar Himalayan ranges. Banepa city dwellers find this hill as a morning and evening walk destination as it takes around one and half hours walk round trip. From Chapleti, the road is gravelled way down to Seti Devi school. The very road joins to Samaj kalyan chowk of Pachkhal and is thus a proposed bypass road to Araniko Highway from Banepa to Pachkhal.

Chapleti on the way to rabi Village
Chapleti

But on the way, we don't go to the right of the road that leads to Tamaghat, we just go straight down. The kutchi road is quite difficult, particularly in rainy season. After two kilometers, there is relatively spacious dead-end of the road where people can park their vehicles. From the place, we have to walk around 15 minutes through ups and downs to reach to the waterfall area. There are many waterfalls and the highest one is about 12 meters. Likewise, there are many accumulated water ponds and the deepest one is about 8-10 meters.

Chhage Jharana
The main Waterfall of Chhange

The waterfall is called Chhange jharana by the locals and is originated from the downward slopes of Nagarkot hill which also forms Sashipani Jharana at Kashi Bhanjyang, a scenic highland to Anekot. Since, the water is mixed with sand particles, it seems turbid but is not a sewerage or filth-filled river unlike others.  

Chhange Jharana
Bathing in Chhange Jharana is a favorite pastime

The stream is called Chhahare Khola as the water is typically voluminous only in the rains. This stream also severs as the bordering landmark for first and second wards of Dhulikhel municipality. The waterfall, nowadays, witnesses, hundreds of internal tourists from Banepa, Panauti, Khadpu, Sanga, Dhulikhel, Pachkhal and neighboring villages and town daily. This place has now been popularized by social media, namely Facebook and YouTube, particularly after the local representatives started visiting and posting photos and posts in the past month of lockdown.

"For the easy accessibility a committee is being made that proposes stone-steps or pebbling to join the motor track to the waterfall," says Mr. Harihar Koirala, a local resident to Rabi village. Another youth activist Mr. Ishowore Banjara is also enthused to participate in the development process of this area that is seemingly thought to be led by municipal authorities quite soon.

Highlights

  • Distance of Banepa from KTM: 26 km
  • Distance of Chhange Jharana from Banepa Char Dobato: 8.5 km
  • Time Taken: 30-35 minutes bike ride and 10-15 minutes walk (from Banepa)
  • Activities you can do: Hiking, Sightseeing, Swimming in pond, bathing in the waterfall, basking in the sun on big rocks
  • Eateries: There is no such commercial eateries, however, you have simple village style tea houses and basic grocery shops in Chapleti and Rabi gau.
  • Transport: Motorbike goes upto parking spot except during heavy rain. Four wheelers only upto Rabi. You must hike 10-15 minutes.

For a detailed travel vlog to Chhange Jharana please visit:

छाँगे झरना || The Hidden Waterfall in Dhulikhel

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