Dhankuta’s ‘Orange City’ dream turns heads with colour and culture

PRASHANT ACHARYA

DHANKUTA (East Nepal), : Inspired by India’s famous ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur -where Maharaja Ram Singh painted buildings pink to honor Queen Victoria’s 1876 visit - villagers in Dhankuta, Eastern Nepal, are transforming their town into a vibrant “Orange City.”

Walk through Dhankuta Municipality in Koshi Province, and you’ll see rows of houses, businesses, and public buildings painted in bright orange. The initiative began in the twin villages of Upper and Lower Kopche, which now appear completely orange and are working to spread the transformation throughout the entire town, creating what residents proudly call the "Orange Valley."

The idea was first proposed by Gobind Rai of Ward No. 5, following a steep decline in local orange production that had disheartened farmers. To revive community spirit and draw attention to their citrus-growing heritage, Rai painted his own house orange at his own expense. His efforts inspired others such as Tulsi Bahadur Shrestha, Ashish Shrestha, and Krishna Prasad Guragainto follow suit.

Ashish Shrestha, who runs a hotel and homestay in Dhankuta, explained the grassroots nature of the movement.

“We were motivated by Jaipur’s success as the Pink City. We thought, why not do something similar to promote our identity—especially after the decline in orange production. But here, no government or organizational support was involved. Everything was funded personally by villagers,” he said.

To gain broader community involvement, the villagers formed a committee named Kopche Jagaran Abhiyan, which is now registered under the municipality. Thanks to their efforts, around 160 houses have already been painted orange, and the transformation continues.

One of the town’s unique features is its traditional architecture: over 80 percent of the houses are more than 100 years old, built from wood and mud without concrete pillars, giving the area a distinct historical charm.

Local journalist Kokila Bhandari, Dhankuta correspondent for the national daily Gorkhapatra, added that the community also celebrates its cultural richness with two annual festivals.

“These events promote traditional games such as the Duna Tapara (leaf bowl) weaving competition, alongside food stalls, displays of indigenous art, cultural exhibitions, dances, and musical performances,” she said. “They’re held during both the Nepali and English New Year.”

As the orange hue spreads across Dhankuta’s hills, so too does a sense of local pride and cultural preservation. What began as a response to economic struggle has grown into a symbol of identity and unity for this Eastern Nepali town.