BHAIRAHAWA, Feb. 11 -- Pawan Misthan Bhandar is a Bhairahawa landmark. This local sweet shop has established a reputation for itself as the one spot everyone should visit when in the southern city. Its clientele is varied, from rickshaw and tempo drivers to labourers, students, political leaders and businessmen, a testament to its broad appeal. Pawan Misthan Bhandar is where locals and tourists alike gather for a spot of tea and a plateful of its famous pedas.

Over thirty-five years ago, when it first started, this sweet shop was a one-room store, barely more than a hut. Now, its popularity has meant that it has grown to a three-storey building that is part of Bhairahawa's identity.

"Our fathers contributed to this popularity," says Paw...