From Mechi to Mahakali

Plan a trip

Ready-made routes across the plains, plus hours, fees, time needed, best season and how to get there for every place.

Trip plans

3 days

The Buddha's homeland

Fly into Bhairahawa. Day 1: Lumbini's Sacred Garden at dawn, the Monastic Zone by bicycle. Day 2: west to Tilaurakot, Kudan, the Ashoka pillars and Jagdishpur's birds. Day 3: east to Devdaha and Ramgram.

3 days

Mithila: temples, ponds and paintings

Base yourself in Janakpur. Evening aarti at the Janaki Mandir, a ride on the railway, Dhanushadham and Jaleshwar by jeep, then east along the highway to Lahan, Rajbiraj and Sakhada.

4 days

The far east: tea, temples and the Koshi

Start at Kakarbhitta or Bhadrapur. Tea gardens and Arjundhara, the ruins of Kichakbadh and the old lowest point, then west through Biratnagar and Betana to Dharan, Barahakshetra and the birds of Koshi Tappu.

2 days

Birgunj and the lost capital

A short trip for history lovers: Birgunj's bazaars and food, the ruins and temples of Simraungadh, the Gadhimai temple, and a guided visit to the forests of Parsa National Park.

3 days

Chitwan and the valley forts

Two days of safaris, canoe trips and Tharu villages around Sauraha, a morning at Bishazari Tal, then Devghat and Maula Kalika. Return to Kathmandu via Makwanpurgadhi or the BP Highway past Sindhuligadhi.

6 days

The wild west: tigers, lakes and grasslands

Fly to Nepalgunj. Three days tracking tigers in Bardiya, lunch on river fish at Chisapani, then west past Tikapur and Ghodaghodi Tal to the swamp deer of Shuklaphanta. Fly out from Dhangadhi.

Before you go

Best season: October to March. April–June is very hot (40 °C and more); June–September brings monsoon floods and limits park safaris. Late December–January can be foggy and cold.
Getting around: The East–West (Mahendra) Highway links almost every place here. Domestic airports: Bhadrapur, Biratnagar, Rajbiraj, Janakpur, Simara, Bharatpur, Bhairahawa (international), Nepalgunj and Dhangadhi.
Border crossings: Main crossings to India: Kakarbhitta, Biratnagar (Rani), Birgunj, Belahiya (Bhairahawa), Nepalgunj (Jamunaha), Dhangadhi (Gauriphanta) and Gaddachauki (Mahendranagar). Visitors other than Nepali and Indian citizens should use official immigration points.
Health & safety: Use mosquito repellent (dengue season is monsoon to autumn), drink plenty of water in the heat, and never walk inside a national park without a licensed guide — rhinos, elephants and sloth bears are dangerous.

Every place at a glance

Hours, fees and roads change, and park permits differ for Nepali, SAARC and other visitors. Figures here are approximate — confirm locally before you go.

Kakarbhitta & the Mechi bridge

Opening hours: Border and bazaar busy all day; immigration keeps office hours
Entry fee: Free to visit
Time needed: 1–2 hours, or an overnight stop
Best time: October–March; the tea gardens nearby are greenest after the monsoon
Getting there: Direct buses from Kathmandu (about 12–14 hours); taxis and buses from Bhadrapur airport and Birtamod

Tea gardens of Jhapa

Opening hours: Daylight; estates are working farms, so ask at the gate before walking in
Entry fee: Usually free; factory visits by permission
Time needed: 1–3 hours
Best time: April–May and September–October for fresh leaf and pickers in the rows
Getting there: By bike, taxi or local bus from Birtamod, Damak or Kakarbhitta

Arjundhara Dham

Opening hours: Early morning to evening
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 1–2 hours
Best time: Shivaratri for the festival crowd; any winter morning for calm
Getting there: About 20 minutes by road from Birtamod

Kichakbadh

Opening hours: Open site, daylight
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: About 1 hour
Best time: October–March
Getting there: Short drive from Bhadrapur; ask locally for the excavation site

Kechana Kawal

Opening hours: Open fields, daylight
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 30 minutes at the marker, plus the drive
Best time: November–February, dry roads and clear skies
Getting there: By road south from Birtamod or Bhadrapur via village roads; ask locals for the 'lowest point' pillar

Biratnagar

Opening hours: City — any time
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: Half a day to a full day
Best time: October–March; Chhath in autumn is spectacular here
Getting there: Flights from Kathmandu (about 40 minutes); buses via Itahari on the East–West Highway

Betana Wetland

Opening hours: Daylight
Entry fee: Small entry and boating fees
Time needed: 1–2 hours
Best time: November–March for birds
Getting there: Right on the highway between Itahari and Birtamod; any east–west bus stops at Belbari

Dharan

Opening hours: Temples from early morning; city any time
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: One full day
Best time: October–April
Getting there: About 30 minutes north of Itahari; buses from Kathmandu and Biratnagar

Barahakshetra

Opening hours: Dawn to evening
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: Half a day including the journey
Best time: Kartik Purnima (Nov) and Makar Sankranti (Jan) for festivals; October–March otherwise
Getting there: By road from Dharan or Itahari via Chatara; the last stretch follows the Koshi

Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve

Opening hours: Daylight; birding is best at dawn
Entry fee: Reserve permit required — rates differ for Nepali, SAARC and foreign visitors
Time needed: 1–2 days
Best time: November–March, when migratory waterbirds arrive
Getting there: Turn off the East–West Highway near Jamuna/Kusaha (Sunsari side); lodges arrange pick-ups from Biratnagar or Itahari

Koshi Barrage

Opening hours: Always open (road crossing)
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 30 minutes to 1 hour
Best time: Sunset, November–March
Getting there: On the East–West Highway between Itahari and Lahan; photography of the structure may be restricted — follow guards' instructions

Rajbiraj

Opening hours: Town — any time
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: Half a day
Best time: Chhath (Oct–Nov) and Holi (Mar) for festivals; October–March for weather
Getting there: Flights from Kathmandu; by road about 30 minutes south of the East–West Highway at Kanchanpur/Pato

Chhinnamasta Bhagawati, Sakhada

Opening hours: Early morning to evening
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 1 hour
Best time: Dashain for the fair; winter mornings for calm
Getting there: About 30 minutes by road from Rajbiraj

Salhesh Phulbari

Opening hours: Daylight
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 1 hour (half a day on fair day)
Best time: The eve and morning of Baisakh 1 (around 13–14 April)
Getting there: In Lahan, on the East–West Highway; buses from Kathmandu, Janakpur and Itahari

Janaki Mandir, Janakpur

Opening hours: Early morning to night; the sanctum may close briefly around midday. Evening aarti and lighting are the highlight
Entry fee: Free to enter the temple; small fee for the museum and some ponds' boating
Time needed: Half a day for the temple and old town; 2 days for Janakpur and around
Best time: Vivah Panchami (Nov–Dec), Chhath (Oct–Nov), or any evening October–March
Getting there: Flights from Kathmandu (about 25 minutes); buses via Dhalkebar on the East–West Highway; train from Jaynagar (India)

Janakpur–Jaynagar railway

Opening hours: A few trains a day — check the current timetable at the station
Entry fee: Cheap tickets; AC and general class
Time needed: A round trip takes half a day
Best time: Year-round; October–March is most comfortable
Getting there: Janakpurdham station is in Janakpur city. Non-Indian foreigners should check cross-border rules before riding into India

Dhanushadham

Opening hours: Early morning to evening
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: Half a day from Janakpur
Best time: October–March; big fairs on festival days
Getting there: By bus, jeep or taxi from Janakpur

Jaleshwar Mahadev

Opening hours: Early morning to evening
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 1 hour
Best time: Shivaratri for the festival; October–March for weather
Getting there: About an hour by road from Janakpur

Simraungadh

Opening hours: Temples early morning to evening; ruins are open ground
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: Half a day
Best time: November–February
Getting there: By jeep or taxi from Birgunj or Kalaiya; a local guide helps find the scattered ruins

Gadhimai Temple, Bariyarpur

Opening hours: Early morning to evening
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 1–2 hours outside mela years
Best time: Between melas for a calm visit
Getting there: By road from Kalaiya or Birgunj

Birgunj

Opening hours: City — any time
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: Half a day; base for Parsa NP and Simraungadh
Best time: October–March; Chhath and Holi are spectacular
Getting there: Flights to Simara, then taxi; buses from Kathmandu via Hetauda

Parsa National Park

Opening hours: Daylight, with park permission
Entry fee: Park permit — rates differ for Nepali, SAARC and foreign visitors
Time needed: 1–2 days
Best time: October–April
Getting there: Park HQ near the Hetauda–Birgunj road (Aadhabhar area); limited tourist facilities — arrange a guide in advance

Chitwan National Park

Opening hours: Activities from dawn to dusk; entering the core area needs a permit and a licensed guide
Entry fee: Park permit per day — rates differ for Nepali, SAARC and foreign visitors; activities (jeep, canoe, walk) cost extra
Time needed: 2–3 days
Best time: October–March for comfort; February–April after grass-cutting for sightings. June–September is monsoon
Getting there: Tourist buses from Kathmandu or Pokhara to Sauraha (5–7 hours); flights to Bharatpur, then about 30 minutes by road

Sauraha & the Tharu villages of Chitwan

Opening hours: Village walks by day; cultural shows in the evening
Entry fee: Villages free; small fee for cultural shows and museums
Time needed: Half a day, or a night in a homestay
Best time: Maghi (mid-January), the Tharu New Year; October–March generally
Getting there: Walk or cycle from Sauraha; homestays at Barauli and Amaltari book through local committees

Bishazari Tal

Opening hours: Daylight
Entry fee: Buffer-zone entry fee
Time needed: 2–4 hours
Best time: November–March, early morning
Getting there: About 15–20 minutes from Bharatpur; go with a local guide

Devghat Dham

Opening hours: Dawn to dusk
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 2–3 hours
Best time: Maghe Sankranti for the mela; any calm winter morning
Getting there: Short drive or local bus from Narayangadh / Bharatpur

Maula Kalika, Gaindakot

Opening hours: Temple from early morning; cable car in daytime hours
Entry fee: Temple free; cable car ticket
Time needed: 2–3 hours
Best time: Clear winter mornings; Dashain and Chaite Dashain for festival crowds
Getting there: Gaindakot is across the Narayani bridge from Narayangadh

Makwanpurgadhi

Opening hours: Daylight
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: Half a day from Hetauda
Best time: October–April
Getting there: By road from Hetauda, then a short walk up to the fort

Sindhuligadhi

Opening hours: Museum in daytime office hours; site open
Entry fee: Small museum fee
Time needed: 1–2 hours
Best time: October–April; Sindhuli's oranges ripen in November–December
Getting there: On the BP Highway between Bardibas and Kathmandu, above Sindhulimadhi

Chepang Hill Trail

Opening hours: Multi-day trek
Entry fee: Homestay and guide fees
Time needed: 3–5 days
Best time: October–November and February–April (rhododendrons in spring)
Getting there: Trailheads on the Prithvi Highway (Hugdi area) and in northern Chitwan; hire a local guide

Lumbini — the Sacred Garden

Opening hours: Sacred Garden roughly sunrise to sunset
Entry fee: Ticket for the Maya Devi Temple area; rates differ for Nepali, SAARC and foreign visitors
Time needed: One full day with the Monastic Zone; two days with Tilaurakot and Ramgram
Best time: October–March; Buddha Jayanti (April–May full moon) for the celebrations
Getting there: Fly to Bhairahawa, then about 30 minutes by road; buses from Kathmandu and Pokhara via Butwal

Lumbini Monastic Zone & Peace Pagoda

Opening hours: Most monasteries open daytime, some close at midday
Entry fee: Monasteries generally free
Time needed: Half a day to a full day
Best time: Mornings, October–March
Getting there: Walk, cycle or take an e-rickshaw north from the Sacred Garden

Devdaha

Opening hours: Daylight
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: Half a day
Best time: October–March
Getting there: About 30 minutes east of Butwal off the East–West Highway; a local guide helps link the sites

Ramgram Stupa

Opening hours: Daylight
Entry fee: Free or a small fee
Time needed: 1 hour at the site
Best time: October–March; Buddha Jayanti
Getting there: By road from Bhairahawa or Lumbini via Parasi

Tilaurakot (ancient Kapilavastu)

Opening hours: Daylight; museum in office hours
Entry fee: Small entry fee; rates differ by nationality
Time needed: 2–3 hours; a full day with Kudan, Gotihawa and Niglihawa
Best time: October–March, early morning
Getting there: By road from Lumbini or Bhairahawa via Taulihawa

Kudan

Opening hours: Daylight
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 30–60 minutes
Best time: October–March
Getting there: By road from Taulihawa; easy to combine with Tilaurakot and Gotihawa

Gotihawa & Niglihawa Ashoka pillars

Opening hours: Daylight
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 2–3 hours for both
Best time: October–March
Getting there: Village roads from Taulihawa; hire a local driver who knows the sites

Jagdishpur Reservoir

Opening hours: Daylight; best at dawn
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 1–2 hours
Best time: December–February
Getting there: A few km north of Taulihawa, near Tilaurakot

Chaughera Ratannath Monastery

Opening hours: Early morning to evening
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 1 hour
Best time: October–March; Maghi for Tharu festivities in Dang
Getting there: In Ghorahi sub-metropolis, Dang; reach Dang via Lamahi on the East–West Highway

Nepalgunj & Bageshwari Temple

Opening hours: Temple early morning to evening; bazaar all day
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: Half a day; often a stopover
Best time: October–February (April–June can pass 40 °C)
Getting there: Flights from Kathmandu; buses via Kohalpur on the East–West Highway

Bardiya National Park

Opening hours: Dawn to dusk with licensed guides; permit required
Entry fee: Park permit — rates differ for Nepali, SAARC and foreign visitors; guides and jeeps extra
Time needed: 3–4 days for a good chance of tigers
Best time: February–May, when grass is low and animals come to water; October–November also good
Getting there: Fly to Nepalgunj, then about 2 hours by road to Thakurdwara; long-distance buses stop at Ambassa

Karnali river at Chisapani

Opening hours: Always open
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 1 hour (lunch stop)
Best time: October–April
Getting there: On the East–West Highway between Kohalpur and Attariya

Tikapur Park

Opening hours: Daytime
Entry fee: Small entry fee
Time needed: 2–3 hours
Best time: November–March; spring flowers in February–March
Getting there: Tikapur is south of the East–West Highway, reached from Lamki or Chisapani side

Ghodaghodi Tal

Opening hours: Daylight
Entry fee: Free or a small fee; boating extra
Time needed: 1–3 hours
Best time: November–March for birds; lotus bloom in late summer
Getting there: On the East–West Highway at Sukhad, between Attariya and Lamki

Shuklaphanta National Park

Opening hours: Dawn to dusk with permit
Entry fee: Park permit — rates differ for Nepali, SAARC and foreign visitors
Time needed: 1–2 days
Best time: February–April after grass-burning, and October–November
Getting there: From Mahendranagar (Bhimdatta); fly to Dhangadhi then about 1.5–2 hours by road