Nepalganj
Pop:
50,000 Area Code 081
Nepalganj is a border town in which foreign tourist can cross the
border. It is the type of town that most people will want to leave
rather quickly. Nepalganj is the transport hub for western Nepal.
It is convenient to cross the border here for central Uttar Pradesh.
Lucknow is six hours south by bus from the Indian border town of Rupaidia.
The border crossing is at Jamunaha, 5km south of Birendra Chowk.
Travelers may pass through here on the way to western
Nepal, Royal Bardia National Park, or to Jumla.
The Bageshwari Mandir dedicated to
Kali is in the center of town. Next to it is a tank with a statue
of Lord Siva in the middle of it.
Orientation
In the middle of town is Birendra Chowk. It has a statue. From Birendra
Chowk, the airport is 6km north. Around 1km north of Birendra Chowk
there is a place where the local buses stop, near a T intersection.
You turn right and the long-distance bus stand is about 500m down
the road. Most of the hotels are on the main highway.
The old part of the city is east of the main road near
Tribhuvan Chowk. Nepalganj is around 6km from the border of India.
The main highway is to the west of the main area of town.
Information
The immigration and customs offices on the border are usually open
from 8 am to 5 pm. They may be closed for lunch between 11 am to 1
pm.
You can exchange money at the Nepal Rastra Bank at Birendra
Chowk (Sunday to Thursday, 10 am to 2 pm, Friday, 10 am to noon).
There is an exchange place at the Mankamana Guest House.
Where to Stay
The budget places are mainly near Birendra Chowk, the main intersection
of town.
New Hotel Punjabi (20818) is one of the best budget places. It has
big, comfortable, clean rooms with common bath for Rs 125/175 and
Rs 300/400 with air-coolers, bath and hot water. It has an Indian
restaurant that is the best restaurant in town.
Pahuna Ghar Guest House (22358) has clean rooms for Rs 150/200 and
Rs 350/450 with hot water and air-coolers.
Mankamana Guest House is a decent place with rooms with bath for Rs
175.
New Bheri Hotel (20213; fax 21618), near the hospital, is a good,
quiet place with a nice garden, has clean rooms with bath for $10/12
and $18/22 with A/C. You can often get a 50% discount. It is a good
value and recommended.
Star Lodge (22257), on Garwhari Tole, between Birendra Chowk and the
old section of town, has basic rooms with common bath for Rs 110/150
and Rs 160/225 with bath.
Hotel Sneha (20119; fax: same), south of town near the Indian border,
has big, clean, comfortable rooms for $20/28 and a deluxe rooms with
A/C is $35/40. The rooms are built around a courtyard and the place
is quiet. You can camp here with your own equipment for $5 per person.
Hotel Batika (21360; fax 22318), close by, has comfortable rooms for
$50/55. It is not a good value. It has a small pool.
The New Punjabi Hotel, Hotel Batika and Hotel Sneha all have good
restaurants.
Local Travel
To the India border by bike-rickshaw is Rs 35. There are shared tempos
to the airport for Rs 7 and the whole tempo is Rs 60. A bike-rickshaw
to the airport is Rs 50 and takes a half hour.
Travel
Air The airport is 6km north of town. Nepalganj is
the hub for flights to western Nepal. Flights can often be booked
at your hotel or at travel agencies. There are RNAC (20239) flights
to Kathmandu (daily, $99), Surkhet (daily, $33), Jumla (daily, $60),
Dhangadhi (weekly, $60) and Simikot ($88, 4 weekly). Lumbini Airlines
(23360; in Kathmandu: 221-523) has flights to Kathmandu (2 weekly,
$99), Surkhet (two weekly, $33), Jumla (weekly, $60) and Simikot (weekly
$88).
Buddha Air (20745) and Necon Air (20307) has daily flights to Kathmandu
($99)
Bus and Jeep The bus station is inconveniently
located at the extreme north side of the city. You may want to buy
an onward ticket, when you arrive to avoid a trip here to purchase
a ticket.
The government Sajha Yatayat has two daily buses to Kathmandu (14
hr) one in the morning for Rs 235 and one at night for Rs 290. These
buses you be booked early the day before you want to travel to get
a seat.
Private buses depart to Pokhara (12 hr, 4 to 6 pm, Rs 290) going via
Mugling (Rs 260) and Tansen. There are buses to Narayanghat for Rs
180 during the day and Rs 225 at night.
The bus to Mahendranagar departs at 7 am (10 hr, Rs 210). It is best
to book this bus one day in advance.
Jeeps can be arranged through your hotel or they can be gotten from
where they stay on the main road southwest of BP Chowk. A basic older
jeep costs around Rs 1700 per day plus fuel. Newer
