Budhanilkantha: Budhanilkantha is situated about 10 kilometers from the city. An immense status of lord Vishnu reclining on the coils of a serpent is situated at the center of a pond which is in the middle of the temple. A bike ride from Thamel to Budhanilkantha can be an enjoyable experience.

Balaju: A town located below Nagarjun hill about 3 km of the downtown is famous for having sprawling garden of stone water spouts, fish ponds and a replica of the statue of Budhanilkantha. The place offers sightseeing and is the start point for a breath taking mountain bike riding from Balaju to Kakani.

Kirtipur: The Chilamchu stupa, temple of Bagh Baghirav, and artistic houses and temple squares are major sights here. A great view of the Kathmandu valley can be seen from Shiva Parvati temple. Peoples of Kirtipur are known for their skills in building and weaving.

Dakshinkali: The immensely popular temple of the Hindu Goddess, Dakshinkali, the goddess of energy and power is here. This goddess loves animal sacrifices, and she gives energy and power to those who visit her. For Kathmandu people, this region is also among the favorite destinations for picnic.

Godavari: This region has flowers, butterflies and birds of many species. All around the year, the parks and gardens in this region are always in colorful visual delights. Most Nepali film and music video are shot here.

Kakani: Kakani offers skyline views of the Langtang, Gauri Shankar, Ganesh Himal, Manaslu and Himalchuli. The bike ride from Balazu to Kakani is recommended for mountain biker to experience quiet surroundings and awesome snail-tail ride.

Nagarkot: Views of beautiful sunsets, sunrises, layout of the Kathmandu valley, and major himals including the Everest can be seen from here. The place is surrounded by good resorts and lodges. You can extend your stay for an adventure in the outback of Nagarkot.

Shivapuri: Most of the drinking water that comes to Kathmandu comes from this region. The region is situated beneath the high Himalayas. Sighting of wildlife and excellent parks and waterfalls makes it an ideal picnic spot.

Dhulikhel: A nice place to escape from Kathmandu for rest and relaxation. Mountain bikers will appreciate the routes in the region. Excellent resorts and lodges are located in Dhulikhel.

With many multi lingual and multi ethnic groups the population of Birgunj is about three hundred thousand (300,000). There are several languages spoken in the town including Bhojpuri, Nepali, Maithili, Newari, Marwari and Hindi.

Apart from a few tourists who actually go to Birgunj to see the city, the city is simply taken as a stop over place for travelers, businessmen and pilgrims going to other destinations in Nepal. But spending a day or two at Birgunj is recommended, and is worth it to discover another taste of Terai of Nepal!

Birgunj has a railway to Raxaul, so it is connected to many cities in India. It is also connected to Kathmandu by several air flights a day. Air flight from Kathmandu is Simara about 20 minutes. Birgunj is also well connected by road to all cities in Nepal, and the city offers many choices in luxurious to economic accommodations for travelers.

Birgunj Related Websites

- Birgunj Chamber of Commerce – Business and Relevant on the region
- Rotary Club of Birgunj – Information on the Club

Tourists discover Biratnagar on their way to the Himalayan states of India, known as Sikkim and Darjeeling. It also acts as a way for tourists to get entry in to Indian hill stations such as Gangtok and Darjeeling. From there, the mountaineers and hikers proceed for Kanchanjunga, the second highest Himalayan peak. It is also a gateway to the tea estates of Nepal that are confined in the districts of Illam and Dhankuta. Biratnagar has also evolved itself to become the melting pot for the various religions and cultures in the Terai. The place is known for its vibrant culture activities. Its temperature goes up to 39 degree centigrade in summer and it goes down to 8 degree centigrade in winter.

Places to Visit in Biratnagar:

Baraha Chhetra: Baraha Chhetra is the “must visit” site in Biratnagar. You can reach here after an hour’s splendid scenic drive away from central Biratnagar. This Hindu pilgrimage site is situated at the confluence of Koka and Sapta Kosh rivers. It will take a 20 minutes walk to reach to the temple site. The front pedestal of the temple gives magnificent surrounding view of the riverside. The place is very popular among the locals for taking the holy dip. According to Hindu legend, Lord Vishnu came down to earth and sled Hirayankashyapu, an evil demon at this very spot.

Biratnagar Haat Bazaar:

Open Market (Haat Bazaar) takes place every Wednesday in a field east of Biratnagar. Make sure to visit the Haat when you get to this place.

Koshi Tappu:

Among the places worth visiting, Koshi Tappu is your best bet. The place is just 2-hours drive from the heart of the city. This hidden wet wasteland is the heaven for the birdwatchers that runs almost parallel to the Sapta Koshi River in the Terai belt of Saptari and Sunsari districts of eastern Nepal attracting a lot of migratory birds. In fact, it is one of the best wastelands in Asia in terms of number of species of birds they attract. Close to this place is the Kosi barrage. This is the largest barrage in Nepal and a bone of contention with its neighbor, India. The spectacle of thundering Koshi, river finding its way to India, is breathtaking.

Getting to Biratnagar:

Biratnagar is the hub of air routes in eastern Nepal. Biratnagar is linked with Kathmandu by road and air. Fly from Kathmandu to Biratnagar for 40 minutes, or take a bus for about 8 hours.

After British setup the `Gorkha Recruitment Center’ in 1953, this city grew up as a great employment opportunity came for the locals. Two ethnic groups namely Rais and Limbus basically inhabit in Dharan and those constitute the majority of Gorkha Regiment. Sapta Kosi, the second longest river of Nepal, runs near Dharan.

Dharan has a tropical monsoon climate with maximum temperature of 35 to 36 Degree Celsius in April, and minimum of 10 to 12 Degree Celsius in January. Dharan is called “Eton of Nepal” because of the numerous educational institutions that are scattered all around it including B. P. Koirala Institute of Health and Science. The place has over 25 temples and holy sites, making it an important pilgrimage destination for the Hindus.

Places to visit and things to do in Dharan:

Drink Tongba: A special Limbu culture of drinking Tongba is popular in Dharan, which is another name for Limbu’s homemade wine. Fermented millet seeds are put in a wooden or plastic mug which is filled with hot water. One sips through a bamboo straw as more hot water is added which makes Tongba go down easily and has more influence. During winter season, this light drink becomes a craze among the domestic tourists and the westerners

Visit Temples:

Dharan is one of the holy places of Nepal. Pindeshwar, Dantakali, Buddha Subba temple and Pancha Kanyan are the “must visit” because of their distinct architecture styles.

Sightseeing:

Bhedetar – Mountain Views: Bhedetar is located 9 Kilometer away from Dharan. When the sky is clear (especially during Autumn season), one can witness magnificent views of the Himalayan range, and enjoy fresh Himalayan breeze.

Pakhri Bash:

Small hill village which had the British base camp built to Recruit Gurkha Army. Some British monuments can be found here.

Dhankuta/Hile – Tea Gardens and Bazar: From Dharan, about 50 Kilometers of what is the most scenic drive in Nepal takes you to a place where your imagination of greenery gardens are revealed. It is said one should come to Dhankuta, if he wants to walk in the clouds. If you are a tea lover, you will enjoy awesome enchanting tea gardens here, organic tea processing units, and all about tea. Also visit Hile, a hill town situated at 1850 meter altitude, which is just 6 Kilometer from Dhankuta for the Hile Bazaar and gracious people.

Hiking:

Basantapur: This hill is located about 90 KM from Dharan, and about 1 KM from Hile. It is the starting point for trekking to Kanchanjunga base camp. Beyond the hill and forests, beautiful smiling rhododendrons can be seen.

Raja Rani Hill:

Excellent spot to view Kanchenjunga, Khumbakarna, Makalu and Mt. Everest. The hill is located 20 Kilometer from Dharan.

Dharan is linked by road with the east-west highway of Nepal. Dharan can be reached by a two hours drive from Biratnagar also.

The Hetauda city which is one of the cleanest and greenest cities in Nepal is headquarter of Makwanpur district. It is surrounded by hills: the Mahabharata range in the north and the Siwalik range in the south and it has valley like geography.

The rivers Rapti, Samari, and Karra run th rough this area and flow southwest to meet Narayani River. Hetauda is an industrial district. Along with biggest industries like Hetauda Cement Factory it is rich of cottage and medium scale industries.

Places to Visit in Hetauda:

Martyr Memorial Park: Among the popular attractions of Hetauda is the unique Martyr Memorial Park which was constructed to honor the martyrs of Nepal, including the ones who lost their lives since the time of British colonial wars to the ones who overthrew the autocratic Panchayat system in 1989. The Park has become a tourist spot since its completion in 1994. The main attraction of the park is the sculptures of these martyrs that are sculpted on one big boulder.

Makawanpur Gadhi:

Makawanpur Gadhi is another site east of the city, a fort of historic importance dating back to the unification process of Nepal. Prithvi Narayan Shah, the king that led the unification of the country into a greater Nepal, was married to the princess of Makawanpur whose father was a king of the Sen dynasty that ruled Makawanpur. Historians observe that this marriage, in fact, was a political strategy of an alliance with Makawanpur to encircle Kathmandu valley.

Markhu Lake (Indrasarowar): It is a reservoir (cistern) for Kulekhani Hydro Electricity project that produces 92 Megawatt electricity. The reservoir is 7 km long and 100 meters deep. The biggest artificial lake surrounded by high hill by three side and a big man made dam in one side is very suitable for entertainment by boating.

Everest View Tower:

The Everest view tower lies in Daman which is on the way to Hetauda from Kathmandu. The view from this tower is incredibly comprehensive: all the five Annapurna peaks, the impressive form of Himalchuli, Ganesh Himal, the rarely seen Shishapangma (Gosainthan) in Tibet, Langtang, the Jugal Himal, and the many peaks of Khumbu Himal, including an excellent view of Everest.

Besides this, there are piligrimage sites in Hetauda like Punya Kshetra, Bhutan Devi Temple, Churia Mai Temple, Krishna Temple, etc. You can visit Bhemfedi, a historical place which is 22 KM from Hetauda, Fish farm of Hetauda, 4 KM from central Hetauda and observe the natural forests of Makawanpur district.

How to get there?

It is an hour’s drive from the Nepalese border city of Birgunj. It is about 5 hours drive from Kathmandu. The first highway of Nepal, Tribhuvan Highway runs through this city. With so many entry and exit points leading in and out of this town, a visit to Terai region is incomplete without visiting Hetauda.

Chitwan owns Nepal’s old national park that was granted the status of a world heritage site in 1984 which is home to the rare one-horned rhinoceros, the Royal Bengal tiger, and various species of birds and butterflies.

Chitwan - One horn Rhino

The elephant safaris through the jungle befriend the visitors to tigers, rhinos, crocodiles, leopards and more. The other main attractions are Traditional Tharu Culture, River Rafting, Boating etc. Wild roars of tigers, chirping of jungle birds, soothing breeze and the splashing ripples of the river Rapti. Piligrimage sites of Chitwan are Devghat, Bikram Baba, Ganeshthan, Goddhak and other temples.

Places to visit:

Chitwan National Park: Chitwan’s National Park is the main attraction of Chitwan which lies at an altitude of 150m to 815m. It is home for 50 different mammals and 450 species of birds. Chitwan National Park is included in the list of world heritage sites, this protected area has a forest with area of about 932 square kilometers. This park is regarded as the best and most developed national park of Nepal. Elephant Breeding Centre and Crocodile Farm are also there in the park to see. Seven world class resorts run by park concessionaire are located inside the park alone with more options for price and services. One horned rhinos and Bengal tigers are the main two animals that are famous in the park. Spotting them while on a safari will be the joy of a life-time. To spot Bengal tiger, you might have to extend your stay in Chitwan a little longer!

Main activities in Chitwan include jungle safari, bird watching and boat tour. Jungle safari is the most popular one. You will journey into the deep forest riding on elephant back, you will witness the preserved natural assets of Nepal, birds, flora and fauna. World’s one of the most endangered species, Bengal tigers are found abundant in Nepal, many in Chitwan national park. If you are lucky you might see them too. The other major animal you will see is the one-horned rhinos whose famous place to live on earth is none other than Nepal. A walk to nearby villages is also a recommended thing to do. Chitwan is also a place to learn about the Tharu people, their culture and tradition.

How to get there?

Chitwan is easy to reach by road or by air. There are daily flights from Kathmandu to a nearby city Bharatpur, its headquater. A five hours drive can take you to Chitwan from Kathmandu.

Things to see/do here:

Maya Devi Temple: Maya Devi temple is made upon the place where she gave birth to the lord Buddha. It has a stone image of Maya Devi giving birth to Lord Buddha as she holds onto a branch. It has been well worn by the strokes of barren women hoping for fertility.

Pushkarni Pond:

To the south of the temple is a pond, Pushkarni pond, where Queen Maya Devi is said to have bathed and given her son his first purification bath.

Ashoka Pillar:

A large stone pillar erected by the Indian Emperor Ashoka in 249 BC bears an inscription about the birth of the Buddha.

Others: Lumbini has been Buddhist pilgrimages destination. The China temple located in Lumbini is a complex of pagodas, prayer rooms and meditation cells developed by the Buddhist Association of China. There is also Myanmar Temple also known as Lokamani Cula Pagoda which soars into the sky. The International Gautami Nuns temple is also found here which is a replica of the Swayambhu stupa in Kathmandu. Many other temples are currently under construction, these include Japan temple, Sri Lanka temple, and Vietnam temple.

Lumbini Museum, Lumbini International Research Institute, and Kapilvastu Museum (situated 27km west of Lumbini in Tilaurakot) are other places see in this region. The Kapilvastu museum has ruins of ancient capital of Sakya kingdom where the Buddha spent his youth as prince Siddhartha.

How to reach?

Nepal Airlines and other airlines fly regularly to Bhairahawa, near Lumbini, and bus services are available from Pokhara and Kathmandu.

a city in the plains, next to Lumbini – the birth place of Lord Buddha, with its unique bazaar and people. Visit this city to discover a taste of Terai!

Bhairahwa or also known as Sidhartha Nagar is located near the far western border to India. It is about 260 KM west from Kathmandu. Summer and Winter temperatures of the city are 35 to 38, and 10 to 27 respectivelly. City being located near the Border of India and Nepal, it plays an important role in the import and export business.

It is also the gateway to the birth place of Lord Buddha, the Lumbini Zone. The main airport located in this region connects many cities and towns such as Butwal and Tansen which do not have their own airport.

Tourists Attractions in Bhairahawa

Shopping : Being located near the Indian border Sunauli, Bhairawaha provides easy shopping experience to Indian tourists who come here crossing the border located just a few miles from Bhairahawa. For many Indian tourists, Bhairahawa becomes a final stop over for shopping before leaving Nepal after their pilgrimage tours to many destinations in Nepal. Goods made in China are popular shopping items here.

Biking : Ride bike from Butwal to Bhairahawa or from Bhairahwa to Butal for an excellent biking experience of 23 KM with unique oppertunity to see peoples and places upclose in this Terai region of Nepal.

Gateway to Lumbini : Take a bus and head to Lumbini to visit the birth place of Lord Buddha.

Getting to Bhairahawa City

Bhairahawa is linked with Kathmandu by Road and Air. Reach Bhairahwa by a 30 minute flight from Kathmandu for about Rs 2000 or by a 7 to 8 hour long drive for about Rs 300.

Location : A small city of about eight thousand hector square in area, situated on the low-altitude flat-land (Terai) near the border side to India, is a home to eighty thousand Nepalese of different religion, language, ethinicity and identity. Butwal connects Bhairahawa city, Tansen town, and Narayanghat city through different highways. Butwal is only 26KM from the Indian Border and about 22 km from Bhairahawa, and Tansen is about 36 KM away from Butwal.

What makes Butwal? Butwal is known for commerce, industries and agriculture. It has Nepal’s second largest horticulture business, and has more than one thousand industries and business enterprises employing over four thousand people. The Tinahu river waters Butwal’s flat land, and many farmers use under-ground water system for drinking and supplying water to their farms. Many farmers here have embraced integrated farming, and schools and universities in this region continue to grow. Rice, Wheat, Bean, and Beaten Rice are popular agriculture produce. Many of such produce are equally imported from India and sold to major cities such as Kathmandu, Pokhara.

Places to See in Butwal

Birendra Park : Visit weekly open markets (now open on Wednesday and Saturday) that takes place near the Park. During the Butwal Haat (Bazaar), witness the color of grains, seeds, vegetables and kitchen utensils and a crowd of people buying and selling. The park has abundant flowers and greenery garden, and is an ideal place for picnic and a favorite hangout destination for lovers.

Purano Butauli Bazaar : The Tinau river divides the new and old (Purano) bazaar while two suspension bridges, one located at Pulchok and the other located at Haat Bazaar, connect the new and old bazaar. Cross the river to visit Ganesh Mandir, Narayan Temple, Buddhist Monastery, and Padma Chaitya Vihar. The Monastery is busy during Buddha’s Birthday known as `Buddha Jayanti’, during which time, thousands of pilgrimage pouring into the Lumbini region also visit this Monastery.

Manimukunda Park : Visit Akhileshwor Mahadeva temple near the Manimukanda Park, a popular temple for praying and for holding marriage ceremonies. Today in Nepal, temples are favorite spots to get married at as it helps to prevent waste of money on show-off parties and dowry.

Siddhababa Temple : The temple is located 1 Kilometer from Butwal, on the Siddhartha Highway to Tansen and Pokhara. Visit this temple to worship, and also to get an awesome view of the Tinau River.

Nuwakot Hill Top : Climb the Nuwakot Hill Top (890 meter), located at north east of Butwal. Get breathless views of Himalayan range including Macchapuchhre in North and views of the Lumbini and Terai region from Butwal to Bhairahawa.

Getting to Butwal : Fly from Kathmandu to Bhairahawa and then drive from Bhairahawa to Butwal, or drive all the way to Pokhara to Butwal or from Narayanghat to Butwal. Many tourists chose to visit Butwal after visiting Lumbini, the Birth Place of Bouddha. The airfare from Kathmandu to Bhairahawa is about Rs 2000, and a bus ticket from Bhairahawa to Butwal is about Rs 10, and a bus ticket from Kathmandu to Butwal is about Rs 200.

If you want to see a little bit everything Nepal offers, Tanseen is where you might want to go!

About Tansen Town

Tansen is a small ancient hill town situated 4300 meters above sea level. It is located on the way from Pokhara to Lumbini. Major attractions here are the ancient culture, excellent mountain views, serene atmosphere and friendly people. The weather here makes it a pleasant place to visit in any season. On clear days Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu, Gauri Shankar and other peaks can be seen.

Dhaka – the most popular hand woven cloth of Nepal comes from this region. The Nepali topi (national cap) is made of Dhaka and You can see the weavers at work on their looms or see a bazaar of Dhakas in Tanseen.

It is believed that the migrant from Kathmandu valley, specially the Newars played an important role in enriching the architecture and culture of Tansen, and this can be seen today in Tansen.

About the word Palpa : Palpa is a district of Nepal. It is one of the district of the Lumbini Zone. Tansen is the head quarter of Palpa district and hence, many people commonly refer Tansen as Palpa. Butwal, Bhairahawa and Lumbini are other three important cities that are part of the Lumbini Zone.

Places to visit in Tansen

Tansen Bazaar

See here Rana buildings, Newari houses, carved windows and pagoda style temples, also meet folks at shopping in one of the highest and busiest bazaars in Nepal!

Palpa Ranighat

Palpa Ranighat: Visit the ancient building (palace) set on a massive rock bed at the bank of the Kali Gandaki river for viewing palace garden, stone walls, and a small shrine. This palace was built in 1892 by Governor Khadka Shamser in memory of his wife Tej Kumari, and is often called the Taj Mahal of Nepal.

Tansen Durbar / Palace

In the center of the town lies a 64 room Palace, a representation of arts and crafts of the ancient Palpa. On the saddest morning of 31st of January 2006, Nepal’s Maoist Rebels launched attacks in Tansen with no apparent reasons. They fought with local authorities and bombarded many ancient buildings including the Palace which had housed government offices. Many historical buildings including the Tansen palace was destroyed.

Tansen Palace has a good reputation and popularity. In fact, it’s importance falls right after the Singha Durbar of Kathmandu (The place where, Nepal’s most top ministers stay and work inside this secure compound, and also where the Nepal’s Parliament office is located) The Tansen Palace is the heart of Palpa, attracting International as well as Domestic tourists to this beautiful hill. Many buildings which were destroyed by the Maoists are in the process of Historic re-construction, and without a doubt, Nepali Maoists will live forever with sorrows in their hearts for attempting to destroy a part of the beauty and history of Nepal.

Mountains to view from Tansen

Following snow capped mountains can be seen from Tansen and from surrounding areas.

Tanahu

Bhairabsthan

Other Places

Tansen Hotels

How to get to Tansen ?