Hetauda

An industrial city that lies in the middle part of Nepal, is a home to variety of ethnic groups such as Tamang, Gurung, Tharu, Chhretti, Newar, Magar, Chepang, Rai, etc.

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.