India to Nepal by Road : Experiences from crossing at Kakarbhitta

kshastry · Oct 21st, 2008, 06:03

Hi Lyndy, there are plenty of buses from Siliguri and NJP to Panitanki. You can also hire a taxi if you wish. The buses tend to get crowded during peak hours. And they are not the most super luxurious either. Infact they are tiny tin boxes running up and down.

Hope you'll have a good time in Nepal. Enjoy!

Quote:

Originally Posted by lyndy

Thanks, kshastry, for the excellent information. Much appreciated. We're entering Nepal from Panitanki/Kakarbhitta late Oct 2008. Anyone know the drill getting from Siliguri/NJP (we're travelling from Chennai by train to NJP) to the Nepali border? Is there a public bus from Siliguri? Thanks for any other info.

lyndy · Oct 29th, 2008, 11:41

Hi Folks

No use trying to get to Kathmandu on this route as about 7kms of road is washed away after the monsoon rains. The choices, once your're stuck in Karkarbhitta are:-

36 hr bus trip back through India Cost 1500 NPR's
20 hr bus and boat trip on the normal route with a river crossing in a boat cost 2000 NPR's
OR
a very expensive USD145 flight on Yeti Airlines that comes with, if you're lucky, magic views of the Himalayan range. We paid the money for our Yeti flight and got our money's worth. The weather was perfect! Sometimes one has to grin and bear it! I just could not face another budget journey (read uncomfortable!) after 42 hrs on the train and a cramped jeep ride from Siliguri to Kakarbhitta (50 Indian rupees).

BTW the New Sharma Lodge in Siliguri is a great place to stay 220 rupees. I will place a review when I have time.

All the best

vicki278 · Nov 9th, 2008, 13:07

hi Lyndy, thanks for posting this, just wondering where washout is as might be possible to do just part of this by road. We'll be there in last week Dec, early Jan. Great that you had a good flight! Vicki

squid · Jan 4th, 2009, 16:35

i did the trip from kakarbhitta to kathmandu via nepal on christmas day! worst christmas ever and so worn out ive been sick and stuck in kathmandu under a blanket.

As it was christmas we paid a guy from a local travel agent to take us the whole way to final bus and stop off an an ATM for nrs 2400. It was good, but a total rip off and he kept lying the whole way about times and distances.

We caught a 530am bus from kakarbhitta to lauki (cant remember spelling sorry) real price NRS 180.
Then a boat across the koshi river NRS 100 for tourists plus NRS 50 extra for bags.

We arrived on the other side at 1030am got on a bus and waited till 1.30pm for it to leave for kathmandu. price NRS 920

Arrived in kathmandu at 3.45am and slept on the bus till the sun came up.

If anyone is thinking of doing, it is really much worse than you imagine. You also the township that got washed away is in a bit of a dire state with most of the village living in tents along the side of the road. The river is fast flowing and boats overloaded. A number of boats have capsized and people have drowned ive since found out.

Buses leaving after 1230pm go via india.

You can buy tickets for both from the ticket counters or just show up, there is now problem getting seats!

hope this helps anyone!

Joeh_99 · Apr 22nd, 2009, 22:12

Hi Guys,

Please can you all take alook at my post and really would appeciate your advice.

Darjeeling to Kathmandu 2009 update needed!

shaleen · Jul 31st, 2009, 02:18

hi all. is it a feasible route-

tanakpur-mahindranagar-malakheti-dhabai-chisapani-kohalpur-ameliya-butwal-narayangarh-mugling-benighat-kathmandu-
dhalkebar-gurdham-hanumannagar-belbari-kakarbhita-bagdogra-darjeeling
-by self driven car- is it feasible /allowed
-how much time it will take approximately

http://maps.google.co.in/maps?f=d&so...4,4.916382&z=8

heyjudy · Aug 16th, 2009, 15:51

hello,
I would like to know if someone can help me with the differents border crossing from india to nepal. I am looking for pedestrian border as Sunauli, i was wondering if there are other places to cross for tourists.
thanks

freenote · Aug 16th, 2009, 16:32

walked across the Banbassa /Mahendranagar border crossing in the west of Nepal ,no problem ,the Nepali officials were extremely helpful . The road from there can and is washed out during monsoon so care has to be taken .

PS nearest crossing to Delhi

heyjudy · Aug 18th, 2009, 16:14

by the way about the biometrics, it's interesting because I have an old french passport and i had problem to pass in new biometrics border that were not in an airport (they accepted only new passport with chip)thats incredible, it's like big brother is everywhere..I was asked to renew my dear old passport..

roadjunkie · Sep 25th, 2009, 18:52

This thread has been very informative.I need an update about the road conditions.I have been on the Kakarvitta-Kathmandu highway before but that was way back in early 2007.The road condition then were good enough for so called tourist buses to ply. That was before the roads were damaged and the journey was done over a duration of 14 hours or so.

Please shed some light on this. I have enough time in hand so I could break the journey.Also, I am interested in trying out the highway via Pashupati. TRANSPORTATION????

chickyabroad · Sep 25th, 2009, 21:41

I'd like an update on this too as my friend and I are set to do this crossing in a week or two. Also, I haven't found much information on the type of buses that go from Kakarbhitta to Kathmandu. Are they comfortable enough for the 12 hour journey? We won't have much time in Nepal so we probably won't be able to break the journey anywhere. Thanks!

shinyhappyharriet · Nov 14th, 2009, 23:55

I had the most uncomfortable 19 hour bus ride from karkavitta to kathmandu! It was a cattle truck in every sense of the word, I think we were sharing it with every type of farm animal along with about 100 more humans than you would think physically possible. Rucksacks in the tiny footwell, no leg room, wooden seats, most uneven road surface ever, driving through the day and night... Was one of the most amazing experiences of my life : ) Hanging out of the window in the middle of the night looking up at the stars as I rushed through the Nepalese countryside, the friendliest driver I've ever met who had about 3 flashing shiva statues on the dashboard that also sang... On the road, how I miss it!

freenote · Nov 15th, 2009, 00:47

As above ,love it !! thats the sort of journey that i thrive on , the aches and pains fade away but the memories stay to give you a smile on the rainiest of days

camelgirl · Nov 15th, 2009, 07:10

The absolutely worst, most uncomfortable and exhausting journeys are the one's I can't forget and they never make me want to stop traveling, just the opposite!!!

And they are 98% in India! Crossed different Nepal/India borders quite a few times in both directions. I'll never forget any of those exhausting trips!

shinyhappyharriet · Nov 15th, 2009, 08:39

I know, I'm going back in 2 weeks and just cannot wait. Buses in UK are just so dull. Bring on the discomfort!!

Oct 29th, 2008, 11:41	#17
lyndy Gypsy at heart Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 344	Road washed away between Kakarbhitta and Kathmandu Hi Folks No use trying to get to Kathmandu on this route as about 7kms of road is washed away after the monsoon rains. The choices, once your're stuck in Karkarbhitta are:- 36 hr bus trip back through India Cost 1500 NPR's 20 hr bus and boat trip on the normal route with a river crossing in a boat cost 2000 NPR's OR a very expensive USD145 flight on Yeti Airlines that comes with, if you're lucky, magic views of the Himalayan range. We paid the money for our Yeti flight and got our money's worth. The weather was perfect! Sometimes one has to grin and bear it! I just could not face another budget journey (read uncomfortable!) after 42 hrs on the train and a cramped jeep ride from Siliguri to Kakarbhitta (50 Indian rupees). BTW the New Sharma Lodge in Siliguri is a great place to stay 220 rupees. I will place a review when I have time. All the best

Nov 9th, 2008, 13:07	#18
vicki278 Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 27	Karkabhitta/Kathmandu road washout: where? hi Lyndy, thanks for posting this, just wondering where washout is as might be possible to do just part of this by road. We'll be there in last week Dec, early Jan. Great that you had a good flight! Vicki

Jul 31st, 2009, 02:18	#21
shaleen Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: GHAZIABAD,U.P. Posts: 243	Hi All hi all. is it a feasible route- tanakpur-mahindranagar-malakheti-dhabai-chisapani-kohalpur-ameliya-butwal-narayangarh-mugling-benighat-kathmandu- dhalkebar-gurdham-hanumannagar-belbari-kakarbhita-bagdogra-darjeeling -by self driven car- is it feasible /allowed -how much time it will take approximately http://maps.google.co.in/maps?f=d&so...4,4.916382&z=8 Last edited by shaleen : Jul 31st, 2009 at 02:20. Reason: link

Aug 16th, 2009, 15:51	#22
heyjudy Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: paris Posts: 8	crossing from india to nepal hello, I would like to know if someone can help me with the differents border crossing from india to nepal. I am looking for pedestrian border as Sunauli, i was wondering if there are other places to cross for tourists. thanks

Aug 16th, 2009, 16:32	#23
freenote senior member refused Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: cornwall UK Posts: 1,956	walked across the Banbassa /Mahendranagar border crossing in the west of Nepal ,no problem ,the Nepali officials were extremely helpful . The road from there can and is washed out during monsoon so care has to be taken . PS nearest crossing to Delhi __________________ eyes ,eyes that have seen all , come back to the white chrysanthemum (Basho)

Jan 4th, 2009, 16:35	#19
squid Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: australia Posts: 2	i did the trip from kakarbhitta to kathmandu via nepal on christmas day! worst christmas ever and so worn out ive been sick and stuck in kathmandu under a blanket. As it was christmas we paid a guy from a local travel agent to take us the whole way to final bus and stop off an an ATM for nrs 2400. It was good, but a total rip off and he kept lying the whole way about times and distances. We caught a 530am bus from kakarbhitta to lauki (cant remember spelling sorry) real price NRS 180. Then a boat across the koshi river NRS 100 for tourists plus NRS 50 extra for bags. We arrived on the other side at 1030am got on a bus and waited till 1.30pm for it to leave for kathmandu. price NRS 920 Arrived in kathmandu at 3.45am and slept on the bus till the sun came up. If anyone is thinking of doing, it is really much worse than you imagine. You also the township that got washed away is in a bit of a dire state with most of the village living in tents along the side of the road. The river is fast flowing and boats overloaded. A number of boats have capsized and people have drowned ive since found out. Buses leaving after 1230pm go via india. You can buy tickets for both from the ticket counters or just show up, there is now problem getting seats! hope this helps anyone!

Apr 22nd, 2009, 22:12	#20
Joeh_99 Just do it! Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: London Posts: 13	Hi Guys, Please can you all take alook at my post and really would appeciate your advice. Darjeeling to Kathmandu 2009 update needed!

Aug 18th, 2009, 16:14	#24
heyjudy Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: paris Posts: 8	passport by the way about the biometrics, it's interesting because I have an old french passport and i had problem to pass in new biometrics border that were not in an airport (they accepted only new passport with chip)thats incredible, it's like big brother is everywhere..I was asked to renew my dear old passport..

Sep 25th, 2009, 18:52	#25
roadjunkie Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: india Posts: 9	Update Needed This thread has been very informative.I need an update about the road conditions.I have been on the Kakarvitta-Kathmandu highway before but that was way back in early 2007.The road condition then were good enough for so called tourist buses to ply. That was before the roads were damaged and the journey was done over a duration of 14 hours or so. Please shed some light on this. I have enough time in hand so I could break the journey.Also, I am interested in trying out the highway via Pashupati. TRANSPORTATION???? __________________ They do not know very good Latin, these botanists.!!!

Sep 25th, 2009, 21:41	#26
chickyabroad Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Seoul Posts: 3	I'd like an update on this too as my friend and I are set to do this crossing in a week or two. Also, I haven't found much information on the type of buses that go from Kakarbhitta to Kathmandu. Are they comfortable enough for the 12 hour journey? We won't have much time in Nepal so we probably won't be able to break the journey anywhere. Thanks!

Nov 14th, 2009, 23:55	#27
shinyhappyharriet Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: London Posts: 13	I had the most uncomfortable 19 hour bus ride from karkavitta to kathmandu! It was a cattle truck in every sense of the word, I think we were sharing it with every type of farm animal along with about 100 more humans than you would think physically possible. Rucksacks in the tiny footwell, no leg room, wooden seats, most uneven road surface ever, driving through the day and night... Was one of the most amazing experiences of my life : ) Hanging out of the window in the middle of the night looking up at the stars as I rushed through the Nepalese countryside, the friendliest driver I've ever met who had about 3 flashing shiva statues on the dashboard that also sang... On the road, how I miss it!

Nov 15th, 2009, 00:47	#28
freenote senior member refused Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: cornwall UK Posts: 1,956	As above ,love it !! thats the sort of journey that i thrive on , the aches and pains fade away but the memories stay to give you a smile on the rainiest of days

Nov 15th, 2009, 07:10	#29
camelgirl 10 year Visa okee dokee Join Date: May 2005 Location: Swannanoa NC usa Posts: 2,037	funny about that The absolutely worst, most uncomfortable and exhausting journeys are the one's I can't forget and they never make me want to stop traveling, just the opposite!!! And they are 98% in India! Crossed different Nepal/India borders quite a few times in both directions. I'll never forget any of those exhausting trips! __________________ My selected India photos http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/s...r/7030/cat/500

Nov 15th, 2009, 08:39	#30
shinyhappyharriet Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: London Posts: 13	I know, I'm going back in 2 weeks and just cannot wait. Buses in UK are just so dull. Bring on the discomfort!!

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