Kathmandu-Lhasa bus service to start May 2005

vistet · Nov 3rd, 2004, 11:13

Phayul.com reports that an agreement to start a bus service between Kathmandu and Lhasa has been signed. Three classes , with prices from 50 to 90 USD , are to run (?) at unspecified intervals.

vistet · Mar 28th, 2005, 00:59

Phayul names operators and officials speaking of simplified visa procedures in a follow up story

monkgonemad · Apr 4th, 2005, 12:40

does anyone have an update?

monkgonemad · Apr 5th, 2005, 13:22

between the railway due to be finished in 05 (cctv9) and this new trip - yes, tibet is 'finished'. im modifying india plans to get to tibet as #1 priority this coming year.

vistet · Apr 5th, 2005, 15:01

..so maybe I´ll see you there ..

"The Man in Seat 61" said yesterday the train will start in ´06 , according to some international train buff magazine.
("Trial operation" to start July 01, 06 : Xinhua notice March this year)

monkgonemad · Apr 6th, 2005, 17:26

gotta get there before the train.

id sent email off to tibetan agency and nepal embassy in us and a few others BUT! i want to do this via china so to see kashgar and do kkh again. it seems it will be a cheap way to go in but we know the visa will be for tibet and restricted and $$$ and run by han chinese.

monkgonemad · Apr 13th, 2005, 13:19

no real news from the email except - it still looks like a go...

Please be informed the following:

ท Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China have decided to
operate the direct bus services between Kathmandu and Lhasa from May 1,
2005.

ท Sajha Yatayat and Himalaya Limited Corporation for Passenger
Transportation have been designated as operating agencies of Nepal and
theTibet Autonomous Region of China respectively.

ท The Sajha Yatayat and the Himalaya Limited Corporation will
also act as one of the visa facilitating agencies from the Nepali and the
Chinese side respectively.

ท The operating agencies (Sajha Yatayat and Himalaya Limited
Corporation) will also function as each other's operating agents for
ticketing and other.

ท Both sides are now working out to commence the operation of
bus services from the scheduled date.

Thank you,

Royal Nepalese Embassy

vistet · May 1st, 2005, 19:12

Phayul reports that the first buses , from both directions, started off today.

Also mentioned are renewed demands from the J&K goverment for negotiations for a re-opening of the Tibetan border in Ladakh .

BASIL BRUSH · May 28th, 2005, 02:50

So has an IM member actually completed the Kathmandu-Lhasa bus trip yet?

BB

vistet · Aug 14th, 2005, 09:46

Less than ten buses have completed the trip , according to a recent story , talks of simplified visa arrangements (including foreigners) - again.

vistet · Oct 18th, 2005, 13:51

TibetInfoNet reports in thir latest news summary conflicts between the Nepali tour operator and the Chinese authorities :

Quote:

"We assumed that rejection of visa was just a misunderstanding. But, latest development suggests that the Chinese authorities are making attempts to completely ban foreign nationals from entering Tibet by bus"

Quote:

"SY agrees that decisions regarding whether to issue visas to travellers are at the embassy's discretion, but it cannot restrict all the foreigners from travelling on SY without any reason as this goes completely against the terms and conditions of the agreement signed between the two countries", the official said. The agreement signed at the ministerial level between Nepal and China, the official said, clearly states that buses operating from both the sides can ferry both locals as well as foreign tourists. "Sajha will not be able to afford the operation cost and may be forced to terminate the service if the concerned authorities do not allow foreigners to use the bus services operated by SY

vistet · Nov 14th, 2006, 20:04

I´m bumping this thread to see any developments. I did meet the bus last year in November , so it does (did) actually exist .

Seat 61 mentions the bus line in the the Lhasa train context , but the info is based on a year old , rosy coloured Chinese news story :

Quote:

There is a twice-weekly bus service from Lhasa to Kathmandu in Nepal, from where you can take a bus then train to Delhi. The bus departs on Tuesday & Friday mornings from each end, and takes 2 days for the 955 km journey, with an overnight stop at Sigatse. Fare $70 one way. The Nepal-Tibet highway was only completed in 1965, and this new bus service started in 2005 using Korean-built 35-seat luxury buses. The service is run jointly by the Himalaya Passenger Transport Company (Chinese) and Gorkha Travel Company Limited under the state transport company (Sajha Yatayat) name.

vistet · Feb 23rd, 2007, 14:07

In a not so surprising turn of events , I´ll quote this emailed response from Nepal Tourism Board on a thread on TT :

"Dear Sir/madam,
Saaja Bus company was initially operating Bus to Lhasa regularly. But now the bus to Lhasa is not operating regularly due to less passenger load and visa problem.
So i recommend you to find an agency or a tour operator and do it through it.
Bimal Kadel
Assistant Manager-- Information
Public Relation & Publicity Department
Nepal Tourism Board"

vistet · Jan 5th, 2008, 07:36

Kafkaesque update : phayul reports today that a bus left Ktm for Lhasa two days ago ,without it´s paying passngers..

Full story

vistet · Jan 10th, 2008, 21:39

The unending fountain of truth and wisdom , the Chinese Embassy in Ktm, has made an official statement that the bus line will resume operations in January. Another news story says in advance that individual travel will not be possible . Fixed price (before the travel agents enters the scene) USD 70.

Apr 13th, 2005, 13:19	#7
monkgonemad Aimless Drifter, Shiftless Idler, Useless Waster Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: SoEastAsia/AsiaSubCont Posts: 416	bus: nepal-tibet < a msg from royal nepal embassy no real news from the email except - it still looks like a go... Please be informed the following: ท Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China have decided to operate the direct bus services between Kathmandu and Lhasa from May 1, 2005. ท Sajha Yatayat and Himalaya Limited Corporation for Passenger Transportation have been designated as operating agencies of Nepal and theTibet Autonomous Region of China respectively. ท The Sajha Yatayat and the Himalaya Limited Corporation will also act as one of the visa facilitating agencies from the Nepali and the Chinese side respectively. ท The operating agencies (Sajha Yatayat and Himalaya Limited Corporation) will also function as each other's operating agents for ticketing and other. ท Both sides are now working out to commence the operation of bus services from the scheduled date. Thank you, Royal Nepalese Embassy

May 28th, 2005, 02:50	#9
BASIL BRUSH Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: New Delhi Posts: 8	Kathmandu - Lhasa So has an IM member actually completed the Kathmandu-Lhasa bus trip yet? BB

Jan 5th, 2008, 07:36	#14
vistet Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Umeå , Sweden Posts: 1,764	Kafkaesque update : phayul reports today that a bus left Ktm for Lhasa two days ago ,without it´s paying passngers.. Full story __________________ high road to ..

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Nov 3rd, 2004, 11:13	#1
vistet Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Umeå , Sweden Posts: 1,764	Kathmandu-Lhasa bus service to start May 2005 Phayul.com reports that an agreement to start a bus service between Kathmandu and Lhasa has been signed. Three classes , with prices from 50 to 90 USD , are to run (?) at unspecified intervals.

Mar 28th, 2005, 00:59	#2
vistet Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Umeå , Sweden Posts: 1,764	Phayul names operators and officials speaking of simplified visa procedures in a follow up story

Apr 4th, 2005, 12:40	#3
monkgonemad Aimless Drifter, Shiftless Idler, Useless Waster Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: SoEastAsia/AsiaSubCont Posts: 416	does anyone have an update?

Apr 5th, 2005, 13:22	#4
monkgonemad Aimless Drifter, Shiftless Idler, Useless Waster Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: SoEastAsia/AsiaSubCont Posts: 416	between the railway due to be finished in 05 (cctv9) and this new trip - yes, tibet is 'finished'. im modifying india plans to get to tibet as #1 priority this coming year.

Apr 5th, 2005, 15:01	#5
vistet Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Umeå , Sweden Posts: 1,764	..so maybe I´ll see you there .. "The Man in Seat 61" said yesterday the train will start in ´06 , according to some international train buff magazine. ("Trial operation" to start July 01, 06 : Xinhua notice March this year)

Apr 6th, 2005, 17:26	#6
monkgonemad Aimless Drifter, Shiftless Idler, Useless Waster Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: SoEastAsia/AsiaSubCont Posts: 416	gotta get there before the train. id sent email off to tibetan agency and nepal embassy in us and a few others BUT! i want to do this via china so to see kashgar and do kkh again. it seems it will be a cheap way to go in but we know the visa will be for tibet and restricted and $$$ and run by han chinese.

May 1st, 2005, 19:12	#8
vistet Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Umeå , Sweden Posts: 1,764	Phayul reports that the first buses , from both directions, started off today. Also mentioned are renewed demands from the J&K goverment for negotiations for a re-opening of the Tibetan border in Ladakh .

Aug 14th, 2005, 09:46	#10
vistet Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Umeå , Sweden Posts: 1,764	Less than ten buses have completed the trip , according to a recent story , talks of simplified visa arrangements (including foreigners) - again.

Feb 23rd, 2007, 14:07	#13
vistet Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Umeå , Sweden Posts: 1,764	In a not so surprising turn of events , I´ll quote this emailed response from Nepal Tourism Board on a thread on TT : "Dear Sir/madam, Saaja Bus company was initially operating Bus to Lhasa regularly. But now the bus to Lhasa is not operating regularly due to less passenger load and visa problem. So i recommend you to find an agency or a tour operator and do it through it. Bimal Kadel Assistant Manager-- Information Public Relation & Publicity Department Nepal Tourism Board"

Jan 10th, 2008, 21:39	#15
vistet Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Umeå , Sweden Posts: 1,764	The unending fountain of truth and wisdom , the Chinese Embassy in Ktm, has made an official statement that the bus line will resume operations in January. Another news story says in advance that individual travel will not be possible . Fixed price (before the travel agents enters the scene) USD 70.

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