Transportation is the means of humans, animal, and goods & services movements from one destination to another. It is the backbone of the country which helps economic growth and globalization. There are different ways like airways, waterways, ropeways, railways, and roadways for transportation.
In Nepal, roadways and airways are only the mode of transportation due to the landscape. There are 15 highways and many more feeder trail. The Airways method is the easiest and fastest method of transportation for long Travel. Airways is not for the common people because it is very expensive.
People prefer roadways which is the cheapest than airways. So, roadways is the primary source for transport in Nepal. Both public vehicles and private vehicles are used for traveling.
Most of the people take a local vehicle for traveling. Because the local vehicles are cheap with the same service with equal charge. Also, they have a specific route so it’ll be easier for people to go from one place to another.
There are many public vehicles like: local bus, minibus, micro, taxi, tempo, etc for transport. Also private vehicles are available in rent.
Some of the places and its transportaion systems are:
Transportation in Kathmandu:
Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal. There are many beautiful places in Kathmandu to visit. You can travel there with the help of public vehicles or rented private vehicles.
Traveling on local vehicles is the best way to feel the pulse of the beautiful city. Public vehicles are available from Ratnapark which departs to a different location in the valley. Local vehicles are allowed to carry passengers at full capacity so most of the vehicles are almost full.
Each of these public vehicles have their specific route. Therefore depending on where you want to go you should choose the vehicle. Private car, mountain bikes, ordinary bicycle are best and cheap for economy tourist for transportation. You can drive where ever you want to go and take a short break if you want.
Kathmandu to Bhaktapur Transportation
Trail from Kathmandu to Bhaktapur is about 1hr 30min by bus. You can take a local or private vehicles to reach there.However, booking the private vehicles costs more.
Local vehicles like Micro, bus, and minibus are available from Ratnapark and also from the main ring road. You can rent a mountain bike or ordinary bicycle to visit there. It is cheap and the best transport for that economy tourist who don’t like to travel in public.
Kathmandu to Patan Transportation:
Getting from Kathmandu to Patan is as easy as travelling to a different other city. Local bus are available at Ratnapark which takes around 45 to 1 hr 10 min to reach.
Also bus, tempo, and micro are available from Kantipath which is the main road outside Thamel. The Lalitpur Yatayat go to Lalitpur bus station at Patan Dhoka and sajha yatayat go to Pulchowk Road in Patan.
Private cars, bicycles are also available which will be easy for you to travel. You can travel directly from Kathmandu to Patan which takes around 40-50 min. The public vehicles are old and rough so its better to take private vehicles.
If you are up to adventure, we can reach there by crossing the Bagmati river. It takes around 1hrs 20min to 1hr 50 min on foot. It is best to go on foot if you have enough time so you can view the trail from Kathmandu to Patan.
Kathmandu to Pokhara Transportation:
Traveling from Kathmandu to Pokhara is the most famous travel route in Nepal. Although the trail is long, bumpy, dusty and windy,the scenic views and wilderness of the route leaves you with an amazing travel experience.
Flying is best to go to Pokhara from Kathmandu. You can book a flight for more comfort, fast though it is expensive. It is scheduled from morning to afternoon till 4 PM. It takes only 30 min to reach Pokhara airport from TIA.
Kathmandu to Pokhara Tourist Bus Timing and Ticket Fare gives explain you detail on price of tourist bus fare from and to Kathmandu.
You can take a local buses through out a day to go to Pokhara from Kathmandu including night. Buses are available from Gongabu New Buspark and from Kalanki Busstop every hour.
Cost of local bus is slightly less than of tourist bus. It takes about 8-10 hours. If you want comfortable and safe travel then you can take tourist bus from Sorhakhutte near Thamel which leave at 7 AM.
These are cost-effective for traveling from Kathmandu to Pokhara because the bus is air-conditioned, comfortable seats, and more facilities.
Alternatively, One can take a rental vehicle for the journey from Kathmandu to Pokhara. It will be easier for you to travel and take a small break where ever you wish for. It may not be fast because you can stop where ever you wish and enjoy the view.
Kathmandu to Chitwan Transportation:
Trails from Kathmandu to Chitwan is going through hills to the plains. We can view farming villages, hills covered with forest and Trisuli valley while traveling.
There is various airway like Yeti Airways, Buddha Airways, Simrik Airways that operates a direct flight from Kathmandu to Bharatpur every day. Daily 6 flights are run and scheduled from morning to afternoon. It takes 15-20 min duration from TIA to Chitwan airport. It is the most popular domestic flight.
Virtue of scenic drive, it is better to take a drive by bus which takes 5 hours. Tourist bus are best for Traveling. They are safe, comfortable, air conditioned and clean. They stop a couple of time for short break (meal and toilet).
They are available at Sorhakhutte near Thamel which leaves at 7 AM. Local buses are another way to get from Kathmandu to Chitwan which are available from early morning to afternoon till 4 PM.
It takes about 6-7 hrs to travel. It is not much safe, comfortable, and clean as a tourist bus. You can also take rented vehicles to travel from Kathmandu to Chitwan. It is not faster than buses though it is comfortable with air-conditioned and you can stop when you wish.
Transportation from Kathmandu to Lumbini:
Lumbini is the birth place of Buddha located at western Terai, close to boarder of India. Kathmandu to Lumbini is also one of the choosen travel route. There is daily flight runned from Kathmandu to Lumbini.
It is easy and comfortable to take a flight which takes only 35 min. It is scheduled from morning to afternoon. At Lumbini, there is no airport but a nearby city called Bairahawa does. You can get a taxi from the airport which will be easily available.
Tourist bus are available for going to Lumbini which is available at Gongabu Bus Park which is 10 min away from Thamel. They stop the bus time to time for small break for meal and toilet. It is air conditioned, safe and comfortable for long trail. It takes around 9-10 hrs.
Travel from Kathmandu to Lumbini will be easy if you travel by private vehicle. It is more costly but you will get full comfort while traveling. It is not much faster than buses but they are air-conditioned, safe and you have the ability to stop where and when you want.
Local buses are also available from Kalanki bus station at any time. But it is not air-conditioned, no comfortable and not even safe as a tourist bus. You may feel difficult on the way. It takes around 10-11 hrs to reach Kathmandu to Bhairahawa then you can take a taxi to go to the hotel.
Kathmandu to Nagarkot:
Nagarkot is known as the most popular hiking route. It is famous for a sunrise view of the Himalays. We can see many himalayan peak and even Kathmandu valley from Nagarkot. Both private and public vehicles are used to get there.
The bus is available from Ratnapark at 2 PM which takes about 2hrs 30 min to reach there. You will enjoy the night view of Nagarkot and in the morning you will see an amazing sunrise view. The local vehicle return from there at 9 AM.
Private vehicles like jeep, big van for groups of people will be easy. Most of the rental company don’t provide self driving. Traveling by private vehicle, it takes around 1hrs 30min from Kathmandu. The private vehicle cost 35$-40$.
Kathmandu to Everest Base Camp:
Located at an elevation of 5364 there are no direct roadways to reach Everest Base Camp from Kathmandu. However, taking the flight from Kathmandu to Lukla you can start your EBC trek from there.
The flight from Kathmandu to Lukla leaves every day in the clear weather. If you want to avoid the scenic Lukla flight, then you can take the long bus or jeep drive from Kathmandu to Jiri, Phaplu or Salleri.
Upon reaching any of these places you can join the classic Everest Base Camp trek route to reach Lukla. Starting the trek from Jiri demands more trekking days in
comparision to Phaplu or Salleri.
You can hire private rental vehicles from Kathmandu to Jiri, Phaplu or Salleri and start your trek from there to EBC. The private vehicles are safe, comfortable and air-conditioned.
It will be easy for you if you travel by private vehicle though it is expensive. Also, local buses like minibus or micro are available to go to Phaplu. They drive from Chabahil which leaves early morning.
You have to book the seat earlier. If you are around Thamel you can take a taxi to reach Chabahil. The minibus or micro may or may not be air conditional.
Kathmandu to Delhi:
India is the neighboring country which is the largest trade partner and also a source of foreign investments. The transportation facilities are by airways or by local bus.
Airways is the easiest way to travel to Delhi from Kathmandu. Around 6 flights are run while 4 of them are direct and 2 are connecting flights. The Kathmandu to Delhi flight takes 1hr 55min duration. The traveling route is non-stop.
Alternatively, You can travel Delhi by Local bus via online launched by India. The Kathmandu-Delhi service is a daily service but is not available at all places. The local bus is available at Swayambhu Nath only which leaves at 10 AM. The distance between these two cities is 1250km and it takes about 30hrs to reach Delhi.
The bus travels to Kalanki, Muglin, Sunauli border, Gorakhpur, Faizabad, Lucknow, Agra Bypass, Great Naida and finally Delhi. Note: There are no facilities for private vehicle services from Kathmandu to Delhi.
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