| Mahendra Highway | |
|---|---|
| Route information | |
| Length: | 1,050 km (650 mi) |
| Major junctions | |
| From: | Kankarbhitta |
| Tribhuvan Highway at Hetauda Prithvi Highway at Narayanghat Siddhatha Highway at Butwal |
|
| To: | Mahendranagar |
| Location | |
| Primary destinations: |
Itahari, Hetauda, Narayanghat, Butwal, Kohalpur |
| Highway system | |
|
Roads in Nepal |
|
Mahendra Highway (Nepali: महेन्द्र राजमार्ग) also called East West Highway (Nepali: पुर्ब पश्चिम राजमार्ग) runs across the Terai region of Nepal, from Kankarbhitta in the east to Mahendranagar in the west, cutting across the entire width of the country. It is the longest highway in Nepal.[1]
Contents |
Mostly single lane in each direction it scarcely qualifies as a highway as per western understanding. Most of Mahendra Highway is in a reasonable condition, except the stretch between Chisapani and Mahendranagar. It covers the Terai from east to west for 1,000 kilometres (620 mi).[2]
The major destinations along and around the highway are Kakarbhitta, Bhadrapur, Dharan, Janakpur, Narayanghat, Butwal, Siddharthanagar, Nepalgunj, and Mahendranagar.[3] Other towns on Mahendra Highway are - Birtamod, Damak, Inaruwa, Lahan, Bardibas, and Chisapani
There are five official border crossing points between India and Nepal. All are in the Terai region, either on or near Mahendra Highway, the main east-west road through Nepal.[2]
Kankarbhitta, in south-eastern Nepal, is on the Nepal-India border. The wide Mechi River, a tributary of the Mahananda River, forms the border.[4] On the Indian side the road continues through Bagdogra and Siliguri.[2]
From Kankarbhitta the highway runs relatively smoothly for 108 kilometres (67 mi) to Itahari. 20 kilometres (12 mi) west of Kankarbhitta, are the junctions for routes to Ilam at Charali and for Bhadrapur at Birtamod. It crosses innumerable streams on the way – Khadam Nadi, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) east of Itahari, Ratua Nadi near Damak.[2] Itahari is the road junction, with Biratnagar, on the Nepal-India border, to the south and Dharan and Dhankuta to the north.[2]
The Koshi Barrage is 47 kilometres (29 mi) from Itahari. The Mahendra Highway passes over the Kosi Barrage between Bhadaha and Bhantabari.[4]Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is easily accessible from the Mahendra Highway. The reserve office is at Kusaha 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) off the highway.[4]
The Mahendra Highway continues its westward course through the Terai landscape. It crosses the Balan Nadi 43 kilometres (27 mi) before Janakpur junction and another 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) later the Kamla Nadi..[4]
Janakpur, a town with more than a hundred temples is 169 kilometres (105 mi) from Biratnagar and.106 kilometres (66 mi) from Birganj.[2] Janakpur lies 25 kilometres (16 mi) south of the Mahendra Highway. Hindu mythology identifies Janakpur as the capital of the ancient kingdom of Mithila.[4]
At Pathlaiya, Mahendra Highway reaches Tribhuvan Highway between the Indian border at Raxaul/Birganj 30 km to the south. Kathmandu is 253 kilometres (157 mi) (by highway) north of this junction. The two highways join to cross the Siwalik Range to Hetauda in Chitwan Valley. At Hetauda’s Mahendra Chowk the two highways diverge and Mahendra Highway heads west.
At Narayanghat is the much used direct link to Mugling on the Prithvi Highway. It is also the end point of many rafting trips on the Trishuli River, after it joins the Narayani River at Devighat,. The Mahendra Highway runs north of Chitwan National Park . Bharatpur is a continuation of Narayanghat.[2]
Butwal is the junction of the Mahendra Highway with the Siddhartha Highway, with Lumbini, birth-place of Gautama Buddha, Sunauli, on the Nepal-India border, and Siddharthanagar to the south and Tansen and Pokhara to the north. Butwal is on the west bank of Tilottama River in the shadow of the Churia Hills.[2]
West of Butwal the highway turns north to cross the Dudhwa Hills (350m ascent) into Inner-Terai Deukhuri Valley, then crosses the West Rapti River, which is no relation to the East Rapti River of Chitwan. Just beyond the river (291 km from Hetauda) the highway reaches Bhalubang where a spur road continues north into Pyuthan and Rolpa districts. Mahendra Highway heads west again, following the Rapti downstream through Deukhuri. 27 km west of Bhalubang at Lamahi a spur road goes north to Dang Valley, Dang Airport, Tulsipur town. 35 km beyond Lamahi, Rapti Highway departs north for Salyan and Rukum districts. Kohalpur 428 km west of Hetauda is the junction for a highway south 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) to Nepalganj and the border with India and north to Birendranagar in Surkhet. Then the highway passes the Kusum-Ilaka forest, which is being eyed as a potential extension area of Bardia National Park, which lies to the north-west of Nepalganj, on the Nepal-India border. Nepalganj is from Kohalpur.[4]
Mahendra Highway terminates at Mahendranagar but the road link continues across the Mahakali River with a barrage, which forms the Nepal-India border. Banbasa, the first town in Uttarakhand, India is 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) away. Buses connect Banbasa to Bareilly (the nearest BG rail station 2 hr 30 mins), Almora (6 hr), Nainital (7 hr), Haridwar (9 hr) and Delhi (10 hr) .[4].
Major junctions of Mahendra Highway are - [2]
Itahari – with Biratnagar to the south and Dharan and Dhankuta to the north.
Hetauda – junction with the Tribhuvan Highway with Birganj in the south and Kathmandu and Prithvi Highway to the north.
Narayanghat – link to Mugling on the Prithvi Highway
Butwal – junction of Siddhatha Highway (with Sunauli and Lumbini to the south and Tansen and Pokhra to the north
|
|||||