Temple, monastery or heritage site
Chaudandigadhi
The hill seat of the old Chaudandi kingdom in Udayapur, remembered for the Sen rulers of eastern Nepal and the Gorkha conquest.
गाईघाट
Gaighat
The headquarters of Udayapur district, a growing bazaar in the inner Terai valley of the Triyuga river.
- Altitude
- -*
- Best months
- Oct-Mar
- Type
- Town or village
- District
- Udayapur, Koshi
- Permit
- None needed
Why go
Gaighat is the headquarters of Udayapur district in Koshi Province and the main town of Triyuga Municipality. It lies in the broad inner Terai valley of the Triyuga river, between the low Siwalik hills to the south and the higher Mahabharat range to the north. The town is a busy market and service centre, with a long main road of shops and offices, and farmland and forest stretching away across the valley floor.
Gaighat is not a tourist town, but it makes a useful base for exploring Udayapur, a district that sees few outside visitors. From here roads lead north into the hills towards Katari and Okhaldhunga, and short trips reach the old fort area of Chaudandigadhi, the lake and temple at Rauta Pokhari, and, further afield, the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, which extends into the district's southern edge.
The valley setting is pleasant in the cooler months, with forested hills on both sides and the Triyuga river flowing through. Visitors interested in everyday life in the eastern inner Terai will find a lively bazaar and welcoming people.
History and culture
The Triyuga valley was long covered in dense forest, with malaria discouraging large-scale settlement, and the inner Terai of Udayapur was home mainly to communities such as the Tharu, Danuwar and Majhi, as well as Magar, Rai and other hill peoples on the surrounding slopes. After malaria control in the mid-20th century, settlers from the hills moved into the valley, and Gaighat grew from a small crossing point into the district's main town.
Udayapur has a longer history as part of the eastern kingdoms ruled by branches of the Sen dynasty before the Gorkha expansion of the 1770s, a period remembered in the names of places such as Udayapurgadhi and Chaudandigadhi. Today the valley is a mix of communities and languages, and Hindu festivals, Kirat traditions and Tharu celebrations all form part of the local calendar.
Things to do in Gaighat
Bazaar walk
Explore the main market in the morning, when traders and farmers from the valley come to town.
River and valley
Walk out to the Triyuga river and the farmland around town in the early morning or late afternoon.
Day trips
Use Gaighat as a base for trips to Chaudandigadhi, Rauta Pokhari and the northern edge of Koshi Tappu.
Weather and the best time to visit Gaighat
Weather in Gaighat
Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Best time to visit
Oct-Mar
- Good month: Jan
- Good month: Feb
- Good month: Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Good month: Oct
- Good month: Nov
- Good month: Dec
- Autumn (Sep-Nov)
- October and November are pleasant and dry after the monsoon.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- December to February is cool and dry; mornings can be foggy in the valley.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- March is warm; April and May become hot and humid.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- June to September is hot and wet, with flooding on rivers and landslides on hill roads.
Where to stay
HotelsGuesthouses
Several simple hotels and guesthouses in the bazaar serving traders and officials.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
Gaighat is reached by road from the East-West Highway to the south, or from the hill roads to the north; the nearest major airport is Biratnagar.
Nearest hub: Biratnagar
- roadBuses run from Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Itahari and other eastern towns to Gaighat; the final section crosses the Siwalik hills from the East-West Highway.
- flightFly from Kathmandu to Biratnagar and continue by road.
Permits and fees
None needed
No permit is needed to visit Gaighat.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-08 against Udayapur District, Wikipedia.
Risks and conditions
Seasonal risks around Gaighat
What this place is typically exposed to, and when. These are seasonal patterns, not a report on conditions now.
Floodingmoderate in a typical yearJun-Sep
Rivers in the Triyuga valley rise quickly in the monsoon and can flood roads and low-lying areas.
Heatmoderate in a typical yearApr-Jun
Pre-monsoon heat in the inner Terai is intense; travel early in the day and carry water.
Landslidesmoderate in a typical yearJun-Sep
Monsoon landslides affect the hill roads north of Gaighat towards Katari and Okhaldhunga.
Check current conditions before you travel
Roads, trails, passes and flights change with the weather and with roadworks, and nothing on this page describes conditions today. Before you set off, check the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology for weather and flood warnings, the Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal for incidents, and the local authority, police or your licensed operator for road, trail and flight status.
Practical tips
- Banks and ATMs are available in town.
- Carry insect repellent, especially in the warmer months.
- Hill roads north of town can be slow; start early for day trips.
Questions about Gaighat
Where is Gaighat?
Gaighat is the headquarters of Udayapur district in Koshi Province, in the inner Terai valley of the Triyuga river.
What is there to see near Gaighat?
Chaudandigadhi, Rauta Pokhari and the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve can all be visited from the area.
How do I get to Gaighat?
By bus from Kathmandu or eastern Terai towns, or by flying to Biratnagar and continuing by road.
Do I need a permit?
No permit is required.
Nearby
Lake
Rauta Pokhari
A small sacred lake and temple in the hills of northern Udayapur, the focus of local pilgrimage and fairs.
National park or conservation area
Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
A wetland reserve on the Sapta Koshi floodplain, home to Nepal's last wild water buffalo and known for its birdlife.
Temple, monastery or heritage site
Barahakshetra
A Hindu pilgrimage site dedicated to Vishnu's boar incarnation, where the Sapta Koshi river emerges from the hills onto the plains.
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-08. Sources: Triyuga, Wikipedia, Udayapur District, Wikipedia, Nepal Tourism Board