Temple, monastery or heritage site · 150 m
Bageshwari Temple
Nepalgunj's main goddess temple, set beside a large pond in the heart of the city.
Chitwan & Teraiनेपालगञ्ज
Nepalgunj
A busy border city on the western Terai and the main air hub for Nepal's far west and Karnali.
- Altitude
- 150 m*
- Best months
- Oct-Mar
- Type
- Town or village
- District
- Banke, Lumbini
- Permit
- None needed
Higher seasonal exposure: heat (Apr-Jun).
Why go
Nepalgunj is the largest city of Banke district and one of the main urban centres of the western Terai, sitting on the plains close to the Indian border. Most travellers know it as a hub: its airport has flights from Kathmandu and onward small-plane services to remote mountain airstrips such as Simikot, Jumla, Talcha (for Rara) and Juphal (for Dolpo), and roads lead east and west along the Mahendra Highway and north into Karnali.
The city is worth more than a transit night. Its old bazaar is crowded, colourful and strongly influenced by the culture of the neighbouring Awadh region of India, with rickshaws, cloth and spice shops, and a mix of Hindu temples and mosques. The Bageshwari Temple, with its large pond, is the city's best-known shrine.
Nepalgunj is also the usual starting point for Banke and Bardiya national parks, which lie a short drive to the north-east and west. In the dry season it is easy to combine a morning in the bazaar with an afternoon drive towards the forests of the Siwalik foothills.
History and culture
Banke, together with the neighbouring districts of Bardiya, Kailali and Kanchanpur, was returned to Nepal by the British in 1860 in recognition of Nepalese help during the Indian uprising of 1857, and the area became known as the Naya Muluk, or new territory. Nepalgunj grew as a trading town on the routes between the hills and the plains of northern India.
The population is unusually diverse for Nepal. Awadhi is widely spoken alongside Nepali, and the city has a large Muslim community as well as Hindus, Tharu and hill migrants. This mix shows in the food, the festivals and the architecture of the bazaar, and in the city's close everyday ties with Rupaidiha across the border.
Things to do in Nepalgunj
Explore the bazaar
Walk or take a cycle rickshaw through the old market streets in the late afternoon when they are busiest.
Visit Bageshwari Temple
See the city's main goddess temple and the pond beside it, busy at Dashain and on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Day trip to Banke National Park
Drive north-east towards the Siwalik foothills for a first look at the park's forest.
Connect onward
Use the city as a staging point for mountain flights or the overland journey to Bardiya and the far west.
Weather and the best time to visit Nepalgunj
Weather in Nepalgunj
Forecast for 150 m. 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 dry and settled, with warm days, cooler evenings and clear skies after the rains.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- December to February is dry and mild by day, but fog often hangs over the plains in the mornings and nights are chilly.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- March is pleasant; by April and May the plains become very hot and dusty.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- June to September brings heavy rain, high humidity, swollen rivers and occasional flooding of low ground and roads.
Where to stay
HotelsGuesthouses
A wide range of hotels and guesthouses, from basic to comfortable, mainly in the city centre and near the airport road.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
Fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj Airport, or travel overland on the Mahendra Highway via Kohalpur.
Nearest hub: Nepalgunj
- flightDomestic flights from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj take about an hour.
- roadLong-distance buses run from Kathmandu and other Terai cities along the Mahendra Highway, turning off at Kohalpur for Nepalgunj; it is a long day or overnight journey.
Permits and fees
None needed
No permit is needed to visit Nepalgunj. Foreign nationals crossing to or from India must use the official immigration checkpoint at the border.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-08 against Nepalgunj, Wikipedia.
Risks and conditions
Seasonal risks around Nepalgunj
What this place is typically exposed to, and when. These are seasonal patterns, not a report on conditions now.
Heathigh in a typical yearApr-Jun
April to June is very hot on the western Terai plains, with afternoon temperatures that can be hard to bear; travel early and late in the day.
Floodingmoderate in a typical yearJul-Sep
Monsoon rain can flood low-lying roads and parts of the city, and rivers on the Mahendra Highway can disrupt travel.
Coldmoderate in a typical yearDec-Jan
Dense winter fog can delay flights and slow road travel in December and January.
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
- Mountain flights out of Nepalgunj are weather-dependent; build in spare days.
- Carry water and avoid travelling in the midday heat from April to June.
- Dress modestly when visiting temples and mosques.
Questions about Nepalgunj
Why do travellers go to Nepalgunj?
Mainly as a hub for flights to Karnali and the far west and for Banke and Bardiya national parks, though the bazaar and Bageshwari Temple are worth a visit.
How do I get to Nepalgunj from Kathmandu?
By a domestic flight of about an hour, or by long-distance bus along the Mahendra Highway.
When is the best time to visit Nepalgunj?
October to March, when the weather is dry and mild. April to June is very hot.
Nearby
National park or conservation area
Banke National Park
A young national park of sal forest and Churia hills, linking Bardiya with protected forest across the border.
National park or conservation area
Bardiya National Park
Nepal's largest lowland national park, a quieter alternative to Chitwan with tigers, rhinos, wild elephants and the Karnali river.
Town or village
Thakurdwara
The quiet Tharu village at the gate of Bardiya National Park, base for jungle walks and river trips.
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-08. Sources: Nepalgunj, Wikipedia, Nepalgunj Airport, Wikipedia, Banke District, Wikipedia