Narayangarh
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Narayangarh

Narayangarh

Terai crossroads town near Chitwan, where Nepal's east-west highway meets the road south to India.

Narayangarh (also called Bharatpur) is a busy crossroads town at the edge of the Terai, where the east-west Mahendra Highway meets the road south to India. Most travellers pass through on the way to or from Chitwan National Park, which is a few kilometres to the south.

The town itself is functional rather than attractive — a transport hub with banks, hotels, and bus connections to Kathmandu (five hours east) and Pokhara (four hours west). Bharatpur Airport, 1.5 km from town, has domestic flights to Kathmandu and is the alternative to the bus for those short on time.

If you have a few hours, the confluence of the Narayani and Rapti rivers at Triveni Ghat is a pleasant spot, and the Ganeshthan Temple is worth a brief visit. But the real reason to be here is Chitwan, and most people make straight for the park.

Guide

Getting There

Narayangarh is the main transport hub for Chitwan district. It sits at the junction of the Mahendra Highway (which runs east-west across the Terai) and the road south to India.

By bus: Regular services connect Narayangarh to Kathmandu (5 hours east) and Pokhara (4 hours west). Tourist buses and local buses both operate the Kathmandu–Narayangarh route; tourist buses from Kathmandu's Thamel neighbourhood are the most straightforward option. Night buses are available for both routes.

By air: Bharatpur Airport, 1.5 km from the town centre, has daily domestic flights to Kathmandu (25 minutes). This is significantly faster and more comfortable than the bus, and worth the extra cost if you are short on time. Buddha Air and Yeti Airlines operate the route.

For Chitwan: Most jungle lodges run transfer vehicles from Narayangarh or from the bus park at Sauraha, 5 kilometres south. If you have booked a lodge, confirm the pick-up arrangement in advance.

Guide

Things to Do

Most visitors to Narayangarh are passing through on the way to Chitwan National Park. If you have a few hours to spare before your jungle lodges, the Triveni Ghat river confluence is a quiet spot, and the Ganeshthan Temple is worth a brief visit. The town itself is functional rather than charming — a place to change buses, eat a meal, and move on.