Eastern Nepal Tour of Pathivara, Koshi Tappu and Janakpur

Eastern Nepal is less explored territory with rich cultural sites and scenic places dominated by the view of eight thousand meter peaks including Mt Everest and Kanchanjunga. While Everest is the highest, Kanchanjunga is the third highest mountain in the world. Kirati people are aboriginal to eastern Nepal with their own religion, language and culture. Eastern Nepal shares its northern border with Tibet and the southern border with Darjeeling district, popular as British elite’s summer resort during their reign.

East Nepal tour from Kathmandu.

The newly built Banepa Bardibas highway makes overland trip of eastern Nepal much easier. There are also regular flights to Biratnagar and Bhadrapur. The driving tour gives more opportunities of cultural encounters and scenic breaks. Eastern Nepal tour from Kathmandu could be planned for about a week with Pathivara (3,794 m) as the destination. Exiting Kathmandu valley through the scenic hill station town of Dhulikhel, we will reach the historic fort of Sindhuli Gadhi in the late morning. Visit the fort ruin from where Gorkha solders stopped British troops in 1767 in one of the many battles, which kept Nepal as the only independent country in South Asia. Drive further down to join the east west highway. Spend the night in Janakpur, the center of Maithali culture and the birthplace of Sita Mata from the Hindu epic Ramayana. Next day head towards Ilam, the famous tea country of Nepal. The road winds further north to the district capital of Panchthar and further to Taplejung. Moderate half day walk from the road head will take us to Pathivara temple on a 3,794 m ridge top. Pathivara is the most popular pilgrimage site of the Eastern Nepal. From Pathivara, Kanchanjunga appears much closer and picturesque than from Darjeeling, India across Mechi River.

East Nepal Tour coming from Kakarbhitta

For those coming from Sikkim, Darjeeling or Kolkata, on arrival visa for Nepal could be acquired at Kakarbhitta border. The road then heads north to Ilam through the rolling hills covered with tea bushes. Pathivara makes the best short cultural trek in the east offering the mesmerizing view of Kanchanjunga. KoshiTappu wildlife reserve is another attraction along the way. The flood plains ofSapta Koshi River are home to about 485 species of birds. The wildlife reserve also preserves last herds of wild water buffaloes and the Gangatic Dolphins. KoshiTappu is designated as Ramsar site in 1987.

Popular Tours of Eastern Nepal

Pathivara Tour

Pathivara is the most popular pilgrimage site of the Eastern Nepal. The animist god of local Kiriti people is worshiped by both Hindus and Buddhists as well. In general, the trip to Pathivara is a rewarding pilgrimage and scenic journey of rural eastern Nepal. It is also possible to do short cultural trek in the foothills of the Kanchanjunga.

Maratika cave (Halesi), Khotang

Maratika cave is one of the most sacred Buddhist site in Nepal. This is where Guru Rinpoche attained the level of Vidyadhara of longevity, the power over life. Mandarava and Padmasambhava realized a number of terma that had been elementally encoded in the cave by Dakini Sangwa Yeshe. These terma number among the longevity teachings of Buddha Amitabha, and were given at the behest of Bodhisattva Avalokiteswara.

Janakpur Tour

Janakpur is the birthplace of Goddess Sita, the spouse of Lord Rama from the Hindu epic Ramayana. The place is about 225 km from Kathmandu 150 km from Birjung border in south and 282 km from Kakarbhitta border with India in eastern Nepal. Janakpur is one of the must to visit place for Hindus. For nonreligious tourists, this is center of Maithali culture and Terai lifestyle. The complex of temple spiritual ambiance is worth a visit.

Koshi Tappu wildlife reserve

Koshi Tappu wildlife reserve is the 176 sq. km are area of mudflats, grasslands, forests and marshes along the Sapta Koshi River in the southeast Nepal. The reserve was established in 1976 and was designated as the first Ramsar site in 1987. With about 485 bird species, the reserve protects the globally threatened wild water buffalo (Arna), Gangetic dolphin, nilgai, smooth-coated otter, and red-crowned roof turtle.

Eastern Nepal tour takes about 5 days to one week. The tour could be customized as per your interest with short treks based on homestay. i Tour Nepal P Ltd is Nepal based company specialized in organizing sustainable tour in Nepal.

I am an adventurer from the Himalayas of Nepal. I love exploring reading and writing travel journal. Believe it or not, More you read the less you understand. My blogs about Nepal Tibet Bhtutan tour