Getting around · Nepal
BP Highway Road Trip
The fast modern descent from Kathmandu to the eastern Terai via Sindhuli — Nepal's shortcut to the plains.
The BP Highway is the fastest modern road from Kathmandu down to the eastern Terai, running about 160km through the Mahabharat hills and Sindhuli to Bardibas on the plains. Named after B.P. Koirala, Nepal's first elected prime minister, and fully opened in 2015 with Japanese assistance, it is the shortcut that links the capital with Janakpur and the eastern lowlands. Reckon on five to six hours by car.
The route
From Kathmandu the highway leaves the valley to the southeast and climbs over forested ridges into Sindhuli district, winding along river valleys through the Mahabharat range before descending to Bardibas at the edge of the Terai. From Bardibas the East–West (Mahendra) Highway carries traffic on to Janakpur and the eastern plains.
Highlights along the way
- The green, terraced Sindhuli hills and the historic Sindhuli Gadhi fort area.
- Long, well-engineered river-valley sections through quiet farming country.
- Forested ridges of the Mahabharat range, lush and dramatic after the monsoon.
- Onward access to the temple city of Janakpur and the eastern Terai from Bardibas.
Driving the BP Highway
This is one of Nepal's better-built highways, but it still climbs and descends through long winding mountain sections, so average speeds are modest. It is quieter than the Prithvi or Araniko corridors. Drive in daylight, fuel up before the hills, and check conditions in the monsoon when landslides can close stretches.
Times and logistics
Buses and shared jeeps run the BP Highway daily between Kathmandu and Bardibas, and a private car with driver is the most comfortable option for the five-to-six-hour drive. Because the road climbs over forested ridges with few large towns, fuel stations and roadside eateries thin out in the middle section, so fill up and stock snacks in Kathmandu or near Sindhuli. From Bardibas the East–West Highway makes onward travel to Janakpur and the eastern Terai straightforward.
Make it a road trip
The BP Highway is best used as the efficient way to reach the eastern Terai, then linked with slower scenic drives elsewhere. It complements the historic Tribhuvan Highway road trip and the eastern Araniko Highway road trip near the capital, and the western Siddhartha Highway road trip to the Indian border.
Browse all the drives in our scenic road trips of Nepal collection, and plan vehicles and timings with getting around Nepal.
Frequently asked questions
What is the BP Highway?+
The BP Highway, named after Nepal's first elected prime minister B.P. Koirala, is a roughly 160km road linking Kathmandu with Bardibas in the eastern Terai via Sindhuli. Built with Japanese assistance and fully opened in 2015, it is the shortest and most modern road from the capital to the eastern plains.
How long does the BP Highway drive take?+
Allow about five to six hours for the roughly 160km from Kathmandu to Bardibas. The road is well engineered but climbs and descends through the Mahabharat hills with long winding sections, so the average speed is still modest despite being faster than the older routes.
Why take the BP Highway instead of the Tribhuvan Highway?+
The BP Highway is newer, smoother and the quickest way from Kathmandu to the eastern Terai and on toward Janakpur and the east. The older Tribhuvan Rajpath is far more scenic and historic but much slower; choose the BP for efficiency and the Tribhuvan for the drive itself.
Is the BP Highway scenic?+
Yes. It winds through the green Mahabharat range and the Sindhuli hills, following river valleys with terraced farms and forested ridges. It is less famous than the Prithvi or Tribhuvan highways but is a quiet, attractive drive, especially after the monsoon when the hills are lush.
