Gandaki Province, Nepal
Beni Travel Guide
The district headquarters of Myagdi, set where the Myagdi Khola meets the Kali Gandaki — a busy roadhead bazaar and the gateway to Dhaulagiri Base Camp, Dhorpatan and the western road to Jomsom and Muktinath.
Beni is the district headquarters of Myagdi, a busy roadhead bazaar set at around 830 metres where the Myagdi Khola pours into the Kali Gandaki in Nepal's western hills. For most travellers it is a gateway rather than a destination — the place where the tarmac thins and the great mountain routes begin — but the river-confluence town has a workmanlike charm and a handful of genuine sights worth a pause.
The heart of town is Beni Bazaar, strung along the two rivers, where jeeps load up for the hills and the market hums with hill-and-mountain trade. A short way downriver on the Kali Gandaki stands Galeshwor Dham, a riverside Shiva temple and an important local pilgrimage site, while upstream the simmering Myagdi Tatopani hot springs offer a soak beside the water. The drama, though, is the Kali Gandaki confluence itself, the meeting of two rivers in one of the deepest gorges on earth.
Above all, Beni is the launching point for big country. It is the gateway to Dhaulagiri Base Camp — the eighth-highest mountain on the planet — and the road-and-trail gateway to the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve. From here the rough road up the Kali Gandaki to Jomsom and Muktinath climbs past Tatopani and the roaring Rupse Chhahara into Mustang and the western Annapurna Circuit.
Set west of Pokhara, Beni earns its place among the best places to visit in Nepal for its setting and its access to the mountains. Start with our pick of the top things to do in Beni, then sort the practicalities with our guides to where to stay, how to get there and the best time to visit.
Where to stay in Beni
Sights & attractions in Beni
Trekking & treks in Beni
What to do in Beni
Yoga & wellness in Beni
Wildlife & nature in Beni
Getting around in Beni
Frequently asked questions
Is Beni worth visiting?+
Beni is more a gateway than a destination in itself, but it's a worthwhile and atmospheric stop. The bustling river-confluence bazaar, the riverside Galeshwor Dham temple and nearby Tatopani hot springs make it a rewarding pause, and it's the launching point for the Dhaulagiri, Dhorpatan and western Annapurna routes.
Where is Beni?+
Beni is the headquarters of Myagdi district in Gandaki Province, set at around 830 metres where the Myagdi Khola flows into the Kali Gandaki, in Nepal's western hills. It lies west of Pokhara, on the road that climbs the Kali Gandaki gorge toward Tatopani, Jomsom and Muktinath.
What is Beni famous for?+
Beni is famous as a roadhead and gateway — to Dhaulagiri Base Camp, to the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, and to the deep Kali Gandaki gorge road heading to Jomsom and Muktinath. It's also known for its river-confluence bazaar and the Galeshwor Dham temple on the Kali Gandaki.
How many days do you need in Beni?+
Most travellers spend half a day to a day in Beni as a transit stop — enough to see the bazaar, visit Galeshwor Dham and perhaps soak at the Myagdi Tatopani hot springs. Trekkers headed for Dhaulagiri or Dhorpatan use it as a one-night staging point before heading into the hills.
How do you get to Beni?+
Beni is reached by road from Pokhara, roughly three to four hours west via Kushma in Parbat. Buses and jeeps run regularly, and from Beni the rough mountain road continues up the Kali Gandaki toward Tatopani, Jomsom and Muktinath.