Getting around · Nepal
Tribhuvan Highway Road Trip
Nepal's first highway: a winding switchback drive from Kathmandu over the Daman ridge down to the Terai at Hetauda.
The Tribhuvan Highway — better known as the Tribhuvan Rajpath — is Nepal's first road, completed in the mid-1950s to break the Kathmandu Valley's isolation and link it with the Terai and India. This historic mountain highway climbs from the capital over the Daman ridge before descending in endless switchbacks to Hetauda on the plains, and its slow, dramatic course makes it the most scenic drive in the country.
The route
From Kathmandu the road climbs to the Thankot rim, crosses the hills and drops into the green Palung valley before the final ascent to Daman, the highest point on the road at around 2,300m. From the ridge it then unwinds through a long series of hairpin bends down to Hetauda in the Terai. Reckon on three to four hours for the roughly 80km from Kathmandu to Daman alone.
Highlights along the way
- The Daman ridge, with one of Nepal's widest Himalaya panoramas from Dhaulagiri to Everest on a clear dawn — see Daman for the famous view tower.
- The terraced Palung valley, a patchwork of vegetable farms greenest after the monsoon.
- Spring rhododendron forests lining the higher bends in March and April.
- The sheer engineering of the switchbacks themselves, dropping thousands of metres to the plains.
Driving tips
- Travel in daylight and dry conditions; the bends are no place for darkness or fog.
- The road suits confident or hired local drivers — many visitors take a car and driver.
- Carry snacks and water, as services are limited between settlements.
- Fill up with fuel in Kathmandu or Hetauda before committing to the climb.
Make it a road trip
The Tribhuvan Highway is best driven slowly, with an overnight on the Daman ridge for sunrise. For a fuller account of the Daman-focused stretch, see the local Tribhuvan Rajpath road trip guide. It contrasts beautifully with the faster modern routes: the riverside Prithvi Highway road trip to Pokhara and the quick BP Highway road trip to the eastern Terai.
Browse more drives in the scenic road trips of Nepal collection, and plan vehicles and timings with getting around Nepal.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Tribhuvan Highway?+
The Tribhuvan Highway, also called the Tribhuvan Rajpath, is Nepal's first highway, completed in the mid-1950s to connect Kathmandu with the Terai and India. It climbs over the hills via the Daman ridge before dropping in switchbacks to Hetauda, and is famous for being slow, steep and extremely scenic.
How long is the Tribhuvan Highway drive?+
Kathmandu to Daman is about 80km but takes three to four hours because the road is steep and winding. Continuing down to Hetauda in the Terai adds another couple of hours of tight switchbacks. The slow pace is the whole point of this historic mountain drive.
Is the Tribhuvan Highway worth driving over the faster routes?+
Yes, if you want scenery over speed. The Prithvi and BP highways carry most traffic and are quicker, but the Tribhuvan Rajpath is the historic, spectacular choice — quieter, far more dramatic, and the only road to the ridge-top Himalaya panorama at Daman.
Is the Tribhuvan Highway safe?+
It is a demanding mountain road with countless tight switchbacks, drop-offs and occasional fog, so it suits confident drivers or hired local drivers. Travel in daylight and dry conditions, use a vehicle with reliable brakes, and avoid the bends after dark.
