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Voykit pocket guide · Nepal
Biratnagar
बिराटनगर
Spend 1–2 days in Biratnagar: see the Jute Mills, Central Mall and Sahid Maidan, then head east to the Terai border.
Biratnagar is Nepal's second‑largest city, a commercial hub near the Indian border. Its sights cluster around the central market and the old industrial area, making a half‑day to full‑day visit sufficient. Good bus links and a small airport give easy access from Kathmandu.
- Country
- Nepal
- Local name
- बिराटनगर
- Best months
- Oct–Mar (dry, cooler)
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (monsoon)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- NPR
- Money
- NPR in small notes (100s and 500s) for taxis, tea shops and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget Rs 1,200–2,000 excl. bed · Mid Rs 2,500–4,000 excl. bed · High Rs 5,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Nepal Telecom (NTC) and Ncell sell tourist SIMs at Kathmandu airport and in town with passport and a photo.
- Emergency
- Police 100 · Ambulance 102 · Tourist police 1144
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round-pin sockets; a universal adapter covers them. Treks charge for device charging.
- Tipping
- Trekking guide: About 10–15% of the guide's total fee, at the end.; Porter: US$5–10 a day, at the end, in person.; Restaurant: Round up if 10% service is added; 5–10% if not.; Driver day: Rs 500–1,000.; Hotel staff: Rs 100–200.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Use filtered refill stations (Rs 50–100 a litre) or purification tablets; buying plastic bottles on treks leaves rubbish in the mountains.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels; squat toilets with a water jug elsewhere. Carry tissue; on treks toilets are outside and freeze in winter.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Rickshaw (per minute) | ₹2 ≈ Rs 2 |
| Meal at Fast Food | Rs 250–400 |
| Coffee at a café | Rs 150–250 |
| ATM withdrawal fee | Rs 30–50 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BIR · Biratnagar Airport
- Domestic flights to Kathmandu ~40 min
Typical fares
- Kathmandu → Biratnagar flight
- ≈ US$220 (≈ Rs 20,000) 40 min
- Kathmandu → Biratnagar bus
- ₹700–900 (≈ Rs 8,000) 10–13 h
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Rickshaws (~₹2 per minute) and walking are the main intra‑city options; taxis are available at the airport and near Mahendra Chowk.
See and do
Known for
- Biratnagar Jute Mills
- Central Mall
- Sahid Maidan
- King Birat's Palace
- Dream Garden
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Jogbani (India) border | Rickshaw or taxi, ~30 min from city centre | ≈45 min round trip |
| Birtamod | Bus from Biratnagar bus park, ~2 h | ≈2 h 30 min |
Sleep
- Hotel Harrison Palace
- Rs 3398 per night; restaurant, spa, gym
- Ratna Hotel
- ₹1,500–4,000; business‑hotel near Mahendra Chowk
- Eastern Star
- ₹800–1,500 (AC); quieter south of bus park
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | माफ गर्नुहोस्maaf garnuhos |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyabad |
| How much? | कति पर्छ?kati parchha? |
| Where is the toilet? | शौचालय कहाँ छ?shauchalaya kahaan cha? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste with palms together; a handshake between men in business; avoid: Hugging or kissing in public
- Temples and stupas: Walk clockwise, spin prayer wheels clockwise, shoes off at shrines; avoid: Touching offerings; entering Hindu-only areas
- Food: Right hand, accept refills gracefully; avoid: Sharing food you have bitten; stepping over food
- Feet and heads: Keep feet flat and away from people and altars; avoid: Touching anyone's head
- Photos: Ask first; offer to show the picture; avoid: Photographing cremations or rituals without permission
- On the trail: Pass mani walls and chortens on the left (keeping them on your right); give way to yaks on the mountain side; avoid: Standing on the drop side when animals pass
Scams and watch-outs
- No official taxi service; negotiate fare before boarding.
- Night buses are safer than day buses due to fewer strikes.
Biratnagar is generally safe for tourists; stay alert at night, keep valuables hidden in rickshaws, and verify taxi fares before boarding.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Biratnagar yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Biratnagar Jute Mills
- Central Mall
- Sahid Maidan
- King Birat's Palace
- Dream Garden
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Biratnagar, revision 5296648 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5296648
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/biratnagar). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.