Birgunj

The city is located on the borders with the India state of Bihar, and is a major point of entry for goods coming from India and also the port of Kolkata.

Flights to the city are available from Kathmandu to an airport city called Jeetpur-Simara from where it takes around 30 minutes to reach Birgunj. If you have hotels booked then there is possibility of pick up from the airport to the hotel or you can hire some cabs.
If you want to travel by land then there are several buses leaving from Kathmandu and some are really good services. There are also night buses leaving from Kathmandu to Birgunj and these are the best buses running in Nepal.
Travel by Tata Sumo (jeep) from Birgunj to Kathmandu takes 4-5 hours and is a bumpy ride at best—perhaps not for the faint of heart. The ride should cost INR350-400 (NPR 600).
For more details on crossing the border from India to Birgunj, see the information under 'Get Out' on its Indian sister's town page Raxaul.

Though it is not a tourist hot spot, you can see Lord Buddha stupa on a tiny hillock called Vishwa. Apart from this, Gadhi Mai is a well known Hindu Goddess temple which holds a mighty fair every five years. Hindus from all over the world come here to sacrifice animals to show thankfulness to the goddess.Animal sacrificed on this occasion is one of the highest amount in the world. To the west of Birgunj, Bindawasni mai is another historical and religious place. Jang Bhandur Rana, the first Rana prime minister held a massacre in which hundreds of people died as a result of royal conspiracy. To the north of the city there is Parsa Wildlife Reserve & Chitwan National Park, two of the biggest national parks having 100s of endangered species. Tigers,elephants,musk deer, Gharials, Red hornedbills Etc. are main attractions.

• Parsa Wildlife ReserveOnce a hunting ground for the royalty, Parsa Wildlife Reserve is now a protected area and national park. Many animal species can be spotted including gaurs, leopards, elephants, sambar chital and a variety of birds.

• Ghadiarwa PokhariA pretty lake and garden though the water sometimes turns a murky brown. A popular place to hang out among the Nepalese youth.

There are a few restaurants in Birgunj that are not part of any hotels. Example : Shri Riddhi Siddhi, Anmol Sweets, Kanchha Sweets, Mangalam Sweets, Paratha House, Biriyani House, Hukka Bar, etc. Apart from these, good Hotels do have attached Restaurants in them. Some of them are : Hotel Makalu Restaurant, Hotel Pujan Restaurant, Hotel Vishwa Restaurant, Hotel Himal Restaurant, Hotel Shah Paradise Restaurant, Hotel Suraj Restaurant, Hotel Ichchha (at airport city in Jeetpur Simara) etc. These restaurants serve a variety of western, Indian and Nepali food in the city.
Birgunj has a nice blend of local and Indian street food available. Most hygienic ones are situated on the Main road, Maisthan and in Adarshnagar area.

• Magic Bells

  phone: +977 51-520888
  address: Geeta Mandir Rd
  Fast food and Indian. They makes a delicious black forest cake. The staff are accommodating towards dietary and allergy restrictions.

There are many takeaway alcohol stores on side streets, a block either side off the main road. Otherwise hotel restaurants serve alcohol.

Most hotels are located on, or a few meters off, the main road.

• Hotel Suraj

  phone: +977 51 522859, +977 51 522200, +977 51 522800
  address: Main Road, Adarshnagar, Birgunj
  One of the more upmarket hotels in town.

• County Inn HotelFree Wi-Fi in lobby and on the first floor! Turns off about midnight.

• Hotel Pujan

  phone: +977 51 533600, +977 51 528100, +977 51 524500
  address: Adarsh Nagar
  Has a restaurant attached that any one can go to (NPR 200-500).

• Hotel Makalu

  phone: +977 51 523054
  address: Alakhiya Math

• Hotel Shah Paradise

  phone: +977 51 527469
  address: New Bus Park
  Budget Hotel

• Hotel Vishwa

  phone: +977 51 527777
  address: New Bus Park, Vishwa

• Hotel Ichchha

  phone: +977 53 520591
  address: Main Road Jeetpur Simara
  It's on the outskirts of Birgunj, the place is called Jeetpur Simara.

An abundance of mosquitoes in April, together with heat of 40C, made sleep almost impossible without a good fan in early April.

If you're looking for a local Ncell SIM card, Birgunj has an official Ncell store halfway up the main road on the right from the border as you walk towards the large tower in the middle of the road. They speak perfect English! For more information about telecommunications in Nepal, have a look under the 'Contact' section in Nepal.

To get to Kathmandhu, your only options are private bus or jeep (sumo). Buses leave 6AM-10AM, then 7PM-10PM, with a 'deluxe' bus leaving daily at 7PM. Sumo's/Jeeps's can usually be taken from 6AM-3PM, and cost Rs 500 NPR per person in a ten person shared Jeep, or Rs. 6000 NPR for a whole private jeep to yourself or your travelling companions. To get either a bus or jeep, you'll need to go to the bus station, which is located just off the main road. Keep going north (3 km from the border) until you reach a large tower in the middle of a round-a-bout. Take a right hand turn and the bus stop is 50m down that road. While it's little more than a dirt patch in the north of town, you'll know you got there as there are always plenty of buses parked. A cycle rickshaw should be about NPR 80 for the distance. Jeeps leave when full, from near the road (not towards the back of the bus stop) so expect to wait up to an hour.
For information on crossing the border into India, you may find the information under the 'Go Next section of Raxaul useful.