How to Travel from Chitwan to Pokhara (Bus, Tickets, Prices)
Travelling from Chitwan to Pokhara by bus?
Don’t worry, I’ve got all the information here that you need. Pokhara and Chitwan are two of the most popular tourist destinations in Nepal, thus, they are connected by regular, daily bus services.
Sauraha is the main tourist town in Chitwan and this is where most of the tourist buses leave to Pokhara. The buses leave every morning from the Bus Station in Sauraha at 7:30 am. The distance between Chitwan and Pokhara is 145 km and takes around 7-8 hours to get there by bus.
Once in Pokhara, the final bus stop is usually at the Pokhara Tourist Bus Park. The Pokhara Tourist Bus Park is about 30 minutes’ walk from Lakeside (where most people stay) but you can also easily get a taxi to your hotel.
Check out here the best things to do in Pokhara and things to do in Chitwan.
How to Buy the Tourist Bus Ticket Going from Chitwan to Pokhara?
There are different ways to get your bus ticket but the most popular option is usually to buy it at a travel agency or getting your hotel to arrange it for you. Usually, they add a little bit of extra commission on top of the bus ticket.
If you want to browse bus tickets, check out BusSewa.com. BusSewa is an online platform for buying bus tickets in Nepal. Although, to book bus tickets here, you need to register for a Nepali digital payment app: eSewa. Here is my guide on how to set up eSewa. I would say eSewa is only worth setting up if you are staying in Nepal long-term.
In short, you can buy bus tickets in Nepal the following ways:
- Travel agency
- Through your hostel/hotel
- Online: Not a lot of tourists in Nepal know this but you can also buy bus tickets online through the eSewa mobile app. The app has become very popular in Nepal in the past few years and it can be used also for digital payments or mobile top up. Buying the bus ticket on eSewa is the fastest and cheapest as it does not include any commission. Read my step-by-step guide on how to buy bus tickets through eSewa.
Get eSewa on the Google Play Store
How Much is the Bus Ticket from Chitwan to Pokhara?
The bus ticket is between Rs. 800-900.
Where Do the Buses Leave from in Sauraha?
The buses to Pokhara leave from the Tourist Bus Station Sauraha. It is about 10-15 minutes’ walk away from central Sauraha to reach the bus station.
What Time Does the Tourist Bus Leave?
The buses leave at 7:30 am from Sauraha to Pokhara. It is recommended to arrive at the bus stop 30 minutes before the departure time to make sure you locate the bus and get your assigned seat.
How Long Does it Take to Get from Chitwan to Pokhara by Bus?
The bus ride takes round 7-8 hours. Once in Pokhara, the bus usually drops people in different stops in Pokhara: Tal Chowk (near Begnas Lake), Prithivi Chowk and with the final stop usually being at the Pokhara Tourist Bus Park.
FAQ: Chitwan to Pokhara by Bus
How far is Pokhara from Chitwan by bus?
Pokhara is 145 km away from Chitwan and takes about 7-8 hours to get there by bus.
Is there a night bus from Chitwan to Pokhara?
No, there isn’t a night bus service connecting Chitwan and Pokhara. There are only 2 tourist buses per day that leave Sauraha (Chitwan) to Pokhara. Both of these buses leave at 7:30 am in the morning.
What is the Chitwan to Pokhara bus timing?
The bus schedule from Chitwan to Pokhara include two buses per day. Both of the buses leave at 7:30 am and arrive in Pokhara around 2-3 pm in the afternoon.
How much is the bus ticket from Chitwan to Pokhara?
The bus ticket from Chitwan to Pokhara is between Rs. 800-900. If you book through a travel agent or through your hotel, they may add some commission charge on top of it.
If you buy the ticket directly at the Sauraha Bus Park, you will get the actual price (without paying any commission).
How can I go to Pokhara by train?
The short answer is that you cannot. There is no train service between Chitwan and Pokhara. In fact, Nepal only has one railway station in Janakpur and it is a very short train service connecting Janakpur with India. So, travelling by train in Nepal is not an option.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, travelling from Chitwan to Pokhara by bus is fairly easy. The two towns are connected by daily tourist bus services. The buses leave at 7:30 am in the morning and take about 7-8 hours to get to Pokhara.
There are a lot of roadworks going on in Nepal, so generally it can make road travel longer. The road are also very bumpy, so try to get a seat in the front of the bus.
