How to Travel to Janakpur, Nepal (Bus, Tickets, Prices)
Janakpur is about 220 km south-east of Kathmandu, near the border with India. Although there are no tourist buses going to Janakpur, there are many AC and Delux buses or minivans that connect Janakpur with other cities. In this post, you can find information on how to travel to Janakpur from all the major cities in Nepal, including Kathmandu, Pokhara, Sauraha (Chitwan) and Butwal.
Looking for things to do in Janakpur? Check out the best things to do in Janakpur, Nepal.
How to Buy the Bus Ticket
- Through your hotel/hostel: You can ask at the hotel reception about bus tickets and they will be able to arrange it for you.
- At a Travel Agency
- Online using the eSewa App: Read my guide here on how to book a bus ticket using eSewa.
- At the Bus Park: alternatively, you can also go to the bus park and get the bus ticket directly there.
How to Travel from Kathmandu to Janakpur by Bus
Janakpur is about 220 km away from Kathmandu. The two cities are connected by night buses and minivans (day-time) that go on a daily basis.
The night bus usually leaves around 7 pm and arrives in Janakpur around 6 am. It takes this long as the bus goes around in a loop towards Mugling and Bharatpur (west of Kathmandu) and then it turns east towards Janakpur. This is because only the highway to the west of Kathmandu is built “wide enough” for buses to drive on.
If you prefer to travel during day-time, take the minivans. The minivans leave around 6-7 am in the morning and get to Janakpur around 4 pm. The minivans go on a shorter route to Janakpur. The shorter route goes towards the east of Kathmandu (passing through Bhaktapur and Dhulikhel) and then all the way down to Janakpur. This road is narrower and has many loops, usually making many people sick in the minivan.
Where to Get on the Bus in Kathmandu?
The bus usually leaves from Gaushala and then makes another stop at Kalanki to pick up passengers. Some of the buses also stop at the Gongabu Bus Park. The bus passes through the Ring Road from Gaushala to Kalanki, so if you love near the Ring Road, you can also call the bus company and may be able to get them to pick you up at your stop (e.g. Swoyambhu).
How to Travel from Pokhara to Janakpur by Bus
Getting from Pokhara to Janakpur is a bit trickier as there are no direct buses. The best option is to take a bus from Pokhara to Butwal (via Waling or Syangja) and then change to another buy from Butwal to Pokhara.
Bus Route:
Pokhara to Butwal, then from Butwal to Janakpur
Pokhara to Butwal (via Waling or Syangja):
When you book the bus ticket from Pokhara to Butwal, it is important that you book the bus that goes via Waling or Syangja. This bus will take you straight from Pokhara down south to Butwal. (There are some other buses that go from Pokhara to Butwal via Narayangadh – these buses go towards Mugling (east) and then down to Butwal which takes much longer). The bus from Pokhara leave from the Tourist Bus Park around 7 am, and costs Rs. 1,100.
Butwal to Janakpur:
Once you are in Butwal, there is a night bus that goes daily to Janakpur. It is an AC/Delux bus, and costs around Rs. 1,400. This is the only bus that directly connects Butwal to Janakpur and it leaves from the Butwal Bus Park at 6:45 pm in the evening.
Where to Get on the Bus in Pokhara?
The bus leaves from the Pokhara Tourist Bus Park. You can reach the bus park by walk from Lakeside in about 30 minutes, or you can take a taxi.
Where to Get on the Bus in Butwal?
Once you get to Butwal, the bus to Janakpur leaves from the Butwal Bus Park.
How to Travel from Chitwan to Janakpur by Bus
Getting from Chitwan to Janakpur is also a bit tricky as you will have to change buses. First, you will have to take the bus from Sauraha Bus Park to Ratnanagar and then change buses to go to Janakpur.
If you are coming from Sauraha, the best way is to get the bus ticket through a travel agent. As the bus you will have to catch in Ratnanagar is coming from other cities in Nepal (Butwal), you will have to give a call to the bus to make sure they pick you up in Ratnanagar. So for this reason, it is best if a travel agency handles getting your ticket to make sure that the pick up location is correct and that the bus is aware to stop for you in Ratnanagar.
Where to Get on the Bus in Chitwan (Sauraha)?
First, you will have to take a bus from the Tourist Bus Park in Sauraha. Once in Ratnanagar, you can change to another bus at the Sauraha Chowk (Ratnanagar).
