Prithivi Highway
Encyclopedia
The Prithvi Highway is a 174 km (108.1 mi) long highway connecting Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, and Pokhara
, a tourist city in the western part of Nepal.
.
at Naubise
. The Narayanghat-Mugling section connects this highway to Mahendra Highway
, the longest highway in Nepal. Until 2011 opening of the B.P. Koirala Highway
, this highway was the only improved land route from Kathmandu Valley
to all points south, and as such the main artery for heavy trucks into Kathmandu Valley and into Pokhara
.
The hills that flank the 206 kilometres (128 mi) stretch of the Prithvi Highway from Kathmandu to Pokhara contain some of the most important religious sites in Nepal.
Manakamana
Mandir near Mugling, is one of the oldest temples in central Nepal and is an important destination for Hindu pilgrimage.
A 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) road off the main highway connecting Pokhara and Kathmandu links to historical town of Gorkha
. Some 300 years ago, Nepal was divided into 50 tiny states, and Gorkha was one of them. King Prithivi Narayan Shah, the founder of Shah Dynasty
, unified Nepal into one kingdom. His Gorkha palace resides on top of a hill at an altitude of 3281 feet (1,000 m). Gorkha is also the home of Gurkha
s - the legendary brave warriors. The nearby hill town of Bandipur
is a living museum of Newari
architecture and culture.
Apart from these historic points of interest, the highway is lined with modern townships that have sprung up around important road junctions and river crossings. The scenery along the highway is dramatic as it follows a series of deep river valleys. On clear days, most of the way to Pokhara there are views of Machapuchare
and the Annapurna
massif.
Pokhara
Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City is the second largest city of Nepal. Pokhara is city of close to 350,000 inhabitants in central Nepal located at 28.25°N, 83.99°E, which is the centre of the country from east to west or from north to south, 198 km west of Kathmandu or 90 km west of Mugling, and...
, a tourist city in the western part of Nepal.
History
The construction of the highway started from 1967 with the help from the Chinese Government. The construction was completed in 1974. The highway is named after the King Prithvi Narayan ShahPrithvi Narayan Shah
Prithvi Narayan Shah, King of Nepal was the first king of the House of Shahs to rule Nepal. He is credited for starting the campaign for a unified Nepal, which had been divided and weakened under Malla confederacy. He was the ninth generation descendant of Dravya Shah , the founder of the ruling...
.
Route
This landslide-prone and heavily congested highway passes through five districts: Kathmandu, Dhading, Chitwan, Tanahu and Kaski. This highway has a junction with Tribhuvan HighwayTribhuvan Highway
The Tribhuvan Highway connects the outskirts of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, with Birganj/ Raxaul on the Nepal-India border. NH 28 and NH 28A links Raxaul with Lucknow/ Barauni and other locations in India.-History:...
at Naubise
Naubise
Naubise is a village development committee in Dhading District in the Bagmati Zone of central Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 12312 and had 2164 houses in it....
. The Narayanghat-Mugling section connects this highway to Mahendra Highway
Mahendra Highway
Mahendra Highway also called East West Highway runs across the Terai region of Nepal, from Kankarbhitta in the east to Mahendranagar in the west, cutting across the entire width of the country. It is the longest highway in Nepal.-Overview:...
, the longest highway in Nepal. Until 2011 opening of the B.P. Koirala Highway
B.P. Koirala Highway
The B.P. Koirala Highway, also known as the Banepa Bardibas Highway, is a highway in eastern Nepal. It links Kathmandu Valley with the Eastern Terai region...
, this highway was the only improved land route from Kathmandu Valley
Kathmandu Valley
The Kathmandu Valley , located in Nepal, lies at the crossroads of ancient civilizations of Asia, and has at least 130 important monuments, including several places of pilgrimage for the Hindus and the Buddhists. There are seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites within this valley.-Etymology:The city of...
to all points south, and as such the main artery for heavy trucks into Kathmandu Valley and into Pokhara
Pokhara
Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City is the second largest city of Nepal. Pokhara is city of close to 350,000 inhabitants in central Nepal located at 28.25°N, 83.99°E, which is the centre of the country from east to west or from north to south, 198 km west of Kathmandu or 90 km west of Mugling, and...
.
The hills that flank the 206 kilometres (128 mi) stretch of the Prithvi Highway from Kathmandu to Pokhara contain some of the most important religious sites in Nepal.
Manakamana
Manakamana
Manakamana is the name of a Hindu Goddess. It is believed that the Goddess fulfils the wishes of the people. The term ‘mana’ means the ‘heart’ or ‘soul’ and ‘kamana’ means the ‘wish’....
Mandir near Mugling, is one of the oldest temples in central Nepal and is an important destination for Hindu pilgrimage.
A 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) road off the main highway connecting Pokhara and Kathmandu links to historical town of Gorkha
Gorkha
Gurkha are people from Nepal who take their name from the 8th century Hindu warrior-saint Guru Gorakhnath.Gurkha, Ghurkha, or Gorkha may also refer to:-People:...
. Some 300 years ago, Nepal was divided into 50 tiny states, and Gorkha was one of them. King Prithivi Narayan Shah, the founder of Shah Dynasty
Shah dynasty
The Shah dynasty was the ruling dynasty of the Kingdom of Nepal.-The Rajput Lineage :The former royal family of Nepal claims descent from the Parmar Rajput dynasty of the Narsinghgarh state in Malwa . The famous kings of the Malwa region were Raja Bhrathari, Samrat Vikramaditya, and Raja Bhoj....
, unified Nepal into one kingdom. His Gorkha palace resides on top of a hill at an altitude of 3281 feet (1,000 m). Gorkha is also the home of Gurkha
Gurkha
Gurkha are people from Nepal who take their name from the Gorkha District. Gurkhas are best known for their history in the Indian Army's Gorkha regiments, the British Army's Brigade of Gurkhas and the Nepalese Army. Gurkha units are closely associated with the kukri, a forward-curving Nepalese knife...
s - the legendary brave warriors. The nearby hill town of Bandipur
Bandipur
Bandipur is a hilltop settlement in Tanahu District, of Nepal. Because of its preserved, old time cultural atmosphere, Bandipur has increasingly been coming to the attention of tourism...
is a living museum of Newari
Newa people
The Newa , Newār or Newāl) are the indigenous people and the creators of the historical civilization of Nepal's Kathmandu Valley. The valley and surrounding territory have been known from ancient times as Nepal Mandala, its limits ever changing through history.Newas have lived in the Kathmandu...
architecture and culture.
Apart from these historic points of interest, the highway is lined with modern townships that have sprung up around important road junctions and river crossings. The scenery along the highway is dramatic as it follows a series of deep river valleys. On clear days, most of the way to Pokhara there are views of Machapuchare
Machapuchare
Machapuchare or Machhapuchhre Lit. "Fish Tail" in English, is a mountain in the Annapurna Himal of north central Nepal...
and the Annapurna
Annapurna
Annapurna is a section of the Himalayas in north-central Nepal that includes Annapurna I, thirteen additional peaks over and 16 more over ....
massif.