From Kathmandu to Chitwan by bus

I had to leave the hotel by 5.30 this morning to walk for half an hour to catch my bus to Chitwan. I was a bit trepidatious about walking around in the pitch black at that time in the morning. I need not have worried! The streets were busy - full of people cleaning and preparing every shrine and temple on my route (and there were loads!), shopkeepers opening their shops, girls in uniform already on their way to school, and street sweepers clearing away yesterday's rubbish. It was all going on. But unlike in Indian cities, it was quiet. Vehicles were moving around, but there was no hooting. It was just people going about their business without disturbing others who were still sleeping.

I arrived at Kathmandu bus park in plenty of time. It's not a bus station. Buses simply line up on the side of the road, and passengers walk along the row until they find their bus. I found mine and my allocated window seat about half an hour before we were due to leave. Gradually, the bus filled up. It seemed like I was the only foreigner, but the couple across the aisle, although Nepalese, lived in Australia and were just back for a month visiting family. They were able to translate for me during the journey.

We left about 15 minutes late, but we were still in Kathmandu over an hour later, having had multiple stops to pick passengers up, to get fuel, and to load 20 cases of bottled water on board! Soon after we did leave the city, we stopped again - for a 30-minute breakfast break! It was 9am before we really got going!

Progress was slow throughout the rest of the journey, mainly due to roads being under construction. It was certainly a bumpy ride! It felt good to be away from Kathmandu, though, and see more of Nepal, both rural areas (lots of terraced paddy fields) and small towns. We stopped two or three more times for toilets, as well as another 30-minute break for lunch when we were only an hour from our destination! I just had an iced coffee, as I knew I would get lunch when I arrived, as part of my all-inclusive package.

After many more stops to drop passengers off, we finally arrived at the Chitwan bus park. As arranged, a driver from Eden Lodge, where I would be spending the next two nights, was waiting for me. It was only a five-minute drive to the resort.

On arrival at around 2.30pm, I was welcomed with an extremely sweet glass of fruit juice, and I checked in. My room was lovely. It was really hot and very humid in Chitwan, especially compared to Kathmandu, so I freshened up before going to lunch.Read more