From Belahiya, Bhairahawa serves as a gateway to Lumbini, one of Nepal's most revered historical sites and the Nepal-India border. But, unfortunately, visitors are frequently at a loss for what to do in this city or its environs as the city waits for the Gautam Buddha International Airport to be completed.
The air link is likely to witness a proliferation of attractive tourism destinations. The current infrastructural building is intended to bring in more guests and, with them, a promise of tourism activities that will bring the city to life. Bhairahawa, however, offers enough activities and detours to make for a fun journey even now.
How Can You Reach Bhairawa?
Bhairahawa is reached through a 30-minute fly from Kathmandu or a day-long bus trip that begins at Kalanki bus station.
Things to Do While In Bhairawa
We've put up a list of some of the activities and side trips you may do while you're in the city of Bhairawa. They are:
- Visit Belahiya-Sonauli Border
- Visit Fulbari in Butwal
- Visit the Ostrich Farm in Gangoliya
- Enjoy the Local Pedas
- Visit Lumbini
Visit Belahiya-Sonauli Border
The Belahiya-Sonauli border is a stroll in the park for Bhairahawa residents. For visitors, though, this may be a rewarding experience. Going to India as a Nepali citizen is pretty simple—just walk to the nearest border and cross. If you want to visit India by land, an Indian visa will suffice.
Sonauli is a tiny, busy marketplace with a variety of local stores. Sonauli is the place to go if you're seeking affordable ethnic women's clothing. Although the overall aesthetics might be overpowering, Sonauli provides a beautiful peek into the local lives of people from both India and Nepal who live along the border.
Visit Fulbari in Butwal
Although it may be more convenient to see the park while in Butwal, it is only a 45-minute bus trip from Bhairahawa. The remnants of Palpali monarch Manimukunda's winter palace may be found at Fulbari, commonly known as Manimukunda Sen park.
Fulbari may be a fascinating journey for a history enthusiast after visiting Lumbini and seeing the medieval remains of stupas near to Mayadevi shrine. The remainder of the property has been transformed into a park. From here, you may travel to Gangoliya's Ostrich Farm before returning to Bhairahawa.
Visit the Ostrich Farm in Gangoliya
The farm lies at Gangoliya, which is only a 30-minute drive from Bhairahawa city. As the name suggests, the farm has hundreds of ostriches and emus on 8.81 acres in the Tilottama Municipality. The fee of admission to the farm is Rs 100, with a Rs 50 discount for students.
Visitors who want to see the towering birds can come to the farm gates between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. If you're going to reward your taste buds, a restaurant near the farm serves ostrich momo, sekuwa, choila, and khana set.
Enjoy the Local Pedas
When most people think of Bhairahawa, they think of pedas. The famed pedas from Pawan Misthan Bhandar, a vegetarian restaurant specializing in traditional sweets, are made in Bhairahawa. Pawan Misthan Bhandar has a wide range of alternatives when it comes to cuisine, but the locals still yearn for the flavour of real pedas that it was known for decades ago. The restaurant has undergone some changes, but the pedas and my favourite, dudh malai, remain the same.
On the other hand, Black Forest is the place to go if you like a café atmosphere with music playing in the background. The Black Forest is a little café just next to Pawan that is usually bustling.
A refreshing frappé can revive you after a hot day touring Rupandehi in the sun, albeit the cream in your drink will be particularly thick. The Black Forest sells everything from bakery dishes to momos, and its waffles are arguably the best in Bhairahawa.
Visit Lumbini
Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, is only around 25 kilometres from Bhairahawa. Taking a local bus from Buddha Chowk to Lumbini takes around an hour.Because the Bhairahawa-Lumbini route is under construction, it isn't easy to go by public transport, which is why people frequently rent a vehicle for a day-long two-way excursion. To go about the region, you may hire a bicycle or take an e-rickshaw from one of the gates.
Lumbini Palace's Peaceful Abode Revealed
The Mayadevi Temple, Globe Peace Pagoda, and monasteries established by Buddhist groups worldwide are all located inside the 1.95-hectare area.
Lumbini offers several hotels, resorts, and lodges, with more under development, for those who want to spend the night away from the bustling streets of Bhairahawa.
Activities to do in Bhairawa
Bhairahawa does not welcome a lot of tourists as of now, so the place is pretty much about locals who go about their lives in a routine. One of the exciting things I observed while in Bhairahawa is the swarm of Bhairahawa locals on top of the overhead bridge right before sunset.
If you want to see the brilliant orange and cotton-candy pink sky as the sun rolls softly down the remote horizons, the freshly erected overhead bridges are an excellent site to cool off from the heat.
The Haat Bazaar, which takes place every Sunday and Thursday, sells a wide range of commodities such as fresh vegetables, seafood, sweets, and clothing. In addition, visiting the haat market is a great way to interact with people and learn about the diverse languages, cultures, and cuisines that Bhairahawa offers.