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At present there are only two major roads leading out of the Kathmandu Valley. One goes northwest to Tibet=== West towards Pokhara, while the other leads west to Mugling and Pokhara. If you wish southwest to travel to anywhere in the Terai or cross into India, you must first go westHetauda, then turn south at Mugling.Birgunj by Prithvi Highway ===
=== West towards Bear in mind that the shortest road to Hetauda, the NH41 (on Google Maps shown as NH02 - old number), is in terrible condition and only paid for jeeps and a few private cars use it. All trucks and buses go around via Mugling and Bharatpur, so if somebody is going to Pokhara and you're heading south jump on and get off in Mugling. Similarly if you go to Pokhara, southwest and the driver says he goes to Hetaudago for it, Birgunj by Prithvi Highway ===he'll drop you off in Mugling which is halfway through.
The highway going west from Kathmandu leaves from This hitching spot might not be working in the Kalanki neighborhoodnear future as a new bypass of Thankot in Chandragiri municipality is being built. From the intersection The beginning of this road and the Kathmandu ring road bypass will be [https://goo.gl/maps/whi6zFn75xkNQxyr8 here, you can walk up ] and that could be the road less than a kilometer new spot for finding lifts heading west and find a place where a car can pull oversouth.
Alternately take a bus from Ratna Park to the town of Chandragiri (चन्द्रागिरी) for 50NPR which then offers an easy choice of roads South to Hetauda, or further West towards Pokhara.
Hitchhiking out west edited
== Hitchhiking out ==
First you have to get to [https://goo.gl/maps/axbvgkiX53MEsd5z5 Kalanki]. You can find buses from Ratna Park in the city centre for 25-30 NPR (Mar 2023). There are also buses going in circles along the ring road and Kalanki is on the southwestern section of it (25-30 NPR, Mar 2023). From Kalanki take a bus or microbus to Thankot for another 25 rupees and then walk for a few hundred metres to a [https://goo.gl/maps/tETYm5VqHTfhdo1SA police checkpoint]. There might be direct buses from Ratna Park to Thankot, ask around. You can hitch right after the police checkpoint. It's a good idea to at least greet the policemen and show them your sign, they might find you a lift. If you go to Birgunj and the Indian border make a sign Hetauda, if your destination is Pokhara write this name instead. Writing Free Lift above the name of the city is very helpful as most people understand it and taxi or bus drivers won't bother you so much.
=== North East (towards Melamchi) ===
Take a bus from[Ratna Park which will get you as far as Sankhu. From Sankhu make a sign for Shankharapur (शङ्खरापुर), and from there the road splits towards Melamchi. Make sure you don't take the Northern "Piplie" road, as when you get there you'll have a hard time getting out as there's very little traffic.
Thamel is full of trekking shops, but you'll find better prices and often nicer gear if you head south towards the local market place named Ason. Tarps can be found (as well as cheap roll mats) on the street named "Jagatsundar Marg", just north of Ason bazar. If you're willing to compromise and get a used sleeping bag, you can find one for as low as 1,500 NPR (12USD).
==== Boots ====
Check around Ason market for good boots. Look for full leather with a stitched sole. Don't buy any boots where you can't see the stitches as they're likely cheap fakes which are glued together. Buy leather over synthetic. A good pair of boots should be available for around 2,500 - 3,000 NPR.
