Araniko Highway
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| अरनिको राजमार्ग | |
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| Route information | |
| Part of AH42 | |
| Length: | 144 km (89 mi) |
| Major junctions | |
| From: | Kathmandu |
| Road to Palanchown at Lamidanda Road to Jiri 14 km after Dolalghat |
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| To: |
Kodari .svg){kind=small} G318 Road
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| Location | |
| Primary destinations: |
Dhulikhel, Dolalghat, Lomosangu, Bahrabise |
| Highway system | |
| Roads in Nepal | |
The Araniko Highway (Nepali: अरनिको राजमार्ग, translit. Araniko Rajmarga) connects Kathmandu with Kodari, 115 kilometres (71 mi) northeast of the Kathmandu Valley, on the Nepal-China border. It is among the most dangerous of highways in Nepal due to extremely steep slopes on each side of the road from Barabise onwards, massive landslides and bus plunges are not uncommon especially after rains. At the Sino-Nepal Friendship Bridge, it connects with China National Highway 318 to Lhasa, and eventually to Shanghai.
The road was built in the 1960s with help from the Chinese on an older yak track. They also planned to expand the road in 2012, but keeping the route open was made more difficult by landslides from monsoons. The road became a conduct for a large amount of trade between China and Nepal, and also for some trade between India and China when it is open.
The highway is named after Arniko, a 13th-century Nepalese architect who introduced Nepalese architectural styles to Tibet and China.
Dhulikhel, about 30 kilometres (19 mi) from Kathmandu and at an altitude of 1,585 metres (5,200 ft), is the last major village in the Kathmandu Valley through which the Araniko Highway passes. After Dhulikhel the road descends into the beautiful Panchkhal Valley. A road junction at Lamidanda, around 12 km from Dhulikhel, leads to Palanchowk. About five minutes' drive beyond the town of Panchkhal a dirt road takes off to the left, giving access to the Helambu region. About 8 km later the highway touches Dolaghat, a thriving town at the confluence of the Indravati and the Sun Kosi rivers and the departure point for many rafting trips. The turn-off to Jiri is another 14 km away, on the right. Lamosangu is a few kilometres after the Jiri turn-off, on the Arniko Highway. Next comes Barabise, the final destination for many buses from Kathmandu. Just before Barabise is the confluence of the Bhote Kosi and Sun Kosi rivers. The remaining part to the Nepal border village of Kodari the road runs alongside the Sun Kosi with extremely steep Himalayan mountainsides that are very prone to landslides during and immediately after rains (including monsoon). Beyond Kodari is the border town of Zhangmu in Tibet.
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Wikipedia