The Terai & Mahabharat Range Practical information

Health & safety

Dangers & annoyances

There is a lot of misinformation about the safety of travel in the Terai. Tourist offices often insist that everything is safe while embassies claim that it's dangerous to even leave the Kathmandu Valley. In reality, the safety of travel depends on the current status of negotiations between the Maoists and the Nepali government. During ceasefires, everything operates as normal, but violence can flare up quickly so it's important to check the security situation before you visit. There are few areas where travel is particularly risky - the far west of Nepal is the heartland of the Maoist insurgency and attacks on government installations are common, particularly north of the Mahendra Hwy. The hills in the far east of Nepal are another potential flashpoint, particularly close to the border with Sikkim. Things are generally peaceful in the central Terai but there have been attacks in the villages around Royal Chitwan National Park (including Sauraha), and more recently, near Lumbini.

The most obvious sign of the insurgency for travellers is the network of army checkpoints on all major roads. Foreigners are usually waved straight through, but locals must disembark for questioning and bag checks, which can add hours to journey times. At times of conflict, night-time curfews are imposed across the Terai.

An equally pressing problem for tourists is the risky nature of road transport in the Terai. Another potential problem for travellers is the annual monsoon. Rivers already swelled by melt-water from the mountains are inundated by rainwater and floods are inevitable.